Caring for Winter Hands and Feet
Cracked Winter Hands
Do your hands in the winter sometimes feel as dry as the branches of this snowman? It always seems strange that our hands should get dry in the winter when there is so much more moisture in the air… or is there? Well – actually when the air temperature is colder, the air cannot hold as much moisture and the excess moisture condenses into droplets. So in the winter, when temperatures are lower, the air is actually dryer. The use of heaters also dries out the air inside and it is easy to understand why we suffer more from dry skin in the winter.
When the skin on our hands dries out and starts to crack – bacteria can enter the cracks causing pain. The solution for cracked winter hands is to moisturize and prevent/stop the bacteria. The combination I have found to be effective is jojoba oil to moisturize the skin with a few drops of tea tree oil which is antibacterial. Rub this on the hands several times a day. Once the cracks in the hand have subsided, you can apply the jojoba oil just once a day to prevent cracking. I only add 3- 5 drops of tea-tree oil to a 30 ml bottle of jojoba oil.
When the skin on our hands dries out and starts to crack – bacteria can enter the cracks causing pain. The solution for cracked winter hands is to moisturize and prevent/stop the bacteria. The combination I have found to be effective is jojoba oil to moisturize the skin with a few drops of tea tree oil which is antibacterial. Rub this on the hands several times a day. Once the cracks in the hand have subsided, you can apply the jojoba oil just once a day to prevent cracking. I only add 3- 5 drops of tea-tree oil to a 30 ml bottle of jojoba oil.
*** Use caution when working with essential oils. If you are not familiar with the use of aromatherapy oils such as tea-tree, please consult with an aromatherapist or your pharmacist.
Winter Athlete’s Foot
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that tends to be found between the toes. It is highly contagious and spreads rapidly in the summer in warm and damp places such as swimming pools and gym dressing rooms. In the winter, when our feet are closed up in shoes and socks all day, they may stay moist and allow the fungus to grow.
A flare-up of Athlete's Foot normally shows an imbalance in the body which more often than not is due to stress. One can actually use the flare-up to check and ask - am I over doing it? Is a certain situation, person, lifestyle, poor diet stressing me at this time? - and then take whatever steps necessary to reduce the stress on your body. (ie. call Oran and make an appointment for a Reflexology session! ;-)
To deal with the physical aspect of athlete’s foot naturally try following these steps:
Wash
Wash well the area of the toes and between the toes preferably using a natural soap that doesn’t dry the skin. Many of us forget about soaping this area and it is important for preventing fungus.
Towel Dry
After a shower/bath gently dry your feet well with a towel by patting the affected areas (not rubbing) especially between the toes.
Blow Dry
Since the fungus thrives in a warm, moist environment - we want to change that environment. This can be done by using a hair dryer! After drying the feet, take the hair dryer, and on medium heat dry the area of the feet and the areas between the toes, and also dry the tops and bottoms of the toes.
Winter Athlete’s Foot
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that tends to be found between the toes. It is highly contagious and spreads rapidly in the summer in warm and damp places such as swimming pools and gym dressing rooms. In the winter, when our feet are closed up in shoes and socks all day, they may stay moist and allow the fungus to grow.
A flare-up of Athlete's Foot normally shows an imbalance in the body which more often than not is due to stress. One can actually use the flare-up to check and ask - am I over doing it? Is a certain situation, person, lifestyle, poor diet stressing me at this time? - and then take whatever steps necessary to reduce the stress on your body. (ie. call Oran and make an appointment for a Reflexology session! ;-)
To deal with the physical aspect of athlete’s foot naturally try following these steps:
Wash
Wash well the area of the toes and between the toes preferably using a natural soap that doesn’t dry the skin. Many of us forget about soaping this area and it is important for preventing fungus.
Towel Dry
After a shower/bath gently dry your feet well with a towel by patting the affected areas (not rubbing) especially between the toes.
Blow Dry
Since the fungus thrives in a warm, moist environment - we want to change that environment. This can be done by using a hair dryer! After drying the feet, take the hair dryer, and on medium heat dry the area of the feet and the areas between the toes, and also dry the tops and bottoms of the toes.
OIl
After drying thoroughly, spread some 100% pure virgin coconut oil (can find this in the oil section at the health food store) on the infected area of your feet. Note: during the winter when cold, the oil will be in a solid form, so you may need a spoon to scoop it out.
If you repeat this every day - you may even forget that you use to have intense itching!
*** If you continue to have a skin irritation, seek help from a medical doctor or health professional.
*** If you continue to have a skin irritation, seek help from a medical doctor or health professional.
Hand Reflexology Classes
We had two great Hand Reflexology Classes last month - one in Hebrew in Kfar Saba and one in English in Jerusalem.
Thank you to all the participants for sharing your wonderful experiences with hand reflexology. Please continue to do so!!!!
On Feb. 21st we began another Hand Reflelxology class in English for caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer’s/dementia at the Kfar Saba Senior day care center. We will be following up on the caregivers’ clients to see how hand reflexology helps them sleep better, reduces anxiety and aids with physical ailments. This time we will also be checking cognitive differences through cognitive testing.
On Feb. 21st we began another Hand Reflelxology class in English for caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer’s/dementia at the Kfar Saba Senior day care center. We will be following up on the caregivers’ clients to see how hand reflexology helps them sleep better, reduces anxiety and aids with physical ailments. This time we will also be checking cognitive differences through cognitive testing.
Sign up has begun for a Hand Reflexology Class in Hebrew in Jerusalem. Please let us know if you are interested. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
There has also been interest in a class in English in the Tel Aviv area. Please let us know if you are interested so we can open this class too. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Everyone can learn hand reflexology and begin using it immediately on themselves and their family.
To learn more about this course click here.
To learn more about this course click here.
Oran Aviv, a senior Reflexologist since 1995, has been helping adults and children stay healthy for over 15 years. Oran lectures on Reflexology and also teaches Basic Hand Reflexology workshops all across the country, showing people how to literally, put their health in their own hands. To have Oran teach your group or to arrange a Reflexology session
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or call (057)5533856
To learn more about Oran and her work you are invited to visit her site: Click here.
To learn more about Oran and her work you are invited to visit her site: Click here.