Top Five Foot Heel Pain Remedies

Years of walking and running can wear down our feet, and can be hard on our heels. Likewise, poor circulation, improperly trimmed toenails, disease and tight fitting shoes all contribute to pain in the heel.
1. Massage with water
This treatment is ideal for any type of foot or heel pain and only needs a container of hot and cold water. Here's what you do:
a. Soak your foot for 5 minutes in cold water
b. Move the foot to a container of hot water of a tolerable temperature. The temperature of the water should not be cool or even lukewarm
c. Soak the foot in the hot water for 5 minutes
d. Return to the cold water
Repeat the procedure until the pain is gone. This process has a massaging effect that revitalizes feet by opening and closing blood vessels.
It is also a great idea to rub moisturizing lotion into your feet before getting into bed. The lotion makes feet easier to massage and therefore bring relief faster.
2. Put some heat on your feet
Using ointments enriched with capsaicin, an active natural ingredient in hot peppers also helps in relieving foot pain.
These products are excellent in cooling the pain caused by burning feet particularly for diabetes patients. Initial application of the ointment may cause some burning sensation for many people, but when used regularly, the burning effect is likely to lessen.
Moreover, people who been using the capsaicin in treating their burning feet have experienced great improvement and were able to walk more easily compared to those using other types of creams. Best of all, since these are topical medicine, patients tend to avoid a lot of side effects that usually happen when taking pills.
Most ointments are available over the counter, however it is important to talk with your doctor before you begin, as this type of therapy is not right for everyone.
3. Avoid high-heeled shoes
For recreational walkers and runners it is important to temporarily lower how much you're walking or running when you're about to use brand new shoes. This will help you to eliminate many of the break-in pains. Advances in shoe development have made modern athletic footwear much less likely to cause a problem than ever before.
4. Stretch out your calf
Stretching the heel cord at the back of the foot can relieve heel pain.
Start by:
a. Standing three feet away from a wall, place your hand on the wall.
b. Lean in to the wall, bringing one leg forward and bending at the elbows.
c. Keep your back leg straight with the heel on the floor and then gently stretch the calf muscle.
d. Repeat for the other foot.
e. Buy shoes that fit the shape of your feet.
Shoe size is considered to be the most important aspect in buying shoes -- but the shoe shape is equally important. You read it right; the shape of the shoe is also an important factor to consider.
There three basic foot shapes -- curved, slightly curved and straight. Although, there may be some variations, generally those individuals with high arches need a curved shoe; those with flat feet need a straight shoe and those who have neither flat or high arches need a slight curve.
When buying running or walking shoes it is best to select shapes that fit the curve of the arch on the inner side of the foot.
Before you try any of the remedies discussed here, consult your own doctor for the treatments that will be best for your unique situation.

By Dave Wilson

Relieve Itchy Feet - Goats' Milk Soap and Natural Foot Scrubs

There are many causes for itchy feet but a few of the common ones include: athlete's foot, dry skin, contact dermatitis and eczematous dermatitis. Using proper foot care products can help all of these foot conditions. Homemade natural foot scrubs and goats milk soap are available to help itchy feet.
A fungus called trichophyton causes athlete's foot. This foot fungus can be derived by coming into contact with it at gyms, swimming pools, foot or nail salons and on socks or clothing. This foot fungus thrives in moist warm environments. Tight fitting shoes or socks do not allow the feet to breathe contributing to the build-up of moisture. Excessive sweating allows this foot fungus to spread.
What can you do to help get rid of athlete's foot fungus? Try an anti-bacterial, homemade, soap, such as natural goats milk soap to thoroughly wash the feet. This handmade natural soap is extremely mild and gentle. It thoroughly cleanses and is available unscented, Au Natural, or in a variety of natural scents.
Also, natural foot scrubs cleanse, exfoliate and rejuvenate feet leaving them soft, soothed and well conditioned.
Other ways to help get rid of athlete's foot are to: maintain dry feet, apply topical creams or anti-fungus powders, change to using acrylic socks instead of cotton socks, and change wearing the same shoes day after day. Consider wearing shoes that are breathable such as leather instead of plastic shoes that contain wetness.
Dry skin can cause redness, burning, flaking feet. Natural goats milk soap moisturizes feet. These homemade soaps are extremely mild and gentle, non-irritating, soothing and refreshing.
Dry feet can, also, lead to painful cracked heels. There is a natural foot scrub that is a light, lotion type of scrub made from Dead Sea salt and goats' milk soap. It is not heavy on the skin and mixes well with water instead of running off like oils. It cleanses, exfoliates leaving skin soft, well conditioned and moisturized.
Another type of natural foot scrub is made from Dead Sea salt, goats milk soap and raw honey. It is a heavy type of scrub designed, specifically, for cracked heels and calluses. It penetrates down deep where the skin is still alive. It softens calluses and allows cracks to slough off. The feet pain from cracked heels is relieved, almost immediately from all of the emollients in this scrub! It leaves skin, cleansed, exfoliated, soothed and moisturized.
Contact dermatitis can be caused by allergic reactions to dyes in socks, shoes, or even the glue used in shoes. People should try to determine the cause of their allergic reaction and then avoid them. Natural goats milk soap is available, unscented, with no added fragrance or dyes. It is extremely mild and gentle. Natural goats milk soap made with aloe and oats is, also, very soothing for skin. In addition, natural foot scrubs helps cleanse, exfoliate, soften, soothe and moisturize the skin.
Using soaps that are too harsh for skin can cause eczematous dermatitis. Skin stays dehydrated with redness, irritation or swelling. Natural goats milk soap does not contain the harsh and chemicals found in modern, commercial, soap. It contains natural, mild and gentle, skin friendly ingredients. Also, natural foot scrubs are soothing for tired, aching and sore feet.
The combination of using natural goats milk soap and natural foot scrubs is wonderful for a variety of itchy feet conditions. If you have been looking for something to relieve your tired, achy, sore, cracked heels, calluses, dry feet or itchy feet, and have not found anything that worked, maybe you have been looking in the wrong places.
You may consider trying homemade, natural, goats milk soap and homemade, natural, foot scrubs. These natural skin care products are nourishing and healthful for all types of skin, including dry itchy skin, and even for itchy feet!

