Anyone who regularly suffers from cold feet and hands or winter toes - even when you're not outside in the cold - knows how annoying and painful the phenomenon is. That your fingers and toes feel cold is not the only problem. For many people this is accompanied by a numbing or tingling sensation, tight and itchy red skin, sometimes even a rash or blisters. Usually this is the result of poor blood circulation, but sometimes also of diabetes or other conditions. What do you do about it? Try these home-based remedies.
1. EAT OR DRINK YOURSELF WARM
Do you spontaneously think of alcohol to warm you up? Then we have to disappoint you, because just like caffeine and smoking, drinking alcohol has a bad effect on your blood vessels. Including on your winter toes. Any better ideas? Include garlic, berries, oily fish and iron-rich foods (green vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, red meat) in your meals. Ginger, ginkgo and green tea also do your cold hands and feet good.
2. AVOID LARGE, RAPID TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES
Holding your ice-cold feet and winter toes under hot water or against the heater is not a good plan. Better warm yourself up slowly. The other way round goes as well, of course. When you go outside, make the transition from warm to cold as pleasant as possible.
Dress in layers, wear socks and gloves in wool and cotton and avoid too tight clothing. After all, it is the intention to wear breathable clothing and shoes so that your body is perfectly insulated and blood flow is not hindered.
3. WOBBLE YOUR TOES
It is important to let your blood circulate well to the extremities of your body. Walk around a bit, exercise enough or take the stairs more often. In a sedentary profession, a lot of exercise is often not possible, but no matter how crazy it looks: twist your feet, wobble your toes, loosen your wrists, ... it all helps to prevent winter toes.
4. TAKE A (FOOT) BATH AND ADD ...
... lavender, ginger or rutabaga to soothe the pain or cayenne pepper, magnesium sulphate or Epsom Salt or celery to give your feet and hands a pleasant heat boost. No wounds? Then you can also try rubbing your feet with a cream with cayenne pepper, sesame oil with some black pepper in it, onion juice or pieces of horseradish.
5. PAMPER YOUR FINGERS AND TOES
Whichever of the above remedies you try, do it with softness. Although wet feet or hands increase discomfort, it is important to moisturize. That is: always dry your feet and hands well, wear moisture-absorbing fabrics and use baby powder if necessary. But also apply a moisturizing cream afterwards so that they don't dry out, as this will only make your winter teats more painful.
PS: Our down boots and down gloves will also keep you warm inside your home.
Good luck (and warmth) this winter!
