Stimulate Your Immune System with this Wet Sock Treatment

Dr. Graham

Using Hydrotherapy to Stimulate Your Immune System

Hydrotherapy (“hydro” = water) is the branch of therapeutics that utilizes water in various ways to stimulate health and healing. This therapeutic healing modality has been around for centuries and its simplicity should not be overlooked! The wet sock treatment is a specific hydrotherapy application of cold, wet socks to the feet to stimulate immune function in a simple yet effective, natural manner. If you’re new to wet socks (or “magic socks” for the kids), yes, they do sound silly. But try them out on yourself and your family once and you may find yourselves continuing to use them throughout your life!

When to use the wet sock treatment

This is a great and simple way to support your immune system during acute illnesses (colds and flus) or as a regular practice for preventative care. It is great to use during fevers as it stimulates the immune system and supports your body’s efforts to regain strength and return to health. This is also great to use when there is sinus or head congestion as it helps to draw the congestion down and away from the head.

Apart from the following precautions, this wet sock treatment is a classic method that is safe for all age groups including children, the elderly and during pregnancy. It is a natural approach with immune benefits that can support various health ailments with minimal negative side effects.

Precautions

  • Do not use on individuals with poor circulation or in infants under 4 months of age. 
  • Do not apply wet socks to a chilled body; heat up feet/body beforehand (body temp should be 98.6 F or above)

How does it work?

Water applications consist of primary and secondary actions. Wherever cold water is applied to the body, the primary action involves constriction of surface blood vessels and blood returning to the heart faster. The secondary action of cold application is dilation of blood vessels as blood starts returning to the area. 

When cold, wet socks are applied to the feet, the blood vessels initially constrict (in reaction to the cold water) and push blood up toward the heart. Then, the blood vessels in the feet start to relax and dilate as blood returns back to the feet in an effort to warm them up again. While the wet socks are on the feet, there is this continual movement of blood (simulating a pumping action) which draws blood from the upper body toward the lower body to gradually warm and bring heat back to the feet. The overall effect is an increase in blood and lymph circulation, and improvement in immune function and detoxification.[1]

Materials

  • One pair of thin cotton socks
  • One pair of thick wool socks
  • Basin of warm water (optional, to warm feet)

Instructions

The best time to do this is right before bed

  1. Place both feet in basin of warm water for 3-5 minutes, or until feet are warmed.
    (If feet are already hot, such as during a fever, you may skip this step. Note: never apply cold socks to already cold feet!) Remove feet from warm water and dry completely.
  2. Take pair of thin cotton socks and soak them in cold water. 
  3. Wring them out completely (socks should be damp but not dripping).
  4. Pull the cold cotton socks over each foot.
  5. Immediately cover the wet cotton socks with the dry wool socks.
  6. Get under the covers and go to sleep!
  7. Repeat for 2-3 days.

Your body will continue working through the night to gradually warm up the cold, cotton socks, which stimulates the immune system and promotes healing while you rest. The result should be dry socks by the time you wake up. 

Remember and refer to this the next time you’re not feeling well. I share this with parents all the time as it is such an easy and helpful way to support kids and the whole family when sick.

If you’re ready to transform your health and heal through a natural health approach uniquely tailored to your needs, schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with me here.

References

  1. Mathew CS, Babu B, Shaji C, et al. (2016). Hydrotherapy: A Review. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences.