How to make Hot Sox

What you need:

* A clean cotton sock

* Uncooked rice

* A piece of yarn, ribbon or string, not plastic

* A microwave and / or a freezer

* A small pillow case may be substituted for the sock if you wish a

larger pad.

How to:

1. Get a clean cotton sock and fill it with uncooked rice. Don't pack

it in tightly, but leave some room for the grains to move around, so

that it will more easily conform to the area to be treated.

2. Tie the open end of the sock with yarn, ribbon or string.

3. Put the filled sock in a microwave oven for approximately 2

minutes (or to chill the sock, put it in a freezer for about 45

minutes). Heating time depends on the size of your sack and the

strength of your microwave.

4. Shake the rice sock to evenly distribute the heated or chilled rice.

5. Apply the sock to the desired body part.

6. To use for physical therapy, just create a smaller rice sock and

knead it slowly and gently with the affected hand. As time passes and

the hand gets stronger, knead harder.

Add-on's

* You can add a few drops of your favorite scented oil, such as pure

essential lavender, rose, geranium, or other scent that appeals to

you.

* You can add some dried herbs to provide scent, as well. A popular

mix is dried lavender, chamomile and lemon peel.

* Use Jasmine rice because of it's nice aroma

* A small amount of Vick's Vaporub can create an aromatic and

therapeutic aid that will help with colds or allergies.

Tips:

* New rice will give off quite a bit of moisture when microwaved and

will smell strongly. The more your sock/beanbag is used and

microwaved the less damp it will feel and the smell will gradually

fade.

* The foot of an old pair of pantyhose could be used as the inside

layer of a two layer sock to keep the rice from migrating through a

less tightly woven outer sock.

* A small pillow case may be substituted for the sock if you want a

pad that covers more area. Remember, more area means slightly longer

heating/cooling time.

* If you have no materials around to seal the sock, just tie a knot

in the end of the sock itself or sew up the end of the sock to create

a permanent seal.

* To be prepared for the unexpected, keep one in your freezer, so

it's ready to use at a moment's notice.

* Flax seed (those little things you find in birdseed) is another

possibility. Flax seeds are small, hard, smooth brown seeds about the

size of a sesame seed. Their smoothness makes them conform very well

to any shape.

* Corn seed (available at farm outlets) can also be used and the heat

generated seems to last longer. Don't use popcorn for this project!

The corn also has a slight odor when heated. If made from sturdy

material, it can withstand years of daily use!

* If your sox starts to smell funny it could be that the rice after

many uses has become moldy. Pour it out, wash the sox and make a new

one.

Warnings:

* Do NOT use Minute Rice or other quick cooking sorts of rice. It

will start a fire in your microwave.

* To prevent fires, put a glass of water in the microwave with your

rice sock when heating it.

* Never use anything metal to make your rice sock because you will be

using it in the microwave, and microwaves do not like metal.

* Don't use twist ties to close your sock, as they may contain metal.

* Use caution so as not to overheat the sock. Rice socks can cause

severe burns if overheated. The rice can also burn! At the very least

this will smell bad, and it could possibly start a fire or burn a

hole in the sock.

Thanks for reposting this!

teri

Post edited by: zakaroo, at: 04/13/2008 16:54