Recipes for Aching Feet

Photo: Pixabay.com

My feet are killing me. Oh, my aching feet. How often have you moaned those words while rubbing the soles of your poor throbbing feet? If you’ve been running around doing last minute shopping, have aching feet from wearing those fierce party stilettos for hours or have simply been on your feet all day, I’ve got some ways to soothe and smooth tired (or abused) tootsies, as well as rough, dry and cracked skin.

Fill two tubs (or foot baths) one with hot water and the other with cold water.  Make sure to fill both tubs with enough water to cover the feet to ankle level.  (Test the hot water to make sure that it is not so hot that it will scald your feet.*)

Place your feet into the hot water for three minutes, then switch to the cold water for 30 – 40 seconds.  Repeat this two times, ending with the cold water.

Alternating between the hot and cold water is invigorating and will relieve foot fatigue and stimulate circulation.

When you’ve been on your feet all day, lavender is very calming in a foot bath and when used with warm water it also helps you relax while it soothes aching feet. You can soak the feet in 5 – 10 drops of lavender oil and 2 – 3 quarts of warm water or try one of the bath soaks below for additional benefits.

Therapeutic Soak
5 – 10 drops lavender oil
3 quarts warm water
2 tablespoons Epsom salt
Soak feet for 10 – 20 minutes

Sea Salt Soother
5 – 10 drops lavender oil
2 pints of warm water
2 tablespoons sea salt
Soak feet for 10 – 20 minutes

*If you are diabetic, check with your doctor before trying any foot baths.

You can get calluses from pressure or friction from wearing high heels or uncomfortable, too tight shoes. The feet jam into the toes as the feet slide forward while you walk. Here are two ways to treat callused feet:
  • Soak the feet and then use a pumice stone to smooth callused skin.  Massage olive oil or castor oil onto the feet and wear socks overnight.
  • After soaking feet, saturate a cotton ball or pad in vinegar and tape to the callused area and cover the foot (or both feet) with socks overnight. 


Photo: Pixabay.com

Peppermint Candy Cane Foot Scrub

Beautify and stimulate your feet with celebrity manicurist/owner of As U Wish Nail Spa, Skyy Hadley’s at-home Peppermint Candy Cane Foot Scrub:

Ingredients

½ cup coconut oil
3 regular-size candy canes
5-6 drops peppermint essential oil
2 tablespoons fresh peppermint leaves (or peppermint tea leaves)

Directions:
  1. Warm up ½ cup of coconut oil and pour into a small bowl
  2. Crush up 3 regular-sized candy canes as finely as possible.
  3. In another bowl, whisk crushed-up candy canes together with 1 cup of granulated sugar until completely combined.
  4. Mix sugar blend into the bowl containing the coconut oil, making sure to break apart any chunks or pieces with your spoon.
  5. Add in 5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil.
  6. Take 2 tbsp fresh peppermint tea leaves and stir in to the mixture until fully blended.
  7. Work the scrub into your feet and heels for 10 minutes, removing dead skin and smoothing out skin.

Enjoy the refreshing aroma while refreshing and reviving your tired toes.

Refreshing Foot Spray

This foot spray recipe is adapted from Reader’s Digest Natural Remedies for Healthy Living.

Ingredients

2/3 oz peppermint tincture
2/3 oz pot marigold (calendula) tincture
1/3 oz rosemary tincture
10 drops lemon oil
10 drops cypress oil
10 drops peppermint oil
3-½ oz witch hazel

Directions:

Add ingredients to a spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray to feet during the day as needed.

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