When I had my herbal and natural products business, Mystic Naturals, the herbal heating pads were one of my biggest sellers. They are easy and inexpensive to make and also a much appreciated gift.

Not only are herbal heating pads great smelling; they provide warm moist heat to soothe sore muscles & aches. Moist heat therapy works wonders for sore neck and shoulder muscles, back aches, and menstrual cramps.

Only a few ingredients and just basic sewing machine skills are necessary.

• Select a soft fabric such as lightweight corduroy or a fleece without too much stretch. Flannels and cottons are a little thin and don’t hold up as well.
• Cut 2 pieces of fabric 8″ x 12″. Place right sides together and stitch along 3 sides leaving one of the 8″ sides open. Restitch over stitches for extra strength at the seams. Turn right sides out (so seams are on the inside and you have a bag/pouch).
• Fill with 2 cups of dried corn kernels (available at animal feed stores and doesn’t “pop” in the microwave). Add 1 cup of mixed dried herbs such as  eucalyptus, clove, lavender, rosemary, spearmint and cinnamon. Turn in raw edges of fabric and top-stitch closed. Again, stitch over this seam.

These herbal heating packs release a warm moist heat for about 30 minutes when warmed in the microwave for 2 – 3 minutes. The herbal scent is soothing and relaxing. These can also be used as a flexible cold pack by placing in freezer.