Not a subject often up for discussion, for many reasons – smelly feet, nail fungus, ingrown toe nails, calluses, corns, bunions, blisters, dry skin, cracked skin, plantar warts, athletes foot …none of these things are pleasant and the list seems to be very long (and this is not a complete list by any means). There are SO many things that can go wrong with your feet and let’s face it, where would we be without them? It would seem that taking good care of your feet should be one of the primary concerns of, well, everybody and yet….it’s not.
Problems with your feet can in turn lead to problems elsewhere in your body, your legs and back for example, as you try to compensate for the pain in your feet by using other muscles in ways they were not designed to be used. Thus, good foot care leads to better overall health; so let’s look at how you can take good care of those feet using natural essential oils and hydrosols in the comfort of your own home.
First of all some basics that we can all do –
- Wear well-fitting shoes! Supportive – good arch support and a cushioned sole. Nothing too tight.
- Keep hydrated – many foot issues are caused by dry skin on the feet, which can be helped by being well-hydrated. This is, of course, beneficial for your skin all over your body.
- Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. Rich in vitamins and minerals – think color on your plate! Again, this supports your skin in general, not just on your feet! It also supports muscles and your nervous system.
- Regular maintenance – trimming toe nails, moisturizing and exfoliating are essential for keeping feet in good condition.
Depending on how much time you spend on your feet in a day will determine how often you want/need to do things like a foot soak, but other things like a foot scrub and massage we can all benefit from on a weekly basis.
I love to use Epsom salts in a foot scrub, because of the high magnesium content (and other minerals) in it; other people prefer Himalayan salt, or use any other salt you have handy! The purpose is to scrub off the dead skin and reveal the newer softer skin beneath. Adding a carrier oil, such as jojoba or olive oil helps to moisturize the skin and certain essential oils will add other benefits, such as the anti-bacterial properties of tea-tree or the relaxing properties of lavender.
As a rough guide, for each 4oz of salt add about a tablespoon of carrier oil and 15-20 drops of essential oils. Peppermint is cooling and will help relieve tired achy feet; it also helps combat foot odor, but don’t use more than 2-3 drops of peppermint, it is VERY POTENT. Lemon is anti-fungal and therefore great for treating athletes foot; like any citrus scent it is also very mood uplifting. Cypress oil can help reduce swelling and helps improve overall circulation.
After you’ve scrubbed and rinsed with warm water, pat your feet dry and layer on a massage oil – it can be the same carrier oil and essential oil combination you just used in your scrub, or you can switch it up if you like. Massage your feet starting at your toes, gently pull and stretch each toe, then move onto the sole, working in circular motions with your thumbs. Apply gentle pressure to your arches and use your fingers to gently stroke across the tops of your feet from your toes to your ankles.
Lastly, gently rub a thick moisturizing cream over the oil to help “seal” it in and push the oils down into the epidermis. If you can do this sequence every week, you will have fabulous feet!
On a daily basis, a deodorising and antibacterial foot spray, followed by a light moisturizer would be a great addition particularly in the summer months. A hydrosol base, German Chamomile for example, would be a real feet treat. You can add essential oils to this base for additional support, or just leave it as it is. Just try and work out something you feel comfortable with in your daily and/or weekly routine. It’s not just your feet that will thank you for it. (and yes, you can get all of these things from LogHouseAromatics if you don’t wish to make them yourself.)