How to Make a Homemade Herbal Shoulder Pad

Heating pads can help to relieve sore muscles after a strenuous workout or a long day at the office. Use herbs like chamomile and lavender to alleviate tension and relax your mind. These herbs are also known to relieve anxiety, improve sleep and soothe your skin. Combining the benefits of the herbs and making a heating pad will give you a deep healing. Making a shoulder pad at home is simple and also easy to take apart, so you can replenish the ingredients as needed.

Things You'll Need

• Tube sock
• 1 to 3 cups of various grains
• 1/4 cup dried chamomile flowers
• 5 to 10 drops of lavender oil
• Rubber band

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Choose a tube sock appropriate to the size of your shoulder. Make sure it will cover the area where you feel the most tension.

• 2

  Pour rice into a bowl. Use oats or flax if rice is not available. While the type of grain is not important, you want to choose one that feels good to you. Use about 1 to 3 cups of whatever ingredient you choose, or enough so that the sock is about 3/4 full. Measure the rice in the sock if you need to and then pour it into a bowl. Mix different grains together for a custom feeling.

• 3

  Pour 1/4 cup chamomile flowers into the bowl. Make sure the herb is dried and stir the mixture with your fingers lightly without crushing the flowers.

• 4

  Add 5 drops of lavender oil to the bowl. Stir gently. Add more oil, depending on your preference. If you find other scents to be relaxing, choose those instead.

• 5

  Pour the mixture into the sock. Use a funnel with an opening large enough for the mixture to slide down easily. Fill the sock until it is 3/4 full in order to close it.

• 6

  Tie the end of the sock with a rubber band, making sure it closes tightly to avoid the mixture leaking. Be careful not to fill it too much or the sock will not mold to your shoulder.

• 7

  Microwave the sock at 30-second intervals, checking after each session to ensure it is not too hot. The sock should be moderately warm and you should be able to smell the oils. Keep the sock full to use it more than once or simply dump it out and wash with your normal clothes.