Do you sometimes suffer from cold feet? It's uncomfortable and it's hard to fall asleep with cold feet. A warm or hot foot bath helps to get rid of this quickly, but there are more reasons to apply this form of hydrotherapy.
Read on to learn more about the warm or hot foot bath.
Effects of a hot foot bath on body and mind
Its main effect is to increase circulation to the feet and reduce congestion in the brain and other organs. Congestion is an accumulation of blood. This can make you feel full and cause pain. As a result of the treatment, the blood is drawn away from the place where it causes symptoms.
A second effect is the heat helps to relax and to remove the uncomfortable feeling.
Longer-term treatment may increase body temperature, which will increase white blood cell motility. To do this, cover the patient with a sheet and tuck him or her in extra with a (woolen) blanket, so body heat isn’t lost.
Indications
When do you apply this treatment?
o Headache
o Congested chest, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia
o Flu
o Painful menstruation
o To stop a nosebleed
o Reduction of blood pressure
o For relaxation and comfort, to fall asleep faster
o To warm up the patient, possibly preceding another type of hydrotherapy
Supplies
o Chair
o A piece of plastic (a clean garbage bag) or a towel to protect the floor
o Foot bath or tub, in which both feet can be placed flat, filled with hot water
o Bath thermometer
o Jug (or kettle) with hot water
o Can with cold water
o Bowl with ice water and two washcloths
o Sheet and if necessary a (woolen) blanket
o Towel and kitchen towel
Instructions
In this treatment, it is preferable that one person applies the treatment to the patient. It is easiest to do the hot foot bath in the bathroom or kitchen if possible.
1) Prepare everything you need: fill the foot bath with water at 39°C, check the
temperature with the bath thermometer or with your wrist or elbow; drape (the
blanket and) the sheet over the chair in such a way that you can later fold it over
the patient and the foot bath, keep the other necessities within reach.
2) Explain the procedure to the patient
3) Have the patient sit on the chair. Support the feet when they are placed quietly in
the foot bath. Make sure that the water comes to just above the ankles and the
edge of the bath does not press against the calves. If the water is too hot for the
patient, help the patien to lift the feet, add cold water and stir the water with your
hand before attempting to place the feet in the foot bath again.
4) Wrap the sheet and blanket around the patient and foot bath to retain heat and
block drafts.
5) Add some hot water regularly: have the patient put one foot on top of the other on
one side of the foot bath. Carefully pour a little bit of hot water into the tub while
stirring the water with your hand. Always ask the patient how much extra heat
he/she can tolerate. Gradually, the temperature of the water can be raised to 43°C
or even 46°C.
6) Place a wrung cold washcloth on the patient's forehead as soon as he/she starts to
perspire. Change the washcloth every two to three minutes.
7) Offer the patient water or herbal tea to drink.
8) The duration of the treatment is 15-20 minutes.
9) End the hot foot bath by lifting the feet with one hand and pouring cold water over
the feet with the other hand. Dry the feet carefully and put on clean socks.
10) Let the patient rest for 20-30 minutes. And tidy up the supplies.
In short: Place the patient's feet in a foot bath with water at 39°C for 15-20 minutes. Always add a little hot water as the patient can tolerate. Keep the patient's head cool with a cold washcloth.
Practical tips for hydrotherapy
The blanket is only needed if you want to stimulate the immune system, such as with a cold or flu.
If you are doing the treatment for relaxation, do it in the evening. After the foot bath you can go to sleep right away.
You can add half a cup of Epsom salt to the water. The magnesium in the salt can be absorbed through the skin. It helps to relax, and it relieves sore feet.
You can also add a teaspoon of ginger powder to the water. Ginger helps to further widen the blood vessels.
Small feet will fit in a square washing-up bowl.
If the patient is weak, you can apply the treatment in bed. Protect the bed with plastic. Have the patient lie on the bed on his back with his legs drawn up.
If you apply the treatment to yourself, you can do a simplified version of the hot foot bath. If you have a tub, you can sit on the edge and let a small amount of water run into the bath. Make the water hotter by opening the tap.
If you have a shower, you can add a chair or stool to sit on. Run the hot water over your ankles and feet.
If you are interested in more posts about hydrotherapy, read also my blog on the contrast shower and cold shower.
Warning
People with diseases of the blood vessels in the legs and/or diabetes should not take a hot foot bath. The affected blood vessels may have difficulty with the high temperature. Diabetics sometimes have a reduced sensation in their feet, which prevents them from detecting whether the water is too hot. A warm foot bath is possible. In that case, the water temperature should be 33°C to a maximum of 37°C.
Do not give a hot foot bath to persons with edema in the feet and legs, gout, or acute rheumatoid arthritis, when the joints are painful, warm and swollen. Skin rashes on feet or legs are also a contraindication and therefore a reason not to do a hot foot bath.
Make sure that the patient can tell you whether the temperature is right. Therefore, do not give this treatment to very young children or persons with reduced consciousness.
Also do not apply this treatment in case of frostbite.
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