Foot Soak Home Remedy

Your feet are forced to take a lot of abuse each day. Not only do they transport you from place to place, but your feet may also be expected to tolerate standing for extended periods of time or being tightly wedged into the latest fashionable footwear. If your feet are beginning to protest by giving you painful reminders of these and other forms of mistreatment, a foot soak home remedy should be your next step.

Soak the Woes from Your Toes

• A simple and effective foot soak home remedy consists of a tub or basin of warm water with 1 to 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt dissolved in it. There’s no real time limit for how long you should soak your feet, but keep in mind that the therapeutic benefit will begin to diminish as the water cools off. To invigorate your feet afterward, rinse them in cool water. Then gently pat dry your dogs off and treat them to a non-greasy lotion.

  Bring the flair of a European spa foot treatment into your own home by soaking your feet in running water while alternating between the hot and cold settings. You can easily do this by sitting on the edge of the tub. Two tips: End the session with a cold water rinse and take advantage of the shower-massage attachment, if you have one.

  Dry, itchy feet will appreciate a milk bath. In a small tub or basin, combine 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of very warm water, the juice of half a lemon and a tablespoon of olive oil. Ideally, you should plan to use this formula at least once a week, especially during the winter months when feet can get excessively dry from wearing heavy socks and foot gear.

  Give your feet the essentials. If nail fungus or athlete’s foot is an issue, then your foot soak home remedy should include tea tree essential oil, which is known to possess antibacterial and antiviral properties. Peppermint essential oil is great for tired, aching feet. Adding lavender essential oil to your foot soak will benefit your feet and your state of mind by promoting a sense of calmness and relaxation.

  Make tea in the tub. To 2 cups of boiling water add 3 or 4 bags of chamomile or other herbal tea of your choice. Allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes, then strain and add the tea into a tub or basin of very warm water for a soothing foot soak.