Top Tips For Healthy Feet

Here’s a question for you. When was the last time you spent more than just a few fleeting moments pampering your hard-working tootsies? It’s easy to forget about your feet, so if you’re at all like me I’m willing to bet it’s been a while since you really gave them some serious TLC. How long has it been? Hmmm, I thought so.

Despite spending hours and hours every year applying luxurious beauty treatments to our faces, necks and hands, our poor old feet are lucky to get more than a quick toe-nail clip or lick of nail varnish! Given the tremendous pounding that our feet have to take every day, it is genuinely surprising that we do not lavish much more care and attention on them. And at this time of year it’s more important than ever to look after your feet, don’t you think?

The truth is, very few people realise how important it is to look after their feet properly until they develop a painful condition, and by then of course it can be too late because the damage has been already done. Foot problems can range from dry, cracked skin to athlete’s foot, or to more serious conditions that may be an indicator of a serious illness such as diabetes, so it’s important to know how to care for feet properly and avoid unnecessary foot-related problems.

Lack of support

Problems with your feet can have a huge negative effect on your health because troubles that start in the feet can result in bad posture and poor circulation if they are not corrected quickly. Bad posture can then lead to pain in the knees, lower back, and even the neck if left untreated. Remember that in the body, every part connects to something else, and this is why a problem with the feet can lead to pain in the back.

A lack of structural foot support can also lead to lower back pain, headaches, and of course fallen arches. Often the subject of jokes, so-called ‘flat feet’ are anything but funny since they can be painful, and if left untreated may cause problems in the ankles and knees in later life. When you have fallen arches your ankles and knee joints tend to rotate inwardly too much, a condition known as over-pronation.

Because the knee is designed to flex and extend like a door, and not rotate, continual inward rotation of the lower leg displaces the patella (knee cap). In addition, when the legs rotate inwards the pelvis is forced to tilt forward resulting in constant strain and stress on the lower back muscles.

I see clients suffering the results of foot-related back and knee problems every week in my clinic, and it’s such a pity because often it could have been avoided. Just be aware that it is important to care for your feet, and if you have a problem that persists go and see your doctor or a podiatrist. Otherwise, all you need is just old fashioned common sense and a little help from aromatherapy!

Sensible shoes

We all know that high heels contribute to blisters, bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, ingrown toenails and posture problems, but did you know they can also contribute to arthritis of the knee? And this damage is not restricted to just wearing high stiletto heels either.

A study of 20 women published in the British medical journal The Lancet a few years back found that even walking on wide heels more than 2 inches high stresses those knee areas that are most vulnerable to the joint damage that causes arthritis. It also puts extra pressure on the toes and lower back area.

Therefore choosing the appropriate footwear for any activity is obviously the starting point for healthy feet, even when just socialising. For every-day footwear choose lower heels (3-4 cm) and never wear shoes that are too tight, too short or too pointed. Look out for rubber heels which absorb shock better than either leather or synthetics.

Treat your feet

It doesn’t matter how you spend your recreational time, whether its walking, golf, or sports,- adults and children of any age can benefit from a foot and leg massage using essential oils which can relax tired, aching muscles and help improve the body’s circulation. Balanced exercise and relaxation, along with regular aromatherapy massage and footbaths can all contribute towards keeping the feet healthy and in the best of condition.

Soaking your feet in a nice, warm bowl of water is wonderfully refreshing, and the addition of a few essential oils really does work wonders to ease aches and pains. Stimulating essential oils such as peppermint, spearmint, rosemary or eucalyptus are perfect to enjoy in a relaxing and reviving footbath after a busy day.

These essential oils will refresh and soothe your aching feet by stimulating the circulatory system and soaking away the stresses and strains of daily life, leaving your feet feeling fresh, revitalized and glowing. Just add one drop each of peppermint, lavender and rosemary to a warm footbath and soak away the stressful day.

Reflex points

If you prefer a foot massage, add one drop each of peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender to a carrier oil or lotion and enjoy the full benefit that massage delivers. When you have really overdone things and your feet are painful, try adding essential oils of black pepper, roman chamomile, sweet marjoram or lemongrass to your chosen carrier.

Gently massage the soles of the feet in a small, circular motion to bring them welcome, blissful relief. Or better still, get your partner to do this for you! If they are not too enthusiastic about the idea just treat them to a nice foot massage first - once they have enjoyed the experience themselves they will be more than willing to exchange foot massages with you!

The soles of the feet are well supplied with nerve endings and reflex points which reflexologists believe correspond to various organs and systems of the body, and experienced aromatherapists often use reflexology as both a diagnostic tool and treatment when working with clients. So you can see how gentle massage not only soothes your aching feet, but it also improves the function of certain glands and internal organs bringing a benefit to the entire body.

Swift and sweet relief

Soothing and cooling hydrosols also bring sweet relief to weary, over-heated, tired aching feet. Nothing quite beats the instant refreshing and toning effect of peppermint, rosemary or eucalyptus hydrosol when sprayed onto your tired aching feet. Having said that, luxurious rose hydrosol is my favourite for tired tootsies, not because it is effective but just because it smells so lovely!

Essential oil of tea tree makes an excellent all-round foot-care treatment since it is a powerful antiseptic, and if used regularly it will keep your feet hygienically clean and healthy. Blended with cypress essential oil it is particularly good if the man in your life suffers from sweaty feet, or tea tree can be used alone if he suffers from athletes foot.

Other essential oils noted for their antifungal properties include myrrh and tagetes, and both are useful for treating athlete’s foot. Along with tea tree these oils can be used in either a foot bath or a carrier lotion, but it is important that the feet are dried thoroughly after a foot bath, particularly between the toes. It is vital when treating this condition that attention is paid to the toenails, and tights or socks are changed regularly because the minute fungus can sometimes lodge under the nails and then develop into a re-infection.

Copyright © Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd 2010

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