The Health Benefits of Chinese Footbaths
Why should you start doing foot baths?
Feet are the foundation of the body’s house system.
1/4 of the body’s bones are in the feet which also houses over 72,000 nerve endings. Six acupuncture meridians (liver, gall bladder, kidney, bladder, spleen, and stomach) run through the feet, containing over 70 acupuncture points. It’s also no wonder why feet are the most prone to injury compared to any other body part.
Chinese medicine often compares the body to a tree: your arms are the branches, the torso is the trunk, and the feet are the roots. When we age, we age from bottom up. Thus the roots tend to weaken first and cause mobility issues.
Daily foot soaks are a great way to combat this, especially in the winter and when we’re experiencing sub-zero temperatures. Foot soaks are also great for those who have Raynaud’s or have poor feet circulation. However, even if you’re super healthy or don’t have any big issues going on, a foot bath is also great for relaxation and boosts the immunity.
Participating in a foot bath is a very popular practice in China and in Daoist temples. As far as I can remember, my mom soaks her feet in hot water every night before bedtime. In Chinese culture and medicine, we believe that a 15-30 minute foot bath can wash away the day’s fatigue and bring a good night of sleep. This beats taking a full body bath because not all of us have the time or a tub in the house.
LONG TERM HEALTH BENEFITS OF FOOT BATHS
1. Reduce fatigue
Foot fatigue is a common condition that occurs after you stand or walk for long periods of time. This can cause the muscles in your feet to become over-tired, leading to painful cramps and ongoing discomfort. Hot water foot bath can improve blood circulation, and relax the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the feet.
2. Calm the mind and improve sleep quality
“Foot is our second heart”. Foot bath can improve heart function, and in turn, relax our mind. A relaxed mind can help us fall asleep easily.
3. Lower blood pressure
Within fifteen minutes of doing the foot bath, our peripheral blood vessels expand which helps lower the blood pressure. Long term consistent practice of foot bath (3-4 years) may eliminate the need for blood pressure medication.
4. Improve skin condition and beauty
Massaging the feet during foot bath can stimulate hormone secretion, and improve skin health. Also, hot foot bath can cause slight perspiration without the exercise.
5. Strengthen muscles and bones
Consistent foot bath can improve blood circulation, therefore, more nutrients can reach the feet. Muscles and bones in the feet can be more nourished and become stronger.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
A footbath bucket or a tub. Even a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot can work.
Here’s a link to see what I use at home: https://amzn.to/3HSA0QwTwo bath towel to put under the bucket or nearby when you step out of the bucket and one to dry off your feet.
An electric or stove tea kettle, or a shower with steaming hot water that reaches 98.6-104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another bucket of room temperature or colder water (1 gallon) to temper the water to a temperature of your liking.
Optional add-ins:
Ginger: you can slice up some leftover ginger or juiced ginger root to throw into the foot bath. Ginger helps warms the body, helps with aches and pains, relieves colds with runny nose
Epsom salt: alleviates constipation, reduces fatigue, improves sleep
White vinegar: improves foot odor, prevents fungal infections, enhances circulation
Lemon juice: works as a natural exfoliant to remove calluses
Mugwort: a Chinese herb that you can find on Amazon. Good for tired and swollen feet, https://amzn.to/3A261Db
Essential Oils: a couple drops of lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary can all provide a calming and sensory focused foot bath
Fruit peels: the rind of leftover tangerines and oranges can provide both a wonderful sensory experience and also give a boost of energy
Tibetan Herbs: these herbs are blood invigorating and pain relieving that can help improve circulation and make the feet feel tingling great! You can get the best ones from my colleague’s store at the link below. Use “EL15” to get 15% off!
Tibet Foot Soak Herbs: CLICK HERE!
(Pst! If you click on my affiliates/advertisers links, I am going to receive a tiny commission. AND most of the time, you will receive an offer. Win/Win! The products that I advertise are the ones I believe in.)
Amazon link here: https://amzn.to/3zVo9OP
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Boil 1 gallon of water and pour into the empty foot bath bucket.
2. Temper the water to your liking with the cold water. Remember, the temperature will be up to you but please don’t burn yourself or expect to sit in extreme heat. Imagine slowly getting into a hot tub. We’re looking for that experience!
3. Sit with feet in footbath for at least 15 minutes. The max is 30 minutes.
4. If the water gets cool and with your feet out, you can add more hot water slowly into the bucket. Get ready for bed or get a foot massage. Or find a significant other to give you a foot massage. ;)
Precaution: If you are pregnant or have any medical issues, discuss doing foot baths with your medical doctor before starting. You should avoid bathing your feet when you are hungry or very full, after drinking alcohol, or when you are very tired. If you feel dizzy during your foot bath, remove your feet from the water, or add cold water to the basin. This will cause your blood vessels to contract, and help relieve dizziness.
Contraindications aka Big No No’s:
Circulatory disturbances, peripheral arterial disease
Impaired sensation (neuropathy)
Blood vessel disorders
Swelling in feet and legs
Varicose veins
Skin rashes on legs
Rheumatoid or gouty arthritis in the feet when the joints are “hot” and swollen
Diabetes
Note: Warm foot baths can be tolerated by most diabetic individuals. If there are good foot pulses present, diabetic individuals can usually tolerate a 102°F foot bath.