How to Make a Therapeutic Heating Pad
It's easy to make your own therapeutic microwave heating pad with a few inexpensive items you have around your home. Similar heating pads are sold in stores under a variety of brand names. Therapeutic heating pads are ideal to soothe muscle pain, stiffness, minor aches and strains. Use your pad with appropriate caution to reduce muscle spasms and joint stiffness or to loosen tight muscles and joints prior to exercise. See your healthcare provider if you have severe or debilitating muscle pains or stiffness.
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Things You'll Need
- Large tube sock.
- Uncooked rice, wheat, corn, buckwheat hulls, barley or flaxseed.
- Cotton thread
- Sewing needle
- Microwave oven
Instructions
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1
FIll a large cotton tube sock three-quarters full with one of the following: uncooked rice, wheat, corn, buckwheat hulls, barley or flaxseed.
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2
Stitch closed the open end of the sock with cotton thread. If you don't want to sew, tightly tie off the open end with cotton string. Do not use a rubber band, twist tie or anything plastic for this purpose.
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3
Place your therapeutic heating pad in a clean, dry microwave that rotates on high for one minute. Remove it from the microwave and shake gently back and forth to mix for 10 to 15 seconds. If you would like more intense heat, return to the microwave for an additional minute. Never exceed two minutes.
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Tips & Warnings
NEVER apply heat to bare skin. Place a washcloth or towel between the heating pad and the skin to avoid overheating or burning the skin.
Since microwave temperatures vary, be very careful not to heat your pad too hot.
Never apply the heat pad to bare skin. Place a washcloth or towel between the pad and your skin to avoid overheating or burning the skin.
Microwave temperatures vary. Be very careful not to heat your pad too hot.
References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Getty Images
