Have you ever thought about using oils on your feet? If you haven’t you may be surprised to discover that people regularly use essential oils for everything from foot pain to cracked heels. Natural good quality organic oils are a great foot remedy so we thought we would put together a guide to the best essential oils for feet.
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Whilst there are many different essential oils available on the market it is important to use the correct oil for the foot condition that you may have. Certain essential oils will work better for different foot problems. Knowing what you should be using can make all the difference when you are trying to get help with a foot problem.
The best essential oils for feet can help with just some of these foot problems:
- Circulation Problems
- Swelling
- Foot Pain
- Foot Fungus / Athlete’s Foot
- Smelly Feet
- Tired Feet
- Arthritis in the Feet
- Inflammation
Each problem may have a different solution so we have picked some of the most common foot ailments and the oils that can help.
Can You Soak your Feet In Essential Oils?
Before we begin with our list of the best essential oils for feet it is worth answering the question of whether oils are even suitable for your feet in the first place.
In fact, using essential oils on your feet is perfectly safe for most of us unless you are pregnant or know that you suffer from known allergies. You do however need to take some basic precautions because essential oils can be highly concentrated when in their pure form so whenever you use them you should make sure that it is diluted first in a carrier oil.
How Do You Apply Essential Oils to Your Feet?
The best essential oils for feet are used in conjunction with a foot soak. You can of course buy foot soak products that already have essential oils in them however they can be expensive if you are using them regularly. Making your own foot soaks, scrubs or lotions can work out cheaper and meet your exact requirements
When you are creating a foot soak a good rule to remember is that the essential oil should not make up more than 2% of the finished product with the carrier oil. A general rule of thumb is that for 5ml of carrier oil you would put in 1 drop of a 1% essential oil.
To make a soothing foot soak you could add your essential oil drops/carrier mix to warm water in a foot bath. Then add to that a 1/2 cup of Epsom salt and a further 1/2 cup of baking soda.
What Is The Best Essential Oil for Foot Pain?
Let’s start off with one of the most common ailments that most people will suffer from at some point in their life and that is foot pain. Sore feet can be caused by something as simple as standing on your feet too much to have a mechanical issue with the foot itself. Typically the pain is caused by inflammation and swelling in the foot therefore an oil that has an anti-inflammatory or analgesic effect could be used.
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most common products that is used for problems with feet. It is known to aid muscle relaxation and reduce muscle spasms plus it has menthol in it which also has a cooling effect on the feet. This makes it the perfect oil for helping to soothe the discomfort of aching feet.
Gya Labs Peppermint Oil is one of the best on the market at a great price point. Just remember that you absolutely need to dilute the oil with a carrier product such as almond or jojoba oil.
If you don’t want to make your own products there are plenty of ready-made treatments that you can buy that do the same job. Solimo Peppermint and Epsom Salt Foot Soak is all ready to go so that you just add it to your warm water to a foot bath and soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes.
Use Essential Oil for Feet Fungus or Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot which is also called tinea pedis is a common fungal infection that many people have problems with. Generally, it is caused when our feet get too sweaty in enclosed shoes as the fungus loves a moist environment. The problem isn’t just linked to athlete’s and anyone can get it but it is more prevalent in boys or people who have a lower immune system.
Getting help for the problem is important as the symptoms can be extremely annoying. The skin on the foot may start to flake or crack and go red whilst you may suffer from itching or stinging. Plus the fungus is contagious and can not only spread around your foot and nails but also to other people on towels, or floor surfaces. Antifungal medication can help but many essential oils can help as well.
The best essential oils for athlete’s foot include Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, and one that we have already mentioned Peppermint Oil. Peppermint oil is helpful with itch relief and also assisting with any foot odour.
Tea Tree Oil is one of our favourites because it is a great anti-inflammatory product. It can help to soothe sore feet as well as calm down any itching. It also has antibacterial properties and can help to calm down redness. It is however important that you never use Tea Tree Oil directly on the feet and instead dilute it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. It is worth noting that coconut oil also is also an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial product.
Try and combine Lavender Oil into any foot soak or massage oil that you create for your feet. This also has some great anti-fungal benefits plus it is well known as an essential oil that can promote healing. Science Daily report that it could be used for antifungal resistant infections making it a powerful defence against athlete’s foot and other foot fungi.
Aromatherapy Essential Oils for Smelly Shoes
If there is one problem that most of us will suffer from at one point in our lives it is smelly shoes or feet. This is especially the case if we choose to wear the day shoes every day. When you wear the same footwear daily there is a moisture build-up and the shoes never get to dry out fully. If your feet are sweaty the impact is increased and bacteria start to give off the horrible smell that many of us will know well.
An obvious step you could take to eliminate the problem is to alternate the shoes that you use every day. This helps them to lose any moisture before they are worn again. The other thing that you can do is put something into the shoes to eliminate the odour.
If you want to neutralize the odour from these shoes the best thing you can do is to spray a blend of oils into the shoe and allow them to dry thoroughly before use. The best essential oils for shoes that smell include Lemon Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Peppermint Oil and Tea Tree Oil.
A simple DIY spray could include three drops from the oils above made into a blend and then placed in a spray bottle with distilled water and odourless witch hazel. Alternatively, mix the essential oils with baking soda and then place them into the shoes overnight. When you want to wear the shoes simply shake the baking soda out.
If you don’t want to do something yourself you could use 42 Foot and Shoe Spray which is a natural essential oil mist with peppermint, eucalyptus and thyme.
Meanwhile for smelly feet just add some lavender oil to a carrier oil of your choice. Then massage it into your feet at bedtime. To increase the effectiveness wear some socks to help keep your feet supple.
Essential Oils for Cracked Heels
Cracked heels are another common foot problem with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. At the milder end of the scale, your feet may be itchy or flaky but if the problem gets worse then you could be faced with bleeding and pain. Left unchecked cracked heels can lead to infections or ulcers.
To care for cracked heels regularly you need to think about creating a soothing foot care routine to help protect your feet. Every two to three days soak your feet in warm water for at least 15 minutes in order to soften the skin. You can add essential oils to the footbath if you want but we suggest you use them later.
Once your feet have been dried using a pumice stone or foot file to remove the dry skin. Then create a massage oil with essential oils to put on to your feet. Finally, place your feet in socks to keep them moisturised overnight. Doing this regularly can help you to keep your feet soft and supple.
The best oils to use in the carrier oil massage blend include Peppermint oil which has omega-3 fatty acids and menthol to soothe. Lavender oil for its antiseptic properties which can help you with healing the heel fissures. Then finally add Eucalyptus oil as that has antiseptic properties and is also anti-inflammatory.
Essential Oils For A Foot Soak
The best essential oils for feet are ones that can help to soothe sore feet, reduce inflammation and have healing properties. Whilst there are many essential oils that can help you can’t go far wrong with lavender oil, eucalyptus and peppermint oil as the main products you should keep handy for foot care. They are great all-rounders and can really make a difference in how your feet look and feel.
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