How to fall asleep when your mind is racing (and your feet are cold)
04110/05 Filed in: Health
You probably know grandma's old recipe to drink a cup
of warm milk with honey before going to bed. It
works, especially if you don't just gulp it down, but
take time to unwind: Feel the warmth of the mug in
your hands and pretend that someone who cares a lot
about you gave that nightcap to you.
But that isn't what this post is about...
A Chinese household remedy for a restless mind that keeps you from falling asleep is a quick hot foot bath.
It works very well too, and has less calories
And it makes your feet warm, even
if they've been ice cold before – another
thing that can keep you from falling asleep, and
often occurs together with a racing mind.
How it works:
Put your feet and hands in a bowl of water that feels hot to you. (I like to sit on the bathtub rim for this. That way I don't have to worry about spilling water either.) If your feet are very cold, that might be just over 30 degrees, if they're fairly warm, you can go up to over 40 degrees. The water should reach to or just above your ankles. If you want to, you can increase the water temperature after a minute – a little tingling or stinging from the heat is OK.
Keep your hands and feet in the hot water until the skin starts turning pink ( 2-5 minutes), which is a sign of increased circulation. Then, dry them off, put on your favourite woollen socks and tuck yourself in. When you're back in bed, it initially might feel as if your feet are not holding the warmth, but don't worry: The circulation is kick-started, and they'll get warm from the inside in a short time.
I find it works better and quicker against cold feet than a hot water bottle: By the time the water for a hot water bottle would be warm, you're already back in bed and your feet are warm on all sides.
Why it works:
According to Chinese medicine the Shen (approximately: Spirit, mind) needs to rest in the Heart at night, like a little bird in its nest. When the Heart is agitated, the Shen can find no place to settle down. The body's Qi (energy) is concentrated in the head and the chest, which is why this state of mind is so often combined with cold extremities.
Warmth draws energy to the area where it's applied. Thus, bringing warmth to the hands and feet draws enough Qi away from the Heart that the Shen can settle for a good night's sleep. At the same time, the Qi improved circulation of hands and feet makes them warm again.
But that isn't what this post is about...
A Chinese household remedy for a restless mind that keeps you from falling asleep is a quick hot foot bath.
It works very well too, and has less calories
And it makes your feet warm, even
if they've been ice cold before – another
thing that can keep you from falling asleep, and
often occurs together with a racing mind.
How it works:
Put your feet and hands in a bowl of water that feels hot to you. (I like to sit on the bathtub rim for this. That way I don't have to worry about spilling water either.) If your feet are very cold, that might be just over 30 degrees, if they're fairly warm, you can go up to over 40 degrees. The water should reach to or just above your ankles. If you want to, you can increase the water temperature after a minute – a little tingling or stinging from the heat is OK.
Keep your hands and feet in the hot water until the skin starts turning pink ( 2-5 minutes), which is a sign of increased circulation. Then, dry them off, put on your favourite woollen socks and tuck yourself in. When you're back in bed, it initially might feel as if your feet are not holding the warmth, but don't worry: The circulation is kick-started, and they'll get warm from the inside in a short time.
I find it works better and quicker against cold feet than a hot water bottle: By the time the water for a hot water bottle would be warm, you're already back in bed and your feet are warm on all sides.
Why it works:
According to Chinese medicine the Shen (approximately: Spirit, mind) needs to rest in the Heart at night, like a little bird in its nest. When the Heart is agitated, the Shen can find no place to settle down. The body's Qi (energy) is concentrated in the head and the chest, which is why this state of mind is so often combined with cold extremities.
Warmth draws energy to the area where it's applied. Thus, bringing warmth to the hands and feet draws enough Qi away from the Heart that the Shen can settle for a good night's sleep. At the same time, the Qi improved circulation of hands and feet makes them warm again.
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