Homemade Heat pack or Cold Compress (Rice Socks)

Make your very own slice of heaven in a sock. Oh yeah, I promise that this simple and inexpensive hot/cold sock filled with rice and a couple drops of essential oil is your ticket to a better life. They are great for back aches, stomach cramps, leg tightness, leg pain, or just a relaxation enhancer.

They are especially good for pregnant ladies, because back aches are a biggie- so be sure to make these for all of those peeps in your life that find themselves expecting. I got these at my first baby shower from a friend and it was the one thing that fit me during the whole pregnancy, that I looked forward to more and could use after the baby too! I can't say enough, try it.

Recipe for Homemade Rice Sock Heat pack or Cold Compress:

What you need:

*One pair of (I recommend two so you have a back up when your husband steals yours!) thick men's socks. Just regular tube socks will do, they should be sport or working man thickness though. The bigger the better.
*Rice as needed to fill the socks half full. Get the cheapest you can find.
*Flannel or other fabric to cover your men's sized rice socks.
*Funnel (optional but recommended).
*Essential Oils to your choosing (optional but recommended).

How to work it:

1.) Roll down the top of one of your socks, stick the funnel in and dump cups of rice into the sock until it is full until the half way point.

2.) Add drops of essential oil to the rice inside your sock (picture below). I added vanilla, about 10 drops- but whatever you like to smell would work. Also herbs would work as well, some lavender leaves and flowers or whatever.

3.) Cut fabric, I like flannel because it is warm already to the touch and soft but you could use cotton or fleece. Remember it will need to be washed and it will be microwaved along with the rice sock as well.  The size of your sock will mean you need a bigger or shorter fabric slice. I cut mine at 6 inches wide and 18 long. I had the fabric folded so I wouldn't have to sew the bottom of the cover, but I am lazy so it doesn't really matter if you do it that way, it is only about 5 inches to sew.

4.) Sew the top hem first, before you do the sides or bottom. Then turn fabric wrong side out or right sides facing each other and sew up the two long sides and the bottom. Right the fabric  and you are done. DONE! Slide (more like wiggle) your rice sock in and you are ready to head to the micro!

That would be right, it means that now you can enjoy. Start up your kettle, grab a good book or a stack of magazines and settle in  for a good relaxing time.

Heating and Cooling Instructions:

Heating: As sizes will vary, you'll need to figure out how long your sock needs to be heated in the microwave. It will depend on how big it is and how much rice is in it, and how hot you want it, but mine takes 3-4 minutes- as it has quite a bit of rice in it. I recommend heating one at a time if you have two, it just kind of works better that way. Wash the cover when needed.

Cooling: If you want this for a cold compress- put it in the freezer and let it get cold. Simple right? I would go with at least an hour- but that just depends on how cold you want it.

Live it up, and share with a friend!!

What do you do to relax? What is your TV show or reading material of choice in order to achieve that perfect state of calm? Share it with me- I need to get some relaxin' in!