Heat therapy has been a treatment option for many years. It is enjoying a comeback as an excellent way to reduce the severity of chronic pain. Heat therapy is in fact a pretty simple concept. Any treatment that uses heat to help soothe pain, relax muscles or ease stress can be classified as a form of heat therapy. Heat therapy is very accepted because it can be done by pretty much anyone and for very little cost. If there is a bathtub or a shower or even a hot facecloth, one can perform their very own heat therapy treatment. Recently, more complex forms of heat therapy like ultrasound and paraffin waxing has come into the spotlight and they are now being used in pain clinics, hospitals, and spas across North America and Europe. Though it is generally a very simple form of treatment, heat therapy is actually quite original in the way that it relieves pain and muscle stiffness. When applied to sore areas of the body, heat helps to dilate the blood vessels. This encourages blood to rush to the affected area, flushing out toxins and other wastes. This blood also brings oxygen to the site, which helps to repair soft tissue, encourage muscle tone and relax muscles contractions.