In this article, I will describe several approaches traditionally used in Asia to combat sore feet and to promote holistic maintenance of the body as a whole. While originating in the Far East, many of these methods can easily be applied in our modern western society for effective sore foot relief.
Chinese Foot Reflexology
PRESSURE SORES
According to principals of Chinese medicine, the sensory nerves of the internal organs of the body travel down a meridian that culminates at the bottom of the feet. Therefore, from the Chinese perspective, not only do sore feet indicate potential imbalances within the body, but by their very nature, the soles of the feet are highly susceptible to soreness unless they are given the care and maintenance they require.
Chinese reflexology is the application of pressure to specific areas of the soles of the feet. This application of pressure can help relieve pain and soreness, boost blood circulation, and also target potential imbalances within the body's organs.
Chinese reflexology is readily available in the west, particularly in most larger cities. Usually, a Chinese foot massage lasts for about one hour, and includes a deep foot massage that should leave your feet feeling renewed and relieved of soreness. Expect to pay about per massage, which while reasonable, may be too pricey of an option for daily or even weekly maintenance that your feet really require.
In Japan, foot reflexology is called "soku shin do" or "zoku shin do," which literally translates as "foot heart way," suggesting again that the foot is the true "heart," or center, of the body's organs. Japanese foot massage was derived from China, and like Chinese foot massage targets the pressure points of the feet which connect to the body's organs. However, the Japanese counterpart has evolved into its own unique set of techniques, including the application of shiatsu, or finger pressure, and the use of oils.
Japanese Foot Massage Tools
Japanese are highly conscious of the importance of healthy foot maintenance. In medieval Japan, commoners were forbidden to ride horses, which meant they had to travel everywhere on foot. In modern Japan as well, because cars are impractical in the crowded cities, most people still today do considerable walking every day. Not surprisingly given this history, a huge assortment of foot massage tools has evolved in Japan to combat chronic foot soreness.
The most popular Japanese foot massage tool is the takefumi foot massager. This simple device is basically a half piece of bamboo, about a foot long, that users simply lay on the floor and step on for a minute or so.
The natural arch of the takefumi provides a perfectly hard yet smooth surface for a quick, soothing foot massage that thoroughly massages the soles of the feet, providing instant relief from foot soreness while working all of the pressure points that connect to the body's organs. Although the takefumi originated in Japan's medieval period, today you can still find a takefumi in nearly every Japanese household.
Could there be a connection between the Japanese devotion to daily foot care through foot massage, and the fact that the Japanese enjoy the world's highest life expectancy?
Effective Asian Remedies for Relief From Sore Feet PRESSURE SORES
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