Insomnia solution: Wet socks
If insomnia has you in its wide-eyed grip, try pulling on a pair of wet socks. I've read plenty of tips to sleep like a baby, but never cold, swampy feet.
Julie's Health Blog recently shared this unusual remedy, which is published in the book Health20 by integrative physician Alexa Fleckstein and Roanne Weisman. They don't get credit for the idea -- Sebastian Kneipp, a Bavarian priest and a founder of Naturopathic medicine, introduced the concept over 100 years ago. Here's the chilly regimen:
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Before bed, put on a pair of cotton socks which have been dunked in cold water and lightly wrung.
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Then pull on a pair of dry woolen socks over the wet ones.
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Wrap your feet in a towel and hit the pillow.
Studies show cold feet and insomnia are linked. With this treatment, the cold and wet socks stimulate a rush of blood toward the feet, warming your footsies and bringing on sleep. Fleckstein claims it worked for her. I don't know, going to sleep with the aroma of wet wool and bound feet does not sound appealing. Anyone tried this one?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-21-2008 @ 1:26AM
helen said...
It seems to me that you can avoid sleeping with feet in a puddle by simply warming them, which is apparently the point of the towel on the woolen socks on top of the wet ones. In fact, on chilly winter days I often put a warmed bean bag (groats, actually) by my cold feet to help me get warmed up enough to fall asleep. I've noticed on such occasions that sleep comes quite a bit quicker than usual.
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4-21-2008 @ 9:11AM
JR said...
I tossed and turned for about 30 minutes last night. It was one of those nights where I just wasn't tired and knew sleep wouldn't be coming soon. So, i remembered this and figured I'd give it a try. I don't know if it exactly worked, but i did fall asleep about 15 minutes after. I'm gonna try it again the next night I can't sleep. We'll see.
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4-21-2008 @ 2:59PM
s1ngxthexs0rr0wpp said...
i use to have trouble sleeping, i found a natural sleep aid called melatonin. i get to sleep super quick with this;
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=304747&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod3481010
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4-23-2008 @ 11:20AM
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D. said...
Melatonin is pretty much out for a sleeping aid - especially in those way too high doses you buy in the store.
Of course, I am for wet socks (I wrote the book) but I agree that probably the warm feet make you fall asleep, and a bean bag is a good idea.
Still, I am in awe that Sebastian Kneipp found the link between insomnia and cold feet about 150 years ago - just by observation!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.