In March 2025, media reports indicated that a 69-year-old man in Wuhan experienced redness, swelling, heat and pain in his left toe the next day after soaking his feet in mugwort at night. After examination, he was diagnosed with a fungal infection. The patient often takes foot baths and is accustomed to putting mugwort into the water. However, due to reasons such as excessively high water temperature, prolonged foot baths, and failure to dry the Spaces between the toes in time, conditions for the reproduction of fungi may be created.
In the report, physicians from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and dermatology pointed out that when taking herbal foot baths, one should pay attention to individual constitutions, avoid excessive combination of hot-natured herbs, control water temperature and soaking duration, and use them with caution in cases of skin damage or athlete's foot
This incident was used in the media as a warning case that "herbal foot baths may also have risks".
In March 2025, media reports indicated that a 69-year-old man in Wuhan experienced redness, swelling, heat and pain in his left toe the next day after soaking his feet in mugwort at night. After examination, he was diagnosed with a fungal infection. The patient often takes foot baths and is accustomed to putting mugwort into the water. However, due to reasons such as excessively high water temperature, prolonged foot baths, and failure to dry the Spaces between the toes in time, conditions for the reproduction of fungi may be created.
In the report, physicians from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and dermatology pointed out that when taking herbal foot baths, one should pay attention to individual constitutions, avoid excessive combination of hot-natured herbs, control water temperature and soaking duration, and use them with caution in cases of skin damage or athlete's foot
This incident was used in the media as a warning case that "herbal foot baths may also have risks".