Keri's Wellness Wednesday: Wet sock therapy for colds and flu
"I was looking for some interesting and different options for home cold and flu remedies and came across this one A LOT. And it works!" - Keri Miller.
This seems to go against everything I learned growing up, but it appears to work wonders. You're probably thinking to yourself - WET SOCKS??? HAS EAST COAST BREAKFAST GONE MAD?
I promise it is not as bad as it seems and it is actually effective (so I hear).
I promise it is not as bad as it seems and it is actually effective (so I hear).
So let’s talk WET SOCK TREATMENT:
What you will need?
- You must have a cold/flu, obviously
- A basin/bucket with hot water
- 1 pair of thin cotton socks
- 1 pair of warm woolly socks
- A bed and a blanket
Wet sock treatment instructions:
1. Just before you head to bed, put your feet in hot water for at least three minutes. Get the water as hot as you can handle it without burning your skin.
2. Wet one pair of thin, cotton ankle socks in very cold water. Wring the socks out and put them on immediately after your hot foot bath. The water should be as cold as you can handle it (It really won’t feel bad on your warm feet).
3. Put on one pair of heavy wool socks over the ankles and climb into bed.
4. Cover yourself (and feet) well and sleep all night with socks on. Leave the socks on until they’re dry.
1. Just before you head to bed, put your feet in hot water for at least three minutes. Get the water as hot as you can handle it without burning your skin.
2. Wet one pair of thin, cotton ankle socks in very cold water. Wring the socks out and put them on immediately after your hot foot bath. The water should be as cold as you can handle it (It really won’t feel bad on your warm feet).
3. Put on one pair of heavy wool socks over the ankles and climb into bed.
4. Cover yourself (and feet) well and sleep all night with socks on. Leave the socks on until they’re dry.
5. Stay away from dairy and sugar, and drink plenty of water. Then notice how much more quickly you feel better when you use the wet sock treatment!
So how do wet socks help?
After putting on the socks, you'll climb into bed and drift off to sleep. While you are in dreamland, your feet will be doing all the work. The blood vessels in your feet constrict as your feet cool down which will send good nutrients to your organs and tissues. These nutrients are needed to fight off infections and stimulate healing.
Then, when your feet start to warm up again, those same blood vessels dilate and release the heat. This is now the time for the ‘rubbish’ in your tissues to get dumped into your blood stream and allow your body to get rid of it. The alternating of hot and then cold stimulates your circulation and lymphatics.
What are the results?
An active immune system, reduced congestion, and in the morning your socks will be dry and your body will be happy.
PS: This is great for kids too
After putting on the socks, you'll climb into bed and drift off to sleep. While you are in dreamland, your feet will be doing all the work. The blood vessels in your feet constrict as your feet cool down which will send good nutrients to your organs and tissues. These nutrients are needed to fight off infections and stimulate healing.
Then, when your feet start to warm up again, those same blood vessels dilate and release the heat. This is now the time for the ‘rubbish’ in your tissues to get dumped into your blood stream and allow your body to get rid of it. The alternating of hot and then cold stimulates your circulation and lymphatics.
What are the results?
An active immune system, reduced congestion, and in the morning your socks will be dry and your body will be happy.
PS: This is great for kids too
Read: Keri's Wellness Wednesday: 10 unimaginable uses for bicarb!