From Cracked to Amazing: The Herbal Foot Remedy You Need Today
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the feet hold significant importance due to their connection to the body’s energy pathways and overall health.
In TCM, the health of the feet is seen as reflective of the body's overall condition. Issues such as foot pain, dryness, or other ailments may indicate imbalances in internal organs or energy systems. Therefore, maintaining foot health is considered integral to sustaining general health and preventing illness.
CM emphasizes regular foot care, including massages, herbal remedies, and exercises like Qi Gong or Tai Chi that promote circulation and energy flow through the feet and the rest of the body.
Here’s my formula to care for your foot!
Use fresh or dried herbs to create an herbal-infused oil (my fav), salve, or foot soak. The choice is yours!
Plantain brings relief. Its actions are moistening expectorant to coat, sooth, moisturize, cool inflamed and irritated, and protect the skin; antiseptic, to form a protective barrier on the skin that locks in moisture and helps to prevent bacterial growth and infections; inflammation-modulating, to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators and thus decrease the redness, swelling and pain associated with inflammation; astringent, to tighten and tone the skin; and, lastly, vulnerary, to promote wound healing, by reducing inflammation, itching, and redness associated with minor skin injuries and promoting faster wound healing.
Comfrey brings renewal. Its actions are demulcent and emollient, to soften and soothe dry, irritated, or inflamed skin; vulnerary, containing allantoin, a compound that helps to regenerate and heal damaged tissue for minor cuts, bruises, and burns; astringent, to tighten and tone the skin.
Chamomile brings calm. Its actions are cooling and inflammation-modulating, to soothe redness and swelling and pain associated with inflammation; antimicrobial, to cleanse and disinfect wounds, and promote faster healing; and, lastly, vulnerary, to help wounds to heal much more rapidly, prevent suppuration and stagnation of fluids, and modulate local inflammation.
Lavender brings rejuvenation. Its actions are analgesic, to relieve pain and muscle tension; antispasmodic, to relax muscles and reduce muscle spasms; antioxidant/cell regenerator, to promote the growth and repair of skin cells, protect skin cells from damage caused by toxins, such as free radicals, UV radiation, and other environmental stressors, prevent scarring and stretch marks, stimulate collagen production to improve skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve overall skin tone and texture; cooling and inflammation-modulating, to soothe redness, swelling, and pain associated with inflammation; astringent, to tighten and tone the skin, reduce the appearance of pores, and improve the overall health and appearance of the skin; cicatrisant, to promote the healing of wounds, scars and other skin imperfections; rubefacient, to increase surface blood flow through vasodilation, and cleanse accumulated metabolic waste products and nourish the region with fresh oxygen and nutrients, and lastly, antimicrobial, to protect the skin from infection and reduce the risk of skin irritations.
To Make:
For instruction on how to make an herbal oil, find the instructions here.
For recommendations on which carrier oil to choose, find my favs here.
The recipe for the powerful and potent herbal-infused oil I swear by can be found in my ebook: The Guide to Natural Bath + Body Care.
For instruction on how to make a salve, find the instructions here.
Foot soak recipe:
Add 4 quarts/litters of water to a large pot.
Add about 1 cup of fresh herbs or 1 cup of dried herbs
Bring to boil, turn off herb, and let herbs infuse for one hour.
With the herbs in the water, and reheat.
Pour strained or unstrained tea in a foot basin.
Soak your feet for 10-15 minutes.
Enjoy!
