FAQs

What is a Cherry Pit Pac?

A Cherry Pit Pac is a portable, non-electric heating pad and cold pack that is made with cherry pits. It is heated in the microwave for a bout 2 minutes, and will provide a soothing, comfortable, penetrating heat that helps to relieve aches, pains, headaches, stress, tension and more. The heat last for about 20-30 minutes. That is the amount of time most health care professionals recommend for heat therapy.

Why use Cherry pits, why does it work?

Cherry pits are very good at holding heat and cold. They have a center (seed) inside the hard shell that has moisture and natural oil. When a Cherry Pit Pac is placed in the microwave, the center heats up and the shell holds the heat, and the heat is transferred on to the body when being worn. The Cherry Pits can settle into the nooks, crannies and curves of the body to deliver a very penetrating heat or cold.

What can it be used for?

The Cherry-Pit-Pac can be used for any aches or pain, on stiff joints or sore muscles. It works great around the neck, on the lower back, and on areas ot the spine. It is great to use for tension, sinus and migraine head aches. It relieves sinus, menstrual cramps, toothaches, earaches and stomachs. It is excellent for relieving the symptoms of arthritis because of the way the small seeds settle around any body part, allowing the heat to reach the joints. It can be used as a soothing body massage when the cherry pits are gently rolled against the body. It is a great for warming cold feet, and also works as a bed warmer.

How is a Cherry-Pit-Pac different from an electric heating pad or other microwavable heat pack?

• First of all, the Cherry-Pit-Pac is much safer to use. It is non-electric, so there is no danger of electricity next to the body. It stays warm for the amount of time most health care professionals recommend, approximately 20-30 minutes. Because the cherry pits cool off after that amount, there is no danger of falling asleep and getting burned.
• The other important difference is that it is portable. You don't have to find electric outlets, worry about extension cords, or stay in one spot. A person can conveniently move around.
• Another important feature is the way the Cherry-Pit-Pac conforms to the shape of the body. Most heat pads and cold packs are rather rigid.
• A Cherry-Pit-Pac does not have a food odor when heated, does not cook in microwave and eventually break down like a food product would, and it is washable.

How was it discovered that cherry pits could be used for heat and cold therapy?

Cherry pits have been used in Europe for many years for a variety of medicinal purposes. Cherry pits were heated on the warming plate on wood stoves. Then used to relieve aches and pains and as body warmers. Native Americans used to use all kinds of seeds, and other things and other things found in nature for heat. Even today, Natives in some of the rain forest grind up cherry pits and take them for pain relief similar to the way we use aspirin and other pain relief products.

Is the Cherry Pit Pac perfectly safe to heat in the microwave?

When using the microwave, care and common sense needs to be practiced. The Cherry-Pit Pac can be over heated and the fabric and the pits could be come scorched. We suggest you take care when setting the timer, i.e., don't get in a hurry and mistakenly set the timer for 20 minutes and not the required 2-3 minutes. Also, the heating time does depend on the power of your microwave. Microwave power ranges form 600 watts to 12000 watts but the power of your microwave does affect the time taken to heat up. As always supervision needs to be in place if children are using the Cherry-Pit-Pac.