For years, I have enjoyed a home-made "heating pad" that is microwaved 1 minute & then gives soothing comfort to aches & pains. I'd like to make some myself. What goes in inside?

I have made them with dried beans, deer corn and even white rice. I like to throw in some dried lavender buds and flowers, so you get an aroma therapy effect as well as the soothing heat.

What shapes are you thinking of making? I like a "neck roll" about a yard long and about the size of your wrist around (7"?). That works so well on the upper back and neck where I tend to hold tension. If you want to make a large one for your lower back, it helps to sew "channels" across so the filling doesn't bunch at the bottom.

Have fun and show us a picture if you can.

Peace

Gail

Just about anything that doesn't have a high water or oil content in it. I made a couple with white rice (what I had on hand). I won't be making them with rice anymore as the price has shot 'WAY up.

I put mine in the freezer - my achy bits respond better to chill, not heat.

Good morning: The most common filler is BUCKWHEAT HULLS. I tried dried beans but after a while they started smelling bad,(of course).
I use plain white rice, that works well.
I like the idea of adding herbs or flowers to the mix.

Around here everyone uses wheat because that's what's handy. I have used wheat and rice mixed, plain rice and plain wheat.

I also saw an old magazine article on making them and the author used cherry pits.

I read that large corn kernels hold heat the longest. The corn sold at walmart for squirrels or deer is great, because it has been split open. Four pounds is about right for a bag. Heat it for two minutes in the microwave.

mindwing

My sister makes these, and she uses rice mixed with some pearl barley. She puts lavender in some too. I have several of different sizes for different aches and pains.

My first one was called a "Bed Buddy" so that is what we call them. I didn't know about using anything except rice. I'll have to give it a try.
How well does the buckwheat hulls work? My sister gave me a pillow of it but no one wanted to sleep on it.

Buckwheat's nice, I guess... as far as resting your head on a bag of grain. They all feel the same to me.