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    02/28/18 34 Comments 39,819

    This Is The Cheap And Easy Way To Treat All Your Aches And Pains

    Heating Pad

    Most of the time, I love my electric heating pad. It really helps relieve the frequent unexplained soreness that seems to be inherent to getting older. ;-) But even though I love my electric heating pad, there are some instances when it lets me down! For instance, I can’t use it while relaxing in my favorite recliner chair, because the cord isn’t long enough to reach an outlet from there. And even on the lowest heat setting, my electric heating pad gets really warm (uncomfortably so!) I often find myself wishing it had an even lower heat setting.

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    Heating Pad

    In those cases, I put my electric heating pad back in the closet and grab my homemade “heating pad” instead. You might already be familiar with this sort of heating pad, because it’s been around forever. (Maybe you even made one in Home Ec!) It’s essentially just a bag filled with rice, but it actually solves both of my complaints about my electric heating pad. Since you warm it up in the microwave, you can use it anywhere without worrying about the closest outlet. And you can control how hot it gets by microwaving it for more or less time!

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    Heating Pad

    Today I’ll be showing you how to make one of these homemade heating pads, but with an added therapeutic twist. I like to add essential oils to mine, according to whatever ailment I’m dealing with at the time. The one I use the most frequently is infused with lavender and peppermint essential oils to help treat headaches and migraines! (We’ll get into more details about essential oils shortly.) These therapeutic heating pads are easy to make, easy to use, and are SO inexpensive to make. I think they’d make a lovely and thoughtful gift too! Here’s how you can make your own.

    Related: 9 Simple Home Remedies for Headaches

    Heating Pad

    Homemade Heating Pad

    You’ll need:

    • Cotton dish towel (or any fabric of your choice)
    • 4 – 5 cups rice
    • Essential oils of choice*
    • Sewing machine

    *Note: There are plenty of different ways you can customize your “heating pad,” depending on which essential oils you use. Below I’ve included several different “recipes” of essential oils that can help treat or ease certain conditions. Use of my recipes, or use your own!

    Heating Pad

    Directions:

    First, you’ll prepare the rice mixture that will get sewn into your bag. Pour the rice into a bowl or bag and add your essential oils. Stir the rice well with a wooden spoon, or roll it around in the sealed bag for a few minutes. This will ensure that the oils are evenly distributed throughout the rice. Set the prepared rice aside.

    Heating Pad

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    Next, cut your dish towel or fabric into two pieces of the same size. My finished pouched ended up being about 6″ x 10″, but you can make yours bigger or smaller.

    Heating Pad

    Place the right sides of the fabric together, then sew 3 of the sides to form a pouch. On the remaining open side, sew in from the edges while leaving a 3-4″ opening in the center.

    Heating Pad

    Turn the pouch inside-out by pulling the fabric through the opening, then pour in the prepared rice mixture from earlier.

    Heating Pad

    Finally, sew or hand stitch the opening closed. Make sure to seal it up well so that your rice won’t fall out!

    Oil Blends For Your Heating Pad

    Here are a few different blends that you can add to the rice you put into your heating pad. If you want to make your own custom oil blend, just aim to use about 10 drops of oil in total!

    Heating Pad

    For Menstrual Cramps

    • 4 drops lavender essential oil
    • 3 drops clary sage essential oil
    • 3 drops oregano essential oil

    Heating Pad

    For Headaches

    • 5 drops lavender essential oil
    • 5 drops peppermint essential oil

    Heating Pad

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    For Arthritis

    • 4 drops peppermint essential oil
    • 2 drops frankincense essential oil
    • 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
    • 2 drops cypress essential oil

    Heating Pad

    For Joint Pain

    • 4 drops bergamot essential oil
    • 2 drops lavender essential oil
    • 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil

    Heating Pad

    For Back Pain

    • 4 drops peppermint essential oil
    • 3 drops rosemary essential oil
    • 3 drops sweet orange essential oil

    Heating Pad

    How To Use Your Homemade Heating Pad

    Place your heating pad in your microwave for 15-30 seconds, just to warm it up and activate all those beneficial oils. Then lay the heating pad across your body wherever there’s pain or discomfort, and relax! Let your heating pad work it’s magic for at least 15-20 minutes, or longer if you prefer. Use as needed for quick and easy relief!

