How to Make an Herbal Heat Pack
Herbal heat packs work well anytime you suffer from an injury such as a sprain or sore muscle. Heat packs are made by creating a cotton pouch and filling it with herbs and essential oils that work well for aching muscles and injuries. The pack is then heated using an oven or microwave. The herbal heat pack is then applied to the injury. Herbal heat packs are a handy item to keep in your first aid kit.
Things You'll Need
- Two pieces of cotton fabric approximately 8 x 6 inches.
- 1 cup rice
- 1/2 cup herbs
- Essential Oils
Instructions
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1
Sewing the Herbal Heat Packs
Begin by sewing the outer shell of your heat packs. Place two pieces of cotton fabric with the wrong sides of the fabric together. Sew the outer edge of the fabric together. Turn the fabric right side out.
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2
Fill your Herbal Heat Packs
Fill your herbal heat pack with rice, herbs and essential oils. The important part of this step is choosing the right herbs and oils to sooth sore muscles and sprains. Arnica, lavender, or fennel seeds are the best herbs for heat packs and is commonly used in sports medicine. Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Rosemary essential oils work well for treating aches and sprains also. You should mix the ingredients well in a jar before filling the heat pack.
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3
Closing the Herbal Heat Packs
Now that all your ingredients are in the heat pack, stitch it closed using a slip stitch along the open edge. You can add elastic or Velcro to the heat pack as well to help hold it in place during application.
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4
Heating the Herbal Packs:
Store your herbal heat packs in your first aid kit. In the event of a sore muscle or sprain you can heat your pack in the microwave or oven watching it closely to ensure it doesn't become too hot. For heating in the microwave heat 30 seconds at a time and check it after each heating until it reaches the desired temperature. Use a similar method in the oven heating at a temperature below 300 degrees.
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