Soaking your feet at night before going to bed is an age-old remedy to relax and to guarantee a good night's rest.

And foot massages in winter are particularly recommended as a way of improving the blood circulation. Such services abound in the city and the Global Times has sought out a number of businesses specializing in particular foot massage treatments.

The herbal remedy

Herbal foot massages work by means of Chinese medicinal herbs being absorbed into the body via the hot water used.

Firstly, put the formulation herbal remedy into hot water at a temperature of between 45 C and 50, and then soak the feet in the water, making sure the water covers the ankle. 

At Datong Foot Bathing on Ruijin Road South, a regular herbal treatment costs 88 yuan ($14.13) for 80 minutes, including a foot soaking and massage. There is a choice of medicinal substances, such as ginger, medlar and jujube paste, that can be added to the treatment costing 20 yuan each. The massage practitioners can suggest particular herbs depending on the specific health needs of customers.

According to staff, the ginger mix is the popular request during winter. Ginger is said to be able to dispel chills and to stimulate blood circulation. The massage itself aids with the absorption of the ginger into the foot. Customers can opt to have their feet soaked in tall soaking buckets in which the water will go right up to the knee.  

Datong Foot Bathing

Add: 343 Ruijin Road South 瑞金南路343号

Tel: 5302-5789

Pure and simple

Essential oils are possibly the most widely used substances in Chinese massages. Opened nine years ago, the Matsutani Massage Center uses pure vegetable essential oils in its massage treatments.

"We have a self-developed essential oil brand which uses pure extracts from plants, rather than the more common mineral-extracted essential oils," the shop owner, surnamed Ji told the Global Times. Lavender, ginger, tea plant and sweet orange are the main components in this homegrown essential oil mix. However, staff warn that it is not suitable for use during pregnancy, or by people who suffer from allergies.

"Pure, natural essential oils are healthier for the skin and are easier to absorb," added Ji. "And for foot massages, our formulation is especially good for moisturizing and preventing cracked skin on the heel. Lavender and tea plant also work well as antiseptics, and help to alleviate the symptom of beriberi."

Open from 10 am to 2 am, the house-call service is one highlight at this shop. The essential oil foot massages costs 120 yuan an hour for house-call service, and 88 yuan on the premises.

Matsutani Massage Center

Add: 3-4/F, 95 Ruijinyi Road 瑞金一路95号3-4楼

Tel: 6385-3500

Stoned love

Hot stone massages use smoothly polished, heated natural rocks (usually basalt) placed on certain parts of the body or which are used to massage the muscles.

At Zen Palace Massage, a 75-minute foot treatment includes an essential oil massage lasting 60 minutes, and a hot stone therapy treatment lasting 15 minutes. The hot stone therapy is used to relax the channels in the foot.

Rich in abundant trace elements and minerals, the hot stones are usually applied after the essential oil massage. "Hot stones play the role of delivering energy from nature to the body, helping to open up the pores to better absorb the essential oil," said a member of staff.

Currently, the foot massage treatment is available for 138 yuan (normal price 158 yuan). Alternatively you can buy a membership for 1,000 yuan (10 percent discount on treatments), 2,000 yuan (20 percent discount on treatments) or 5,000 yuan (30 percent discount on treatments), and which lasts two years and which entitles holders to receive the same treatment for only 118 yuan. The shop is open from 11 am to 1 am.

 Zen Palace Massage

Add: 41 Mengzi Road East 蒙自东路41号

Tel: 3308-0893