Hydrotherapy Techniques:
Hot Foot Bath
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Hot Foot Bath (HFB)
Effects & Benefits
A summary of some of the effects of the hot foot bath which have been
demonstrated include such things as the following;
• Promotes circulation throughout the body (4, 9)
• Boosts the immune system, significantly increases lymph flow (8)
• Has neurological soothing effects such as promoting relaxation,
relieves fatigue and insomnia (1, 3, 5, 6)
• Other effects include; pain relief, relief of headaches, colds, asthma
and nasal congestion (7, 10, 11).
• The hot foot bath is also safer and more hygienic than taking a hot
bath for many people, especially those who have heart conditions,
heat intolerance or may be prone to urinary tract infections.
HFB Contraindications
People with the following conditions should not do the hot
foot bath (those with these conditions may try carefully
doing a hot pack on the upper thighs or upper back to
substitute, for some of the circulation benefits):
HFB Contraindications
Diabetes
Numbness, loss of sensation or circulation problems in the feet
Peripheral vascular disease
Swelling in the feet or legs
Foot sores or infections
Frostbite (will cause greater tissue damage to frozen areas)
Pregnancy- use with caution but reduce the time and
temperature, and avoid overheating/sweating (whole body
heating is to be avoided during pregnancy because of potential
harm to the fetus), consult with primary caregiver
HFB Equipment
Basin or container large enough to comfortably put your
feet into
Thermometer, if available, if not, may test water with
elbow
Sheet or blanket
Bath towel
Small bowl with ice water and a wash cloth
A pair of dry socks, and change of clean clothes
HFB Technique
1. BASIN: Put the basin in the bath tub under the faucet and sit on the
side of the tub or on a chair or stool that fits in the bathtub. While
the basin is filling is a good time to take a drink of water.
2. WATER: Fill the basin with warm water at least deep enough to
cover a couple of inches above ankles. The water temperature
should be about 103 to 104 degrees F to begin with (39.4-40 degrees
Celsius), or not too hot for your feet to tolerate it. Place your hand
into the water first to make sure the water is not too hot.
3. SOAK: Place your feet in the bucket and enjoy for 10-30 minutes,
adding a little more hot water whenever the water seems to cool
down. For the best full-body effect, also wrap your body with a
sheet or blanket, allowing the edge to drape over the foot bath basin
to keep the hot water vapors close to your body.
HFB Technique
4. ADD HEAT: Add hot water from time to time to increase the
temperature gradually warmer throughout the treatment (suggested
to about 110' F). Make sure you remove your feet each time before
adding more hot water. Your feet will be more sensitive to heat at
the beginning of the treatment, so start out cooler and gradually
increase.
5. COOL CLOTH: When you start sweating and start to feel hot, dip a
wash cloth into the ice water basin and wring it out, apply it to the
forehead. Renew it in the cold water every 3-5 minutes as needed.
6. COLD RINSE: When finished, empty the basin in the bath tub and
rinse your feet with cold water from the tub faucet for 15-30
seconds.
HFB Technique
7. DRY WELL: Dry your feet thoroughly and put socks on. If you have
been perspiring, dip the wash cloth back into the ice water basin
and wring it out, then briefly rub the hot areas of your body to stop
the sweating (such as chest, stomach, underarms, etc.), re-dipping
the wash cloth in the cold water as needed. Dry your hair well with
a towel and/or blow drier if it’s wet. Put on dry clothing.
8. REST PERIOD: Rest for at least 10 minutes then dress warmly before
going outside in cool weather, in order to prevent chilling. For best
results, rest or sleep for at least 30 to 60 minutes after finishing the
hot foot bath in order to allow the immune system and circulation to
react and stabilize, as well as to stop sweating.
(Technique references: 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
• The goal is for your feet to turn pinkish red and to sweat all over.
• Try adding a dash of lavender oil to increase the nerve-soothing
effects of the hot foot bath, especially if doing it before bedtime.
Lavender has been shown to help insomnia.
• Drink water before and after to help hydrate the body, boost the
circulation and prevent dizziness from heat.
• You can drink hot water or herbal tea if you would like to have a
stronger sweating response, but avoid caffeinated drinks due to the
dehydrating effects.
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
• The cold compress to the forehead helps keep you from feeling too
hot and prevents getting a headache or depressive feelings after the
footbath from the heat. It shrinks the blood vessels of the brain
through nerve reflexes.
• Finishing with cold dash of water helps to close the pores, stop
sweating, and prevent chilling due to continued heat loss from
dilated blood vessels.
• You can rub your skin with rubbing alcohol if you don’t have ice
water handy, as a final cooling treatment (though this won’t work as
a substitute for the forehead compress).
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
• Avoid cold drafts of air in the room during the hot foot bath, or
being exposed to cold air afterword. Thorough drying with a towel
and/or hair dryer, as well as putting on dry clothing also helps to
avoid chilling.
• Avoid walking on the bare cold floor with bare feet after finishing
the hot foot bath to prevent loosing some of the good effects. Putting
on clean, dry socks afterword also helps to maintain the effects of
the hot foot bath longer.
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
• It’s better to get someone to assist you or be on stand-by if you are
feeling sick, weak or dizzy, as heat can cause dizziness and even
fainting. Be sure to stand up slowly to help prevent dizziness. If you
are prone to dizziness or fainting, or not used to doing heat
treatments, reduce the time and temperature and be sure to drink
enough water.
