Yep, but it's not for eating, so it really doesn't belong in the cooking section, but this worked so well, I had to share it.

I bought a cheap bag of white rice, sewed a bag out of some scrap fabric, making sure the corners were well reinforced, left a small opening, turned it right-side out, filled it with rice, sewed it shut, then nuked it for about 2 minutes. I got about 15 to 20 minutes of soothing warmth without having to turn on my heating pad. It stayed very warm for most of that time.

I have some pain where my hamstring attaches, so I've had some major pain deep in my cheek (or, a pain in the butt, if you wish to be crude), and heat has helped to ease the pain, warm the muscle and allow me to do some good stretching. But I need something to use in my chair at work, and a heating pad just wouldn't work, so I did this rice thing, and it worked. The new little pillow will go with me to work, I can heat it in the office microwave oven, and put it in my chair to warm my muscles, which will warm my body, too.

There's still a little rice left in the bag, so I might make a smaller rice pad to use where I just need a little warmth, like my hands. Oooo, it would also be good to warm the foot of the bed at night. What wonderful possibilities out of something none of us low carbers would want to eat.

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Nita

Nita, my DH is a big fan of those rice bags. They work nicely for back pain, etc.

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Someone made one of these for me a couple of years ago. (Still good, too - how long does that stuff take to break down, anyway? )

They're great. The nice thing is that the bag conforms to the shape of whatever you put it on.

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I made a big one specifically for sitting on here at work. I know that if I brought an electric heating pad that the cord would get tangled up in my chair, or I'd trip over it, I'm such a klutz.

I made a little one that was perfect for my neck and shoulder, and it warmed up the foot of the bed nicely last night, my tootsies were warm & toasty, and I fell right to sleep. Maggie, I'm looking forward to mine lasting for years. It will probably get packed in my suitcase whenever we travel, as long as we have a room with a microwave oven, that is!

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Nita

yeah...
I've had my *bed buddy* for prolly 10 years. One of mine is long and round; made for specifically for wrapping around your neck...feels wunnerful!
The other is a large square with straps that you can actually secure around your waist to hold it in place on the lumbar area.

I hate electric blankets, so the bed buddys are how I heat the foot of our bed when its brutally cold! Been doing it for years; I think DH has finally given up on the idea of an electric blanket...hehe!

s

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Shelley


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I've never heard of doing this, but love the idea. So, I take it, the rice doesn't "go bad" and start to smell?

i would never have thought of this..i guess the rice doesn't get yucky 'cause it's not cooked, maybe?

i wonder if you could mix in some lavendar or something like that for a nice, soothing scent, too...

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Guys, try a small one, maybe 3x7 or 8 with a wee touch of lavender (yup, goddess) for your tired eyes. A little warmth and the weight of the rice is so relaxing for those muscles around our eyes I have one I filled with buckwheat, but rice would be perfect, and cheaper, too.

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

do you know it has been about five years since i've bought a bag of rice....


i'll have to give this a try.

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Rice, as far as I can tell, has a very long life as a construction material.

(I like the lavender idea! Maybe I'll make a new, smaller one, as Brenda described, and add some scented material. .... considering a little zipper, so new scented material can be added as needed. )

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A zipper'd be perfect! Hadn't thought of that I've occasionally just tapped a couple of drops of the essential oil on the cotton to absorb through, but then it needs to air out for a while

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108