wheat bags

Butterfly_Brain

:rotfl: ROLFLMAO I use rice and have had no probs thanks for the heads up on chicken feed lol

Penelope_Penguin

I've found an existing thread on wheat bags to which I'll add this thread - rice is suggested there, too

Penny. x

Fruball

I'm not sure about the whole rice idea - surely as the grains are small they don't hold heat for long, also, whilst wheat is available in sacks for about £10, rice is much more expensive...

Like the cherrystone idea - will check out ebay

Seakay

You can use pretty much any grain or pip as a filling, it just depends on the texture that you want. I have used wheat, oat groats and rice at various times, and they all seemed to work well and to retain the heat.

If you don't want to spritz the bag, then putting an eggcup of water into the microwave at the same time as the bag will also stop the grains drying right out over time and possibly scorching the material.

Fruball

Except corn... we know you can't use that :rotfl:

Would lentils work?

PurpleFairy26

I think that is what is in them... I am thinking about the bags you heat in the microwave that you can re-use for pain releif. I would like to make my own (if this is the most economical). I have tried to search on here, but can't find anything. Can anyone point me in the direction of what needs to be in them?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Olliebeak

Is this site any use to you?

http://www.diamondthreadworks.com/microwave_heating_bags.htm


I had a great one with cherry stones in it BUT loaned it to somebody who put it in a microwave for about 15mins instead of 3 . I wasn't present when it happened, but the stench of 'scorching' hung around for ages :eek: - you really do have to be careful about timing them in the microwave.

ChapelGirl

This wheat-germ thing has me a bit puzzled.

Wheat germ is the "goodness" from the wheat, so I can see how if you were to eat it you might get some benefit.

It is sometimes sold as an oil which you take in capsule form as it is very high in vitamin E. I am not sure what you would get from applying it externally, though. It might possibly help if applied directly to burns or scars, but I have not heard of it being used in a heated pad before.

BUT I think what you are talking about is a pad which you heat in the oven or microwave to give you relief from pain such as arthritis, am I right?

If so, then I think what you would need would be wheat BRAN. This is the husk which is removed from the wheat when it is milled (turning brown grain into white grain, if you were talking about flour, rice etc.).

Bran is fairly inert, and you can add essential oils, and it can be heated in an oven or microwave and will retain the heat for quite a while. This is why it is used for pain relief.

If you are heating it in a microwave I think they recommend you put a small glass of water in with it to prevent it from scorching.

If what you want is BRAN then you can get it from most health-food shops, and it should be reasonably cheap, as it's the bit the millers usually throw away!

NB Some people add dried lavender flowers to the mixture because it is a relaxing herb and smells nice, but sometimes people can be allergic.

I have made hop pillows before. I have made a cushion padded with sythetic fibre and with 2 good hands-full of hops in the centre. These are very good for insomniacs, and they just need the person's body heat to release the perfumes of hops, so no micrwave required.

Penelope_Penguin

ChapelGirl wrote: »

If so, then I think what you would need would be wheat BRAN. This is the husk which is removed from the wheat when it is milled (turning brown grain into white grain, if you were talking about flour, rice etc.).

I have one and it has wheat grains in it



You can get this from a famer's merchant, or I get mine (for my hens) from a pet-barn Make sure there's no sweetcorn kernels in, or they'll start expanding and making popcorn inside your wheat bag when it goes into the microwave :eek:

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing thread to give you more ideas.

Penny. x

PurpleFairy26

Thanks for your replies - no woner I couldn't find anything searching for wheatgerm!:o

I will definitely make one and I have lots of grains, so I can easily fill it and have some off cuts of material to easily make an inner and a cover. Thanks for all the tips and links about lavander, covers and keeping it from scorching.

As ever.... fab advice all round :T:T