How To Prepare Lavender Neck Wraps From Home

By Krystal Branch


Lavender neck wraps effectively relieve pain and tension in sore muscles. Lavender is a herb which can be used to soothe joint and muscle pain. When filled with grain or rice, these herb-infused microwaveable pads conform to the muscles, thus providing greater relief. Many retail and online stores sell these products, but they can be made at home as well. The following steps provide helpful instruction in assembling one of your own.

There are various fabrics you can use for this purpose. Old shirts, towels, wash cloths or socks work nicely. Avoid using materials that contain metallic threads as these can ignite when used in the microwave. A large thick sock is a good choice, since it is already tubular and sewn around the sides.

Use a fabric tape measure to get measurements of your neck. In order to account for the seams, it may be necessary to add 0.5 inches to the measurements. For those not willing to measure, work with a width of 5 inches and length of 20 inches. This is a standard size for most necks.

Choose a proper filling for this wrap. Oatmeal, barley, flax seeds and long-grain white rice are among common choices for home-made heat wrap. When using rice, avoid instant type as it may cook when put in the microwave. The choice of scent plays a major role in aiding relaxation. In this case, essential oils containing lavender could be mixed in a large bowl with other spices where necessary. Keep this for one to two days and make sure to stir regularly so that the scent could distribute evenly.

Trim the fabric to the measurements you have taken, leaving room for the seams. For a towel or sock, this is not necessary. If you are using an inner and outer fabric, cut rectangles out of both lining and cover material. The lining should be slightly smaller, about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm ).

You will need to fold the material and hold the seams with pins to allow you sew comfortably. You could fold it lengthwise, with the inner side facing out. Sew the length and one end leaving the other open for filling. An alternative is to leave a one-inch opening at the seam of the second end. You could use a machine or a needle and thread. Sew tight stitches that will not allow small grains of rice to pass through.

If you choose to sew an inner and outer bag, leave an open end on the latter. Besides, the outer bag requires regular opening when heating the inner. Through the 1-inch opening left when sewing the second end, turn the material right-side-out. Fill your sack with the scented grains to three-fourths or half full using a funnel. This makes the wrap to take the shape of your neck once in use. You can close up the rest of the seam using a zipper.

The inner bag is heated using a microwave for 90 seconds or till it is warm enough. You can warm at intervals of 30 seconds. The warm bag is then wrapped around the sore muscles on your neck or shoulders for about 20 minutes. Repeat the process until you feel relieved. The fabric on lavender neck wraps ought to be washed and the grains replaced after every three to six months depending on your frequency of use.




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