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The idea sometimes exists that foot and hand baths are only used by the elderly and the infirm, yet they are wonderful tools to perform treatments on specific areas, and can also be most energizing and relaxing.
When looking at the philosophy of reflexology, you will see that the whole body is represented in the feet, and this might be the reason why so many people experience a whole range of positive effects from having a footbath.
To add more zing to your pedicure or manicure, you can always incorporate a couple of drops of oil when soaking the feet or the hands.
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Foot and hand baths are a great way to prepare the feet and hands for a massage session, or as a finale to reflexology or pressure massage.
They are normally prepared with warm water in a bowl large enough for the feet or hands, with a little space free to allow for the water to rise when they are immersed.
After preparing the bath, mix five drops of your chosen essential oil with one dessertspoon of apple cider vinegar and add it to the bath. We find the apple cider vinegar a great way to help disperse the oil, and it also has its own therapeutic properties.
Should you prefer not to use the apple cider vinegar, you could mix the essential oil with some powered milk, and forming it into a paste before mixing with the water, as it also helps to disperse the oil.
However, the apple cider vinegar nor the powered milk is required, and the essential oil can be used directly into the bath.
If you want to add an extra relaxing dimension to your footbath, you can place marbles or small pebbles at the bottom of the bath to run your feet over.
Electric footbaths are also great, since they have a massaging action that agitates the water and helps to aerate it, while zinging up circulation.
Should you be performing a footbath on your own, and you are still lithe enough, you could rest one foot on the other knee and do a gentle massage on each sole, while busy with the footbath.
Your choice of essential oil can be purely based on your favorite fragrance, yet essential oils offer a wide variety of therapeutic properties as well, which may be a great way to help treat a specific problem.
To have a look at the various oils, and their corresponding therapeutic properties, please click here.
Footbaths are great for helping to relieve rheumatic pains and aches, excessive perspiration, revive tired and burning feet (and a tired body) and a great way to pamper your hard-working, and often forgotten feet.
Although footbaths are far more general than a hand bath, they also offer a wide variety of benefits to your often abused hands. A good soak will also help with rheumatism or arthritic pain, ease cramps and are also a good way to give your hands some extra attention.
After soaking for about 10 - 15 minutes dry thoroughly and apply a good moisturizing cream, or a little vegetable oil, such as jojoba oil, and maybe a touch of the essential oil that you use in the bath.
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