Not a lack of courage here, but I feel a need to keep be extra vigilant about keeping the extremities warm as the harsh winter weather swings in. One claim that reflexologists are able to make is that the practice can aid circulation – no bad thing when a blizzard is approaching and the temperatures are sub-zero! During a sesion, it is hard not to notice how many people, women in particular, suffer from cold hands and feet. Chronic cold feet can be a sign of medical issues and should be checked out by a doctor, but if the problem is more discomfort than medical, there are a few things you can do which really help.
As in many other situations, prevention is better than cure – putting gloves or socks on when you already cold often seems to seal the cold in, rather than warming you up. Disposable hand warmers, available cheaply at big box stores or on Amazon can be tucked into long sleeves at the wrists or at the ankle (between two pairs of socks, not directly on the leg) where the blood vessels are close to the skin’s surface, and running warm water over these areas can effectively get the hands/feet warm quickly. Placing hand warmers in the front pockets of pants or jeans is another great way to warm the blood flow to the whole body. Contrary to popular belief, I find that wearing a scarf is a better body-warmer than a hat, and in fact the notion that more heat is lost through the head than anywhere else has largely been debunked by science
Good socks are a must, I suggest Smartwool or Heattech from Uniqlo, a company which uses innovative technology in their fabrics. My Heattech tights and legwarmers are better at keeping out the cold than most of my long pants and as the 80s are back in vogue, quite on trend too!
Wear slippers in the house, preferably ones which come up around the ankles, like these
similar ones can be found here
If you have to be outside in the cold, it goes without saying that in addition to good quality ski mittens (better than gloves), warm-lined, waterproof boots with thick soles are the best way to stay comfortable. Once back inside, a warm water soak with epsom salts plus a drop or two of clove or ginger essential oil followed by massaging the hands and feet with a topical warming cream feels wonderful. My last tip, get an old fashioned hot water bottle, my go to winter warmer – so special, and multi-purpose, that it deserves its own post, so watch this space!
