The feet are a complex structure with 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments designed to support the body. Injuries, excess weight, inactivity, overactivity, uncomfortable footwear, imbalances, old age, nutritional deficiencies and inflammation can compromise the health of your feet and lead to fatigue, swelling, pain, inflammation and other symptoms.
Follow these natural approaches to alleviate sore, tired or painful feet and promote their long term health:
- The best remedy is prevention: wear safe and comfortable shoes, exercise, eat a balanced diet, perform regular leg, feet and ankle stretches, stay hydrated and avoid crossing your legs;
- If you suffer from heavy legs and aching feet, ensure you keep your feet elevated a few times a day to alleviate pressure and promote better circulation;
- Some claim relief with regular use of castor oil: apply a thick layer on your feet and wear an old pair of thick socks to help fight pain and inflammation (perform a patch test for allergy);
- Hot and cold therapy: alternating either hot and cold water foot soaks or using a heating pad alternating with an ice pack will promote blood flow (heat) and reduce inflammation (cold);
- Epsom salts and hot water foot baths can help alleviate tired and aching feet: soak your feet for 15 minutes for a relaxing and soothing relief; you can alternatively use 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar mixed in a bucket of hot water;
- Mix 1 teaspoon of dried cayenne pepper to 2 ounces of olive oil and leave it to soak overnight: use 1 tablespoon of this oil to massage the painful area before bed time (capsaicin is effective to treat pain, but care must be exercised not to touch the eyes and wash the hands carefully with water and soap to remove all residue);
- Essential oils can also help provide relief to your feet: add a few drops of eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil and peppermint oil to a bucket of hot water and soak your feet for 15 minutes.
