OK to apply during menstrual flow
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Check heat tolerance; diabetics or people with poor circulation in feet need to be cautious of water temperature
MATERIALS NEEDED
Small tub, wide bucket, or large pan—to place feet in
Used coffee grounds (not over a day old)—amounts range from 1 to 6 teacups
Pot to boil the used coffee grounds; ratio of amount of grounds to amount of water: 1 teacup of grounds: ½ gallon water; 1 cup: 1 or 1½ gallons; 2 cups: 1 to 1½ gallons; 2 to 3 cups: 1 to 1½ gallons; 6 cups: “ . . . sufficient water for a good foot bath . . . ” (2268-1); “ . . . sufficient {grounds} that the water is colored well from the hardboiled coffee grounds.” (243-33)
Towels (optional)—to place around tub to protect floor from drips
Bath towel (optional)—to dry off feet after soaking
FREQUENCY OF APPLICATION
Occasionally; daily; each evening before retiring; 1, 2, 3, or 4 times a week; until the cold dissipates
LENGTH OF TIME TO BOIL GROUNDS
Two to 2½ minutes, 10 minutes, 20 to 30 minutes, some readings mention no time length
LENGTH OF TIME OF APPLICATION
Five to 10 minutes, 20 minutes, no time frame given in most readings
LOCATION OF APPLICATION
Lower limbs—feet and ankles; heels, arches, toes, and bottoms of the feet; you can bathe and massage limbs up to the knees with the solution while feet are soaking
EXPECTED EFFECTS/PURPOSES
Enhances circulation
Relieves cold and congestion
Improves functioning of feet
DIRECTIONS
Collect the used coffee grounds from your coffee pot or filter. The grounds should be rather fresh—not over a day old. The amount of coffee grounds ranges from 1 teacup up to 6 cups. Boil the grounds in water from 2 minutes up to 20 to 30 minutes. The amount of water to be boiled ranges from ½ gallon to 1½ gallons. (For the recommended ratio of grounds to amount of water see Materials Needed section.)
After the water has been boiling for the specified length of time, allow it to cool somewhat, until it reaches a warm enough temperature (not hot or tepid), so that the feet and lower limbs can be comfortably placed in the water. The grounds may be kept in the water, and the whole solution poured into the foot tub. (Some readings say to strain or remove the grounds; others say not to.) Bathe and massage the feet and lower limbs, using both the water and the grounds (if not strained) as a lubricant, from five to twenty minutes. To do a thorough job, the limbs and knees may be continuously massaged—as well as the heels, arches, toes, and bottoms of the feet—while the feet are soaking. Then dry off the feet and limbs with a towel.
DIRECTIONS FROM THE READINGS
For a twenty-year-old woman who questioned what could be done for the weak arches in her feet (reading given on October 25, 1933):
. . . Each evening before retiring, bathe the feet and limbs to the knees in a very mild tannic acid, which may best be made (for such conditions) from coffee grounds. When they are ready to be thrown out, put on a cupful to a gallon and a half of water. Let boil for ten minutes, pour off and allow to cool sufficiently so that the lower limbs may be bathed in it. Massage the limbs and the feet, especially the heels and the arches and toes, all the time they are in the solution, see? The whole quantity being used, of course; drain the dregs off, or the grounds; and keep the limbs and feet in same for twenty minutes . . .
386-3
For a thirteen-year-old girl experiencing peeling of the skin on her heels, ankles, and soles of feet (reading given on November 12, 1941):
. . . Bathe them {the feet} occasionally in weak coffee made from old coffee grounds; coffee that has been used, see? Save the old coffee grounds, not until they are soured, but boil and then bathe the feet and lower limbs in same; massaging them with same. Use about a teacup of coffee grounds to half a gallon of water, see? It is the tannic forces from these that has the beneficial effect . . .
2084-10
TESTIMONIALS/RESULTS
A twenty-three-year-old woman who received a total of fifteen readings had anemia, tuberculosis tendencies, and was susceptible to colds. A number of family members also received readings. On October 24, 1933, five days after getting her eighth reading, [421]’s aunt [340] wrote this report on her niece:
“ . . . The reading is excellent, and she needed it very badly. Her mother rubbed her feet and legs as you suggested, last night, and sister [243] said that [421] slept more peacefully than any night for the last three weeks . . . Isn’t that coffee grounds suggestion a new one? I’m sure I never heard {of} it before, but it does the work.”
421-8, Report #2
Report from A.R.E. member, Vincent C. Belton, in Seaford, N.Y., on October 9, 1978, which was placed as a supplement to reading 944-1:
“ . . . In May I sent for the {Circulating} File on cancer and phlebitis. Why phlebitis? One week after receiving the Circulating File my mother, seventy-nine years young, came down with phlebitis. We proceeded to make up the mullein tea and old coffee grounds extract to apply to her leg. {She also took a Sal Hepatica series as an intestinal cleanser, as well as 2,000 mg. of vitamin C, 25 mg. of B-6, and 100 mg. of pantothenic acid every two hours.} Six weeks later her phlebitis was gone along with most of her varicose veins that she has had for as long as I can remember.”
944-1, Report #1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
After taking the coffee grounds foot bath, instead of immediately drying off the feet, several readings suggested an additional treatment. One sixty-year-old woman was told to follow up her foot bath with a peanut oil massage to her knees, lower legs, and feet. She had complained of being unsteady on her feet and asked for suggestions to relieve her sore, tender feet. Her reading stated that “ . . . if this is done consistently, we will relieve these tensions.” (243-33)
A thirty-four-year-old woman, suffering from dysmenorrhea, was advised after her foot bath to “ . . . massage the cerebrospinal system with an equal combination of Mutton Tallow, Spirits of Turpentine and Spirits of Camphor—perhaps a tablespoonful of the Mutton Tallow (melted), and a tablespoonful of each of the other ingredients, mixed thoroughly together . . . ” (2268-1) It could be made fresh each time or a quantity could be made for several uses.
