There are 4 benefits of hot water foot bath in winter, but these 5 types of people need to be cautious

Editor's note: As the saying goes: "Hot water soaking your feet is better than taking tonic medicine." Hot water soaking your feet has been a very popular way of keeping healthy since ancient times, especially in winter, when hot water soaking your feet can drive away the cold and warm up the body. So, how can you soak your feet for the best health effects? Which groups of people should be extra cautious when soaking their feet? In this issue, the editor will talk to you about soaking your feet.

There are four benefits of soaking your feet in winter

Foot soaking is a health care method in traditional Chinese medicine. It has the effects of accelerating blood circulation, stimulating acupuncture points, relieving fatigue and dispelling cold. It can also improve the body's immunity and help resist various diseases. There are many benefits to foot soaking in winter, but there are also some things to pay attention to.

First, it helps relieve insomnia. When soaking your feet, you can add pebbles to the basin and rub your feet while soaking them. This can strengthen the spleen and qi, calm the mind and improve sleep quality.

Second, it helps to dredge the meridians. In winter, many women have poor peripheral circulation and cold hands and feet. Soaking feet in hot water can promote blood circulation and improve the phenomenon of cold hands and feet.

Third, it helps to relax the body and mind. There are many acupuncture points, reflex areas, and meridians on the soles of the feet. If you soak your feet and massage them regularly, it will have a good health-care effect on your body.

Fourth, it helps relieve headaches. Soaking your feet in 40°C hot water for about 15 to 20 minutes can relieve headache symptoms. This is because the blood vessels in the feet dilate, and blood flows from the head to the feet, which can relatively reduce brain congestion and thus relieve headaches.

The "three no's" and "two degrees" principles of foot soaking

To achieve the ideal health-preserving effect of foot soaking, it is not enough to simply soak your feet in hot water. You also need to master some correct and simple methods and grasp the principles of "three nos" and "two degrees".

Three No's

It is not advisable to soak your feet immediately after a meal. Soaking your feet after a meal is the choice of many people, but it should be noted that since the stomach needs blood supply for digestion after a meal, soaking your feet will drain blood to other parts of the body. In order to avoid indigestion, it is recommended to soak your feet one hour after a meal.

Don't read books or watch TV while soaking your feet. Watching TV or reading newspapers while soaking your feet is very pleasant, but it is actually not a good habit. When reading or watching TV, you need to concentrate, the brain needs to concentrate blood supply, and the feet are less sensitive to temperature. It is recommended to listen to some light music while soaking your feet to relax your body and mind.

Don't go to bed right after soaking your feet. Soaking your feet before going to bed is also the choice of many people. After soaking your feet, we all think that our bodies are warm, and it is better to cover ourselves with a quilt to sleep. In fact, after soaking your feet, the temperature has not completely reached the whole body. At this time, it is recommended to do some simple and easy massages on the feet and calves to transfer the heat to the whole body, so that you can sleep more warmly in winter.

Twice

Temperature. Most people like to use very hot water for foot bathing in winter, but too high a temperature can easily cause excessive dilation of blood vessels and excessive reflux, which can easily cause dizziness and headache, so the recommended temperature for foot bathing is around 45°C.

Time length. Sometimes when we soak our feet, we listen to music and unconsciously soak for half an hour or even longer. However, soaking your feet for too long will not only cause excessive blood reflux and cause dizziness and head swelling, but it is also bad for the skin and is prone to local skin dryness and other problems. 20 to 25 minutes is enough.

5 types of people need to be cautious when soaking their feet

Although soaking your feet in hot water is a pleasant thing in the cold winter, it may not be suitable for everyone. The following 5 types of people need to be extra cautious when soaking their feet.

Patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For people with underlying vascular diseases, factors such as long foot bathing time and high temperature may increase the burden on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system. For such people, the water temperature should not be too hot when bathing their feet, generally 40℃~45℃ is the best; the bathing time should not be too long, about 10 minutes is enough, otherwise it will lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain and heart, and symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo will occur.

Diabetic foot patients. The skin of diabetic foot patients is relatively fragile, and the peripheral nerves of the feet are not sensitive to temperature. Normal people feel that the water temperature is very hot, but they cannot feel it, so they are easily burned. Once burned, even a small blister, if you do not seek medical treatment in time, it may lead to foot infection and ulceration, and even amputation in severe cases.

Patients with varicose veins. The main cause of varicose veins is venous valve insufficiency. The increase in foot temperature will only increase local blood flow, but will not change the speed of venous return. Instead, it may increase the burden of venous return, leading to further expansion of varicose veins, aggravating congestion of the lower limbs, and worsening the condition. It is likely that the feet will become more swollen the more you soak them. Therefore, do not soak your feet or legs in hot water, and do not use hot water bottles to warm your feet or take a sauna.

Patients with skin diseases such as tinea pedis. Many people mistakenly believe that soaking feet can alleviate the symptoms of tinea pedis. In fact, soaking feet in hot water may lead to secondary bacterial infection. For wounds that have already been broken, soaking feet in hot water will make the situation worse. The wound must be left open, dry and ventilated. Patients with herpes, eczema and other diseases on the feet should not soak their feet in hot water. Once the skin is broken, it is easy to cause infection.

Children. If your child's feet are not very cold, there is no need to soak their feet. The arch of the human foot gradually forms during childhood. If you frequently soak your feet in hot water at this time, it may cause the ligaments on the soles of your children's feet to become loose, which is not conducive to the formation and maintenance of the arch of the foot. In the long run, it will increase the risk of flat feet.

Adding some "ingredients" when soaking your feet is more beneficial to your health

When soaking your feet, adding some "ingredients" to the water is more beneficial to your health. You can choose to use them according to your own situation. First, put these "ingredients" into the pot and add water to boil. When the water temperature is suitable, wash your feet repeatedly.

Mugwort: bitter and warm in nature, it has the effects of warming the meridians and stopping bleeding, dispelling cold and relieving pain, removing dampness and relieving itching. People with heavy moisture in the body, dysmenorrhea, cold uterus, irregular menstruation, itchy skin, cold and flu, etc. can use mugwort to soak their feet.

Ginger: It is warm in nature and spicy in taste. It has the effect of warming the meridians, dispelling cold and keeping warm. Soaking your feet in ginger can help relieve the symptoms of cold hands and feet, and also prevent colds.

Sichuan pepper: Sichuan pepper is used as a traditional Chinese medicine to promote qi circulation, dispel cold, and relieve pain. Soaking your feet in Sichuan pepper can help unclog your blood vessels and make your whole body feel warm.

Radish: People with smelly feet can soak their feet in radish to remove the odor. (People's Health Network compiled from Health Times, Life Times, and China Traditional Chinese Medicine News)