Girls probably can relate to this news more than guys would since it’s a popular and old practice for girls to place a bottle of hot water over her tummy when it aches everytime she has her period. This practice dates far back Hippocrates’ time. No one can explain how or why but one thing was certain: it’s effective.

Yesterday, a news came out telling us that this old and popular practice of soothing abdominal pains, back ache, menstrual cramps, neck pain and the like through a bottle of hot water, has a scientific basis.

A study conducted by some researchers at the University College London revealed that heat of at least 40-degree Celsius has an analgesic effect when applied on the aching part of the body. This is because the body activates receptors (“specialized cells or groups of nerve endings that respond to sensory stimuli”) that hinder chemical messengers that cause the body to sense pain.

The researchers are still looking for ways on how to make a hot water bottle’s analgesic effect last longer than an hour.

By guest writer Khristine