heating bags

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

My significant other's grandmother gets pretty chilly at night, so I'm going to make her a whole set of rice heating bags. I'm going to make pocket-sized ones for her sweater pockets, and one that's about 3 inches by 24 inches for over her neck and shoulders, and a few 12 by 12 bags for slipping into her bed or resting on her feet while she's watching TV.

I first learned about these from rheumatoid arthritis mailing lists. They work wonders for arthritic joints -- hands, elbows, knees. They reduce morning stiffness terrifically. The place where I used to get my Remicade infusions (for the arthritis) used them on forearms to get blood flowing into veins before infusions. (Some of theirs were rice, and some were a dry corn that smelled just like popcorn when it was heated -- I wouldn't bother experimenting with this, or I'm sure I'd make jiffy-pop heating bags.)

I'll also make myself a set, and I might make my significant other one to put in his bed before he gets in, so he can be warm when I'm not there to be his radiant heater. :)

I've heard of folks putting aromatherapy herbs in them, but I know enough people who are over-sensitive to scent, or who have allergies to various plant materials, that I'll make mine plain ol' rice.