Who wouldn’t want to put cold wet sock on their feet when they’re sick and ready to go to bed…
hear me out…
this has been a game changer in our house.
We’ve been using the Warming Sock Treatment since our 8 year old daughter was a toddler. Now, at the first signs of a cold, she asks to do “wet socks” before bed. Once she’s ready for bed, she’ll sit on the bathroom counter with a book and soak her feet in a sink full of really warm (not hot) water and read for a few minutes until her feet are warm and pink. She has shared that if she has a stuffy nose at bedtime, this helps relieve or at least reduce it almost immediately and leads to a more restful sleep.
Sometimes referred to as “wet socks”, the Warming Sock Treatment is essentially a hydrotherapy technique that increases circulation and blood flow. With increased circulation, your lymphatic system, which produces, stores, and carries white blood cells through your bloodstream, is engaged to further help fight off infections. As my daughter attests, it is especially effective for relieving nasal congestion. It is also helpful for other upper respiratory symptoms associated with the “common cold”.
What you need:
- think cotton socks
- thick wool socks
- sink, tub, or bucket filled with very warm water
- sink or bucket filled with very cold water
What you do:
- Place the cotton socks in a sink of very cold or iced water.
- Place your bare feet into a tub or bucket of very warm water.
- Soak your feet until they are warm and look a little pink, but not red.
- Ensure the cold socks are saturated, then wring them out well so that they do not drip.
- Dry your feet with a towel and put the wet cotton socks on your feet.
- Immediately pull the dry wool socks over the wet socks. You want the wool socks to completely cover the cotton socks.
- Go to bed.
Repeat for 3 nights in a row.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Consultation with a Naturopathic Doctor or other primary care provider is recommended for anyone suffering from a health problem.
