Foot soaks and packs are a great way to relax and invigorate those tired feet and soothe away all aches and inflammations. While a spa treatment for your feet can burn a big hole in the pocket, infrequent foot care can make you lose the beauty and suppleness of your feet.
However, a host of homemade foot care recipes are available that can be put together quickly and easily. Here are seven highly recommended foot soaks that can help your feet relax, naturally.
1. Salt foot bath
Perfect for soothing tired and swollen feet, the salt foot bath is a quick and sure way to relax and re-energize your feet. Salt is beneficial for tired, swollen, and achy feet primarily because when added to water, it makes the solution hypertonic.
It means compared to your skin and skin cells, salt water is a high concentration mixture. As a result, the excess water logged in your skin cells will flow out of your feet into the salt water (osmosis), thus reducing the swelling.
Ingredients
â— ½ cup sea salt/Epsom salt
â— Water
Preparation
· Take a large pan or half a bucket of water and bring it to boil. Allow it to cool down to a temperature that suits you.
· Add Epsom salt to it and let it dissolve completely.
· Now soak your feet in the solution, relax, and enjoy the healing powers of warm salt water.
· You can read a magazine or listen to some music as you treat your feet.
2. Baking soda cleansing treatment
This simple homemade recipe is best for those who suffer from smelly feet. Baking soda acts as an antibacterial agent, prevents recurrent infections, and reduces excessive perspiration from the soles.
Ingredients
â— ½ cup rice
â— Water
â— 3 tbsp of baking soda
Preparation
· Boil rice in sufficient water to have around 2-3 cups of rice water left by the time the rice is done.
· Rice water is good for improving blood circulation, which especially suits the body’s extremities.
· Add baking soda to the rice water and let it cool down for a while till the temperature is comfortable for you.
· Now dip your feet in the water and let them remain as long as the water is warm.
· You can also add some tea tree essential oil to the soak.
· Tea tree oil is one of the ingredients, found to be quite effective in fighting fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.
· Adding chopped parsley to the solution will boost the anti-bacterial and circulation-enhancing properties of the foot bath.
· Once done, dry your feet well.
3. Peppermint foot comfort recipe
Peppermint foot soak is the surest way to re-energize your feet after a long day. Peppermint has an instantaneous invigorating effect on the skin and the tired muscles of the feet.
Ingredients
â— Take enough water in a large pan or a bucket to soak in your feet
â— 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil
â— A single drop of eucalyptus essential oil
â— A single drop of lemon essential oil
Preparation
· Boil the water and allow it to cool down a bit.
· Add all the oils as mentioned above.
· Soak in your feet till the water remains warm.
· Pat dry and apply some lemon-based moisturizer.
4. Lavender foot soak
Lavender is a popular ingredient used for preparing relaxing bubble baths, foot soaks, and massages. It has amazing relaxation properties including a soothing aroma that works wonders for any spa, soak, and massage treatment.
Ingredients
â— About 4-5 liter of water
â— Two drops of lavender essential oil
â— ¼ cup of sea/Epsom salt
Preparation
· Boil the water and let it cool down to a comfortable temperature.
· Add lavender oil and salt.
· Put your feet in, soak, and relax.
5. Sandalwood foot treatment
Sandalwood has amazing healing powers that are great for bruises, cuts, and tears. Also, the aroma of sandalwood is often associated with feelings of deep relaxation and peace.
Ingredients
â— About 4-5 liter of water
â— Two drops of sandalwood essential oil
â— ¼ cup of sea/Epsom salt
Preparation
· Boil the water and let it cool down for a while.
· Now add two drops of sandalwood essential oil and sea salt.
· Put your feet in and enjoy the instant comfort.
These homemade foot soak recipes are a relaxing way to pamper yourself.
