Never Underestimate the Power of Feet in Water
Although other of life’s daily events have superceded the foot bath ritual begun some years ago in our family, the many benefits of this tradition should certainly be incentive to bring it back - and soon!
It is a lovely, deeply relaxing or exhilarating (depending on temperature, and additives) way to spend time with the family, or just by yourself, and it doesn’t take a lot of preparation or accoutrements. You can use a large soup pot if you have nothing else! Dishpans work great. Or hang out on the edge of your bathtub.
Hot Foot Baths:
Cover feet and ankles with hot water ranging from 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a cool wet compress on your forehead (dampen with rose water or orange blossom water, and you will know what heaven smells like!), and make sure there is a refreshing drink of cool water within reach. Soak for 5 to 20 minutes depending on your tolerance. When you are finished soaking, pour warm water over your feet, then pour cool water (always end with cool), and dry thoroughly.
Reported Benefits of Hot Foot Baths:
- Relaxes feet and legs
- Revives tired, sore feet
- Eases foot and leg cramps
- Warms the entire body and makes chronically cold feet warmer
- Alleviates the pain of gout
- Lessons the discomfort of menstrual cramps
- Promotes a healthy sleep schedule
- Tempers a pesky sore throat or cold
Contraindications to a Hot Foot Bath:
Like with anything, there are certain folks who shouldn’t engage in certain activities due to certain health circumstances.
In this instance those people include:
Insulin dependent diabetics; those with Peripheral Vascular Disease (Arteriosclerosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Buerger’s Disease); loss of peripheral sensation or frostbite.
****Consult your physician/primary care giver if there is any question about the appropriateness of hot water foot soaking.
Warm Foot Baths:
This bath is more comfortable/suitable for the elderly, children, or individuals with a weakened constitution.
Water temperature should be kept between 80 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow the procedure above for Hot Foot Bath, just using warm water temperatures.
Reported Benefits of Warm Foot Baths:
- Relaxes feet and legs
- Aids in circulation
- Can alleviate a stiff neck
- Relieves congestion in other parts of the body
Contraindications to a Warm Foot Bath:
****Consult your physician/primary care giver if there is a question about the appropriateness of warm water foot soaking.
Cold Water Treading:
From the time I was very young one of the most delicious things I enjoyed doing was to tread ankle-deep back and forth in the cold shallow waves of Long Island Sound. There is nothing like that sensation - truly one of life’s euphoric pleasures.
If you find yourself living far away from the sea, you might at least have a bathtub to fill up with ankle level cold water (50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) to pace back and forth in for 5 to 10 minutes. (Hold on to a railing or something - no slipping allowed!) No bathtub? How about that multipurpose dishpan again- you can kind of tread in place…Habit forming to be sure.
Reported Benefits of Cold Water Treading, or Cold Water Foot Baths:
- Deliriously enjoyable
- Combats exhaustion, and increases vitality
- Assists with poor circulation
- Great for aching, tired feet
- Helps remedy congestion of the throat, nose or bronchioles
- Strengthens the constitution
- Strengthens weak ankles
- Calms nerves
- To ease after workout aches and pains of legs and feet
Contraindications to Cold Water Treading, or Cold Water Foot Baths:
Those with Rheumatoid Arthritis in toes, feet and ankles; pelvic inflammation; bladder or rectal inflammation, infection, or irritation; sciatica; during menstruation; or if there is any inflammation of the chest, abdomen or pelvic organs.
****Consult your physician/primary care giver if there is a question about the appropriateness of cold water treading or foot soaking.
Water is an unparalleled therapeutic resource and easily accessible to a great number of us, depending of course on where one lives. We will periodically explore many of its other uses and benefits. You will find them in the category marked ‘Hydrotherapy’.
If you are interested in two exceptional resources on the subject, these books may be found on Amazon.com - just click on the titles.
Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D., The Complete Book of Water Healing
Leon Chaitow, Hydrotherapy: Water Therapy for Health and Beauty (Health Essentials Series)
