6 Feng Shui Foot Fixes for Good Health

“Death begins in the big toe.” I had a Master teacher in kung fu that would always say that and at the time I didn’t think too much about it, but foot pain hadn’t been an issue.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the body is compared to a tree with the torso being the trunk, the arms being branches and our feet representing the roots. TCM says that just as trees wither and die from the roots, as we age we will notice our health decline from our feet first. This is because the feet are furthest from the heart and circulation isn’t as optimal as when we were younger.

Besides keeping us rooted or grounded, healthy feet are imperative to our overall good health.

Element of the foot
Wood is the element associated with the feet and liver. In Chinese medicine we know that anger problems can arise when the liver is not in balance. And, often problems will appear in the feet, ankles or toes, showing up as hammer toes, bunions, corns, calluses, heel spurs, claw and mallet toes, ingrown toenails, or even toenail fungus.

Good foot care is critical to overall good health.

I’ve noticed myself that over the past year I have had more issues involving my feet. Mostly it had been stiffness, but recently I was moving some boxes and when I reached up on my tippy toes I had a searing pain shoot through my toe and foot. Immediately, I started to do Reiki, recite a healing chant and give myself a little foot massage. As I rubbed the underside of my big toe it was still really sore and I could feel like there was calcium build up or some sort of blockage. 😧

From my training in TCM, I began doing acupressure on my toe along with deep breathing. I had to really concentrate on the breathing though because the pain was quite intense.

I made a point to do this mini self foot massage several times a day along with some herbal soaks and it really made a difference. It isn’t completely gone yet, but I have more flexibility and mobility than before. I know this because I’m constantly going on my tippy toes now just to check and no pain. 😉

Feng shui & the foot

If you or a family member develops foot trouble, examine the East sector of your home. In Feng Shui this is the area of health and family and also relates to our ability to stand on our own two feet.

Trouble in this sector can also make it difficult for you to move forward in life. Breaking an ankle or other foot ailments are sometimes an indicator that we are scared of taking a big step or making a major change in life.  

Check to see if there is excess metal or fire, such as a fireplace. If so, a simple feng shui fix is to add water here to control the metal or fire – and balance the wood energy. This in turn will feed and support your feet and/or liver.

Also remove any dead or dying plants, sources of extreme heat or excess electronics as these can trigger a myriad of ailments from blisters to athlete’s foot to plantars warts.

The feet have points that correspond to many parts and organs of the body.

Foot Fixes

1. Massages
2. Foot exercises
3. Soaking in hot water and taking herbal soaks
4. Acupuncture
5. Acupressure (reflexology)
6. Applying herbal pastes to the feet.

Soaking in hot water activates blood and energy throughout the body.

Simple soaking can be amazingly effective since five meridians (liver, gallbladder, kidney, spleen and stomach) reach the feet and each of these has more than 60 acupuncture points. 

Soaking your feet in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes per day can work miracles for your mood, your energy level, your sleeping habits and any aches and pains you may have — both in your feet and throughout your body.