Foot baths can effectively improve sub-health conditions. Foot bath health therapy is divided into two types: ordinary hot water foot baths and medicinal foot baths. An ordinary hot water foot bath promotes the circulation of qi and blood, unblocks meridians, and improves metabolism by stimulating various acupoints on the feet through the warmth and mechanical action of water. A medicinal foot bath involves selecting appropriate herbs based on traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis, boiling them in water, and then using the resulting liquid for a foot bath. The ions from the herbal solution penetrate the skin under the warmth and mechanical action of the water, entering the human circulatory system to achieve the purpose of disease prevention and treatment.
Foot bath therapy is one type of foot care and also falls under traditional Chinese external treatment methods. There are many classic ancient records and descriptions of foot baths, such as "In spring, washing your feet raises yang and prevents slipping; in summer, it removes dampness and heat; in autumn, it moistens the lungs and nourishes the intestines; in winter, it warms and stimulates the lower abdomen."
The indications for foot bath therapy are extensive, capable of improving various sub-health states, such as fatigue, forgetfulness, soreness in the waist and legs, memory decline, cold hands and feet, etc. Additionally, it has therapeutic effects on some diseases like hypertension, insomnia, heel pain, and bedwetting. Due to its simplicity, convenience, comfort, and significant results, it has become a popular health maintenance method in recent years.
Below are two recommended medicinal foot bath formulas for selection:
Health-Preserving Foot Bath Formula: 15 grams each of Angelica sinensis, Pueraria lobata, Scutellaria baicalensis, Herba Siegesbeckiae, and Ziziphus jujuba seeds, 20 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, China Special Steel Network, 10 grams each of Carthamus tinctorius, Szechwan wood, Eupatorium lindleyanum, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Zanthoxylum bungeanum, and 6 grams of Asarum sieboldii. Soak these ingredients, boil them to extract the liquid, and then add warm water for a foot bath.
Heel Pain Foot Bath Formula: 20 grams of Szechwan wood, 10 grams each of Salvia miltiorrhiza, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Artemisia argyi, Styrax benzoin, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Selaginella tamariscina, 15 grams each of Carthamus tinctorius, Paeonia rubra, Herba Siegesbeckiae, and Herba Siegesbeckiae. Soak for an hour, boil to extract the liquid, and then soak both feet.