Since ancient times, foot soaking is a common way of health preservation, especially in cold weather, which can drive away cold and moisture, promote blood circulation in the feet, eliminate fatigue, and make the body feel comfortable.
Soaking your feet in hot water can effectively relax your body and mind, promote blood circulation, and relieve fatigue. This process helps to reduce stress, relieve muscle tension, and improve the quality of sleep.
When the feet are soaked in warm water, the blood vessels dilate and the blood flow velocity increases, and this physiological response helps the body relax, making it easier to fall into a state of deep sleep.
01
What are the benefits of soaking your feet in hot water?
1. Soak your feet in summer: get rid of heat and dampness
In summer, the humidity is heavier, and many people will experience symptoms such as decreased appetite, sleepiness, and irritability, so soaking your feet can promote perspiration, help remove summer dampness, and increase appetite.
2. Soak your feet in winter: improve blood circulation
In winter, when the temperature is low, soaking your feet can increase blood flow to your feet, promote blood circulation, and relieve headaches.
3. Soak your feet before going to bed: soothe and help you sleep
Studies have found that soaking feet in hot water can promote blood circulation, relieve back pain, bone pain, and promote sleep.
Although hot water foot soaking has the above benefits for ordinary people, it is not suitable for everyone, some people if they soak their feet in hot water for a long time, not only can not achieve the effect of health preservation, but may cause diseases, and even life danger.
02
These 4 types of people are not suitable for hot water foot soaking
1. Patients with heart disease
For healthy people, the time spent soaking their feet generally does not matter. However, for some special populations, too long may cause dizziness or even fainting. For example, people with heart disease, low blood pressure, or people who often get dizzy.
2. Diabetic foot patients
Due to the fragility of the skin of diabetic foot patients, the peripheral nerves of their feet are not sensitive to temperature. As a result, they may not be able to feel the temperature of the water that a normal person finds hot and are easily scalded.
Once burned, even a small blister, if left untreated, can lead to foot infection, ulceration, and even amputation.
3. Patients with varicose veins
Patients with varicose veins should be cautious about soaking their feet, as hot water soaking can make varicose veins more severe, and a lot of blood enters the feet and cannot return to the heart, making varicose veins worse.
4. Patients with beriberi
Patients with beriberi should pay attention to the fact that when their condition is particularly severe, especially when they have blistered, they should not soak their feet in order to prevent further infection of the wound.
Healthy people should also pay attention to the fact that if there are some people around you who have athlete's foot, then you must not soak your feet with them, sharing a bucket of water, athlete's foot can be contagious.
In addition, if some people have foot inflammation or skin diseases, even if it is a traumatic injury, they should not enjoy hot water foot soaking.
03
Appropriate time and method of foot soaking
The best time to soak your feet is usually 1 to 2 hours before bedtime, which helps your body gradually cool down after soaking your feet and prepare you for sleep. Methods of soaking your feet include choosing the right water temperature and soaking time.
At the same time, some herbs can be added in moderation, such as mugwort leaves, peppermint, etc., when soaking the feet, to achieve a better soothing effect. In addition, after soaking your feet, you should dry your feet and keep them warm to avoid getting cold to keep your body relaxed.
04
Although it is good to soak your feet, don't touch the three misunderstandings
1. Soak your feet for too long
It is best to control the foot soaking time in 3-5 minutes, too long soaking will cause the blood vessels in the feet to dilate, and the blood flow to the lower body, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the heart and brain, causing dizziness and other symptoms.
2. The water temperature for soaking your feet is too high
The water temperature should not be too high when soaking the feet, and it should be between 40-45 degrees Celsius to avoid burns or tissue damage.
3. Soak your feet immediately after eating
Soaking your feet immediately after a meal may cause a large amount of blood to flow to the lower body, affecting the digestion and absorption of food in the stomach and intestines. It is recommended to soak your feet after a while to avoid affecting digestion.
It is recommended that the best choice of foot soak is around 9 o'clock in the evening, with a water temperature of 40-45 degrees to soak the feet, you can also match some ginger, safflower, Chinese medicine, etc. to promote blood circulation, soak until the body sweats slightly and stop.
Soaking your feet in hot water every day does have the effect of health care, but it is worth noting that for different groups of people and different health conditions, it is best not to soak your feet in the four categories mentioned above, let alone use hot water to soak your feet for a long time. Otherwise, it will not have any health benefits and will cause unnecessary burden on health.
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