Ice

I is for ice.

Ice is your friend. One of those difficult friends who will always tell you the truth if you ask, and you always know where you stand with them, but will also always help you move and the first one you call if you need a trip to the hospital.

Not for frostbite, but aches and swellings, burns and bruises. Snow rubbed on frostbite still held some credibility when I was small, but was largely a debunked home remedy. The belief that ice was only for the first 24 hours, and after that heat, for bruises and injuries, still had a decade or so to run. Certainly contrast baths, and alternating heat with ice, or heat then therapy then ice, still has applications. But for swelling, it's all about ice. Have to be careful with burns, but if kept dry, sure takes the heat down. Works well for itching as well. Icing pads with coolers are standard for orthopedic post op applications. Keeps down post dental surgery swelling, too. There are various clotting and circulatory diseases that don't go with ice, but they are relatively rare.

Shown is a gel ice pack. I've heard of people using bags of frozen peas. But then they can't be eaten, will go bad - so they don't last as long. I figure the cost of a gel pack is far cheaper over it's lifespan. Plus it's not wasting food. And I use icepacks often. I go to bed with one at my back, and just throw it on the floor when it's warmed off. Would not do that with peas. Frozen water cubes in bags ALWAYS leak. So, if that's not a problem, go for it. I've jammed fingers at work, and snagged a cup of ice to keep said finger from swelling. I ice bruises, sometimes with ice massage - paper cup of water frozen, rubbed rapidly on the area until it goes numb. Iced my tattoos when they were fresh and itchy, to immense ease.

D became a convert to my Ice Reverence when he smushed his elbow.

Plus it's pretty.

Can't say I like ice cubes in beverages, though. Every friendship has it's limits.