Foot Massage: Proven Health Benefits and How to Give It (Video)

Many people go to great lengths in their quest for good health, while ignoring a simple and fast daily practice that can work wonders for the body and mind. One surprising way to promote natural health and wellness across the life span is to take a few moments each day to perform a foot massage.

More than just a decadent indulgence or a relaxation technique, foot massage has far-reaching benefits, many of which are based in reflexology.

Let’s look at how foot massage can greatly enhance your health and how to give a foot massage (you’ll find a video at the end of the article).

The Health Benefits of Reflexology

I’ve already mentioned the many health benefits of reflexology and how to do reflexology to treat many ailments.

Reflexology is a safe and completely natural way for you to enhance the quality of your life. It uses massage therapy techniques to stimulate nerves, mostly in the palm of your hand and bottom of your foot. Each of these nerves branches off to different organs and glands in your body.

There are a surprising amount of ways reflexology can help you live a healthier and happier life. It can help alleviate headaches, cold symptoms, stress, and many other daily inconveniences (more detailed listing below) all through a simple massage.

The practice of reflexology goes back to ancient times, and has maintained a large following over the millennia because of how effective it can be at providing relief and promoting good health.

The Health Benefits of Foot Massage

In the realm of reflexology, the key to virtually every body part lies in the sole of the foot (and additionally, the palm of the hand). By massaging your feet each night before bed, you can not only bring relief to a pair of sore feet after a long day, but bring wellness to your entire body by stimulating pressure points.

Here are a few ways that foot massage can be beneficial to your health¹:

1. Foot Massage Promotes Mental Health and Wellness

A daily foot massage can help keep the psychological aspects of your health in balance.

According to a 1999 study performed by a team of researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and published in the Intensive and Critical Care Nursing journal, a five-minute foot massage served to bring about relaxation to critical care patients, helping to reduce their stress levels and measurably reducing blood pressure and heart rate.⁴

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing showed that massage of the soft tissues of the hands or feet brought about emotional comfort when performed on a sample of people grieving the death of a loved one.⁵

Further research conducted in 2013 by Australian researchers from Griffith University found that participants with a high-stress, demanding job felt reduced anxiety levels and improvement in mood following a 10-minute foot massage.⁶

Further reading: Learn how to naturally reduce your blood pressure and how to reduce stress and anxiety naturally.

2. Foot Massage Serves as a Natural Pain Relief

Foot massage can also provide relief from pain, and not only pain in the feet.

A 2004 study published in the Pain Management Nursing journal, performed by researchers from the Indiana University School of Nursing, found that post-operative patients reported a greater reduction in their pain symptoms following a massage of the feet or hands than those who used pain medication alone.⁷

Another study, published in the Applied Nursing Research journal in 2010, found that women given foot massage following C-section births reported reduced post-op pain as compared with the placebo group.¹¹

For best results message your feet with one of the top 16 essential oils for relieving pain and inflammation.

3. Foot Massage Brings Relief from Cancer Symptoms and Chemotherapy Side Effects

Foot massage helped cancer patients find relief from not only pain, but nausea, in a 2000 study spearheaded by researchers from the University of Canberra and published in the Cancer Nursing journal.⁸

A sample of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment were studied by scientists from Michigan State University in 2012, and these women reported a dramatic reduction in physical symptoms associated with their cancer and treatment, such as less shortness of breath and improved energy levels.⁹

4. Foot Massage – Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Relief

Cancer is not the only physical ailment to have its symptoms improved through a reflexology-based foot massage. A multi-campus team of Iranian researchers recently found that reflexology was able to provide relief from the crippling fatigue that so many people with multiple sclerosis suffer from.

These findings were published in the March/April 2015 edition of the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. ¹²

5. Foot Massage can Reduce High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High blood pressure is another common illness that science has shown to be improved by reflexology foot massage.

A study performed by Korean researchers from Pusan National University found that systolic blood pressure and blood triglyceride levels were both improved following a therapeutic massage ².

Further scientific research conducted by Dr. Jesus Manzanares, a Spanish medical doctor and practitioner of reflexology, found that hypertensive patients receiving a massage protocol specifically targeted at reducing blood pressure (versus the placebo group) had symptom improvement that was significant enough that they were able to reduce dosages of their high blood pressure medications while undergoing the reflexology-based treatment.³

Further reading: use this DIY 2 ingredient medicinal oil to reduce harmful triglycerides in the blood and prevent clogged arteries.

6. Foot Massage for Relief of PMS symptoms

Many women across the world suffer from intolerable PMS symptoms each month, including bloating, mood changes and cramping.

According to a 1993 study published in the Obstetrics and Gynecology journal, researchers from the California Graduate Institute’s Division of Behavioral Medicine found that women who underwent reflexology—including foot massage—reported reduced PMS symptoms as compared with the placebo group.¹⁰

For best results, combine your foot massage with these 12 natural treatments for PMS.

7. Foot Massage for Swollen Legs

The term edema refers to the retention of fluids in the body. Sometimes it can be normal to have a bit of swelling in your legs, for example, after a day spent standing or sitting, or during pregnancy.

However, leg and ankle swelling, also known as peripheral edema, can also signal that there is an underlying issue that might need some attention and treatment. Kidney disease, heart failure, liver disease and certain medications can all result in fluid retention.

A 2010 Turkish study published in the International Journal of Nursing Practice found that pregnancy-related edema was significantly affected by regular foot massage, with women in the massage groups having markedly smaller leg circumference than their counterparts in the placebo groups.

You can also use this natural tea for swollen ankles and legs or use these natural remedies for swollen legs.

How to Give a Foot Massage

One of the best ways to treat a friend or loved one is to give this person a wonderful foot massage. Here are a few techniques for giving a foot massage to try:

1. Put a small amount warm lotion or oil (such as coconut oil or olive oil) in your hand. Smooth the lotion or oil over the foot.

2. Hold the foot firmly with both hands and rub the top of the foot using a firm motion with your thumbs. Start at the tip of each toe and move slowly all the way up to the ankle. Move back towards the toes and rub with a lighter stroke. Repeat this step 2 or more times.

3. Continue to hold the foot with both hands and move your thumbs to the bottom of the foot. Rub the bottom of the foot. Start at the tip of each toe and move your thumbs firmly down towards the heel. Go back in the direction of the toes and rub the bottom of the foot with your thumbs. Repeat this step 2 or more times.

4. Repeat the above steps on the other foot.

Related articles:
1.How To Do Reflexology At Home (Including Detailed Charts)
2.How to Get Rid of Dead Dry Skin on Feet
3.Natural Home Remedies to Prevent and Eliminate Feet Odor

How to Give a Foot Massage (Video)

Here is a video demonstrating how to give a foot massage:

Medical Resources: