Major Snow is a solar term in winter, when the temperature is extremely cold. So, how to keep warm during the Major Snow solar term? Many women might think of things like hand warmers, but today, the editor is talking about free ways to keep warm.
Cold feet mean a cold body
Cold feet often make it difficult for the body to feel warm. Experts say that because the feet are where the three Yin meridians converge, they are particularly susceptible to cold. Foot soaks can warm the feet and the body, and also have health benefits. The head, where the three Yang meridians converge, is relatively less sensitive to cold.
In addition to warming the body, foot soaks also offer health benefits. "When a tree withers, its roots dry up first; when a person ages, their feet weaken first." The feet are the source of the body's vital energy and one of its most important components. According to the basic theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "the kidneys are the foundation of innate life" and "the spleen is the foundation of acquired life." The term "foundation" refers to the very root of life. This highlights the special importance of the spleen and kidneys among the organs. However, both the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin and the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin originate in the feet, showing that the feet are a crucial part of life's activities. To emphasize this, people often call the feet "the foundation of a person," which is by no means an exaggeration.
Medicated foot soaks allow the medicinal ingredients to enter the body through the skin, mucous membranes, meridians, and collaterals to exert their effects. For those who cannot take warming and Yang-tonifying herbs, foot soaks can help warm the limbs and avoid the "heatiness" symptoms that can come from consuming medicinal diets.
Medicated Foot Soaks for Specific Conditions (Unless otherwise specified, all units below are in grams)
Cold and Flu (Wind-Cold): Mugwort leaf 15, Perilla leaf 15, Platycodon root 10, Ephedra 10, 5 slices of ginger. Those with a wind-cold cold often experience sneezing, runny nose, body aches, chills, a bland taste in the mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools. Soaking your feet at home during the acute phase of a cold can help speed up recovery.
Heat-type Cold (Wind-Heat): Mulberry leaf 30, North apricot kernel 20, Chrysanthemum 20, Forsythia 15, Honeysuckle 15, Platycodon root 10, Saposhnikovia root 10, Mint 10. Those with a wind-heat cold often experience high fever, a slight aversion to wind, a heavy head, sweating, a red, swollen, and sore throat, coughing with sticky or yellow phlegm, nasal congestion with yellow discharge, thirst, a red tongue tip, and a thin, slightly yellow tongue coating. For those with low immunity and who catch colds frequently: Astragalus root 50, Saposhnikovia root 10, Atractylodes macrocephala 20, Codonopsis root 30, Five-clawed dragon 30.
Allergic Rhinitis, Nasal Congestion: Magnolia flower bud 20, Cocklebur fruit 20, Angelica dahurica root 15, Platycodon root 10, Cimicifuga root 10, Five-clawed dragon 60, Mint 10, Asarum 10.
Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods): Mugwort leaf 50, Cinnamon twig 10, Lindera root 15, Corydalis root 10, Cyperus root 10.
Rheumatic Bone and Joint Pain: Gentian root, Angelica pubescens root, Millettia dielsiana stem, Trachelospermum jasminoides stem, Flemingia macrophylla root, Red peony root, Notopterygium root, Asarum, 30g each.
Insomnia: Prunella spike 30, Mulberry twig 20, Cinnamon twig 20, White peony root 20, Polygonum multiflorum stem 30, Dragon's teeth 30, Oyster shell a small amount.
Poor blood circulation, fatigue, and listlessness: Red sage root 20, Red peony root 15, Codonopsis root 20, Cinnamon twig 10, Earthworm 10, Peach kernel 10.Poor gastrointestinal function, indigestion: Codonopsis root 30, Pinellia tuber 10, Scutellaria root 15, Coptis root 10, Perilla stem 15, Hedyotis diffusa 30, Dandelion 30, Dried tangerine peel 10.
Kidney Yang deficiency: Morinda root, Cistanche, Eucommia bark, Achyranthes root, 30g each. These people often experience cold pain in the lower back and knees, cold limbs, clear and frequent urination, and restless sleep. They often experience "heatiness" after taking oral Yang-warming herbs and cannot tolerate supplements well. Foot soaks can help warm the Yang and unblock the meridians.
Precautions for Foot Soaks
Foot soak time: 30-40 minutes; water temperature not exceeding 45°C; the water level should be below the knee. Wrap each herbal prescription in a cloth bag, boil it in water, and each prescription can be reheated and used repeatedly for 5 days. Soak your feet once before going to bed at night. After each foot soak, apply moisturizer and then massage your feet to keep the skin smooth and soft. Avoid foot soaks on an empty stomach or immediately after a meal.
People Unsuitable for Foot Soaks
(1) Those with various open soft tissue injuries.
(2) Those with local skin infections, sores, burns, or scalds on the feet.
(3) Patients with various tumors, bone and joint tuberculosis.
(4) Those with acute perforation of the stomach or duodenum, or people with bleeding tendencies.
(5) Those with acute infectious diseases, swollen lymph nodes, or pregnant women.
(6) Patients with severe heart or liver disease, mental illness, and diabetes should pay attention to the water temperature to avoid injury to the feet.
(7) Patients with high blood pressure should try to avoid it. If a foot soak is necessary, it should be done when blood pressure is stable, and the water temperature should not be too high.