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460 วารสารการแพทย์แผนไทยและการแพทย์ ทางเลือก ปีที่ 20 ฉบับที่ 3 กันยายน-ธันวาคม 2565

Effectiveness and Safety of Herbal Foot Baths in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Mellitus (T2DM) and Foot Numbness

Preecha Nootim*, Lakkana Ramwong, Pornchai Sawangwong, Pimlada Pongchaichanon,
Amornrat Rachderm
Thai Traditional and Integrated Medicine Hospital, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine,
Khlong Maha Nak Sub-District, Pom Prap Sattru Phai District, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
* Corresponding author: preecha.nootim@gmail.com

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic non-communicable disease that can lead to complications in many parts of the body,
especially on the feet when the blood sugar level cannot be controlled. The complications of diabetes affect the
body and quality of life. Nowadays, herbs are used to manage diabetes complications. Now, the effectiveness
and safety of herbal foot baths, whose formulation is derived from herbal hot compress, have not been studied in
patients with T2DM and foot numbness. This experimental research aimed to investigate the effectiveness and
safety of herbal foot baths in T2DM patients who had had foot numbness. The study involved two groups of 30
participants each. The experimental group was given herbal foot baths, while the control group was given normal
(non-herbal) foot baths. Both groups received foot baths with a water temperature of 38–40˚C at home three times
per week for 10 minutes/session, for a total of 12 sessions over a four-week period. The efficacy was evaluated to
determine the numbers of foot abnormal sensation points with the 10 g monofilament testing and the safety with
infrared thermography of the dorsum and arch parts of each foot. Data were collected and then analyzed using
percentages, means, and standard deviations, and hypothesis testing including paired sample t-test for within-group
comparison and independent t-test for between-group comparison. The results showed that after treatment, in the
experimental group, the number of abnormal sensation points (left feet) significantly decreased (p < 0.001), but not
significantly when compared with those in the control group; and for the right feet, both groups had significantly
lower points of abnormal sensation (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups.
With higher foot bath water temperatures, there were no significant differences in abnormal sensation points within
and between the two groups. Thus, at the water temperatures of 38–40˚C, herbal foot baths can safely reduce the
number of abnormal sensation points, while non-herbal foot baths are also feasible and safe.

Key words: herbal foot baths, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), foot numbness