A warm compress is an easy home remedy to increase blood flow to sore or infected body areas, which can reduce pain and speed up the healing process. Warm compresses can be moist and dry. You can use a warm compress for a wide range of conditions, like sore muscles,eye issues(especially to treat a stye), ear infections, cramps, and sinus congestion (although you should not use a warm compress within the first 48 hours of a muscle injury).
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When to Use a Dry or Moist Warm Compress
Warm compresses bring more blood into an area. If you have an infection, like a stye or boil, the heat can also help draw pus from the skin, so that the boil (pus-filled bump) or stye (red bump on eyelod) can drain on its own. Never pop a boil or stye.
Warm compresses can be used for many conditions including:
Moist Compresses
Research shows that moist compresses are more effective than dry compresses.The moisture helps retain heat, so that you don’t have to reheat the compress as often. It also helps the heat penetrate your muscles, which encourages more blood flow and healing. The downside to moist compresses is that they can be messy, and you may get wet. Moist compresses are used for:
Dry Compresses
Dry compresses, like a microwavable heating pad, are a quick and easy solution for creating a warm compress. They don’t retain heat as long as moist compresses, but they also aren’t as messy. Dry compresses are most often used for sore muscles.
When to Skip HeatNever apply heat within the first 48 hours of a muscle injury. It can contribute to inflammation and make the injury worse, not better.
When to Skip Heat
Never apply heat within the first 48 hours of a muscle injury. It can contribute to inflammation and make the injury worse, not better.
How to Make a Moist Warm Compress
Making a moist compress can take a few minutes, but the compress will provide lasting warmth. If you use moist warm compresses often, you can purchase a reusable moist warm compress that is microwaved or dipped in hot water before use. Alternatively, you can make your own warm compress at home. Here’s how:
Bundle Method
Research has shown the bundle method is the most effective at delivering moist heat. Here’s how to do it:
Basin Method
This method has fewer steps, but can lose heat more quickly. To try the basin method:
If you need to minimize mess or wetness, you can put the wet towel in a plastic bag. Wrap another towel around the bag, and apply the compress to your skin.
Microwave Method
How to Make a Dry Warm Compress
A dry warm compress utilizes rice, beans, or grain. It is warmed in the microwave and slowly releases heat. The filling is usually encased within sealed fabric. Making a dry warm compress can be tricky, so many people who prefer dry heat opt to purchase a microwaveable heating pad. These compresses are filled with rice, beans, or grain that retain heat and can be used again and again.
However, it’s possible to make your own dry warm compress at home. Here’s how:
Summary
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice packs vs. warm compress for pain.Murakami DK, Blackie CA, Korb DR.All warm compresses are not equally efficacious. Optom Vis Sci. 2015. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000675.Optometrists.Can warm compresses help dry eyes?Cortree.How to make a rice bag heating pad for pain relief.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice packs vs. warm compress for pain.Murakami DK, Blackie CA, Korb DR.All warm compresses are not equally efficacious. Optom Vis Sci. 2015. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000675.Optometrists.Can warm compresses help dry eyes?Cortree.How to make a rice bag heating pad for pain relief.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice packs vs. warm compress for pain.Murakami DK, Blackie CA, Korb DR.All warm compresses are not equally efficacious. Optom Vis Sci. 2015. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000675.Optometrists.Can warm compresses help dry eyes?Cortree.How to make a rice bag heating pad for pain relief.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice packs vs. warm compress for pain.
Murakami DK, Blackie CA, Korb DR.All warm compresses are not equally efficacious. Optom Vis Sci. 2015. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000675.
Optometrists.Can warm compresses help dry eyes?
Cortree.How to make a rice bag heating pad for pain relief.
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