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Homemade Ice and Heat Packs

When you hurt, turn to a homemade heat or ice pack. Grain-filled heat and cold pillows provide gentle hot or cold relief for headaches, body aches, muscle cramps and sunburns. Filled with herbs such as lavender, this natural remedy soothes frazzled nerves and promotes relaxation. Homemade gel packs are handy to keep in your freezer in case of sprains, swelling or other injuries. You can make these pillows and gel packs with household items.

Things You'll Need

  • Newspaper
  • Cotton fabric (cotton, denim, flannel or fleece)
  • Fabric marker or pins
  • Funnel
  • Long grain rice or flax seeds, uncooked
  • 1 tbsp. dried herbs (such as lavender, peppermint or cinnamon)
  • Resealable plastic freezer bags (gallon size)
  • 1 cup rubbing alcohol or 1/3 cup vodka
  • Food coloring (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Sewn Pillow

    • 1

      Use a piece of newspaper to create a pattern. For a headache pillow, measure a rectangle that is 4-by-8 in., and, for a body pillow, measure 7 1/2-by-11-in. Cut out the rectangle.

    • 2

      Place the newspaper pattern on top of the fabric. Using the rectangle twice, cut two pieces of fabric.

    • 3

      Lay the fabric pieces, patterned side inside, on top of each other. With a fabric marker or sewing pins, mark a seam line 1/2-in. inside the rectangle.

    • 4

      Sew along the seam line on all four sides, leaving a 3-in. gap in the middle of one side. Turn the fabric right side out.

    • 5

      Pour rice or flax seed into the pillow using a funnel, filling it two-thirds full. Add 1 tsp. of herbs to the head pillow or 1 tbsp. to the body pillow.

    • 6

      Fold the ends of the opening inside the pillow. Sew this area closed using a needle and thread.

    • 7

      Store the pillow in freezer for a "gentle" cold pack. For hot pack, heat in the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes with a cup of water.

    Instant Sock Pillow

    • 8

      Fill a sock two-thirds full with long grain rice. Also add a small amount of a kitchen herbs, such as a rosemary sprig, whole cloves or cinnamon stick.

    • 9

      Tie the open end of the sock into a knot.

    • 10

      Place the sock in the microwave for 1 minute with a cup of water. For a cold pack, freeze for 20 minutes.

    Gel Ice Packs

    • 11

      Fill a freezer bag with 2 cups water. Add 1 cup rubbing alcohol or 1/3 cup vodka. You can substitute table salt for the alcohol, mixing the water with as much salt as will dissolve plus 2 tbsp. more.

    • 12

      Add food coloring if desired. Seal the bag, pressing all of the air out of the bag. Shake gently.

    • 13

      Freeze. The alcohol or salt in the bag will prevent the bag from freezing fully, which makes the gel pack pliable unlike a frozen block of water.

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