I have seen a recipe for a heat pack mixture of rice and herbs that is put in a cloth bag and heated in the microwave. Does anyone have the recipe/instructions for this type of heat pack?

-- L. Jackson (jackson-seven@ juno.com), November 01, 2001

Answers

take a bag,, put in some dried rice, seew it close,, , but it in a mcrowave,, then use

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 01, 2001.

Basically any size cloth bag (remember the little square beanbags?) filled with rice and herb of choice. In an emergency, just use a sock and knot it at the end. Come to think of it, probably would make a nice substitute for a hot water bottle.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 01, 2001.

I've seen socks used, too. You'll need a pair of tube socks. Fill one with rice - not rock solid full, you'll want it to be loose enough to conform to the contours of your body - and probably about 1/2 to 1 cup of DRIED herbs. Lavender is usually used because it has relaxing properties. You could also use a blend - lavender, chamomile, catnip (watch your cats, though!). What you use and the amount is totally up to you! Sew the end of the sock closed and slide it, sewed end first, into the other sock. Sew the open end closed. Using two socks helps to keep the tiny grains of rice from escaping. If you want to get fancy, you could use a nice flannel as your second layer. Good luck!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), November 01, 2001.

Oh... and microwave on high for 1-3 minutes. Enjoy!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), November 01, 2001.

Works great for those dadblasted charlie horses you get in the middle of the night !

-- Ralph Rice (Roadapple@suite224.net), November 01, 2001.

Ralph, so does bananas and cantalopes and anything else that adds potassium to the body, as a diet concious diebetic type 2, get checked now!!!

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 01, 2001.

I have made these heat bags with whole corn kernels as well. Just sew up a small cotton bag and fill 2/3 full with whole dry field corn kernels. Sew it shut, and put a "pillowcase" over it. (another small bag made to fit over) Heat in microwave for 1-2 min... Geat for aches. Smells just like a field of corn!

Mary

-- Mary (zoots25@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.

Oh..... noooo not the sock! i was just blasted on another post for my answer to use old pantyhose for milk filters, guess i didn't ahve enough caffine and said they worked great. I should ahve told my 2 critics that nooooo don't use the crotch panel and do wash them before. But then.... excuse me here, they were men, don't mean to offend guys. I also meant to add if its in a pinch too and for family use. oh well.....

The suggestions are helpful from those who replied for your question.

Bernice

who literally put a sock in her mouth that day.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), November 01, 2001.

Bernice, I'd ... no, forget it.

Stan nearly got it right, except I use wheat seeds. I'm looking at the heat bag my mother made me as I type. About 14" length, 5" wide, heavy cotton (almost canvas), wheat seed filling (I guess any similar size grain would work as well), and loosely filled - say about one- third or maybe just 30% as full as it would be if it was packed full. I have what is supposed to be a 1KW microwave, hit it for three minutes, then stick that between my back and the chair. If it feels too hot, I'll put a towel around it to protect both my back and the chair.

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 01, 2001.

WARNING! If you make one of these with dried beans, and your 13 year old kid puts it in the microwave for 15 minutes instead of three, you will have a fire in the microwave and your house will reek of burned cloth & beans for DAYS.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), November 02, 2001.

It helps to occasionally put a cup of water in the microwave while heating the bag. Keeps them from drying out...

-- jay (jay@northwestusa.com), November 02, 2001.

Sorry. I ALWAYS have a small jar of water in the back corner of the microwave. Microwaves that try to cook something which is totally dry (e.g. an empty microwave - you thought you put the porridge in, but you got distracted) do not have a high survival rate. I just top up that little jar (say three inches in a skinny little three-and-a-half inch jar) every week or so. Recommended by the person who sold my family their SECOND microwave. They've still got that one, so it must be working.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 02, 2001.

So Shannon, how is it that you know this? :oD

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), November 02, 2001.

Mine recipe is very simple. Buy the cheapest rice you can. Take an old sock. Fill the sock - but not too full. Tie it shut. You can add potpourri if you want. Don't heat more than two minutes at one time. If you do - you cook the rice. As it cools, just rearrange the rice so the warmer rice comes out of the middle. Have been using mine for years. Fits around all the joints,etc. that can hurt.

-- Chris is PA (CLMngs@aol.com), November 05, 2001.

It also works well to mist it with a spray bottle before you heat it! Gives you more of a moist heat and they seem to last longer. Don't forget you can put it in the freezer for a cold pack also.

-- Roberta Turnbull (mk91101@alltel.net), December 05, 2001.