Ask the Expert Series

Wearing heels too often and for too long can cause the calf muscle and Achilles’ tendon to shorten and stiffen. This will result in the obstruction of the flow of Qi and blood which will lead to pain in the area. To help relieve the pain, you can try to soak your feet in warm water with small amount of vinegar added, every night before sleep for 15-30min. If you wish to increase the effectiveness，you may add some TCM herbs such as 透骨草，鸡血藤，乳香，没药，川牛膝，白芍，赤芍。 However, it is still important to reduce the amount of time on heels and to seek help from TCM physician as prolonged frequent wearing of heels can also cause problem in knees and lower back.