Use in Place of an Electric Heating Pad
Heat has long been used as a natural pain reliever. In times past we used a rubber bottle filled with hot water to soothe toothaches, backaches, menstrual and other stomach cramps, aching muscles, neck aches and more. I remember when my mother discovered the joy of electric heating pads. You could apply heat more evenly and directly with heating pads and they were more comfortable than the hard bulky water bottles.But electric heating pads have many disadvantages; more obviously is the threat of electrocution. As with any electrical item you need an outlet to plug the pad into also. The heat can get too high and damage tissue. Heating pads cannot be used on people with poor circulation as they often can not judge when the heat is too high. You should not use electric heating pads on children or infants either.
There is a wonderful heating pad that you can make yourself which is an all natural heat source with no electricity. This heating pad stays warm for quite a long time also. It can be contoured to fit any body surface, unlike the hot water bottle. The warmer is filled with unpopped popcorn which can be heated in the microwave and will not pop; this heating pad will retain warmth for quite some time. My daughter uses hers quite frequently and prefers it to an electric heating pad. These make excellent gifts for those recuperating from surgery. Elderly persons enjoy them also as they are frequently cold and suffer from arthritis. Here's how to make your popcorn warmer.
Materials:
1/2 yard of flannel fabric
a two pound bag of popcorn
Procedure:
Cut fabric into to two 1/4 yard strips.
Fold each piece, right sides together, to make a 9x18 rectangle
Sew up two long sides of each piece. Use a tight zigzag stitch on one of the pieces. This is the one you will fill with popcorn and the zigzag stitch will prevent spillage.
Turn both pieces inside out.
Fill zigzagged piece with popcorn.
Turn open short edge to inside and sew this opening shut using a top stitch.
Make a pillow case from the other piece but turning open edge inside and hemming.
You can remove the outer pillow case to wash if necessary.
To heat: microwave in oven about three minutes.
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