How to Make Your Own Hot or Cold Compress
A well-made hot compress can help chase off all kinds of aches and pain, with the heat penetrating sore tissues, increasing circulation, and helping to relax tight muscles. A lot of times though, we use something like a washcloth soaked in hot water, which loses its heat within minutes. In stores, hot pads usually cost upwards of $20.00 to $30.00 dollars. The good news is that making a cost effective compress at home, one that really retains its healing warmth, is easier than you might think.
You will need…
-A clean tube sock, or scrap fabric
-Dry and uncooked rice, beans, or oats
-A pinch of peppermint, cinnamon, or the contents of a pleasantly fragrant herbal tea bag (optional)
Directions
Fill up a new or clean tube sock with dry and uncooked rice, beans, or oats, leaving enough room to tie off the top after you’ve filled it. If you like, throw in a pinch of peppermint or the contents of an herbal tea bag to give it a nice, relaxing, fragrance. Tie off tightly, or sew, if you prefer. Microwave for a few seconds up to a few minutes, depending on how hot you want it. If you’d rather not use a tube sock, cut up an old T-shirt or sew together some scrap material instead.
Tip: Toss it in the refrigerator or freezer and use it as a cold pack too!
P.S. Make sure to take a look at the Everyday Roots Book with 350+ pages of the best home remedies, natural beauty recipes, homemade cleaners and diy household products. View Remedies
By Claire Goodall
Claire is a lover of life, the natural world, and wild blueberries. On the weekend you can find her fiddling in the garden, playing with her dogs, and enjoying the great outdoors with her horse. Claire is very open-minded, ask her anything 🙂 Meet ClaireWe Want to Hear from You! Let us know which remedies work and do not work for you, ask a question or leave a comment:
I also use corn or small bird food.
After a while and many microwaves ,the corn smells like popcorn, then you start all over again.
I always have cold feet going to bed, so this helps a lot.
Wheat is good in these too (from the health shop). And if you put a half-glass of water in the microwave when you warm these, it stops the contents from drying out too much or burning.
What if you don’t have a microwave?