Hot or Cold? Here’s How to Decide

When you’re dealing with aches, tension, or an injury, one of the most common questions is: “Should I use heat or cold?”
Both can offer incredible relief — but they work in very different ways.

At Blair Henry Designs, we’re big believers in listening to your body and supporting it with natural, reusable tools. Here’s your go-to guide to help you figure out which type of therapy is right for your situation, and how our lupin-filled packs can support you either way.

When to Use Heat Therapy

Heat therapy is all about relaxing, loosening, and soothing.

Applying heat to the body dilates blood vessels, improves circulation, and helps muscles relax. It’s especially helpful when you're feeling tight, tense, or dealing with chronic pain.

Use heat when:

• Your muscles feel stiff, tight, or spasming
  (Think: sore neck from poor sleep, lower back stiffness, or post-work stress)

• You’re experiencing period cramps or endometriosis pain

• You have chronic tension in your shoulders, back, or hips

• You need comfort, calm, or stress relief

Heat therapy is perfect for winding down, resting, or prepping the body for movement.

Our Long Packs and Neck and Back Packs are ideal for applying gentle, mouldable warmth to larger or hard-to-reach areas. For belly cramps or lower back pain, we recommend our Back & Belly Belt — it stays in place while you move or rest, hands-free.

When to Use Cold Therapy

Cold therapy, on the other hand, is about cooling, calming, and reducing inflammation.

Applying cold constricts blood vessels, reduces blood flow to the area, and helps to limit swelling. It’s most effective during the early stages of an injury or flare-up.

Use cold when:

• You’re dealing with swelling, bruising, or inflammation
  (Great for rolled ankles, bumps, or overuse injuries)

• You’ve just finished a workout or physical activity

• You want to numb sharp pain or soothe puffiness

• You’re feeling flushed or overheated and need to cool down

To use cold therapy with our lupin packs, simply place one in a clean ziplock bag and leave it in the freezer for at least 1 hour. Our Square Packs, Knee Packs or Mega Packs work beautifully for spot cooling.

Pro Tip: Combine Both for Best Results

Sometimes, the magic is in using both heat and cold therapy, depending on the time of day or how your body feels.

Example:
Use cold in the morning to reduce swelling and heat at night to relax tight muscles.
This combo can work wonders for tension headaches, chronic pain, or monthly period discomfort.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution — your body will often tell you what it needs. Whether it’s soothing warmth or calming cold, our handmade lupin packs are designed to mould to your body, feel beautiful to use, and provide relief that feels natural and comforting.

Ready to Explore Natural Relief?

Discover our full range of hot and cold therapy packs — in a variety of shapes, fabrics, and sizes — all handmade in Queensland and filled with 100% Australian lupin.