How to Make Homemade Therapy Packs!

Therapy Packs that can be hot or cold and used to help aches and pains.

What you need:

• Fleece Blanket (or an old pair of fleece pajamas)
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Thread (that matches your blanket and is thick enough to hold)
• Long grain rice or Lentils (2 16 oz bags fills 1 therapy pack)
• 1 bottle essential oils (My favorite is Lavender or Cinnamon Nutmeg)

Step 1:

Lay out your blanket and begin to cut your new therapy hot/cold pack. I cut mine at 11 inches x 16 inches. This particular pack is made for my dad so that is why it is boy colors. Also, when he gets really bad headaches, he places a pack across the back of his neck, therefore I made this one 16 inches long so it would fit all the way across. If this pack is for a certain area or you would like to use it as an eye pack, feel free to make it smaller. 

Step 2: 

Begin by folding the fabric in half and sewing the edges together. Make sure the inside of the pack is on the outside for this step. If you bought a blanket than either side will work because you will turn the pack inside out after you sew to hid the stitching. If you are really particular you can pin the edges or if you own a sewing machine you can utilize it here. I however do not own one so I'm handstitching mine. I used a simple cross stitch or X pattern to ensure the insides would not fall out. If you don't know how to cross stitch, you can find a youtube video here that will give you some basic instructions. Sew the edges together all the way around until only 1 side is open. In the picture, I left about a 2 inch opening. I would now recommend that you leave that entire side open because it takes forever to put the fillings inside with that small of a hole unless you have a funnel. 

Step 3:

Now that you have 3 sides sewn together, turn the entire pack inside out to hide the stitching.

Step 4: Prepare the filling

Place the filling of your choice from above in a bowl and put a few drops of the essential oil in it. If you put too much it might leak through your pack on the first couple of uses. However, its only oil so it won't hurt you even if you put too much. 

Step 5: 

Begin placing your fillings into your pack. For my 11 X 16 pack used 2 bags (16 oz) You can either do all lentils or all rice or a combination of both. My dad prefers the Lentils, he thinks they lay better in the pack. This is up to you though!!

Step 6: Now that you have filled your bag with yummy smelling fillings, its time to sew up the last side. Fold in the edged so you will have clean edges. Start by placing your needle inside the pack to hide the knot at the end of your string inside the pack. Then perform the X stitch all the way across to close the remainder of your pack!

Step 7: Place your pack in the fridge if you need an Ice pack , or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. It smells sooo good!! 

Step 8: 

Use it or give it away as a gift. I think its adorable to tie some string around it with a cute note and directions for a present. 

"Heat those feet or cool those aches, whatever you choose, this pack is great"

Heat for 1-2 minutes in microwave for heat and freeze for 30 minutes for a reusable ice pack