The foot is probably the most abused part of the body, but not only that, it seems to have a direct connection to every other part of the body. A good Thai foot bath and massage not only makes your feet feel wonderful, it can promote healing and relaxation in many other parts of the body as well.

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.
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.
2. Soak hands and arms in herbal infusion and/or salts to cleanse, detoxify the skin, and treat skin condition(s).
   • Note 1: If you do not have a vessel to submerge arm, just apply the hydrotherapy to the hand.
   • Note 2: If you save the muslin parcel used to make herbal infusion you can use parcel to remove mask at the end of the treatment and for massage.

3. Apply a mask to hand and arms from the knuckles to elbow.
4. Wrap hand and arm with herbal infusion wrap. Massage clients shoulder and scalp, while mask sets for 10 minutes.
5. To remove mask rinse arm and hand with tea water (The saved muslin parcel can also be used to remove mask).
6. Massage with therapeutic oil.

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.
2. Soak feet in herbal infusion and/or salts to cleanse, detoxify the skin, and treat skin condition(s).
   • 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.
3. Apply mask to legs from ankle to knee.
4. Wrap legs with herbal infusion wrap. Massage client's shoulder and scalp, while mask sets for 10 minutes.
5. To remove mask rinse leg with tea water (The saved muslin parcel can also be used to remove mask).
6. Massage with therapeutic oil.

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 herbal infusions.
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.

Éminence Organic Skin Care's Vanilla Mint Hand Cream, using USDA certified organic ingredients this cream soothes cracked, dry skin. 888-747-6342, CRR# 165	Edimi Skin & Body Care's professional Hand Rejuvenator replaces lost moisture from washing, reduces 'contact dermatitis' problems, and provides a thin veil of defense from the day's events. 888-362-8425 or edimi.com	In the DVD, The Comprehensive Reflexology & Massage: The Foot, from Aesthetic VideoSource, provides step-by-step strokes and techniques on both feet of different models: Young, old, male, and female are demonstrated. 800-414-2434, videoshelf.com, or CRR# 127	BiON Research's 20% Glycolic Cream helps exfoliate and soften rough, thick, and damaged skin of the feet, elbows, knees, et cetera. 877-715-2466, bion-research	The nourishing, refreshing, and soothing Golden Earth®'s spearmint aromatherapy foot and body lotion, Trek, helps anyone with sore feet or muscles feel re-vitalized. 310-455-9962 or goldenearth

Eve Taylor™'s Hand & Nail Rescue Cream SPF 20 is a rich cream that seals in valuable moisture to maintain elasticity and improved barrier support as well as providing a soothing and purifying quality. 800-461-3745, eve-taylor, or CRR# 282	Nearly pure Gilden Tree 98% Shea Butter Balm is a simple, but excellent emollient that melts into dry skin and is excellent for massage with or without stones; an effective moisturizer for nails, cuticles, and dry skin all over the body. 888-445-3368 or gildentreeb2b	Jurlique's Love Balm is a skin treatment salve that moisturizes, soothes, softens, and protects sensitive, dry, or chapped skin. 800-854-1110 or jurlique.com	Tela Beauty Organics' FOOT CRÉME is a USDA certified 100 percent organic crème blend with exfoliating properties that makes callused, dehydrated skin noticeably soft and silky. 212-463-8213 or telanyc.com	GlyMed Plus®'s Cell Science Foot Spa is a specialized, AHA fortified cream that gently removes dry, keratinized skin, and calluses while energizing feet with invigorating peppermint and spearmint extracts. 800-676-9667, glymedplus, or CRR# 174

Rhonda Allison's therapeutic H2O2 Emulsion Hand Treatment is a highly therapeutic hand and cuticle treatment that renews, hydrates, refreshes, and lightens nails, while delivering anti-fungal properties. 866-313-SKIN, rhondaallison, or CRR# 222	The Volcanic Foot Mask from Ola Pono opens the pores; eases inflamed, aching muscles; soothes; stimulates; and softens the skin. 808-959-2358	pevonia® BOTANICA's Youth-Renew Hand & Foot Cream is a rich cream for hands and feet that rejuvenates aging skin, smoothes wrinkles, and contains UV filters to shield skin from sun damage. 800-PEVONIA, pevonia.com, or CRR# 278	Simply Porceline's multi-functional Healing Balm helps erase traces of rough, cracked heels and soles of the feet; is used as an after-shave balm providing relief from chafing; and it moisturizes dry cuticles, elbows, and knees. 866-PCE-LINE or simplyporceline	Sanítas Skincare's Papaya Pineapple Foot Scrub is an invigorating, enzymatic formula designed to exfoliate and unveil smooth, healthy skin. 888-855-8425, sanitas-skincare.com, or CRR# 153

	BIOTONE Marine Therapy Pedi-Salt Scrub and Marine Therapy Pedi-Balm stimulate, smooth, and soften feet and lower legs; used separately or together for a luxurious spa pedicure treatment. 619-582-0027 or biotone.com	Indulge tired, dry, and thirsty feet with Phytocéane's Intense Renewing Cream; soothes, renews, improves cellular cohesion, repairs, relaxes, and offers long-lasting hydration. 877-623-2620 phytoceane.com, or CRR# 122	Soft and sensual, Terra Dolce Grecian Blue sugar scrub provides for a gentle exfoliation from your hands to your toes. 888-693-6523 or terradolcespa.com

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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. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.delaterreskincare.com