Your feet are some of the hardest working parts of your body, and often give signals of being over tired and stressed. When your feet hurt, it can make your whole body hurt! Simple steps to make your feet feel better will give you a better outlook on things, and make you feel fresher also.
Soak your feet
Ahh, a warm foot bath can ease away aches and pains in just a few minutes. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (peppermint and lavender are refreshing choices) to the bath and, if your feet are hot and swollen, about half a cup of Epsom salts in a large pan of water. Soak for 10-15 minutes.
Not only does a foot bath relieve pain, but it also helps eliminate odor. After the soak, when your feet are still moist, use a pumice stone gently on calluses and thick, rough skin. In the winter, relieve cold, dry feet by soaking in warm water to which you’ve added a teaspoon of mustard powder. The mustard powder has a warming effect and helps circulation. During the hot summer days, dust your feet with foot powder before putting on your footwear.
Keep them clean all year round
Washing and thoroughly drying your feet keeps them healthy and fungus-free. Do so before putting on your footwear and when you take your shoes off later in the day. Using cool water in summer for these periodic washings is quite refreshing.
Moisturize
Paraffin baths are luxurious and extremely effective for relieving pain and dry, cracked foot skin. You can also use warm coconut oil. Rub the moisturizer in with a massaging motion until it is absorbed. This is very soothing for your feet and leaves the skin glowing and soft. Applying a thick, penetrating moisturizer and/or massaging with oil before bed, then covering your feet with thin, cotton socks will give the moisturizer a chance to really get in to your skin.
Foot Massage Therapy
A foot massage is another step in getting really comfortable feet, and it helps relax your whole body! Take time to schedule a foot massage with a trusted massage therapist who knows the special spots on your feet that also affect your mood and the rest of your body’s health. Sometimes a very directed foot massage can make all the difference in dealing with other health problems!
Choose the right footwear
What pain we bring on ourselves by wearing ill-fitting shoes or shoes that are more about looks than comfort! It’s not just high heels that can hurt your feet; shoes that are too small, too narrow, too stiff, or just not the right shape for your foot can cause foot pain, unsightly corns and other painful abnormalities.
Give your feet the right support if you have low arches by using inserts or specially-made shoes. In the summer, wear open sandals or strappy shoes so that your feet get plenty of circulation. Your feet will thank you by being pain-free and looking healthy.