Heat Therapy That'll Knock Your Socks Off

Suggest that patients make a "rice sock" whenever they have a musculoskeletal injury, abscess, stye, or other condition that might benefit from heat therapy. Tell them to pour uncooked rice (the amount depends on the size of the area to be treated) into a clean cotton tube sock, tie off the open end of the sock, then microwave it for about 1 minute until warm (not hot). A rice sock holds heat longer than a hot towel and molds itself to the body part being treated.