Herbal Spa Pedicure — A Journey Through Asian Traditions

From traditional Chinese herbal foot soaking to a touch of luxury at BeHappy.

What is a Herbal Spa Pedicure?

Imagine settling into a comfortable spa massage chair, with your feet soaking in warm water infused with natural dried herbs for the first 10 minutes.

We prepare the herbs by simmering them twice to draw out more of their natural compounds. The herbal infusion is then ready for your foot bath.

Your technician follows with toenail trimming and shaping, cuticle care and heel scrubbing. You can leave your toenails natural or choose regular polish or gel colour, whichever you prefer.

Then comes a 15-minute massage with Vietnamese lemongrass massage oil. Warm stones add another comforting touch, helping tired feet and legs unwind.

A warm, fragrant towel completes the experience.

It’s our way of bringing traditional herbal soaking, everyday foot care and soothing massage together.

But why herbal foot soaking? And why Vietnamese lemongrass?

There are some interesting stories behind these familiar ingredients.

Herbal Foot Soaking — An Everyday Tradition in China

In China, soaking the feet in warm water has been part of everyday life for generations.

Traditionally, many Chinese people enjoy a warm foot bath in the evening, especially before bedtime. Some use plain warm water, while others add herbs such as mugwort, ginger or safflower, depending on family habits and traditional practices.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the feet are considered an important part of the body’s overall balance. Herbal foot soaking has long been associated with warmth, comfort and relaxation.

But you don’t need to believe in traditional medicine to appreciate a warm foot bath.

Warm water itself can help the blood vessels near the skin widen, increasing local blood flow and making cold feet feel warmer. After a long day of standing, walking or working, sitting down with your feet in warm water can be a welcome relief.

The herbs add another dimension — their natural colours, distinctive aromas and a connection to a centuries-old tradition.

Interestingly, herbal foot soaking isn’t only for older generations in China. Younger people have also embraced it as part of their wellness routines. What was once associated with grandparents can now be found in conversations about modern self-care.

Some traditions never really disappear. They simply find their place in a new generation’s lifestyle.

Vietnamese Lemongrass — A Fragrance from the Tropics

After the herbal soak and pedicure care comes another part of the experience: massage with Vietnamese lemongrass massage oil.

Lemongrass has a distinctive citrus-like fragrance. It’s bright and uplifting, yet many people find it surprisingly calming.

Aromatherapy research has explored how inhaling lemongrass fragrance may influence mood and feelings of anxiety. Some small studies have reported increased feelings of calmness and alertness, although more research is needed to understand these effects.

That combination is interesting, isn’t it?

A fragrance can make you feel at ease without necessarily making you sleepy. You can feel refreshed and peaceful at the same time.

For us, lemongrass has another special quality: it reminds us of Southeast Asia.

If you’ve travelled through Vietnam, Thailand or Bali, you may recognise its tropical character. Lemongrass is familiar in gardens, markets and everyday life across the region.

And at BeHappy, it has become our customers’ favourite massage fragrance.

A Humble Plant with Remarkable Resilience

In Vietnam, lemongrass is a familiar plant, often sold in whole bundles at local markets. Beyond its use in cooking, its leaves are traditionally boiled with other aromatic herbs for steam baths, a familiar home remedy when someone has a cold.

But there’s something remarkable about this humble plant: its ability to grow where many other crops struggle.

Finding a New Home in the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural regions. Yet farming has become increasingly challenging in areas affected by saltwater intrusion, poor soil conditions and a changing climate.

Lemongrass is a hardy plant that can tolerate relatively poor soils and, depending on the variety and growing conditions, some degree of salinity.

Farmers in parts of the Mekong Delta have turned to lemongrass as an alternative crop, creating new opportunities for communities facing difficult agricultural conditions.

Its cultivation supports not only farmers but also people involved in harvesting, preparing and transporting the crop.

A plant once valued mainly for everyday household uses is finding a new role in the region’s changing agricultural landscape.

From a Familiar Plant to a Growing Industry

Vietnam has long grown lemongrass, but producing essential oil from it on a commercial scale is a more recent area of development.

Lemongrass leaves contain aromatic compounds that can be extracted and used in fragrances, cosmetics and spa products.

Instead of selling only the raw plant, processing lemongrass into essential oil offers an opportunity to create greater value from a familiar agricultural crop.

It’s an encouraging direction for Vietnamese farmers and producers, although building a successful industry takes more than growing the plants. Processing technology, consistent quality and access to markets all matter.

Our lemongrass massage oil is made in Vietnam for professional spa use. It’s a ready-to-use massage oil, not concentrated essential oil.

By choosing a Vietnamese-made product, we’re also supporting the people and businesses working to bring more value to the country’s agricultural resources.

And perhaps, as more people discover Vietnamese lemongrass through products they enjoy, its story will continue to grow.

A Touch of Asia in New Plymouth

A Herbal Spa Pedicure brings together traditions and ingredients from different places.

The practice of herbal foot soaking from China.

The fragrance of lemongrass from Vietnam.

And the everyday care of your feet, from toenails and heels to a massage with warm stones.

No complicated rituals. No magical promises.

Just a comfortable chair, warm herbal water, skilled hands, a beautiful aroma and time to unwind.

And perhaps, after reading this story, you’ll know something new about the traditions and people behind your next Herbal Spa Pedicure.

Sometimes, relaxation can take you somewhere unexpected.