Is it okay to soak your feet during the day?

It is okay to soak your feet during the day, especially in winter when blood circulation is slow. Soaking your feet when we get up can promote blood circulation. It is good for promoting blood circulation in the soles of the feet and refreshing the mind. It can dredge the meridians and dispel the cold. Soaking your feet during the day is not as beneficial as soaking your feet at night, because after a day of hard work, your feet are more tired and the blood circulation will be slower, so soaking your feet is the best.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the soles of the feet are the meeting point of various meridians, with more than 60 acupuncture points and reflex areas connected to the internal organs of the human body, corresponding to the five internal organs of the human body. Foot soaking can relax the meridians and improve blood circulation.

There is some truth to the saying that soaking your feet in the morning is better than soaking them in the evening. In winter, the human body is more likely to experience cold hands and feet, cold stomach pain and other discomforts caused by cold. In addition, some people always feel cold feet when they put on shoes in the morning, which will affect their work efficiency for the whole day.

In winter, soaking your feet in the morning can not only promote the circulation of qi and blood, dredge the meridians, relieve exterior symptoms and dispel cold, relieve cold hands and feet, dilate capillaries, and promote blood supply to the brain, but also refresh your mind and make you energetic all day. When soaking your feet, use your hands to massage the soles of your feet and the spaces between your toes in warm water, which can also serve as a massage. This should not be a difficult task for retired elderly people at home.

Most people usually soak their feet before going to bed at night, and only a few people soak their feet in the morning. Anyone who can get up early in the morning to soak their feet and get more sleep will be very satisfied, especially in winter. So, in theory it is better to soak your feet in the morning, but in practice it is also correct to soak your feet at night. Just soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes every day until you sweat slightly.

In fact, Chinese medicine does not have many requirements for the time of foot soaking, but soaking feet in the morning and evening does have slightly different effects. The same basin of water will hardly look different in the morning or evening, but the physiological state of the human body is different in the morning and evening. People will inevitably feel sleepy when they just get up in the morning. Soaking your feet at this time can activate blood circulation, restore physical strength, and refresh the mind. Night is the time when kidney qi alternates between strong and weak. Soaking your feet at this time can help replenish kidney qi and relieve fatigue. Soaking your feet before going to bed can help you sleep better.

The method of washing feet in the morning is very simple. Control the water temperature at around 40℃, which should be comfortable and not hot, and soak for about 5 minutes. Use the index, middle and ring fingers of both hands to massage the Yongquan acupoints on both feet for about 1 minute each, and then massage the spaces between the toes for about half a minute. To maintain the water temperature, add appropriate amount of hot water in batches and repeat 3 to 5 times. Adding some Chinese medicine to water can also have a health-care effect.

The water temperature should be 37℃-43℃ and the time should be 15-20 minutes. In addition, the water temperature for foot soaking should be between 37℃-43℃. Do not force yourself to soak in high water temperature, otherwise you may get burned. People with insensitive skin, such as diabetics, should be especially careful when soaking their feet. If the temperature is too high, they will get scalded because they don't notice it in time, so soaking their feet is generally not recommended for diabetics. Except for patients with insensitive skin, children and people with low blood pressure are not suitable for foot soaking. Children have strong yang energy, so there is no need for them to soak their feet normally, unless they have typhoid or a cold. In this case, they can soak their feet in hot water to induce sweating for treatment. After soaking the feet, blood vessels will dilate, blood pressure will lower, and it may cause fainting in people with low blood pressure. In addition, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and acute foot infections are not suitable for foot soaking.

Is it better to soak your feet for a longer time? 15-20 minutes is appropriate. If it exceeds 30 minutes, it will cause relative ischemia in other parts of the body. The time should be extended appropriately for patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, etc. It is also not advisable to soak your feet within half an hour after a meal, as it will affect the blood supply to the stomach. When soaking your feet in low temperatures, you should cover your knees with a large towel to keep them warm. Dry your feet immediately after soaking and make sure to keep your feet warm.