Outside of skincare and bath products, one of my essential tools for self-care is a lavender and rice hot/cold pack. Whenever my muscles are too tight or sore, or I have bad cramps, I heat it up for a minute in the microwave and let the warmth soothe away the muscle tension. Or, it can be put in the freezer to help reduce swelling. They're really easy to make, too! I made this one with rice and lentils, which work just as well (maybe even better) to hold heat.
DIY Lavender & Rice Heat Pack
You'll need:
- cotton fabric - 20" long x 10-12" tall
- sewing needle & thread
- 5 cups of rice, lentils, and/or flaxseed
- 1/2 cup dried lavender buds - don't use fresh flowers, as they can grow mold
Step One: Lay your fabric out flat. You may wish to iron it before sewing.
Step Two: Fold the fabric in half lengthwise.
Step Three: Sew the long side and one of the shorter sides.
Step Four: Mix together your lavender, rice, and lentils.
Step Five: Pour the mixture into the pouch you've created. Fill it up about 3/4 of the way. You want to give it some room to move around inside the pouch, or it will be too firm to contour to your body.
Step Six: Fold the open end down once or twice and sew shut.
And there you have it - your very own heat pack! Put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to heat it up, or freeze it if you want to reduce swelling.
