Cold packs are a great item to keep in your freezer for natural home first aid.

My husband has had many back, neck, and shoulder injuries, so we know something about using ice to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and decrease muscle spasms.

Cold therapy works via the natural law of heat exchange. When you place a cooler object in direct contact with a warmer object, the cooler object will absorb heat from the warmer object. After an injury, applying ice numbs nerve endings, reducing pain, and constrict blood vessels in the area of the injury, decreasing the build-up of fluid.

Different methods of cooling product different effects. The best choice for a cold pack is crushed ice. Many years ago--before there were commercial cold packs--our chiropractor told us to use frozen peas. Crushed ice packs work better than gel packs because they last longer and are able to draw more heat out of the tissue.

There are many other uses for cold packs:

• relieve heat-related illnesses in the summer
• reduce the itching, swelling, and inflammation of bug bites
• keep your pets cool
• numb the pain of a skin burn.

Cold packs have advantages (or they wouldn't have been invented!). Though they come in many shapes and sizes to fit different body parts, there are only a few basic types--some better than others for health and the environment.

• Rubber ice bag - The common ice bag must be refilled each time with ice. Many of these contain latex, which can be a problem for people with skin sensitivities.
• Instant cold packs - These disposable products are for one-time use only. They stay cold for only about 20 minutes--so they are not effective enough for real pain relief--and contain ammonium nitrate, which ends up, along with the plastic bag, in landfills.
• Refreezable gel packs - Most contain propylene glycol (similar to the chemicals found in anti-freeze). Some have dyes added.
• Hydro gel packs - Many of these also contain propylene glycol.

The good old rubber ice bag still works fine--the only disadvantage being that you have to keep making ice cubes. A refreezable cold pack can save many gallons of water and be ready when you need it. They are also more comfortable to use.

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