The ginger foot bath is a true Winter treat that you will find deeply relaxing, cleansing and energizing – particularly for all those Yin meridians that run up from the feet. It will stimulate your circulation and help re-balance the body energetics – drawing excess down from the head & upper body. Best of all, it feels fantastic. You can use grated ginger on its own (1/4 – 1/2 cup depending on the size of your basin/tub) or in combination with some ginger powder (1 tblsp) and/or essential oil of ginger (10 drops). To avoid mess, I am inclined to make a tea bag out of the fresh ginger (using a stocking foot) and skip the powder. (Some people recommend that you boil then simmer the ginger in a saucepan of water first, but I don’t think this is absolutely necessary.) You can make the water as hot as you like – without going so far as to scald yourself – or progressively add in hot water to keep the temperature constant. It is a good idea to have it deep enough to cover the ankles (and the lower calf as well if possible) and feel free to strew some frangipani and rose petals on top – as in the pic.
For a full bath (not to be taken within an hour of eating), go a bit easier on the temperature and remember that the ginger heat, being very penetrative, will make you sweat – possibly a lot. So hydrate before, during and after, don’t submerge yourself beyond the solar plexus and wear natural fibers once you get out. The full bath provides an excellent detox as well as being deeply relaxing. Don’t stay in for too long after the sweating starts (maybe 5 minutes) and, if you find yourself going a bit light headed, add some cold water. (Ditto for the foot bath.)
If you enjoy the basic ginger, you could enhance it further with: lavender oil, Epsom/magnesium salts, lemon juice/peel, a few drops of tea tree oil (feet only), mustard if you have a cold/flu – or whatever you like to put in.
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