Tea Time with Jo | The Magic of the Heat Lamp |

If you have ever received Acupuncture, chances are a heat lamp has been placed over some part of your body. In this post, I’m going to share more about what it is and how it differs from a heating pad.

Technically, it’s called a TDP Lamp.

While we often refer to the lamp as just a heat lamp, it is actually called a TDP Lamp. TDP stands for “Teding Diancibo Pu” which translates into “specific magnetic spectrum”. These lamps were designed to generate electromagnetic waves between 2-25µm which falls into the category of middle infrared (MIR). MIR penetrates deeper into the body and is able to help the blood vessels dilate which helps bring more blood and circulation to the area. With more circulation, comes more healing benefits. It can also help reduce inflammation. Some say it even helps cells to regenerate though I haven't been able to find a good source for that.

But Wait…there’s More!

Aside from the middle infrared benefits, the TDP lamps also contain a mineral plate. According to the information I was able to find, the scientist that invented these lamps, named Gou Wenbin, was inspired by discovering a group of factory workers that remained healthy despite the conditions in the factory that produced black clay. He visited the factory and took samples of the black clay. When analyzed, it contained a high amount of minerals and Mr. Wenbin concluded that the low incidence of illness from the workers had to be influenced by these minerals. He, himself, was the former director of the Chongqing Institute of Ceramics, which I suppose lended to his ability to create the ceramic, mineral infused plates, that go inside the lamps. 

The minerals in the lamp, however, need heat in order to be released. The lamps are designed to warm up to approximately 466ºC/870ºF for this purpose. While most people love the relaxation of the warmth provided by the lamp, they aren’t aware of the trifecta of healing taking place (heat, middle infrared waves and minerals!). 

A Moment of Honesty.

I have been working with these lamps since I was a student in Acupuncture school but no one ever really explained the benefits to me. We were mostly just told that it provides warmth for patients. You can imagine that it isn’t very relaxing to have Acupuncture on your back if you are shirtless and you are exposed to the cold air of the a/c the entire time of your treatment. Not only does that go against East Asian Medicine principles, but is just doesn’t feel as comforting as the warmth of the lamp. Over time, I did become aware that the lamps produced infrared waves but never really new which kind. I also became aware that it released minerals but didn’t understand how that worked. I got more clarity when I started researching for this blog, and I’m embarrassed to say that it took me 14 years to start looking into this. 

Other TDP lamp facts include that they were invented in the 1980s and were found to have benefits on various conditions. Their use has been studied more in China and different parts of Asia but not many of the studies have been translated into English. The effects were profound enough that the lamps are referred to as “Magic Lamps” in the East. 

Who knew that the strange looking contraption in my treatment room had so many benefits? I know that getting to lay under the TDP lamp is one of my favorite parts of Acupuncture treatment (that and the Acu nap!). It just feels so nice to have that warmth over my belly, feet or lower back while the needles are doing their thing. I hope you found this post informative and I also hope you enjoy laying under my TDP lamp as much as I do.