Many people have the habit of soaking their feet in Chinese herbal medicine. Different Chinese herbs can have various benefits for the body. So, what Chinese herbs are needed for elderly foot soaking? Let's briefly understand below.
【Chinese Herbs Needed for Elderly Foot Soaking】
1. Common Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking Formulas
While soaking feet in hot water, if Chinese herbs are added to the hot water, it can have a dual effect of health promotion for some elderly patients with chronic diseases. Here are a few simple foot soaking formulas: for elderly with Qi deficiency, they can choose herbs like Codonopsis, Astragalus, and Atractylodes to tonify Qi. Hypertensive patients can use Chrysanthemum, Goji berries, Mulberry leaf twigs, and Salvia miltiorrhiza to brew foot soaking herbal medicine with a small amount of borneol. Some elderly people may need to promote blood circulation and tonify the kidneys, for which they can choose herbs like Chinese angelica, Red peony, Safflower, and Achyranthes. For elderly people with dry and easily cracked skin, they can choose herbs like Cinnamon twig, Honeysuckle, and Safflower.
Take 15-20 grams of each of the above Chinese herbs, boil them in a pot, then pour the decoction into a bucket, and add hot water. Soak for 30 minutes daily. It is important not to use metal or plastic basins for Chinese herbal foot soaking, as it may cause the loss of effective components of the herbal decoction. If the skin is damaged or injured, foot soaking should be temporarily stopped (except for dry and cracked skin). Chinese herbal foot soaking can only play an auxiliary role in treatment, so elderly people should not consider it as a method for treating diseases in order to avoid delaying medical treatment.
2. Optimal Water Temperature for Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking
The water temperature for foot soaking should not be too hot or too cold, generally maintained at 38℃~43℃. If conditions permit, you can first put your feet in water at around 38℃, then gradually increase the water temperature to around 42℃ and maintain it. The water for foot bathing usually needs to cover the ankles, and should be frequently rubbed. However, diabetic patients should pay attention, as their skin is less sensitive to external stimuli, and water that is too hot can easily cause scalding.
3. Optimal Duration for Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking
Many people like to soak their feet from when the water is hot until it cools completely, or even keep adding hot water and soak for one or two hours, which is incorrect. The optimal foot soaking time is 30-45 minutes, once a day or every other day. However, it is worth noting that elderly people should soak their feet for a shorter period of time, as soaking for too long may cause symptoms such as sweating and palpitations. Therefore, it is best for elderly people to soak their feet for 20 minutes before bed.
【Disadvantages of Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking】
1. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking Affects Blood Circulation
When soaking feet in hot water, the temperature increase in the environment causes the peripheral blood vessels in the legs and feet to dilate, increasing blood flow to the feet.
2. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking Cannot Cure Diseases
The short-term local circulation caused by soaking feet in hot water almost has no significant impact on systemic circulation, and it will not affect core body temperature like bathing or showering. Therefore, for healthy individuals, foot soaking may not cause significant physical changes, and using foot soaking as a treatment for various diseases is not effective.
3. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking Has Moderate Effect on Sleep
For healthy individuals, low-temperature and short-duration foot bathing can assist with sleep, but it has little effect on elderly people or those with poor sleep quality. Long-duration high-temperature foot bathing can increase both peripheral and core body temperature, which is not conducive to sleep.
4. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking Can Cause Flat Feet in Children
Arch formation begins in childhood. If children frequently soak their feet in hot water, it can have an impact on the function of the nerves and blood vessels in their feet. Especially frequent foot soaking or hot foot soaking can cause the ligaments in the child's feet to become relaxed, which is not conducive to maintaining and forming arches. Over time, this can increase the risk of flat feet.
【Health Preservation Recipes for Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking for Different Groups】
1. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking for People with Foot Odor
You can use kudzu root, gallnut, and licorice. Put them in a pot and add cold water. Boil the herbs over high heat, then simmer for about 30 minutes. Stir the herbs two to three times during boiling. Once the herbal decoction is ready, pour it into a basin filled with cold water for foot soaking. Foot soaking with this formula before bedtime can effectively treat foot odor and eliminate it.
2. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking for People with Osteoporosis
Many elderly people experience osteoporosis as they age. You can add Eucommia bark, Cinnamon twig, Japanese knotweed, safflower, and myrrh to the foot soaking water. Boil the herbs in water for 20 minutes before foot soaking, remove the residue, and mix the decoction in a steam foot bath basin. Soak both feet for 30 to 40 minutes before bedtime every day to achieve good results in strengthening bone density and treating osteoporosis.
3. Chinese Herbal Foot Soaking for People with Insomnia
Elderly people who occasionally have poor sleep can use magnet, chrysanthemum, skullcap root, and Chinese knotweed. Add these herbs to the foot soaking water with a suitable amount of hot water. Soaking feet with these herbs can have a calming effect and is suitable for elderly people with weak constitution. Soak feet one hour before bedtime.