• Avoid hydrotherapy if you’re constipated- it’s better to cleanse out
the toxins before boosting circulation to avoid toxin reabsorption.
• For menstrual pain, use cool or tepid water for the final rinse
instead of cold.
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
• The hot foot bath can be done in different places or positions,
including in lying in bed, for someone who doesn’t feel strong
enough to get up.
– Just be sure to cover a large part of the bed with plastic so it won’t get
wet, and put a towel under the back of the person being treated so that
the bed won’t get wet from sweat.
– It can also be done without a basin in the bathtub, just by plugging up
the drain, but it’s requires waiting a lot longer for the bathtub to fill and
is more difficult to regulate the water temperature that way.
– It can be done sitting in a chair some distance away from a faucet also,
by using a bucket to transport the water- but this requires the assistance
of a second person, and it is less convenient to regulate the water
temperature.
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
The hot foot bath will have the best overall therapeutic results if you
first prepare the body by these three things during the day of your
hot foot bath;
1) Hydrate: try drinking water with a squeeze of lemon in it, or clear
herb teas.
2) Internally cleanse: by having a bowel movement some time in the
day.
3) Provide nutrients: have a good source of vitamins and healing
nutrients available in the blood (such as from eating fresh fruits, a
green salad, or drinking some fresh vegetable or fruit juices).
HFB Additional Notes
& Cautions
Helping someone you love take a hot foot bath can be one of the nicest
ways to make them feel cared for.
The hot foot bath is generally suitable for children if done with care to
avoid burns and with keeping the time and temperature a little
lower than for adults.
(Notes references: 10, 11)
HFB Disclaimer
It should be noted that hydrotherapy treatments can result
in serious injury or complications under some
circumstances. Prior medical advice should always be
sought and extreme caution taken when performing any
kind of hydrotherapy treatments for individuals with
chronic diseases or decreased skin sensitivity.
Hydroreference.com does not recommend the use of
hydrotherapy for any condition without prior
consultation with a physician or qualified healthcare
provider.
HFB References
1. Yang HL, Chen XP, Lee KC, Fang FF, Chao YF. The effects of warm-water footbath on relieving
fatigue and insomnia of the gynecologic cancer patients on chemotherapy. Cancer Nurs. 2010
Nov-Dec;33(6):454-60. PubMed PMID: 20562619 Available at;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20562619
2. Skurvydas A, Kamandulis S, Stanislovaitis A, Streckis V, Mamkus G, Drazdauskas A. Leg
immersion in warm water, stretch-shortening exercise, and exercise-induced muscle damage.J
Athl Train. 2008 Oct-Dec;43(6):592-9. PubMed PMID: 19030137 Available at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19030137v
3. Saeki Y. The effect of foot-bath with or without the essential oil of lavender on the autonomic
nervous system: a randomized trial. Complement Ther Med. 2000 Mar;8(1):2-7. PubMed PMID:
10812753 Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=%22The+effect+of+footbath+with+or+without+the+essential+oil+of+lavender+on+the+autonomic+nervous+system%
3A+a+randomized+trial.%22
4. Yoon SJ, Park JK, Oh S, Jeon DW, Yang JY, Hong SM, Kwak MS, Choi YS, Rim SJ, Youn HJ. A warm
footbath improves coronary flow reserve in patients with mild-to-moderate coronary artery
disease. Echocardiography. 2011 Nov;28(10):1119-24. PubMed PMID: 21854441 Available at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=%22Echocardiography.+2011+Nov%3B28(10)%3A1
119-24.%22
5. Yamamoto K, Aso Y, Nagata S, Kasugai K, Maeda S. Autonomic, neuro-immunological and
psychological responses to wrapped warm footbaths--a pilot study. Complement Ther Clin
Pract. 2008 Aug;14(3):195-203. PubMed PMID: 18640631 Available at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18640631
6. Liao WC, Chiu MJ, Landis CA A warm footbath before bedtime and sleep in older Taiwanese with
sleep disturbance. Res Nurs Health. 2008 October; 31 (5): 514-528 PubMed PMID:18459154
Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2574895/
HFB References
7. Smith, R. Hot Foot Bath [Internet] NEWSTART Lifestyle Club [cited 2013 June 9]
Available from: http://newstartclub.com/resources/detail/hot-foot-bath
8. Olszewski W, Engeset A, Jaeger PM, Sokolowski J, Theodorsen L. Flow and
composition of leg lymph in normal men during venous stasis, muscular activity
and local hyperthermia. Acta Physiol Scand. 1977 Feb;99(2):149-55. PubMed PMID:
842371 Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/842371
9. Liao WC, Landis CA, Lentz MJ, Chiu MJ. Effect of foot bathing on distal-proximal
skin temperature gradient in elders.Int J Nurs Stud. 2005 Sep;42(7):717-22. Epub 2005
Jan 25. PubMed PMID:16084919 Available at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16084919
10.Lau, B. Hydrotherapy for Flu and Respiratory Infections. US:Independent Publisher
Services, 2010. 55p.
11. Thrash, A, Thrash, C. Home Remedies. Seale: NewLifestyle Books; 2005, 68p.
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