After a long day, many of us want nothing more than to be able to put our feet up and relax. Spending the day on your feet can leave them feeling sore, overheated, and even swollen, regardless of the activity or work you were doing!
Luckily, there’s a simple fix for sore and swollen feet, and it’s a great way to relax and unwind too—a foot soak! More specifically, a foot soak with Epsom salt, a source of magnesium and other minerals that can be absorbed through the skin to help reduce pain and inflammation.
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But why stop there? Adding baking soda to your foot soak can provide additional exfoliation as well as odor control. And as the cherry on top, add a little peppermint essential oil for its anti-inflammatory properties and the refreshing cooling effect it provides.
With these three simple ingredients, you can make your own all-natural foot soak that’s a treat for your feet! Here’s how it’s done.
How To Make A Soothing Homemade Foot Soak
Ingredients:
1 cup Epsom salt
2 cups baking soda
25 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
Add the Epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils to a large bowl or jar. Stir until the salt mixture is well combined, then store it in an airtight container.
How To Use Your Homemade Foot Soak
Start by filling your foot bath with hot water. (If you’re like me and don’t actually own a foot bath, a plastic dish tub works just as well!)
Measure out 1/4 cup of the foot soak mixture and add it to the water, then give it a stir to help the salt crystals dissolve.
Pull up a comfy chair and soak your feet in the water for around 20 minutes or so. (Keep in mind that it takes at least 15 minutes to get all the benefits of the soak ingredients, so relax and take your time!)
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When you’re finished soaking, rinse and dry your feet with a clean towel and apply a rich moisturizing lotion or cream. Perform this foot soak once a week, or as often as needed for softer, happier feet!
Bonus Tips From OGT Readers
- Savvy OGT readers have offered up some brilliant tips that will take your foot soak to the next level:
- “Add marbles into your foot bath and roll your feet over them for a massage. Works great!” – Jamie
- “Try putting some basil and rosemary essential oils in as well. The basil is warming, and the rosemary is anti-viral/anti-fungal!” – Charon
How do you like to unwind after a long day?
Categories
Natural Remedies Essential Oils
Is there anything better than a lovely foot soak? I don’t think so. :)
This sounds wonderful. I’m not sure how hard it will be to find the Epsom salt and baking soda in our area. People have been buying up anything the can gets their hands on with the Covid19.
I add peppermint oil and raw cocoa butter chunks along with the epsom salt (which melt in and are highly hydrating!) So the foot soak smells like mint chocolate chips cookies.
I gotta give this a try.
Love your blog
I’m soaking my feet right now! If you add marbles, they feel sooo good, add enough to cover the bottom of your pan. If you don’t they will spread when you put your feet in and you won’t getbrhw full effect. I’m on my feet most of the day, walking, with steel toe boots on and on concrete my feet have reaaly been bothering me lately could also be from the weight I have gained and I am now 52 thanks for the reminder about Epsom salt. This is the first time I have added it to my foot soak,… Read more »
Epson salt is not supposed to be used by Diabetics. This is even on the box of Epson Salt that I have. What is your opinion on this. I would love to soak my aching feet. Many thanks!
A foot soak with or without epsom salts is bad for diabetics – thanks for the reminder Jeanne! Here’s an article with some more information: http://jillee.co/2tqonxk
If you read the article it states that if you have neuropathy you my not sense the heat of the water and if you have open sores you should not soak. I have diabetes and I can feel the heat of the water just fine and I don’t have any open sores, so I would say that as long as you don’t have either of these problems you can soak your feet. Just be sure you don’t have these problems.
Goodness, I am a Diabetic and have neuropathy in both my feet. I use Epsom salts in my bath often to help with the pain in my feet. This foot bath idea would be great also. Especially with the peppermint, yummy! If you are a diabetic you should already be checking your feet and looking out for cracks or open sores daily. Are we not supposed to get our feet wet? Can not always believe all of those other articles, ask your Dr. if unsure, mine says it is fine. Love your posts, I look forward to it every day!
I like to draw a bath and soak my whole aching body in Epsom salts. While in the bath, I massage my feet and use a wash cloth to gently exfoliate my feet. Adding a few drops of lavender essential oil relaxes me and makes me ready for bed.
Thanks for all your wonderful ideas, I am so happy I came across you by chance on the net.
Hi Everyone! Thanks for sharing your great suggestions. I would also like to contribute an idea. My niece shared this with me.
Measure your Epsom salts into a glass jar. Add the essential oils of your choice. Then shake shake shake the jar to distribute the oils into the salts. By doing this, you eliminate the possibility of the precious oils floating to the top of the water!