Essential Oils for Foot Care
Our feet carry us through life, but they're often neglected and even abused. Swollen feet, achy feet, cracked heels, dry skin, and fungal infections are just some of the issues that affect these extremities.
In this article, we'll explain how essential oils can nurture your feet.
How Essential Oils Promote Foot Care
When used topically, essential oils can deodorize, soften, and disinfect your feet. Plus, they ease pain and inflammation and support overall health. Interestingly, essential oils are absorbed best via the feet. You can obtain their benefits via an aromatherapy foot bath, oil massage, foot scrub, or a warm compress.
Essential Oils to Kill Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus
It's normal for a small amount of fungus to live on your skin. Unfortunately, if this grows out of control, you can develop a contagious infection like athlete’s foot or ringworm.
Essential oils have antifungal properties1, making them ideal for getting rid of athlete's foot and toenail fungus.
Some of our favorite antifungal essential oils include:
You can make an antimicrobial and antifungal blend to ease itching and speed up healing. Combine 4 drops of tea tree oil, 3 drops of lavender oil, 2 drops of rosemary oil, and 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Apply a few drops of this blend to the affected areas and rub in. Do this once daily until the symptoms have cleared up.
Apply antifungal essential oils to your feet regularly to prevent infections.
A Foot Soak for Swollen and Sore Feet
Swollen, aching feet can be a problem if you are on your feet all day. Diabetics also struggle with sore, tingling, and swollen feet as nerve damage and poor circulation are common side-effects of diabetes.
If you're on the go, our Woolzies Foot Spray helps to soothe sore feet. It’s a combination of citrus and mint oils, helping to cover unpleasant odors and put a spring back in your step!
A foot soak can ease pain, reduce swelling, and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system2 – the relaxation response. Fill a large basin with lukewarm water and add 1 cup of Epsom salts. Separately, blend 1 tablespoon of carrier oil with 5 drops of peppermint oil, 3 drops of eucalyptus oil, and 3 drops of rosemary oil. Add the blend to the foot bath and soak your feet for 30 minutes. Reach into the bath and gently massage your feet to encourage circulation. Pat your feet dry and apply a few drops of rosehip oil before putting on socks.
Foot Massage to Improve Circulation and Relax
Nerve cells are abundant in the feet. Your feet have a direct line to your nervous system – and research shows a foot massage can reduce stress and improve sleep3. It's also a remedy for poor circulation, tired feet, and dry skin.
Woolzies Stress Relief Blend is a relaxing blend of lavender, rose, vetiver, ylang ylang, bergamot, chamomile, and frankincense. Dilute 6 drops of the blend in 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and gently massage this into your feet for 5-10 minutes. Put socks on and let the oil hydrate your feet overnight.
Essential Oil Scrub for Dry Heels
Dry feet may prevent you from wearing your favorite pair of sandals in summer. Luckily, a foot scrub can slough off dead skin and nourish your feet.
It's easy to make a personalized scrub at home when you combine these ingredients:
● 1 cup of raw sugar
● 4 drops Peppermint oil
● 4 drops Frankincense oil
● 4 drops Lavender oil
● ½ cup of carrier oil
Sit over a towel or in the bath and massage the scrub into your feet to exfoliate dead skin and boost circulation. Rinse off the scrub with warm water and dry your feet.
Wrapping up…
Your feet do a lot for you, so they deserve some tender loving care! With the tips in this article, your feet will soon feel softer and relaxed, helping them carry you with more ease.
Resources
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8893526/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10812753/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7512096/
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