Hi everyone! Today I’ll be sharing a guest post done by Patrick Greer from Fix Your Walk! He’s a fitness trainer and physical therapist who has helped people with pain in different parts of the body; one such area being the feet.
He’s got some great tips to alleviate your tired, aching, swollen feet with homemade foot soak recipes using ingredients you probably have lying around the home. Enjoy!
Your feet have to carry a lot of weight throughout the day, and wearing shoes does not offer much help as it subjects them to additional pressure. It is because of this that you are always looking forward to getting home so that you can take off the shoes and rest your feet. And while rest is always very helpful, a foot soak would be much better. Soaking your feet takes away the tiredness and swelling fast and leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to face the next workday.
Making a foot soak is also a fast and easy process and there are plenty of ingredients that you can use. And most are already available in most homes. Here are 10 homemade foot soak recipes that will help you pamper your feet.
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Homemade foot soak 1. Peppermint Foot Soak
Peppermint will offer several aromatherapy benefits and this will include boosting energy and soothing or relaxing tired muscles. It has an invigorating effect on both the skin and muscles, and it will not only reduce inflammation but also offer much-needed relief for your tired and achy feet.
What You Need
- A large empty basin or bowl
- 4 drops peppermint essential oils
- 2 drops lemon balm essential oils
- 3 or 4 eucalyptus oil essential oils
- 1/2 spoon coconut oil (optional)
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Boil a couple of liters of water and then add the essential oils and coconut oil.
- Allow the soak to cool for a few minutes and then soak your feet for about twenty minutes once you ascertain that the temperature is safe for your feet.
- After the soak pat the feet dry, and then apply some coconut oil to moisturize them.
Homemade foot soak recipe 2. Apple Cider Foot Soak
Apple cider vinegar is one of the best foot soaks that you can make at home as it has many beneficial properties. From helping to slough off dead skin to fighting fungus and odor, apple cider foot soak will be very useful.
What You Need
- A footbath tub full of cold/warm water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Add between 1 half and one cup of apple cider vinegar to a typical footbath tub.
- On a hot day when you want the bath to help cool you off, use cold water.
- You should then soak the feet for 15 to 30 minutes.
Homemade foot soak 3. Epsom Salt Foot Soak
Epsom salt soak will help you with everything from plantar fasciitis to heel pain. But, it can also be helpful when you just want to soothe and relax your tired and achy feet. The magnesium sulfate in Epsom salt will be absorbed through the skin directly to help relieve muscle pain, tension, and inflammation.
What You Need
• A tub of warm water
•1/2 cup of Epsom salt
• 2 to 3 drops your favorite essential oil
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Add enough warm water to a footbath tub to ensure that it will cover the feet up to the ankles.
- Add about half a cup of Epsom salt to the water and a few drops of your favorite essential oils for a nice aroma.
- Lastly, soak your feet for 30 to 60 minutes.
Homemade foot soak recipe 4. Chamomile Foot Soak
Chamomile makes one of the best bedtime herbal teas but what you might not know is that you can also use it to make a potent foot soak. What makes it good for foot soaks is that it has some anti-inflammatory properties and it also helps to moisturize the feet and heal dry or damaged skin.
What You Need
- An empty basin
- 6 chamomile tea bags / a few teaspoons of dry chamomile herbs
- 5 drops lavender or any of your favorite essential oil
- 2 to 3 tablespoons raw honey
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Boil enough water to cover the feet up to the ankles and then add the tea bag or dry chamomile and let it steep for about five minutes.
- Remove the tea bags or sieve out the small particles when using dry herbs and then add the other ingredients before soaking your feet for 20 to 30 minutes
Homemade foot soak 5. Baking Soda Foot Soak
If you have smelly feet after wearing shoes all day, baking soda foot soak will work well for you. Mixing baking soda with rice water creates a more potent soak as you benefit from the antimicrobial properties of the baking soda and improved circulation from the rice water.
What You Need
- An empty basin or footbath tub
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- 1/2 cup rice
- 10 drops essential oil
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Boil rice in lots of water so that you will have plenty left for the foot soak.
- Pour the resultant rice water in the basin or tub and then add your baking soda and essential oil and then soak the feet for about 15 minutes.
Homemade foot soak recipe 6. Coconut Milk Foot Soak
Coconut contains lots of minerals and vitamins that are not only good for your overall health but can also help to soothe your tired, achy and sore feet.
What You Need
- An empty basin or footbath tub
- 1 cup of organic coconut milk
- 10 drops essential oil
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Fill your tub with enough warm water to cover the feet up to the ankle level and add the coconut milk and essential oils.
- Next soak your feet for 15 to 30 minutes and then remove and dry them before applying your favorite moisturizer.
Homemade foot soak 7. Bentonite Clay Foot Soak
With a bentonite clay foot soak your tired and achy feet will benefit from some soothing and detoxifying effects. Also, the soak can be very beneficial if you have sore muscles and stiff joints. And the foot soak can also moisturize dry or cracked heels to make them less painful.
What You Need
- A footbath tub or basin
- 2 cups of bentonite clay
- Rosemary essential oil
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Fill your tub or a small basin with about 8 inches of warm water.
- Then add the bentonite clay and the rosemary essential oil before soaking the feet for 15 to 30 minutes.
Homemade foot soak recipe 8. Coffee Foot Soak
Coffee is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of making a foot soak but it is surprisingly very beneficial. It makes a refreshing and comforting soak which is just what you need at the end of the day, and the aroma is also fantastic.
What You Need
- An empty basin/footbath tub
- 2 cups brewed coffee
- 1/2 cup Epsom salt
- 1 cup raw honey
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Start by filling the tub with hot water and then add the Epsom salt, coffee, and honey.
- Soak the feet for half an hour and then pat them dry before moisturizing with your favorite oil.
Homemade foot soak 9. Listerine Foot Soak
Listerine makes one of the best foot soaks, and it is also a great remedy for heel racks. It will help to remove dirt and any dead skin on your feet to leave them looking clean and healthy.
What You Need
- An empty basin
- 3 cups Listerine
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Add enough water to the footbath tub to cover the feet up to the ankles or slightly above.
- Add the Listerine before soaking the feet for a maximum of about 25 minutes.
Homemade foot soak recipe 10. Lemon Juice and Powdered Tea Foot Soak
The lemon juice and powdered tea foot soak will nourish the skin on your feet, and also help to improve the circulation of blood below the toenails. This antioxidant citrus foot soak combo is also easy and quick to make.
What You Need
- A basin of warm water
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1/2 cup powdered tea
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Start with enough warm water in footbath tub or basin.
- Squeeze the juice of about half a lemon into the water and then add the half a cup of powdered tea.
- Soak your feet for 20-25 minutes and you can also add a few slices of lemon into the foot soak.
After a long and tiring day at work or school, your feet will always be feeling tired, achy and sore as they take a lot of weight and pressure throughout the day. Try one of the homemade foot soak recipes above you can make a quick and effective foot soak for fast relief. Top off with some moisturizer afterward and massage the feet for even better results.