There are those who believe that the
feet are a pathway into the soul. Reflexologists view the feet
as a mini roadmap of the body, with points on the feet
connected to different parts of the body. In the west, we tend
to view our feet as mere appendages used to get us from here
to there... that is, until pain strikes and we realize how
vital our feet really are. For advice on how to keep feet
happy and healthy on a daily basis, I consulted Stuart J.
Mogul, DPM, a prominent New York podiatrist and surgeon and
author of "Perfect Feet: Caring and Pampering"
(Stewart, Tabori and Chang).
PAMPER YOUR TOOTSIES
I've spent some of my favorite vacations
at spas where guests are encouraged to hike and exercise all
day, followed by luxurious, foot-saving soaks and massages.
But the good news is that you don't have to visit an expensive
spa to give tired feet a boost. There are many natural
approaches to happy feet that you can practice anytime at
home. Dr. Mogul's favorites include...
- Soak your cares away.
Relieve swelling and comfort tired feet in a revitalizing
footbath. Good aromatherapy options include essential oils
such as peppermint, lavender, rosemary, cypress and tea
tree. (An added advantage to cypress and tea tree:
They're natural deodorants.)
A simple formula:
Add three to five drops of an essential oil to a bowl of hot
water. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salts, and soak feet for
five to 15 minutes.
- Banish foot odor.
Odor -- one of life's small but painful embarrassments --
is a metabolic by-product of bacteria, explains Dr. Mogul.
It's easy enough to remove by soaking your feet in
liquids, in addition to essential oils that also have
antibacterial properties, such as tea (tannic acid) or
vinegar (acetic acid).
A simple formula:
Combine one part vinegar (any type) with four parts hot
water, and immerse feet for five to 15 minutes. Rinse with
cool water and repeat as needed.
- Massage away pain.
When you're on your feet all day, muscles grow fatigued
and lactic acid begins to accumulate. This is an irritant
to nerve endings, explains Dr. Mogul. It's what makes your
tired feet feel so sore. Foot massage relieves discomfort
by increasing local blood flow and milking away the lactic
acid from the muscles.
A simple formula:
Massage tired feet with several drops of the essential oil
of your choice diluted with a tablespoon of a medicinal oil
such as arnica (good for aches and pains) or tincture like
calendula (beneficial for skin diseases and wound healing).
Do not use arnica on broken skin. "Daily Health
News" contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND,
suggests massaging with a technique called "lymphatic
drainage." This is done by gently milking the tissue
toward the body, in a way similar to how you might squeeze
the water out of a towel from one end toward the other. This
will help move metabolic by-products out of the feet and
return them to circulation.
DON'T OVERLOOK THE
BASICS
Of course, all the soaks and massages in
the world cannot always compensate for the mistreatment that
feet are frequently forced to endure. Don't overlook these
basic rules...
- Wear shoes that fit well.
Tight shoes are the biggest culprit in foot ailments, from
painful blisters to bunions and hammer toes (in which the
toes curl under). Women in particular are prone to buying
shoes that are too small because they think it makes their
feet look better. Here's a secret: Uncomfortable
shoes make you look "ugly" when walking. Better
to walk beautifully in slightly larger shoes. Your
best bet: Shop for new shoes in the late afternoon,
since feet swell as the day progresses.
- Do not ignore corns and
calluses. To get rid of hard, dry skin, smooth
daily with a pumice stone and/or an exfoliating foot
scrub.
- To avoid dryness and
cracking, every day apply a deep, rich, moisturizer.
This is particularly important during the dry winter
months, notes Dr. Mogul. Dr Rubman's favorite moisturizers
use squalane as a key ingredient.
The bottom line:
Take good care of your feet, and they will take good care of
you. By exercising a little care and common sense, you can put
your best foot forward.
Be well,
Carole Jackson
Bottom Line's Daily Health News
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