Solving the Problem of Cold Feet
Many people, especially women, often have cold hands and feet, even in the winter. It feels like their feet have a different temperature from the rest of their bodies. When they meet someone warm, they always want to snuggle up for warmth. In fact, there is a simple way to improve the problem of cold feet every night, and that is "foot soaking"!
The Principle of Foot Soaking
The feet are one of the places where the body's meridians converge, and the principle of foot soaking is to stimulate the acupoints and reflex zones on the feet, promote blood circulation, and increase the body's metabolism through warm water. Since we have to spend a little time soaking our feet every night, we might as well learn how to do it correctly to achieve the best results and not waste our soaking time.
Six Tips for Foot Soaking
1. Soaking Bucket
A regular plastic bucket is not suitable for foot soaking because it does not retain heat, and the water will quickly cool and freeze, making it difficult to maintain the same temperature during foot soaking. It is best to use a wooden bucket, which is more insulated. However, wooden buckets are more expensive to purchase in Canada. If you cannot find a wooden bucket, you can use a common foot bath machine, which can maintain a constant water temperature and is cheaper than a wooden bucket.
2. Timing of Foot Soaking
Since foot soaking can accelerate blood circulation throughout the body, it is best to avoid doing it on an empty stomach or when feeling hungry to prevent dizziness. It is also best to avoid foot soaking within half an hour after a meal as it may affect the blood supply to the stomach and cause indigestion. It is best to do foot soaking one to two hours before bedtime, which can relieve foot muscle tension and relax nerves and help promote sleep.
3. Water Depth
There are many acupoints on the feet, so the water level for foot soaking should be higher than the ankle. It is best to soak until the "Sanyinjiao" acupoint, which is about three inches above the ankle and four fingers wide. If the foot soaking bucket is deep enough, you can also soak until the "Zusanli" acupoint or below the knee. Both acupoints are beneficial to the body, especially for women, who can also massage them during their free time.
4. Water Temperature
The best water temperature is around 40℃, and on very cold days, you can try to raise it to 42℃. If the water temperature is too high, the blood vessels in the feet will excessively dilate, and the blood will flow to the lower extremities, affecting the blood supply to other vital organs such as the heart and brain. Therefore, the water temperature should be slightly higher than body temperature. Remember that everyone has different heat tolerance, so try the water temperature with your feet first to find the most suitable temperature and avoid burning yourself.
5. Soaking Time
It is best to soak your feet for more than 20 minutes, which allows enough time for blood circulation. However, do not exceed 30 minutes, which may cause blood vessels to dilate for too long, or cause skin damage on the feet. Therefore, soaking for 20 to 30 minutes is the optimal duration.
6. After Soaking
After soaking your feet, be sure to dry them thoroughly with a towel. If your body is slightly sweating, remember to dry it off instead of using a fan. Afterwards, apply moisturizing lotion to prevent dryness or cracking.
Many recommend adding different materials such as mugwort leaves or ginger slices to the soak, but everyone's physical condition is different, especially for women during their menstrual period. Therefore, before adding any materials, be aware of your own physical condition. Additionally, elderly people who are weak or have high blood pressure should not soak for too long.
I hope the above tips can help you regain warmth in your feet, and help you spend the winter feeling warm and comfortable!
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