Grain Packs for Pain Relief

Grain Pack for Pain Relief

When it comes to pain relief, quite often icing is used to reduce swelling and inflammation for the first 72 hours following an injury.  Once this period has passed, icing may be continued as required to control any inflammation as well as heat applied to help with muscle relaxation and pain control.  Heat is also used to alleviate the pain of arthritis, rheumatism, transient or chronic joint and muscle pain. 

Electric heating pads have long been the choice for applying heat to relive pain and sooth sore muscles.  However, an electric heating pad is a very poor choice for several reasons.  First and foremost, electric heating pads produce a dry heat.  When applied to sore muscles it draws moisture from the muscle creating a rebound pain after the heat is removed.  This sets up a cycle of pain relief followed by rebound pain so the electric heating pad really ends up making things worse.  Second there is the potential for being burnt if the heat is turned too high or you fall asleep on the heating pad.  As with any electrical appliance there is the potential for shorting or malfunction that could cause a fire.  Finally, electric heating pads use electricity and with rising electricity costs this is not the ideal solution.   There is another way to get pain relief that is safer, more effective and uses minimal electricity.

Heated grain packs are highly recommended for pain relief.  The grain pack is placed heated for 1 minute on each side in the microwave oven on high.  The pack will then release a moist heat providing relief for 30 minutes or longer.  Grain packs bend easily so can wrap around sore muscles.  In addition to heating, a grain pack can be kept in the freezer to be used as an ice pack when necessary.  I have a special designed one to provide pain relief from my sinuses that fits over both eyes and has soothing essential oils to help with sinus drainage.  This one can also be used cold or hot depending on the symptoms.

Grain packs are very easy and inexpensive to make with basic straight sewing.  The filler can be inexpensive long grain white rice, flax seed, barley or corn.  Make up several in various sizes.  You can make an optional removable cover if desired for easy cleaning similar to a small pillow case.½

Materials
4 - 5 cups of filler
2 squares of heavy fabric 11" x 11"

Place the right sides of the fabric together.  Sew around three sides of the squares leaving a ½-inch seam allowance.  Trim seams and turn to right side.  Smooth the two sewn corners with a ruler.  Fill as desired but not too full.  You want a bit of movement in the filling so it can be wrapped so leave about 1 - 2 inch headspace.  Tuck in  ½-inch along the top edge.  Sew across to form the final seam.  The grain pack is now ready to use.

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