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    newest oldest most voted
    Heather
    Heather

    Flax seed works perfect.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    GrammieOf8
    GrammieOf8

    Might I make a couple of variations? First — I like to use sand instead of rice. It seems to hold the heat longer AND you can freeze it and use it as an ice pack if needed. AND — if you need moist heat — you can dampen it and then heat it in the microwave! I also double bag it. It takes a little more material and time but it is well worth it!

    Vote Up2Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Vicki
    Vicki

    I have a similar type heating pad I purchased years ago that I use often for menstrual cramps, so great because I can tuck it into my pajama pants to help it stay in place when I lay on my side. Mine is made of a soft plush fleece type fabric that I’m sure is probably polyester. It came with a little pocket on the front with a small cloth bag of lavender in it. I have actually put a cotton ball in that little pocket with essential oils on it. That would be a great feature to add to… Read more »

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Ivory
    Ivory

    Question: would not the rice soon start cooking, after reheating it over and over again, for each use.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Jillee
    Jillee

    Not without moisture! :-) If you were to get the bag wet, then yes, it would start to cook the rice.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Ivory
    Ivory

    I love this post, because I have aches and pain daily, and this could, “do me good”

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Alfred Sneade
    Alfred Sneade

    Why not just use a pillowcase? I don’t have a sewing machine. Don’t know how to use one either.

    Vote Up-1Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Janice
    Janice

    You’ll want to make sure the material is microwavable. Often, pillow cases have something else other than cotton. Good old t-towel always works and is sturdy.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Jillee
    Jillee

    That will work, too! :-)

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    stanley
    stanley

    how long will rice be good & not go bad?

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Janice
    Janice

    Just about forever!! I’ve been using and reusing and microwaving my ole bags for years now. Just don’t get them wet!

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Janice
    Janice

    I should add that I have never used put essential oils on any of my rice bags. I wouldn’t bank on them remaining usable if oils are used. Also, caution, eucalyptus is very bad for cats.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Jillee
    Jillee

    It will last for years as long you don’t get the bag wet :-)

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Joan
    Joan

    Would you be able to use a kitchen syringe (like the ones available to “inject” spices into a turkey for instance) to replace the essential oils when needed? I’m envisioning poking it right through the bag…avoiding stains or opening up a seam. Would that work when it comes time to rejuvenate?

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Jillee
    Jillee

    I don’t see why not! Great idea Joan! :-)

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Judy
    Judy

    I’m wondering if there is a way to warm it up without a microwave.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Gail Hammil
    Gail Hammil

    You might try putting it in the oven on a cookie sheet or on top of the stove in an iron skillet on low heat and turn it very often. It would need to be watched very very carefully to be sure it doesn’t catch fire. Also my husband said his mom, many years ago, would put corn meal in a skillet and heat it, pour it onto a cloth and fold it up and use it if one of the kids had a tooth ache, etc. It worked well.

    Vote Up1Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Judy
    Judy

    Thank you! That’s a great help!

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Marlene
    Marlene

    Try using a crock pot on warm.

    Vote Up1Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Judy
    Judy

    That’s a novel idea!

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Jillee
    Jillee

    I love the crockpot idea! Definitely less risky than the oven method, but it will take a bit longer. :-)

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Marlene
    Marlene

    Put more than one in the pot. Then you always have one ready.

    Vote Up0Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    Jen
    Jen

    DO NOT use any fabric of choice! Use cotton. If you use anything with nylon or other synthetics (including polar fleece!), you run the risk of the fabric melting or catching fire in the microwave. That goes for Velcro too- DO NOT use it on anything you put in the microwave.

    Vote Up5Vote Down 
    11 months ago
    California girl transplanted and blooming in Utah. In recovery and loving life.
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