Artemis Herbal Medicine

Feeling cold and miserable? Herbal foot baths to your rescue!

Foot baths are a truly amazing and swift way to instantly warm up on a miserable and cold day like today. Here we thought that spring had arrived, yet the snow covered hill tops are a reminder that winter can still come back and bite us at the time around equinox. I don’t know about you but I was in dire need of some serious cheer and warm up.

When the chill sits in the bones and the feet are getting cold one does not just feel miserable but is also vulnerable to catch a cold. Furthermore, the kidneys will not like cold feet and any back pain and joint aches get worse. Time for action!!!

Foot baths are a very easy and inexpensive way to truly do something good for yourself. They have been applied by clever people for well over 2,000 years (e.g. they are documented in the old Greek Materia Medica of Dioscorides), were described extensively in ‘Tabernaemonanus’ 500 years ago and are still used today as a swiftly acting household remedy. In conventional medicine medicinal herb baths are routinely prescribed to increase health.

Today I made a foot bath with some warming, anti-cold herbs that brought back the feelings and smells of summer. I first made a strong herbal tea with a handful of the following dried herbs: Thyme, Angelica seeds and St. John’s Wort, chosen for their circulatory stimulant, warming and anti-viral actions. It is best to infuse the herbs (e.g. in a plunger) for at least 20minutes, then strain the liquid into the foot bath bucket which is already filled with hot water. For my herbal foot bath I added some sea salt for additional cleansing benefit. A foot bath should be at least 10-15 minutes long. Try to have it as hot as possible (around 40 degrees).

Other herbs that could be used as a “winter warmer ” are Pine/Spruce sprigs, Sage, Rosemary, Lemon balm, Mint or Ginger. You could even use Garlic and Onions if you don’t mind the smell!

In the practice of Sister Pauline Felder, where I did my first studies in herbal medicine, we dispensed different herb bath mixes for issues ranging from tiredness, headaches to chilblains. A calming foot bath in the evening with Lavender or Lemon balm is simply divine! Foot bath mixes are also one way of putting the herbs of the previous harvest to good use. Most herbs are suitable for bath applications as the skin absorbs their beneficial properties.

If you don’t have any herbs at home or in your garden (you could harvest fresh herbs -1-2 handfuls per foot bath) you could simply use hot water and sea salt for your foot bath. If you are suffering from chilblains, inner coldness and cold hands and feets regular mustard baths are a very pleasurable way to improve circulation in your body. Use 2 tablespoons of mustard powder in your foot bath and have your treatment e.g. in the mornings for 1-2 weeks whilst you have your breakfast. This sets you up for feeling warm during the day. Always rinse your feet with warm water after a mustard bath. Tingling and redness on the skin is normal with this application. However don’t use mustard foot baths if you have very sensitive skin,. Otherwise just enjoy the warmth! After a foot bath rub some St. John’s Wort oil into the soles of your feet to keep them warm and well cared for.