Pamper Your Feet & Gain Their Protection In Return
Our feet work so very hard for us, day in and day out, that it really pays to give them some TLC - and regularly. There are many conditions affecting our feet and if we look after those feet, follow some simple guidelines and reward them with some pampering sessions, we might just keep our feet free of such conditions.
What are some of these conditions that affect our feet?
These include athlete's foot, plantar warts, nail fungus, bunions, cracked heels, gout and more.
Some tips to help us look after our feet
- Trim the toe nails while they are soft and warm, cutting straight across the top of the nail in a neat line.
- Watch out for any signs of nail fungus which should be treated early on to avoid serious problems.
- Keep feet and heels well moisturized to avoid cracked heels because once bleeding occurs in cracked heels, the skin is more prone to bacterial infections and even athletes foot.
- In hot weather, when our feet suffer by being the sweatiest part of the body, pour some loose baking soda into your shoes and leave overnight to absorb any moisture and nasty odors.
- Go barefoot whenever you can but otherwise always wear shoes that can breathe.
- Use bentonite clay and water for a simple foot bath that will act as a very effective detox, turning the water darker and making you feel invigorated.
More about bentonite clay
When bentonite is mixed with water it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge, drawing in toxins and binding them. Bentonite clay carries a strong negative charge which bonds to the positive charge in many toxins. At the same time, it will release minerals for the body to use. Bentonite also helps to pull excess hydrogen while allowing cells to replace with oxygen instead.
Treat yourself to a "bentonite clay" foot bath
You will need:- Epsom salts
- Bentonite clay
- Apple cider vinegar
- Really hot water
- Essential oils for scent (optional) – for example our own Lemon Essential Oil or Lavender Essential Oil
- A natural bristle brush for exfoliating skin
- A bowl for mixing
- Container for soaking the feet
- Begin by mixing and dissolving 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into hot water in a container large enough to take your feet and place on a towel.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a bowl, adding a little water if needed, before coating your feet in this mixture and leaving to dry for 10 minutes.
- Now put your feet into the Epsom salt/hot water mixture and add 10 drops of essential oils if required. The hardened clay on your feet will slowly dissolve and the benefits of the Epsom salts will take effect.
- Continue to soak for 15 minutes before gently scrubbing your feet with the natural brush, rinse and pat dry.
Did you know?
That your feet have the largest and most numerous pores of any place on the rest of your body. This means they are the perfect place to absorb natural remedies, benefiting your whole body. Our feet also have important connections to the rest of our body. There are even specific touching points in your feet that can help to heal particular parts of your body (known as reflexology).
A word of warning
If skin problems on the feet persist, it is wise to seek medical advice as they can be a sign of other health issues particularly in those with diabetes or circulation problems.
Sources
Athlete's foot. (2015, September 29)
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Athletes-foot/Pages/Introduction.aspx (Accessed Feb 10, 2021)
Barry L. Hainer. (2003, January 1). Dermatophyte Infections. American Family Physician. 67(1), 101-109
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0101/p101.html (Accessed Feb 10, 2021)
Aaron DM. (2016). Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0024878/.(Accessed Feb 10, 2021)
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.