Tips On Preparing Your Own Lavender Neck Wraps

By Krystal Branch


Lavender neck wraps effectively relieve pain and tension in sore muscles. Lavender is a herb which can be used to soothe joint and muscle pain. When filled with grain or rice, these herb-infused microwaveable pads conform to the muscles, thus providing greater relief. Many retail and online stores sell these products, but they can be made at home as well. The following steps provide helpful instruction in assembling one of your own.

Begin by choosing a suitable fabric. Different fabrics exist in the stores but one can recycle old towels, shirts, socks among others. Of importance is to stay off materials that contain any metals as these can catch fire when heating the wrap. A large thick sock would be your best option since it comes in tubular shape and already sewn on the sides.

Measure your neck. You could use a fabric tape measure and mark 0.5 inch extra to cater for the seams. For those unable to measure their neck, use the standard size of 20 inches (52 cm) and 5 inches in width. These are the measurements you will use to cut your fabric.

Choose a proper filling for this wrap. Oatmeal, barley, flax seeds and long-grain white rice are among common choices for home-made heat wrap. When using rice, avoid instant type as it may cook when put in the microwave. The choice of scent plays a major role in aiding relaxation. In this case, essential oils containing lavender could be mixed in a large bowl with other spices where necessary. Keep this for one to two days and make sure to stir regularly so that the scent could distribute evenly.

Trim the fabric to the measurements you have taken, leaving room for the seams. For a towel or sock, this is not necessary. If you are using an inner and outer fabric, cut rectangles out of both lining and cover material. The lining should be slightly smaller, about 0.5 inch (1.3 cm ).

Fold this material along its length with the inner part facing out. You could use pins to secure the cloth along the seams so that you can sew properly. Sewing is by thread and needle or a machine. Make tight seams that will not allow tiny rice grains to come out when the wrap is in use. Leave an opening of about 1 inch (2.54 cm) on one end.

If you choose to sew an inner and outer bag, leave an open end on the latter. Besides, the outer bag requires regular opening when heating the inner. Through the 1-inch opening left when sewing the second end, turn the material right-side-out. Fill your sack with the scented grains to three-fourths or half full using a funnel. This makes the wrap to take the shape of your neck once in use. You can close up the rest of the seam using a zipper.

When using the lavender neck wraps, the inner bag is warmed by placing it in a microwave and heat for 90 seconds. One can continue heating in intervals of 30 seconds if the bag does not warm enough. Place the warm bag around the shoulders and leave it there for about 20 minutes. Always clean your wrap regularly and replace the grains depending on how frequently you use it.




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