By Susan Katchur

Foot Pain Relief At Last!

"As an arthritis specialist, one area that I see people complain about more often than almost any other, is their feet." So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. "This is too bad because there are many treatments that can be helpful," Dr. Wei adds.
The foot is made up of 26 bones and 39 muscles...
The foot and ankle are designed to bear weight. The multiple joints in the feet are capable of adjusting to almost any terrain and the padding in the feet are designed to absorb shock.. The ankle joint allows the foot to move up and down, side to side, and inward and outward (inversion and eversion).
Not All Foot Pain Comes From The Foot!
Careful examination of the low back, hip, and knee should be performed because pain from these areas may affect the foot and ankle. In particular, pinched nerves in the low back can cause foot pain and weakness.
Ankle sprains are common- 25,000 people sprain an ankle every day!
The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and prevent instability.
Treatment of an acute sprain consists of rest, ice compression and elevation ("RICE"). Exercises to help stabilize and strengthen the ankle should be started.
Arthritis of the ankle may cause recurrent pain and swelling.
Pain from arthritis typically is made worse by weight-bearing particularly on uneven ground. What this means is you should try to avoid excessive walking or running on uneven ground. Anti-inflammatory medication and proper foot support can do wonders.
Pain in the ball of the foot has many causes...

• Foot strain occurs when a person "overdoes it." And the treatment is pretty straightforward. Rest.
• Morton's neuroma (a benign nerve tumor usually located between the 3rd and 4th toes)
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome (pinched nerve in the ankle)
• Arthritis.

Other common causes of foot pain include:

• Stress fractures may occur after excessive walking.
• Achilles tendonitis causes pain in the back of the heel. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medicines, rest, a heel lift, and gentle stretching.
• Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medication, heel cup, orthotics, stretching, and local steroid injection.
• Flat foot.

Muscle strengthening exercises and orthotics are helpful.
Two other common problems are:

• Osteoarthritis, particularly common in the big toe. The big toe will point out to the side. When bursitis alongside the great toe joint develops, this condition is referred to as a bunion. Treatment involves proper padding and footwear. In extreme cases, surgery is required.
• Neuropathy. This painful condition is particularly common in diabetics. This occurs when the small nerves in the feet are damaged. Symptoms include burning, tingling, and pain in the feet - worse at night.

Well fitted orthotics (arch supports) can alleviate not only foot and ankle pain but pain in the knees, hips, low back, and neck!!
We often take the ability to walk for granted. This ability involves the use of two engineering marvels- our feet and ankles. Because of the tremendous amount of force transmitted to the feet with walking, unique problems may develop. Attention to proper preventative care, i.e., comfortable shoes, sox, hygiene, support, along with proper prompt medical care can really put the brakes on foot pain.
Nathan Wei

What is Foot Reflexology?

Foot Reflexology has become a well respected ADJUNCT to regular medical care.It is used in Hospitals, by Physical Therapists and Chiropractors to enhance MOST forms of medical treatments.
Foot reflexology can help ease the pain of achy joints and muscles, relieve headaches and toothaches, improve the functioning of major systems of the body.

Foot Reflexology works by applying pressure at specific points on the bottom of the foot. This is not the same as acupressure or acupuncture.
In fact, the only thing that is the same is that medical science can't prove how it works...they just know it does!!
There are over 7,200 nerve endings at the bottom of each foot. Nerves connectto every organ, every limb and region of the body through the brain and spinal column. It is thought that foot reflexology works in much the same way. Even though we don't actually work the nerve endings, the correlation of the bottom of the feet to every region of the body definitely exists. It was originally called "The Zone" therapy in the early 20th century and was successfully organized into a comprehensive therapy by a physical therapist, Eunice Ingham in the '40s. She coined the term "reflexes" when referring to this therapy.

Foot reflexology can increase the blood flow to the part of the body being worked, which in turn increases the oxygen going to that part.

The increased blood flow helps take away toxins that build up in each cell of the body each day.
This brings more health and vitality to the region plus adds a sense of over-all well-being. When our feet feel good, we feel good!
Learn to do foot reflexology to help your family and friends feel better! Get helpgetting your body back to its' natural state of health by teaching your family todo foot reflexology on you!
Please realize that foot reflexology is NOT a substitute for medical treatment, you are always encouraged to seek professional medical help when needed, however, this therapy can be used in conjunction with most treatments for most conditions.
Please, if being treated by a medical professional, get that professional's permission before doing foot reflexology for that medical condition.