Winter health preservation starts with foot care and maintaining the blood and energy of the feet.

by cshelive9520 on 2012-03-05 11:53:28

Since ancient times, various methods of foot care have been prevalent, similar to quick Chinese herbal weight loss secrets. As the weather gets colder, various footbaths become hot-selling products in malls. The health of one's feet represents the overall health of the body; "nurturing roots strengthens trees, nurturing feet benefits people." Proper foot care brings many benefits to overall health. "There are countless nerve endings on the feet that are closely connected to the nervous center," Chen Hongliang explains. If a part of the body experiences disease, a corresponding reflex point can be found on the foot. Common ailments such as dizziness, insomnia, and osteoporosis can be treated by adjusting the related reflex points on the feet. Therefore, people should pay sufficient attention to their feet in daily life.

Massage and foot bath therapy are simple and effective. "Protecting the feet is actually quite simple, requiring only some easy-to-implement methods," says Chen Hongliang. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, for treating conditions like dizziness, insomnia, and osteoporosis, massage and foot baths are both simple and effective methods. "For example, with massage therapy, accurately massaging the reflex points on the feet can alleviate symptoms or even cure certain diseases," Chen Hongliang states. For those suffering from insomnia, they can soak their feet in hot water before sleeping, then perform reflexology massage on the feet. First, rub the soles until warm, then massage the tops and sides of the feet. Focus on pressing key reflex zones like the kidney, heart, and liver. Doing this every night will significantly improve sleep quality. Combining massage with foot baths enhances the effect. Insomnia patients can boil 20 grams of sour jujube seeds, 20 grams of polygala root, 10 grams of mimosa bark, and 5 grams of cinnabar, and soak their feet for 20 minutes before bed, followed by a massage.

Foot care has certain contraindications. "Nowadays, there are many foot massage tools on the market like massage balls, magnetic wave wheels, and footboards, and many footbaths come with massage functions, making foot care much simpler," reminds Chen Hongliang. Although foot massage promotes health, it is not suitable for healthy individuals right before or after meals. Elderly people with cardiovascular diseases should be cautious during foot baths, as soaking the feet may cause more blood to flow to the lower limbs, potentially leading to dizziness due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. If symptoms like chest tightness or dizziness occur, stop soaking immediately, and seek medical help if necessary.

Elderly people who enjoy soaking their feet in winter should limit each session to 15-30 minutes, and drinking water while soaking is beneficial. "Elderly individuals with hypertension or heart disease should be careful when choosing footbaths with electro-acupuncture and hydrotherapy functions," advises Chen Hongliang.

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