5 Tips for Happy Feet
5 Tips for Happy Feet
- Have a relaxing and aromatic foot bath once a week.
Use a bucket, otherwise a large bowl will do. To this add some warm to hot water. Add some salts, ideally dead sea salt, if not then some rock salt or even good old table salt, you'll need about 2 tablespoons. To make an aromatic foot bath you can add some essential oils depending upon how your feet are feeling. To help revive aching feet add 2 drops of Lavender and 2 drops of chamomile. To aid relief from odour add 2 drops of tea tree and 2 drops of lavender. For the onset of a cold add 2 drops of eucalyptus and 2 drops of tea tree.
In total you want to add 4 drops of essential oil, but make sure that the essential oils are diluted in a tablespoon of a carrier oil or full fat milk first before adding to the water - don't just add neat essential oil to the water.
2. Toenails can get quite unruly, so remember to keep them short and tidy. When washing feet make sure you dry between the toes as well as over the toenails themselves. If your nails look weak, split or have any discolouration then see your GP, pharmacist or podiatrist as it could be a sign of a fungal infection or something else.
3. If you suffer from hard and rough skin apply a rich cream or good quality oil at night and wear some thick socks for the night. This should help to soften the skin making it easier to scrub off the next day.
Good oils to try include coconut oil, pure shea butter or pure cocoa butter. Otherwise get a wonderfully relaxing pedicure once a month.
4. If you are someone who is on their feet for most of the day and you suffer from heavy or swollen/puffy legs then try to make some time daily to rest your legs. Keep your legs raised on a pouf or leg rest if you are watching the tv and slowly rotate and flex your feet. If you then try to raise your feet higher than your head for a short while every evening. You can do this by lying on your back on the floor near a wall and raise your legs up against the wall. This can also be done on the bed if it's near a wall. Just do this for a few minutes at a time, but stop if you ever feel dizzy.
Support stockings/tights are perfect for those days when you are standing a lot or if your legs feel very heavy. If you get a lot of swelling in your legs and feet please see your GP to rule out any underlying medical issues too.
A great treatment to aid heavy or swollen legs is the Vodder Manual Lymph Drainage massage. Reflexology can also really help with sore feet/legs.
5. Treat athletes foot, warts and veruccaes as soon as they arise to avoid spread of infection. There are plenty of things available at the chemist if you want to try that. Otherwise to treat naturally you can make your own garlic oil and apply that daily to the affected areas and cover. To make garlic oil you will need a bottle with some olive or sunflower oil, to which you will need to add some garlic cloves. Seal the bottle well and put away. After one week, strain and add more garlic cloves to the same oil (discarding the old cloves). Leave for another week and then repeat again. After 3 weeks you will have a wonderful garlic macerated oil.
Our feet deserve a good treat, so look after them and they'll look after you.
NB - Visit your doctor, chiropodist or podiatrist with any foot problems especially if you are diabetic or prone to aches and pains or swelling in the feet and legs.
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