Before going to bed, people have the habit of soaking their feet in hot water to drive away the coldness in their bodies. Ginger foot soaking is a commonly chosen herbal remedy for foot soaking in winter. Let's take a look at the method of ginger foot soaking and who should avoid it.
1. Method of ginger foot soaking
1. Adjust the temperature of the foot soaking water.
The temperature of the foot soaking water is generally recommended to be between 38-43 degrees Celsius, but it is best not to exceed 45 degrees Celsius.
2. Choose the right foot soaking container.
Since it is foot soaking, it should reflect the "soaking" aspect. The concept of "soaking" here means that there should be plenty of water, sufficient heat, and a long soaking time. It is not enough to simply put some water in a basin. That would not have any health benefits, at most it would just be washing the feet instead of foot soaking.
2. Requirements for ginger foot soaking container
1. The material should be harmless, safe, and have good insulation performance.
2. The height should generally be over 20 centimeters (above the ankle joint).
3. The structure can include some microcomputer foot bath devices.
3. Who should avoid ginger foot soaking?
1. People with excessive yang and yin deficiency.
People with excessive yang and yin deficiency are sensitive to heat. Soaking their feet with ginger may worsen their symptoms.
2. People with cardiovascular diseases.
People with cardiovascular diseases are also not suitable for ginger foot soaking. The high temperature increases blood flow, putting a greater burden on the heart and blood vessels in a short period of time, which may lead to dangerous situations.
3. People with diabetic foot.
People with diabetic foot have poor perception of external temperatures, so they are not suitable for ginger foot soaking or soaking in hot water, in order to avoid injuries.
4. People with skin ulcers.
People with foot ulcers, inflammation, abscesses, or dermatitis are not suitable for ginger foot soaking, as it may cause infection in the wounds.
5. Infants and young children.
Infants and young children have a pure yang body constitution and are naturally warm. Using ginger foot soaking will only make them hotter and may lead to symptoms of fever. Therefore, it is not recommended for infants and young children to use ginger foot soaking. Generally, washing their feet with warm water is enough.
4. Precautions for ginger foot soaking
1. Avoid excessive sweating.
When soaking feet with ginger, it is enough to have a slight sweat. You can stop foot soaking after about half an hour. It is not advisable to sweat excessively during the foot soaking process. Although it can help eliminate coldness and waste from the body, sweat is also an important bodily fluid. If the body lacks bodily fluids, it will lead to dryness and loss of nutrients in the body, resulting in deficiency of yin.
2. Do not soak feet within half an hour after a meal.
It will affect the blood supply to the stomach, which can lead to malnutrition in the long run. After eating, most of the blood in the body flows to the digestive system. If hot water is immediately used to soak the feet, the blood that should flow to the digestive system will instead flow to the lower limbs, which may affect digestion and absorption and lead to nutrient deficiency. Therefore, it is best to wait for half an hour after a meal before soaking the feet.
3. Do not soak feet for too long.
It is recommended to soak feet for 15-30 minutes. During foot soaking, blood flows to the lower limbs, which may lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain. If patients with cardiovascular diseases or the elderly feel chest tightness or dizziness, they should temporarily stop foot soaking and take a rest. Diabetic patients have poor peripheral sensation, so their family members should test the water temperature first to prevent scalding.
These are the methods and contraindications of ginger foot soaking. Please pay attention to them during the foot soaking process.
