Mousie

I suffer from Fibromyalgia, and it not only slows down my quilting, but everything! I had a rice sock, and wore it out.
I am going to make another one. It was warm here, but has cooled off rather quickly.
For anyone that has arthritis or fibromyalgia, etc. or low blood pressure...gets cold easy...you know how the weather can make your stuff act up.
I was sitting here freezing and my neck was hurting, so I took a small dish towel, wet it, put it in a gallon zip loc bag and nuked it. That's microwaved for some of you :wink:
Working great for a temporary fix.
I will be making another one with baked raw rice (to kill bugs), put it in a sock and tie or sew end closed. You just put them in the microwave for 30 seconds. You might have to experiment, you don't want to get burned.
It's put in dry, by the way. Helps a lot with the stiff muscles.
Amma says she even uses straps to hold hers on her back. I've got to try that too. Have a lot of problems with neck and between shoulder blades. Try it. You can put it on cold feet, tummies, under your robe to warm up.
Lots of uses. Make them in different colors, long and thin for drapeage, and give as gifts. I baked my rice on a cookie sheet at 350 for 30 minutes. Enjoy! :D

MissTreated

I have a couple I made and filled with whole buckwheat. It gives a very nice moist heat after microwaving for about 2 minutes. Sometimes I just toss it in the bed before I climb in. Also make covers for them so the covers can be washed.

Mousie

thanks, misstreated. I didn't think about covers, that's a great idea. Think I'll make one for the foot of my bed too. My paws get cold at night.
My hubby thinks fibromyalgia was invented to torture him :lol:

Moonpi

I thought it was meant as torture to those of us who have it!

amma

I make them in squares to fit my lower back, sew channels in them, fill them 1/2 way with rice using a funnel and then sew the top side up. I attatch straps to the top of it so that I can tie it around my waist and hold it in place from my waist to where it rests on a chair. I make tubes to wear around my neck making them long enough that they will stay in place while I walk around. I have them without straps that I sit in my lap or on my lower legs and feet while watching tv. I place these in my bed if it is really chilly to warm it up before I crawl in.
I have some smaller ones I heat and put in my pockets to keep my hands warm when I go to get my mail, etc.... I also use these before I sew or type etc, to warm my hands before my stretching exercises.
I have even taken one of the big ones to the car on really cold mornings and have it inside my jacket or on my lap until my heater warms up LOL

amma

It can torture us AND everyone all around us :lol: :roll: :lol: :roll:

Pam B

I made several rice bags a few years ago for family and friends. All really loved them, however, everyone complained about the odor of the rice. Does buckwheat make an odor? Where does one buy buckwheat? I think some bags that are fragrant like with lavendar or something would also be nice....how do you suppose one would do that? Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Lacelady

I have been online and found: Buckwheat hulls, also known as sobakawa hulls or sobagara husks have been used in pillows, also known as "makura" for over 600 years. In many European Countries young children are given Buckwheat Hull pillows to promote sound sleep without feeling too hot or too cold whilst sleeping. In the UK even today people are turning to buckwheat pillows to promote a good nights sleep and adopt correct sleeping positions for the back and neck.

I also found a UK company that didn't recommend heating these hulls, but they sold wheat grains and lavendar buds for heat pillows. So you can mix lavendar in with the grains - I should think that would go for rice too, if you didn't like the smell. Not sure what Buckwheat hulls smell like!

Shemjo

My sister has made these filling them with field corn! Smells like pop corn when heated! I use them all the time. She has shaped them like a large heart to fit and stay on my shoulder, and the longer ones to go around my neck. They are WONDERFUL!

Mousie

Oh, I tell hubs, you be me tomorrow, and i'll be you...but I get me back, day after.
I couldn't go around thinking like him! :roll: