In the Magazine | Resources - May 2011 |
Upon entering a spa in the Orient the first thing you are asked to do is to remove your shoes. The feet are regarded as the lowest part of the body and therefore unclean. They carry patterns of life best left at the door. Shoes are removed when entering a private Thai home as a sign of respect and this custom is followed through at the spa. Once changed from street cloths to a light linen wrap you are escorted to a foot pagoda where a ceramic bowl filled with herbal tea, salts, and fresh picked orchid petals await your tired feet. You are presented a cup of herbal infusion, which immediately slips you to your inner universe calming and releasing the tension from your day. What is most unique about this presentation is the therapist who administers the footbath. As you slip into a world of calm the therapist gently kneels before you gently holding your feet before submerging them in the warm herbal bath. The handling of the feet is done with great respect and choreographed with genuine love. The sentiment of the activity, the humility, the servant’s heart, the willingness to perform this ritual is somehow uncomfortable for those on the receiving end. Most of us are givers and struggle with the concept of someone treating us, especially the feet. But the ritual dates back centuries and is a way of demonstrating service to one another with genuine respect.
History or Legend The ritual of foot and arm bathing dates back thousands of years and is historically validated by many regions in the world. Modern hydrotherapy originated in 19th century Europe with the development of spas for "water cure" ailments, ranging from anxiety to phenomena to back pain. Hydrotherapy is broadly defined as the external application of water in any form or temperature (hot, cold, steam, liquid, ice) for healing purposes. Father Sebastian Kneipp, a 19th century Bavarian monk, spurred a movement to recognize the benefits of hydrotherapy. Benedict Lust adopted Kneipp’s methods and later immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1896, and founded an American school of naturopathic medicine. Lust claimed to have cured himself of tuberculosis with Kneipp's methods, and hydrotherapy was included as a component of naturopathic medicine. Throughout history feet have represented mobility, security and grounding. The hand denotes a pledge of faith, sincerity and justice – in addition to it being symbolic of support and strength. How Treatments Were Traditionally Used A heated muslin parcel of aromatic, medicinal herbs and spices is a truly heavenly health treatment. It has remained unchanged since Thailand’s (then Siam) Ayutthaya period of the 14th to 18th century. Fragrant hot herb packs were administered to weary soldiers upon their return home to relieve tired and weary bodies and minds. Hand and Arm Bath For an herbal hand and arm bath, the hand and arm is placed in a basin of herbal infused water with the water level reaching just above the elbow. Allowing the hand and arm to soak for five to 10 minutes reduces swelling, softens dead skin cells, and circulates stagnate energy. 1. Begin treatment by dry brushing skin to improve circulations and remove dead skin cuticle before submerging the arm in a bath. * Note 1: If you do not have a vessel to submerge arm, just apply the hydrotherapy to the hand.
1. Apply a mask to hand and arms from the knuckles Footbath For an herbal footbath, the feet are placed in a basin of herbal infused water with the water level reaching just above the ankle. Allowing the feet to soak for five to 10 minutes reduces swelling, softens dead skin cells, and circulates stagnate energy. 1. Begin treatment by dry brushing skin to improve circulations and remove dead skin cuticle before submerging the feet in a bath. * Note: If you save the muslin parcel used to make herbal infusion you can use parcel to remove mask at the end of the treatment. 1. Apply mask to legs from ankle to knee. Hot Foot Bath Contraindications: Precautions Individuals with paralysis, neuropathy, or other conditions that impair the nerve endings and cause reduced sensation should take hydrotherapy treatments only under the guidance of a trained therapist. Because these individuals cannot accurately sense temperature changes in the water, the temperature of the water needs to be cool to room temperature in order to prevent being seriously burned and should be administered with supervision. Diabetics and people with hypertension should also consult their healthcare professional before using hot tubs or other heat hydrotherapies, but do very well with cool to tepid
Foot and arm baths can become breeding grounds for bacteria and other infectious organisms if they are not cleaned regularly, maintained properly, kept at the appropriate temperatures, and treated with the proper anti-viral/anti-microbial solutions. Many authors have indicated that certain essential oils should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or by people with specific illnesses or physical conditions. Individuals suffering from any chronic or acute health condition should inform their therapist before starting treatment with any essential oil. Here are just a few that should be avoided or used with caution: Ajowan, basil, carrot seed, clove, myrrh gum, thyme, valerian, and wintergreen. Essential oils such as cinnamon leaf, juniper, lemon, eucalyptus blue gum, peppermint, and thyme can be extremely irritating to the skin and should never be applied directly to the skin. There are varying opinions on the safety of essential oils; however it is the belief of the world-renowned aromatherapy expert Martin Watt, that no essential oils that are used externally have been proven as harmful to a developing fetus. Every person’s situation is different. Ultimately we should make our applications based on specialized training and intuition. Hand and foot treatments are a great adjunct therapy that provides many holistic benefits. Being able to have eye-to-eye contact when administering treatment builds a professional relationship as well as confidence in the client’s ability to apply products for home care. Hand and foot treatments are a health filled service that promotes wellbeing and helps your clients as they strive for wellness and longevity.
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In the ancient Orient, this was discovered rather early, and foot treatments were used as a method of healing both the mind and the body. As a holistic treatment, these therapies were a wonderful modality in relieving stress, promoting restful sleep, increasing circulation, and even helping to promote a better immune system. In the mental sense, it could increase alertness and enhance creativity.
Anne C. Willis LE, LME, founder of De La Terre Skincare, is a worldwide leader in Holistic and Medical skin therapies. Willis co-authored The Esthetician’s Guide to Working with Physicians and has been featured in New Beauty and Organic Spa Magazine. She is the director of Oncology Skin Therapeutics ™ and a accredited skin care instructor, bringing over 30 years of experience and knowledge to the new generation of skin therapist. 
