Discover why applying essential oils on your feet have a positive impact physically, mentally and emotionally.
In this Blog we are going to explore how to engage the sense of smell and sense of touch to promote general wellbeing and specifically targeting our feet. We are going to discover how much we can do applying essential oils on the bottom of our feet to be able to show them when we are out and about in summer.
Our feet are an AMAZING part of the body. Underappreciated and undiscovered in many regards. When we apply essential oils to the bottom of your feet, we are actually doing ourselves a big favour, in a big way.
The feet are a very important area in aromatherapy, partly because of the reflex points on them, which affect every area and organs of the body, and partly because the skin of the feet is particularly good at absorbing essential oils.
In a classic experiment, oil of garlic was rubbed on the feet of a volunteer. 10 minutes later, the garlic could be measured in his exhaled breath. Garlic is a very volatile oil, so absorption was rapidly demonstrated, but the same thing happens with any essential oil sooner or later.
The skin on the sole of the feet are like sponges => Big Pores… No Hair.
The pores found on the bottom of your feet are particularly absorbent and can quickly pull the essential oils into the bloodstream. There are no hair follicles to slow down the absorption of the essential oil, plus 72,000 nerve endings. Anything you rub into the sole of the feet will be into the rest of the body in 20 minutes.
Another way of getting oils into the body quickly is by footbaths, which is also the best way to start caring for your feet.
In general, Footbaths are very helpful in situations where a full aromatic bath will not be practical, or is not available such as when treating elderly or less mobile people, or people living in flats with a shower but no bath.
Let’s share tips to better the appearance of the feet adding oils that can help with tired swollen feet, a better night sleep, an immunity boost, triggering calming feelings:
The main cause of hard skin, or “foot callus” on the soles of our feet is intermittent pressure. This means that anyone who moves it would likely to experience foot calluses at some point during their life. For people that move more – such as runners, hikers and long-commuters – foot calluses become even more likely. And of course the weight, or having flat feet or high arches have an impact too.
Cracked heels are perhaps the most unpleasant of all. They occur when heels become dry, hard and rigid. When pressure is put on the feet, the skin can’t give or expand, which causes it to crack. It may be caused by the lack of moisturisers, Long baths or Scrubbing feet dry.
Whilst the removal of corns is best left to a doctor, cracked heels and calluses can be treated at home. You don’t have to go to a beauty salon to give your feet some Tender Loving Care.
👉All treatments starts with a foot soak:
This helps to soften the skin and make it easier to remove the hard bits. Additional ingredients can be added to the warm water to make it even more effective at softening feet.
Warm water and:
• The juice of a lemon – citric acid aids in the removal or dead skin cells.
• A generous sprinkling of Epsom salts – great skin healing properties.
• Or Baking soda
• Avocado, calendula, coconut carrier oils or honey known for its natural moisturizing benefits.
Once you have this carrier oils in the water you can add some essential oils otherwise they don’t mix with water:
- After a long day, for Tired feet: Peppermint and Spearmint.
- Swelling of the ankle and feet: Juniper Berry, Cypress, Pine, Grapefruit. Fennel, Geranium, Lemon, Cedarwood, all very good for fluid retention.
- For Athletes foot: Rosemary, Thyme, Melaleuca (tea Tree), Lavender, Lavandin, Lemongrass, Copaiba.
- Gout: Juniper Berry, Ylang Ylang, Pine, Benzoin.
- For balancing and energy flow, a bit of grounding for a person that lives too much in the head: Cedarwood, Vetiver.
👉Removing hard skin:
Post foot soak, the hard skin should be softer and much easier to remove. Grab a pumice stone or feet file and rub it over the soles of your feet in circular motions. Scrub away until the skin feels soft and smooth. If at any time your feet become sore or sensitive, stop.
👉Unpleasant cracked heels:
DIY foot ‘masks’ will be able to penetrate deep into cracks and fissures and give them the nourishment they need.
Here are some natural, at-home treatments for smooth feet:
• Oatmeal – mix 1 tbsp of oatmeal with a few drops of jojoba oil and massage onto feet. Leave for 20 minutes before rinsing and drying with a towel.
• Vaseline – slather the substance onto feet, being sure to massage it well into cracked heels. Tie a bag around each foot and leave to soak for an hour.
I know it’s more time-consuming but for the people with very deep cracks it really works. You can alternate both methods till they are healed and then you just maintain the skin with rich moisturising creams.
👉Re-nourishing:
Now all that nasty dry skin has been removed and cracked heels have been treated, it’s time to apply a generous layer of moisture to soothe and soften the newly exposed cells.
Foot cream are much richer than body moisturisers, so they can penetrate the skin more deeply. I use carriers oil which are highly moisturising and essential oils based on the client health goals: if they need more energy (Peppermint), or a better night sleep (Melissa), or improve immunity (Thyme, Lemon) or reduce anxious feelings (Frankincense, Spikenard, Palo Santo, Vetiver).
👉Additional Products:
✔️Hydrolats with Rosemary and Fennel to spray over tired feet;
✔️Hydrolats of Peppermint and Clary sage to spray over sweaty feet;
✔️Powder for athlete’s foot: 50 grs organic corn flour in a shaken bottle, cotton balls with essential oils on them. (six months’ shelf life.) Shake well to infuse the flour with the oils and apply. I prefer to use Melaleuca and Oregano.
✔️Tired feet and no time for a foot bath? And you used those new sandals… revitalise yourself with this home made scrub:
1/2 cup of brown sugar: ideal ingredient to gently exfoliate dry feet,
60 ml oil of your choice like olive, almond or Coconut Oil
5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil, a quick me up!
Gently rub the scrub onto wet skin in a circular motion. The oil in the foot scrub will help rehydrate your feet and lock moisture in. Rinse and pat dry. Freshen them up with hydrolats and leave the creams for night time.
Simple, doable tips to give your feet some TLC after a long winter inside shoes….😊
plus your choice of added Health Benefits!
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