Reward the sole

Reward the sole

Your feet take abuse all day long and then they have to stand around some more while you wash the grime of work from your face when you get back home. That's not fair, says Supanee Tientongtip of the Thai Spa Association.

Archaeological evidence has traced reflexology back to 2000 BC, to ancient Egypt and China. For today Supanee advises a three-step, do-it-yourself treatment: soaking, scrubbing and massaging.

First, soak your feet in a tub filled with warm water and Chinese teabags or kaffir lime leaves for 10 minutes. Keep your eyes closed and breath deeply. Then dry off your feet and give them a good scrub with a brush to clear away dead skin.

Next, sit cross-legged with the sole of one foot facing up. Press your entire hand snugly against the sole, and then set both thumbs in the middle of the sole and firmly draw them outward to the sides of the foot. Work your way down from the toes to the heel. Repeat with the other foot.

Next, with the sole facing down, hold your right ankle with the right hand and the toes with the left and turn the foot as far as you comfortably can, clockwise 10 times and anti-clockwise 10 times. Again, repeat with the other foot.

Apply foot cream to your feet.

Begin with the toes, keeping in mind that they're linked reflexively to the head and brain. The next area you massage - the base of the toes - corresponds to the chest organs. The arch of the foot is believed connected to the upper abdominal organs, including the stomach. Knead the arch with your thumbs or the knuckles of your fist, and then use those knuckles on the heels of your feet, which are aligned with the organs of the lower abdomen. Repeat with the other foot.

"This foot treatment," says Supanee, "stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation as well as helping the internal organs in their functions. It's great for fatigue and should soften the soles and cut down on odour. It can also relieve headaches and arthritic pain and put an end to athlete's foot."

Daily Xpress/Asian News Network

This story was first published in the Daily Xpress on May 24, 2008.