cherry stone thermal cushion

This "dry" hot water bottle, originally from Switzerland, durably releases heat absorbed from a microwave oven. It brings well-being and reassurance, soothes your little one's stomachaches, relieves cramps and stiff necks.

You'll need 2 or 3 lbs cherries to make this thermal cushion. Eat or stone cherries. Put cherry stones with 1 spoon vinagar in a pan. Cover with water and let it boil up. Drain and rinse with clear water. Hand scrub the stones to clean up pulp residue. Let them dry on a dishcloth in the sun or on a warmer.

In order to better spread heat and stay in contact with the body, the cushion should not be too full of stones.

Different shapes exist for cherry stone cushions : long for stiff necks, moon or heart shapes for baby's colic, little square, etc. The perfect minor pain remedy, these thermal cushions have a place in every first aid cabinet.

You can easily store heat in the cherry stones by putting the cushion on a warmer or, for more intense warmth, by heating in a microwave (600 watt power) for 3 minutes. The dry hot water bottle can be used also as a cold compress for bumps, sprains, etc : chill in freezer for 2 hours.

To wash the hot water bottle, put it in a net for delicate linen and wash it 85°F(30°C). Let it dry. Then, if you want to remove the slight scent of bitter almond, you can pour a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus essential oil on the cushion.

With the cherries, you can cook a delicious cherry jam. Using cherry stems, you can concoct a diuretic and detoxifying herbal tea.

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May 2007 [pretty things]
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