Benefits and Precautions of Soaking Feet at Night

Many people like to soak their feet in hot water before going to bed. In fact, this is a good way to maintain health. Soaking feet before bedtime can promote blood circulation and relieve fatigue. Especially for people who often experience insomnia, soaking feet in the evening can be beneficial. Additionally, the acupuncture points on the feet are quite abundant, and soaking feet can also stimulate these points. Let's take a brief look at the benefits of soaking feet at night.

Benefits of Soaking Feet at Night

Do you know the benefits of soaking feet for your health? According to the meridian theory in traditional Chinese medicine, the five internal organs and six viscera originate from the three yin meridians of the foot (spleen, liver, and kidney), and there are 66 acupuncture points below the ankle. During winter, due to the cold stimulus, the blood vessels in the feet constrict, and blood circulation is impaired, which can easily induce various diseases. Hot water soaking can improve local blood circulation, dispel coldness, and promote metabolism, thus playing a role in health preservation. According to medical explanations, there are many acupuncture points on the bottom of the foot. Soaking feet in hot water can accelerate blood circulation and stimulate these points, enabling the body to achieve the effect of health preservation. Generally speaking, it is advisable to soak feet at 9 pm, which is the best time to nourish kidney qi.

Drawbacks and Precautions of Soaking Feet

1. Soaking feet may cause excessive load on the cardiovascular system and skin itching. The time for soaking feet should not be too long, preferably controlled within 15-20 minutes. If the time is too long, the local blood circulation in the feet will be too fast for a long time, and more blood will flow to the lower limbs, causing excessive load on the cardiovascular system. Moreover, the winter climate is dry, and soaking the skin in hot water for too long can lead to excessive dryness and easy skin itching. Therefore, regardless of age, it is advisable to use certain moisturizing products after soaking feet to keep the skin hydrated.

2. Soaking feet may lead to insufficient blood supply to organs. The water temperature for soaking feet should not be too high. Many people believe that as long as the temperature is within their tolerance range, the higher the better. However, this is not the case. The optimal water temperature for soaking feet is below 50°C, which should be warm but not scalding. It is best to use your feet to feel the temperature instead of using your hands to measure it. If the water temperature is too high, the blood vessels on the feet may expand excessively, causing more blood to flow to the lower limbs, which may lead to insufficient blood supply to important organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, which is harmful to the body.

3. Soaking feet may cause malnutrition. It is not advisable to soak feet within half an hour after a meal as it can affect the blood supply to the stomach, leading to malnutrition in the long run.