Having cold feet is very unpleasant. There are several causes for cold feet. Explanations and express solutions with our general practitioner and naturopath.
How unpleasant it is to have cold feet! “The cold causes vasoconstriction (reduction in the diameter of blood vessels) and the blood is brought back to the center of the body in order to protect the noble organs so that the majority of the body is maintained at 37 degrees. The ends are then left” explains Dr Daniel Caroff, general practitioner and naturopath. There are very effective tips and advice for warming them up quickly, whether you are outside, at home, in bed or at the office.
What causes cold feet?
In naturopathy, it is not normal to have cold feet and hands even when it is cold. “These people are then considered to have a liver dysfunction. It is the hottest organ and when it is too intoxicated, it functions less well and therefore does not produce enough heat.” Even if the feeling of cold is in the feet, we will then treat the liver as a priority. In Chinese medicine, someone who has cold feet “does not have enough yang (yin and yang). In this case it is treated by doing acupuncture or using a moxa stick placed over a slice of ginger which is a hot ingredient at the level of the navel. This warms the center and therefore the yang will be able to warm the body“. Finally, be aware that some people are more sensitive to cold because of the overexpression of a protein called TRPM-8. This is located in the sensory neurons which act as receptors, and is directly involved in cold sensations. They will therefore regularly have cold feet.
What to do?
- Wear silk or 100% wool socks as they are thermoregulatory.
- Take a hot foot bath to promote vasodilation. You can dilute thujanol thyme essential oil, which warms, in a solvent (bath preparation, powdered milk, liquid soap, bath salt or Epsom salt, etc.) and pour it into the foot bath water.
- Put a hot water bottle under your feet.
- Massage your feet with an anti-cold cream (or even rub them to activate circulation).
- Wear slippers at home to prevent feet from being in direct contact with the floor. You can also put a rug under your feet when you telework or while you are at the table.
Having cold feet when it is rather warm inside the house (between 19 and 23°C) can be directly linked to housing. For example, if the floors are cold, then the temperature felt is lower than that displayed on the thermometer. Too much humidity can also be the cause of a weaker feeling. Finally, make sure there is no air infiltration inside your home.
► The effects of the hot water bottle : Daniel Caroff advises placing a hot water bottle under the feet and another at the liver level. The liver being the hottest organ in the body, helping it to warm up will allow heat to be gained throughout the body.
► Massage your feet : an anti-cold and humidity cream with vitamin A is ideal for a foot massage before leaving the house.
How to warm your feet at night, in bed?
At night, body temperature drops by around 1.5°C. And priority to vital organs where the heat is concentrated. The ends are therefore, here too, neglected.
- Elevate your legs slightly to facilitate the return of blood to the heart and thus stimulate blood circulation.
- Sleep without socks to avoid foot sweating, which causes the feeling of cold. If you really want to wear socks, choose cotton, wool or silk (thermo-regulating) and loose socks.
- Before sleeping: take a foot bath in water at 37-39°C, with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil, for 15 minutes.
- Warm your bed beforehand using a hot water bottle or a pebble to heat in the microwave.
What solutions to warm your feet outside?
- Wear suitable insoles: if your shoes and socks are not enough to insulate you from the cold, you can try insulating felt insoles. On the other hand, avoid heated removable insoles which promote poor venous return.
- Avoid shoes that are too tight, which compress the toes and prevent them from moving.
- Manage sweating: water freezes because of the cold. If you sweat from this area, it will be difficult for your feet to warm up properly. A podiatrist or dermatologist can advise you on existing treatments.
- Limit stress and smoking: these two factors aggravate chilliness
Finally, don’t forget to cover your head when you go out because that’s not where 30% of body heat escapes.
Thanks to Dr Daniel Caroff, general practitioner and naturopath. Source: The derivative bath method of France Guillain
