Give Your Feet Natural Care

Thursday, March 05, 2009 by: Melanie Grimes
Tags: foot care, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) Your feet are a frequently unnoticed part of the body. We cram them into shoes and don`t even look at them all day long. But your feet are the foundation for good posture and keep you headed where you are going, so good foot care is important. You can improve your foot health with proper shoes, moisturizing treatments, and massage.

FOOT CARE CREAMS
Commercial foot care creams contain ingredients such as lanolin or beeswax, glycerin, sunflower oil, cocoa butter and Vitamin E. To moisturize and nourish, look for one with a cream base, such as lanolin or shea butter. Creams containing cucumber extracts also soften. Foot creams specialized for diabetics can prevent skin lesions. Avoid creams with camphor, as they can be irritating. Rubbing coconut oil on your feet at night replenishes moisture lost all day in shoes. You can make a soothing foot cream by adding lavender oil or other soothing herbal tinctures to olive oil, coconut oil, or cocoa butter.

BUY SUPPORTIVE SHOES
Good shoes provide support and cushioning. They should be bigger than your foot, or they will squash your foot and reduce circulation. The bones in your foot are fairly rigid. A shoe that is too soft may feel comfortable at first, but will lead to over flexing and discomfort later. Look for brands listed as "comfort shoes". Check the bottom of your old shoes to see if you are wearing out the outside edges of the inside edges. Most people "pronate." This means they wear out the inside edges of the soles of their shoes. Ask a salesperson to help select a shoe that will keep you more evenly on your feet.

NATURAL FOOT CARE
Many home remedies can treat foot inflammation, foot fungus or other minor foot irritations. Common household honey is an antiseptic and can be used as an antibactericidal. Sal Tree is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. You can apply the contents of a capsule of Vitamin E to your feet for nourishment or use tea tree oil as a natural fungicide. For softening, apply cocoa butter, shea butter, or coconut butter. Foot massage and foot baths also aid in foot health and relaxation. Epsom salts are an inexpensive addition to a foot soak.

FOOT CARE TOOLS
Massage balls can stretch your feet after a day of walking. Foot rollers are manufactured by various massage product companies. Or try rubbing your foot over a regular tennis ball. Orthotics help stabilize your feet while you walk and prevent injuries. Custom and over-the-counter products are readily available. Ask your medical provider if you are considering custom products. For many, an insert can help cushion and provide support to an otherwise average shoe. Inserts should have a metatarsal lift and a heel cup, which helps align the feet.

Take good care of your feet and they will take care of you.

http://www.foot.com/
http://www.wwd.com
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foothealt...

About the author

Melanie Grimes is a writer, award-winning screenwriter, medical journal editor, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University. She also teaches homeopathy at the Seattle School of Homeopathy and the American Homeopathic Medical College.
A trained homeopath, she is the editor of the homeopathic journal, Simillimum, and has edited alternative and integrative medical journals for 15 years. She has taught creative writing, founded the first Birkenstock store in the USA and authored medical textbooks.
Her ebook on Natural Remedies for the Flu is available at:
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/b...
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