Can fresh moxa leaves be used for foot bath?

Foot soaking is a very good way to maintain health. There are many acupoints on the soles of our feet. The most typical way is to soak the feet to relieve fatigue when we are tired. When soaking their feet, many people also use mugwort to enhance the function. Generally, the mugwort we use are processed products, or dried mugwort, and some people also get fresh mugwort. So, can fresh mugwort leaves be used for foot soaking? Let’s take a look below.

Since fresh mugwort contains more volatile oil than old mugwort, it is easier to fumigate and wash. Therefore, people often use fresh mugwort to soak their feet, because it has the effects of removing dampness and cold, dredge meridians, regulate qi and blood, warm the meridians and stop bleeding, and remove cold and dampness. The common method is: take some moxa leaves, put them into a pot, add water and boil them, then put them into a foot basin, put a wooden stick flat on the basin, put your feet on the stick and cover them with a towel to prevent heat from escaping, fumigate for 10-15 minutes, rub and wash your feet with a towel while soaking, so as to promote the flow of qi and blood meridians in the feet and legs.

However, soaking your feet in mugwort leaves should not be too frequent, especially for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension.

According to experts, Chinese medicine sachets originated from the "clothing therapy" in traditional Chinese medicine. There was a saying among the people that "carry a herbal sachet and you won't be afraid of the five pests." The Chinese herbs in the Chinese medicine sachets emit a rich aroma. These aromatic substances enter the human body through the respiratory tract, excite the nervous system, continuously stimulate the body to regulate the immune system, and enhance the body's disease resistance. The effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine have varying degrees of inhibitory or killing functions on a variety of bacteria, viruses and molds, thereby playing a role in expelling evil spirits and avoiding plague.

Although sachets are good, they also have contraindications. For example, they should not be used by people with asthma, allergies, pregnant women, etc.