The health of the feet plays a crucial role in human body health, as they contain blood vessels and nerve endings connected to various organs throughout the body: the brain, heart, liver, lungs, intestines, stomach, and more. Knowing how to care for your feet daily not only keeps them healthy but also promotes overall body health.
So, what are the benefits of foot massage? How should you massage your feet to achieve the best results? Let’s explore these questions in the following article!
What are the benefits of massaging the soles of the feet?
Foot massage is a beneficial habit, as it not only helps protect the feet but also serves as an effective relaxation and healing method. Since the feet are constantly active, especially for those with jobs that require standing or moving a lot, daily foot massage can be a great way to care for your body’s health, especially when work intensity is high.
Furthermore, the soles of the feet contain a system of vital acupressure points connected to the entire body. Therefore, knowing how to press these acupressure points and massaging them correctly can help support the treatment of diseases related to the heart, liver, kidneys, and more.
Foot massage also supports blood circulation, improves blood circulation, relaxes tendons and bones, helping the body relax after a tiring day of work.
Thus, foot massage not only takes care of the feet and relaxes the body but also supports the treatment of diseases related to the acupressure points on the soles of the feet. Learn about the diseases that can be treated through foot massage and acupressure points by reading the content below.
You’ve provided an extensive guide to foot massage based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are reflexology points on the soles of the feet that correspond to various organs in the body. Knowing how to press these acupressure points and massage them correctly can help alleviate pain, treat diseases, and produce positive results. Specifically:
Foot Massage for Headaches
When experiencing headaches, massaging the toes stimulates the brain directly. By massaging or pressing the toes, it can improve health and effectively reduce headaches.
How to do it:
Press firmly (without causing pain) on the toe tips to reduce headaches, pressing for a few seconds each time.
Foot Massage for Relaxation
If you suffer from insomnia, massaging your feet before bedtime can improve blood circulation, relax nerves, and promote better sleep, as well as improve skin and body shape.
How to do it:
Use the thumb and forefinger to gently press the depression between the big toe and the second toe on the sole for 5-10 seconds. Then move the thumb to the base of each toe, pressing the reflexology points on the head, side, and center of each toe using the thumb and forefinger.
Foot Massage for Neck and Shoulder Pain
Foot massage is an effective method to reduce neck, shoulder, and back pain. It helps improve blood circulation and relaxes bones and joints, enhancing mobility of the head, neck, shoulders, and back.
How to do it:
Press firmly on the small circular area below the little toe on the sole for 20 seconds to alleviate shoulder pain and neck fatigue.
Foot Massage to Support Diabetes Treatment
Regular massage and acupressure can help regulate blood sugar levels and urine, reducing blood pressure and preventing complications caused by diabetes.
How to do it:
Pour some oil into your palm, rub your hands together until warm, then evenly apply to the soles of the feet. Use your thumb to stroke from the heel to the big toe in a straight line, then massage the area between the big toe and the second toe for about 30 seconds, repeating this motion with the other toes.
Foot Massage for Stomach Pain
For those with stomach pain, in addition to maintaining a proper diet and care regimen, combining massage and acupressure can help in treatment. Consistency can yield excellent results.
How to do it:
Press the liver reflexology point on the sole to alleviate stomach pain. Holding for a few seconds and repeating is beneficial for digestion.
Foot Massage to Support Digestion
Daily foot massage impacts the intestines and quickly improves intestinal health, especially effective for those prone to bloating and indigestion.
How to do it:
Use the thumb to gently press and massage the Tzu San Li acupressure point for about 2 minutes until a sharp pain is felt, then move down the foot.
Foot Massage to Reduce Depression and Anxiety
Foot massage can balance emotions, counteract depression, and help people adapt to life changes more easily.
How to do it:
Massage the depression between the big toe and the second toe to reduce depressive symptoms and lower stress hormones, as this area is connected to human emotions and spirit.
Foot Massage to Treat High Blood Pressure
Regular foot massage or acupressure can help control high blood pressure, making the individual feel relaxed and improving blood pressure levels.
How to do it:
Press and gently stroke the point between the big toe and the second toe for a minute to promote relaxation and improve blood pressure and nerves.
Support for Liver Inflammation
For those with flat feet due to loose tendons, resulting in a collapsed arch and chronic heel pain, supporting exercise with regular foot massage can alleviate pain and address these symptoms.
How to do it:
Focus on massaging and pressing the liver reflexology point on the sole, particularly the painful areas.
Foot Massage for Joint Pain
Regular foot massage or acupressure before bedtime can greatly help in treating joint pain and alleviating discomfort caused by joints.
How to do it:
Press the area in front of the ankle bone on the sole to alleviate joint pain, especially effective for knee joints.
Foot Massage for Muscle Cramps
Those prone to muscle cramps can regularly massage their feet before bedtime or use acupressure during cramps to help relax the nerves in the feet.
How to do it:
Use the thumb or knuckles to press the Thüa Shan, Huyết Hải, Dương Lăng Tuyền, and Ủy Trung points for 5 to 10 minutes.
Steps for Foot Massage
To ensure an effective foot massage, follow these steps:
- Before foot massage, soak your feet in warm saltwater, ginger, essential oils, or herbs at around 38°C for 15 minutes to relax and warm the feet and open the pores.
- Sit on a chair, bed, or mat… wipe your feet dry with a towel to prepare for the massage.
- Rub massage cream or oil in your hands until warm, then apply to the feet. Hold both feet with both hands and use your thumb to gently massage from the tip of the toes, sliding back along the sole to the ankle. Then, reverse the movement to the toes, repeating this motion 3 to 5 times.
- Continue the massage by holding both feet in your hands, gripping the foot and gently straightening it, pulling up and down 3 to 5 times. Use your thumb and forefinger to gently stroke in a circular motion on the bottom slope of the foot 1 to 5 times. Repeat this action 3 times for those with joint diseases.
- Rotate the ankle to reduce stiffness and make the ankle joint softer by placing one hand under the heel and holding the foot, then rotate gently. Perform this rotation 3 to 5 times.
- Place the foot down but still hold it with both hands, use your thumb to gently squeeze from the heel to the toes, massage gently 3 to 5 times.
- With one hand gently holding behind the ankle, the other hand slides between the toes from front to back 3 to 5 times to massage the toes.
- Massage the sole of the foot in a circular motion, moving up and down on both sides, ensuring the areas in the sole touch the thumb. Then, with one hand holding behind the ankle, the other hand uses the force of the palm to stroke from the toe to the heel about 5 times.
- Use your hands to hold the foot and gently stroke from the ankle to the toe to end the massage.
When the feet are warmed, it can expand blood vessels, increase blood flow to the brain, and reduce the risk of stroke in older people. Regular foot massages can help maintain a relaxed, refreshed mind, robust health, flexibility, and improve daily performance.
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