5 Homemade Foot Soaks For Relaxation and Stress Reduction

Last Updated on August 29, 2024 by Martina McKeough

Did you ever love messing around with ingredients as a kid and making potions when you are playing? I don’t think I have ever grown out of that phase and still love creating my own footcare products to use at home. Homemade foot soaks for relaxation are what I have been currently making and I love how they help me destress at the end of a long day.

Making foot soaks isn’t particularly difficult and when you know how you can often make something far cheaper than what you can buy in a store.

Here are five unique and soothing foot soaks you can create at home to help with relaxation and stress reduction.

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Lavender and Epsom Salt Foot Soak

I am a huge fan of the smell of lavender (although I know not everyone is) and I tend to use this foot soak when I want to relax deeply and get ready for sleep.

The benefits of lavender are well documented. It has a really calming scent and that helps to relax the nervous system and lower cortisol levels. It also is known for being a great natural remedy for insomnia. Plus it has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce muscle tension and soreness so when it is used in a foot bath it can help ease muscle pain and discomfort.

Here are the simple ingredients I used to put in my lavender and Epsom salt foot soaks. I grow my own lavender which I dry and use in my foot baths but you can buy them as well. They aren’t essential but they add a touch of luxury to the footbath.

Ingredients:

1 cup Epsom salt
10 drops of lavender essential oil
2 tablespoons of dried lavender flowers (optional)
Warm water

Instructions:

Fill a basin with warm water.
Add the Epsom salt and stir until it dissolves.
Add the lavender essential oil and dried lavender flowers.
Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes, allowing the lavender to calm your mind and the Epsom salt to relax your muscles.
Dry your feet thoroughly before bed.

Chamomile and Honey Foot Soak

Another great foot soak to use before bed is one made from chamomile and honey.

If you weren’t aware chamomile is known for its relaxing, calming and anti-anxiety properties. Many people drink chamomile tea to help relax the mind before bed but you can also use it in a foot soak to help reduce stress.

Chamomile is also anti-inflammatory and can reduce swelling and discomfort in your feet after a long day. Plus it is gentle enough to use on your skin and can help can down irritation and redness.

Adding honey into the foot soak helps to hydrate and soften your skin which I love as I get dry feet. You don’t have to add it but I love the additional benefit.

To make your own do the following:

Ingredients:

4 chamomile tea bags
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Warm water

Instructions:

Brew the chamomile tea bags in a large bowl of hot water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes.
Add the honey and coconut oil, stirring to combine.
Pour the mixture into a foot basin and add more warm water as needed.
Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes to benefit from chamomile’s calming effects and the moisturizing properties of honey and coconut oil.
Dry your feet and use a hydrating foot lotion afterwards if you have dry feet and pop on some socks to lock in the moisture.

Peppermint and Green Tea Foot Soak

This next foot soak is one that I tend to use during the day to relax. This is because the peppermint oil can relax you but it is also refreshing which means it isn’t quite so suitable for bedtime.

Peppermint oil is often used in foot products because it helps to sooth and cool the skin on your feet. This is great if you have tired or aching feet.

It is also anti-inflammatory and can help to reduce swelling in your feet which is why it is useful in a foot soak.

Green tea is the more calming product and when it is in a foot soak it can help to relax your muscles and reduce stress. Using the two products together is both relaxing and revitalizing.

Here is how I create this foot soak:

Ingredients:

3 green tea bags
10 drops of peppermint essential oil
1 tablespoon of baking soda
Warm water

Instructions:

Brew the green tea bags in hot water and allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes.
Add the peppermint essential oil and baking soda, stirring to mix well.
Pour the mixture into a foot basin and add warm water.
Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes and dry thoroughly when you have finished.

Rosemary and Lemon Foot Soak

Rosemary is another plant that I grow in my garden and I use it for everything from cooking to foot soaks.

When it comes to foot soaks Rosemary has some amazing aromatherapy benefits including stress and anxiety reduction. It’s smell is brilliant at helping to clean your mind, improve focus and give you a sense of calm.

It also can help to ease muscle tension and reduce pain when you use it in a foot soak. If you are having problems with circulation it can also help to relieve swelling and enhance blood circulation.

I like to add lemon to this particular foot soak as the smell helps to improve my mood making me feel more positive. Plus it is antibacterial which is great for foot hygiene.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves (or 2 tablespoons dried rosemary)
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup sea salt
Warm water

Instructions:

Fill a basin with warm water.
Add the rosemary leaves, lemon juice, and sea salt.
Stir to combine and let the mixture sit for a few minutes.
Soak your feet for 20-30 minutes, allowing the invigorating scent of rosemary and lemon to uplift your spirits and refresh your feet.
Dry your feet properly after finishing your foot soak and put on a good foot cream.

Eucalyptus and Lavender Foot Soak

The final DIY foot soak that I sometimes make is a eucalyptus and lavender foot soak. I use this for relaxing but it also has a secondary benefit.10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Eucalyptus scent is great for opening the airways, helping promote easier breather and calming the nervous system. This means it is great if you have a cold or suffer from asthma.

Plus Eucalyptus oil helps to relieve muscle tension and its cooling sensation is great for tired swollen feet.

When you use it in combination with lavender oil it reduces stress, tension and anxiety plus it can help you sleep.

When combined, eucalyptus and lavender oils work to create a powerful relaxation experience. The eucalyptus soothes physical discomfort and invigorates the senses, while lavender calms the mind and promotes emotional well-being.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Epsom salt
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
Warm water

Instructions:

Fill a basin or foot bath with warm water.
Add the Epsom salt and stir until it dissolves.
Add the eucalyptus and lavender essential oils to the water.
If using baking soda, add it now and stir well.
Soak your feet in the mixture for 15-20 minutes.
After soaking, pat your feet dry and apply a moisturizing lotion or cream.

As you can see homemade foot soaks for relaxation and stress reduction aren’t difficult to make and are easy to recreate at home. Try some of these recipes at home and tell me what you favorite is.

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