Can I use mugwort leaves to soak my feet for a wind-heat type of common cold?
Feb 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
In general, patients with wind-heat感冒 (wind-heat感冒 refers to a TCM syndrome pattern of exterior wind-heat) should not use Artemisia leaf (mugwort leaf) to soak their feet, as it may worsen the condition. During the course of wind-heat感冒, patients should also ensure adequate rest, drink plenty of water, follow a light diet, and avoid spicy or irritating foods to facilitate recovery. If symptoms are severe, patients may take medications such as Wind-Heat感冒 Granules,感冒 Qing Capsules, or Compound Honeysuckle Granules as directed by a physician.
Generally, people with wind-heat type common cold should not soak their feet in mugwort-infused water, as it may worsen the condition. Detailed explanation is as follows:
Mugwort foot soaking has effects of relieving surface symptoms, dispelling cold, warming meridians, stopping bleeding, removing dampness, and relieving itching. It is more suitable for conditions such as wind-cold type common cold or abdominal pain, diarrhea, abnormal vaginal discharge, and irregular menstruation caused by deficiency-cold. Patients with wind-heat common cold usually have internal heat pathogens, and mugwort foot soaking may exacerbate symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and thirst. Therefore, patients with wind-heat common cold are not suitable for mugwort foot soaking.
If you have wind-cold type common cold, you may soak your feet in warm water. During the foot soaking, attention should be paid to appropriate water temperature to avoid burns, and the soaking time should not be too long, generally around 15–20 minutes.
During the period of wind-heat common cold, it is also important to rest sufficiently, drink plenty of water, maintain a light diet, and avoid spicy or irritating foods to aid recovery. If the condition is severe, patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as Wind-Heat Common Cold Granules, Ganmao Qing Capsules, or Compound Honeysuckle Granules for treatment.
