What are the Benefits and Effects of Foot Soaking during Postpartum Recovery?
Foot bath during convalescence after childbirth has the benefits of relieving fatigue, calming the nerves, strengthening the body, promoting blood circulation, and increasing the amount of breast milk secreted by the mother. This practice keeps the blood flowing smoothly throughout the body, relieves neural fatigue and muscle soreness, regulates the functions of reproductive organs, stimulates detoxification, and ultimately promotes rapid uterine recovery. It also enhances the mother's comfort and emotional state, calms the nerves, and promotes her physical and mental well-being.
Herbal foot baths can stimulate the mother's self-regulatory functions, promote blood circulation, and increase the amount of breast milk secreted. However, there are some precautions to follow when performing a foot bath:
1. The duration should not be too long, ideally controlled between 15-20 minutes. Excessive duration can cause excessive local blood circulation in the feet, leading to increased blood flow to the lower limbs and potentially causing cardiovascular overload. Additionally, the winter climate is naturally dry, and prolonged soaking of the skin in hot water can lead to excessive dryness and skin itching. Therefore, it is recommended to use moisturizing products after a foot bath, regardless of age, to maintain skin moisture.
2. The water temperature should not be too high. Many people believe that the higher the temperature, the better, but this is not the case. The optimal water temperature for a foot bath is below 50°C, warm but not hot. It is best to use your feet to feel the temperature rather than your hands. Excessively high water temperature can cause excessive dilation of blood vessels in the feet, leading to increased blood flow to the lower limbs and potentially causing insufficient blood supply to vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, which is detrimental to health.
3. It is not advisable to perform a foot bath within half an hour after a meal, as it can affect the blood supply to the stomach and lead to malnutrition over time.
4. Do not go to sleep immediately after a foot bath. Rub the bottom of your feet while they are still warm, put on socks to keep them warm, and wait for the body temperature to gradually decrease before going to sleep. This will ensure the best results.
5. It is best to use a deeper wooden bucket or enamel basin with a larger bottom area for a foot bath. This allows the feet to be comfortably placed inside, and it is ideal if the water covers the calves. A water temperature of around 40°C is suitable, and hot water should be added periodically to maintain a consistent temperature.
6. The water should be warm, with a temperature of 40-50°C being ideal. The temperature should be tolerable for the feet to stimulate the acupoints, promote healing, maintain health, and strengthen the body. The amount of water should not be too little, generally covering the ankles. The recommended soaking time is 5-10 minutes each time.
