
What herb is best for foot bath?
2025-05-30
When it comes to foot baths, mugwort (Artemisia argyi) is widely regarded as one of the best herbs due to its exceptional health benefits and long-standing use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Mugwort is celebrated for its warming properties, which make it ideal for dispelling cold and dampness from the body—common causes of fatigue, poor circulation, and muscle soreness. When used in a foot bath, its active compounds (such as volatile oils like eucalyptol) are absorbed through the skin, while the warm water stimulates acupoints on the feet (e.g., Yongquan, the Kidney Meridian point), enhancing blood flow and relaxing tense muscles. This combination helps relieve daily exhaustion, soothe cold-induced joint pain, and even improve sleep quality by calming the nervous system.
Additionally, mugwort has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, making it useful for addressing foot issues like athlete’s foot or mild itching. It can be used alone or paired with other herbs:
Ginger (for stronger cold-dispelling effects, ideal for winter).
Chinese prickly ash (to dampness removal).
Safflower (for promoting blood circulation, suitable for those with cold hands/feet).
To use, simply steep 10–30g of dried mugwort (or a pre-made foot bath powder) in hot water, dilute to a comfortable temperature (38–43°C), and soak feet for 15–20 minutes. Note: Avoid use if you have a heat-based constitution (e.g., frequent shàng huǒ—"internal heat"), skin wounds, or are pregnant. Always consult a TCM practitioner for personalized advice.
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What is Wormwood?
2025-05-30
Introduction:
Soaking feet in mugwort is a classic application of traditional Chinese medicine foot therapy, which uses mugwort as the core raw material, combined with ginger, Sichuan pepper and other medicinal herbs to make foot bath powder or medicine bags, and uses hot water soaking to exert health benefits. Mugwort has a warm and bitter taste, and its volatile oil components (such as eucalyptus) can penetrate through the skin. Combined with thermal stimulation of the foot meridians (such as the spleen and kidney meridians), it achieves the effects of warming the meridians, dispelling cold, dispelling dampness, detoxifying, and relieving fatigue.
The core benefits are reflected in three aspects:
1.Drive away cold and warm up the body: suitable for people with cold bodies and cold hands and feet, especially after soaking their feet in autumn and winter, the warmth can spread from the soles of the feet to the whole body, improving peripheral circulation;
2.Moisturizing and detoxifying: By stimulating acupoints such as Yongquan and Sanyinjiao, it accelerates the metabolism of dampness, alleviates edema, joint heaviness, fatigue, and drowsiness caused by heavy dampness;
3.Sleep aid and stress relief: The herbal aroma of mugwort can soothe nerves, combined with water temperature of around 40 ℃, can relax tense muscles, assist in improving insomnia and anxiety, especially suitable for office workers who sit for long periods of time and stand.
How to Use
1.Take 10-30 grams of mugwort foot powder (or dried mugwort leaves), brew it with boiling water and mix it with warm water until it reaches 38-43 ℃, with the water level below the ankle. Soak for 15-20 minutes, with slight sweating recommended. Ginger (to enhance cold dispelling) and safflower (to promote blood circulation) can be added as needed.
2.However, it should be noted that diabetes patients should strictly control the temperature (≤ 40 ℃) to avoid burns; Patients with lower limb varicose veins, skin damage, and pregnant women should be cautious and it is recommended to consult a physician first.
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