DETOX FOOT BATHS

The word the Japanese use for this 'foot spa' is 'ASHIYU'. The Japanese claim to be the originators of the foot bath... just soaking your feet in a hot spring, like they have done for hundreds of years. It is pleasant, cleansing, relaxing. And pleasant, cleansing, relaxing activity is famous for making you feel better and in better health.

Tradition has it that a pilgrimage of monks and townspeople were travelling in the mountains, became exhausted and were looking for a place to rest. They found a small hot spring and soaked their feet in it before making bed for the night, to help their sore feet. The next day they felt rejuvenated, and the physician told them their illnesses were healed.

Now, we don't expect anything quite that life-altering with today's foot baths. But they help. Whether you believe in the power of herbs or chemicals to draw toxins through your skin, one thing is inarguable, and that is that warm water opens your pores and warms your skin and underlying tissue. And it feels GOOD.
     Below: Two examples of detox foot baths. The first is the most common size and shape, though with the addition of water jets for a gentle massage. The second is a little more elaborate.

A detox foot bath, simply through its wet warmth, makes you feel a little better, and this alone will rejuvenate you to a degree, remove some fatigue and dissolve some stress. If you want the whole treatment and have found that adding things to your bath helps you, there are so many herbs and substances purported, or proven, to have health benefits, that you really can't go wrong by trying a few. It's safe and pleasant, so why not?

Some of the things commonly added to a detox foot bath: pine tree needles, green tea, dried citrus rinds, ground garlic, ginger, hot pepper, bamboo leaves, carrot leaves, dried radish, corn silk, maize, mint leaves, eucalyptus leaves. And you can experiment with what you find in your own home, too!