Just recently, I learned that one of my Nia students is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. She has been attending my Nia classes for about two years and when I first met her she said she taught Pilates, so I thought that was her primary job. It is actually funny because I have been looking for a holistic doctor. One day after class she asked how my toe was doing and said something like, let me think about it and see what I have and I’ll let you know. I thought, ok. The next class she brought me a sample of something and a homeopathic treatment/instructions where it stated she was an ND. Ha, the things you learn.
Anyway, the second I got home I looked for cotton socks and wool socks. We didn’t have any that I could accurately identify. And I really didn’t think that walking around shopping was the best thing for my foot/toe. There were times that I had to do things, as in get groceries or take care of some bank business, but shopping was not a high priority. I waited until I could enlist the help of mom! Yup. She ran around and got me some wool socks.
Anyway . . . the therapy is this:
1. Warm your feet, either by soaking them or by taking a bath.
2. Dry your feet.
3. Wet a pair of cotton socks. Make sure they are completely wet with cold water.
4. Wring the socks out so they are not dripping.
5. Put the socks on. Yes! Put the socks on your nicely warmed feet.
6. Cover the cold wet cotton socks with the dry wool socks.
7. Go to bed! Cover up like you normally would.
All of the various instructions I have read said to make certain that you don’t get chilled. So the idea is to put the wet socks on, then the dry socks and go directly to bed.
When you wake up the socks will be dry and your feet warm.
This treatment is said to aid with congestion and upper respiratory infections. Information says it helps with headaches, migraines, colds, infections, sore throats, ear infections, cough and bronchitis. Also, helps with cold feet due to poor circulation. Some things say it helps relieve pain and promote healing.
Since your feet have cold wet socks on your body has to keep your feet warm so it sends the blood to your feet. This wet sock therapy gets your blood moving!
I found it made my feet really soft. Same as putting lotion on then putting socks on. I found that I slept really well. At first I was thinking of this treatment as just something to do for my toe, but now that I actually tried it. I can see how it could help with other things. It was a momentary challenge for me to think of putting on wet socks, but then I realized my student wasn’t just making this up to help me, this is a TREATMENT. It just took me awhile to get the right socks. Neither my cotton nor the wool socks are 100% but they are as close as we could find. I would think the higher the percentage the better.
The instructions I’ve read suggest you do it at least three nights in a row. I did that. I was too tired on the fourth night, which I think is good, but I might try it again tonight. I think it really helped. Oh, also, I skipped the warming step. I started at #3. Maybe if my feet were cold in the first place I would warm them first.
So what do you think? Are you willing to try it? If you do, please let me know your results.
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