When you have pain related to muscle fatigue, a painful carbuncle, or you've just got a "shiver in your bones", a warm compress can make you feel much better. Below is a tried and true, neat and tidy, safer than electric, method for making a warm compress.


Steps

1. Saturate a washcloth with water.
2. Fold neatly and place in a plastic bag with a zip closure, leaving the bag open.
3. Place in the center of a microwave oven.
4. Heat on High for 30-60 seconds.
5. Remove the hot washcloth carefully, and place on a dry towel or in a pillow case. (You may want to use tongs.)
6. Close the bag.
7. Wrap the towel around the baggie in such a way that it won't slide out and there is a single layer of towel on one side and all the folds are on the other. If using a pillow case, since it is much thinner, you can just wind it around till you have a nice little package with the baggie in the middle.
8. Place the warm compress over your achy painy place.
9. Remove the compress in 10 minutes and allow the area to cool before reapplying. This is so the skin will not accidentally be burned. Usually the compress will have cooled by then, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Warnings

• Take care when removing the hot baggie from the Microwave as it will be HOT and steamy.
• Do not heat the compress for more than a minute as it will become scorching hot and can melt the baggie.
• Do not allow a warm compress to lie in the same area too long as it can burn. Shift it around slightly every couple minutes while you are relaxing.
• DO remove the compress if it becomes uncomfortable. It is supposed to feel good.