How to Make Heated Herbal Pillows
Heated herbal pillows can calm the senses and relax the muscles. Holistic health practitioners believe that certain herbs have qualities that will help you relax enough to sleep or give you more energy, even relieve symptoms of illnesses likes colds or stomach aches. Purchasing a heated herbal pillow at the store could be quite expensive, which makes the idea of making your own pillow much more appealing. You are also able to customize your pillow with the fabric, filler and scents of your choosing.
Things You'll Need
- Filler (uncooked rice, oatmeal or barley)
- Cotton fabric
- Essential oils
- Herbs
- Funnel
Instructions
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Choose your filler, herbs and fabric for your pillow. Purchase herbs and oils from a whole foods store or a florist. A filler can be uncooked rice, oatmeal or barley. The most common herbs used for pillows are lavender, rose petals or oils, cloves and rosemary. Choose a cotton fabric for your pillow so you can heat it in the microwave. You will need approximately two to three cups of your filler.
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Cut two pieces out of the fabric about the size of a washcloth. If you would like a larger size or different shape, you can draw a pattern on paper to be used for your fabric. Leave about a half-inch extra material around the edges for sewing. Sew all four sides of the fabric together, leaving a hole about 1 inch to 2 inches open on one side to allow you to put in your filler and herbs.
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Mix your filler, herbs and oils together and store in a closed container for a couple of days. This will help the oils set and be more effective.
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Fill your pillow about half full with the scented filler you have made by pouring the filler through a funnel into the hole of the pillow. Do not overfill the pillow. as you will want the pillow to rest comfortably on your back, shoulders or neck. If the pillow is too full, it will not heat well and will not be comfortable to use.
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Sew the opening of the pillow shut by either double stitching if by hand or back stitching a couple of times on a sewing machine.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the pillow in a microwave for about two minutes. Hold the pillow or place the pillow on the body part that is aching or lay it across the back of your neck to better take in the herbs aroma.
If you need a heated pillow quickly, you can use a tube sock. Fill the sock with uncooked rice and tie the open end closed.
Do not heat your pillow more than the recommended two minutes. This could burn the contents of your pillow and leave an awful smell in your home.
Be careful when taking the hot pillow out of the microwave. Shake the pillow to make sure there are no hot spots that could burn you when you place it on your skin.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit lavendar farm image by Mike & Valerie Miller from Fotolia.com
