All these fancy items are health gadgets, but can you figure out what they are for?

Genie’s lamp that makes a splash

Nose Buddy £17.99 mad-hq.com

This genie’s lamp-like device is a neti pot used to flush the sinuses and relieve nasal congestion. You fill it with sterile salt water and, tilting your head, pour the water into one nostril – when you tilt your head to the side, the water flows out of the other nostril, bringing with it mucus that could clog the sinuses.

“Neti pots can be helpful after a cold, during hay fever, or for sinus problems where mucus buildup in the nose can cause discomfort,” says Professor Paul Chatrath, Consultant Otolaryngology, Nose and Throat Surgery at Spire Hartswood Hospital. in Essex.

“It flushes out nasal congestion and also clears out the tiny hair cells in the nose, helping them to start working effectively again.”

And it could reduce hospitalizations from Covid. A study published in August by the University of Georgia in the US looked at twice-daily nasal lavage in 79 people with Covid and found it resulted in eight times fewer hospitalizations than the national average.

“Rinse the nose is effective, but you should use distilled or chilled boiled water to reduce the risk of infection,” says Professor Chatrath.

nose neighbor

nose neighbor

Red Light Laser Fix

Teradom, from £699, theradomeforhairloss.co.uk

It may look like a bicycle helmet, but Theradome is said to treat certain types of hair loss.

The helmet emits red light into the scalp, which stimulates the hair follicles, increasing the rate of hair growth in cases of hormone-related thinning. Use the helmet for 20 minutes twice a week.

“Studies have shown that LLLT – Low Level Laser Therapy – can stimulate hair growth,” says Dr. Anastasia Terianu, Consultant Dermatologist and Hair Loss Specialist at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London. “Large randomized controlled trials have demonstrated statistically significant regrowth in terms of hair count. [the number of hairs on the scalp] in men and women after treatment.

“However, more research is needed to confirm effectiveness.”

She adds, “It only works for some types of hair loss, especially male and female pattern baldness, and it’s important to have a diagnosis made by a specialist before trying LLLT.”

“These devices should not be used by patients with scalp cancer or those taking certain antibiotics and diuretics.”

Teradom

Teradom

Drilling Remedy

Tweedler, from £29.95, tvidler.com

It looks like a drill made of flexible silicone, but in fact Tweedler is designed to clean the ears from wax.

The manufacturer claims that it is safer than using a Q-tip because the wax is not forced further into the ear. Gently insert it into the ear canal by moving it clockwise.

“I wouldn’t use it,” says Professor Chatrath. “The conical design is based on a drill that pushes debris out and that can work with soft wax. But I would be worried that if the wax gets touched, some of them might be pushed the wrong way, which could make things worse. Earwax exists for a reason – it protects and cleans the ear, so unless there are deposits affecting your hearing or causing you pain, they are best left alone.

However, you should also never use a Q-tip. If you are concerned about earwax, talk to your healthcare provider. They will try wax softening drops or direct you to a microsuction.”

Twiddler

Twiddler

Soft hood

Ostrich pillow£85 ostrichpillow.co.uk

Described as an “immersive pillow”, this soft hood is designed to help you sleep or nap when you’re on the go. The design blocks out light and noise (there are openings for your mouth and nose), and the padding allows you to comfortably rest your head on surfaces such as a desk or an airplane tray.

Sleep specialist Dr. Neil Stanley says: “Humans are not designed to sleep upright – we have to take the load off our body when we sleep, and this, combined with the fact that during sleep you lose muscle tone, which makes your head lol.” , prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep on the plane, but it can help. I would definitely give it a try if I flew long distances a lot.”

Ostrich pillow

Ostrich pillow

heavy kit

Fingertips from £32 fingerweights.com

These tiny weights (10-30g each) are worn on the fingers to strengthen them or as part of rehabilitation for conditions such as stroke or arthritis.

Dr. Rod Hughes, consultant rheumatologist at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust in Surrey, says: “If you have arthritis in your fingers, exercise is recommended to keep them flexible and the strength of the muscles around them.” It could just be grip strength exercises using rubber balls.

“It improves grip strength, and adding weight can lead to even more improvements. The downside is that they look uncomfortable, so they may not fit if you have an impaired hand and finger shape or function. Often, osteoarthritis results in the formation of extra new bone with bumps around the knuckles. It’s unlikely to cause permanent harm, but pressure on an already inflamed joint can cause discomfort.”

fingertips

fingertips

sonic blaster

Y brush £108.99 y-brush.com

This mouthpiece has sonic bristles (which work like an electric toothbrush) that can be claimed to clean all of your teeth in ten seconds. A manufacturer’s test on 100 people found that it removed 15 percent more plaque than regular brushing.

“It has an interesting design but lacks the strong evidence we have for regular toothbrushes,” says Dr. Praveen Sharma, scientific advisor to the British Dental Association.

It is one size fits all and any dentist will tell you that it is almost impossible to have one size for all jaws.

“Unlike conventional toothbrushes, you can customize brushing to fit any mouth, regardless of differences such as spacing or tooth size.”

Y-brush

Y-brush

Get hip and push this device in action

Pso Ritual£79.99. pso-rite.co.uk

This plastic device is described as “the most revolutionary tool for mobile massage and muscle relaxation.”

You place the device on the floor, place yourself in a press-like position above it, and press down so that the points on each side rest against the thighbones on both sides.

This is said to massage a muscle called the psoas, which connects the lower back to the thigh bone. Some physiotherapists suggest that tension in this muscle is the cause of severe pain in the back and hips.

Will Bateman, a physical therapist at Surrey Physio, says: “The psoas is a very deep muscle. You can’t specifically stretch or work on it, just like you can’t feel it yourself. So while this product may massage the area, it does not work on the psoas. On top of that, there is some debate as to whether the psoas is really causing all the pain it is accused of, or whether disc problems or osteoarthritis of the hip are the culprit.

“I would rather have patients spend their time doing dynamic stretching like yoga to target all the muscles in that area rather than focusing on the psoas.”

Pso Ritual

Pso Ritual