Monday Health & Wellness: Aromatherapy Bags

I love these aromatherapy bags.  They can be kept cold or hot and you can add any essential oils that you want.  They can be used for a bunch of different conditions, too.  I like to use peppermint and lavender first.  Peppermint aids nausea, headaches, motion sickness and morning sickness.  Lavender aids headaches, promotes restful sleep, and is safe for babies.  You can use oregano or tea tree for antibacterial uses, or blends for muscle soreness, or really whatever you want to do.  I am no expert in essential oils, so do your own research on which ones you want to use.

If you use pure essential oils, these bags are not just nice to smell, they can actually help soothe aches, pains, and ailments!  That is my goal.  We use them most often for headaches and muscle aches, personally.

I talked to a lady who makes them at a craft fair and she said that using flax seeds is better than rice, because the oils on the flax seeds will naturally hold onto the essential oils better.  I’ve tried both myself and I do like the flax seeds.  I’ve used older ones I wouldn’t want to eat and have found cheap ones in bulk stores.  Quality doesn’t really matter here since you won’t consume them.

Supplies:

• 1 rectangle of fabric (any size)
• Flax seeds
• Essential oils

Directions:

Choose any size rectangle of fabric you want.  I have done various different sizes.  Scraps will work if you want!  Small ones might be 4×8 (about 3.5×3.5 finished), larger ones might be 6×16 (5.5×7.5 finished).  You can do whatever you want.  I used flannel but you could use many different fabrics.

Fold your fabric in half.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a rough cut.  Sew up the long sides of the rectangle.

Once it’s sewn, cut the extra off the edges so they are only about 1/4″ from the seam.

Turn the bag you’ve made right side out.

Pour some flax seeds in it.  You want to fill it about 1/3 full.  For a bag this size (it’s about 4×8 finished) I used about 2 c.

Now, add your essential oils.  I probably added about 1/4 tsp. to this (maybe 15 – 20 drops).  Add more or less depending on the size of your bag and how strong you want it to smell.

Then, tuck the fabric in at the top, open side.

Sew the top closed.

That’s it!  Now you have your very own aromatherapy bags.  You can heat them gently in the oven (or microwave, though I’m not sure what this could do to the essential oils), or keep it in the freezer so it’s cold.  Up to you!  I’ve made a few but plan to make a whole set.