The feet are a major player that are oft neglected. We work them endlessly...it's too much to even list the ways, as they are almost always on the go in one form or fashion. We expect them to function dutifully without acknowledgment or reward. Let's pause for a moment to reflect on our paws.
Our feet and tender toes have drawn the attention of cultures for centuries, from foot binding to washing and anointment. These succulent digits house thousands of nerves and reveal a map of the body from heal to toe as evidenced by the study of reflexology. To stand on the soles of our feet is a gift. They literally support our lives. Our soles might just have soul. Here's how!
In astrology, the sign Pisces rules the feet. In turn, the feet reflect the shape of a fish, a Sole. The fish swims in the ocean... the place of our emotions and our deep subconscious. Pisces is the sign with the most diffused awareness, the sign with the ability to dive into the oneness of it all, the deep ocean of consciousness. Our soul, which is formless, is our essence and the core of our being, the mode of our spirit that is eternal and vast. So what does this have to do with herbs…
The anointing and care of our feet is an act of nurturance and self care that feeds the soul. The eyes are the window to the soul, but the sole is the window to the heart via love, nurturing and care.
When my daughter was little she would have persistent coughs. We found after much trial and error that the most soothing of therapies was to soak her feet in hot ginger tea. The calming effect of the warm water mixed with the dispersive properties of the ginger would draw the congestion out of her head and out through the bottoms of her feet. I found that over time, a foot massage with lavender oil would gently loll her to sleep.
A foot soak is an excellent way to relieve stress and tension from the day. To sooth the feet is to feed the soul. Here are some ideas to spark your foot soaking experience! It's oh so personal, so feel free to choose what soothes YOUR so(u)le!
ESSENTIAL OIL SOAKS
There are several ways to use essential oils at home, including adding a few drops to your soak. Here are some popular choices, which you can use individually or combine together for your healing foot treatment:
- Cedar wood oil is an antiseptic and anti-fungal, making it a good choice if you suffer from Athlete’s Foot.
- Cypress oil is an antiseptic and natural deodorant. Add a few drops to your soak if you have a blister or are concerned about foot odor.
- Juniper berry oil alleviates muscle aches, including those caused by arthritis.
- Lavender oil, as you may know, is a favorite for relaxation. It’s also a natural pain reliever—optimal for sore muscles and joints.
- Rosemary oil helps soothe tired muscles and has antiseptic properties.
- Wintergreen oil is considered nature’s aspirin. It helps with pain and swelling and has a cooling sensation that is particularly pleasurable on tired feet.
- Nutmeg oil for sleep and relaxation
- Fill a basin with enough pleasurably hot water to cover your feet and ankles. Add 1/2 cup epson salt .
- Add 10 drops of essential oil of your choose
- Soak feet for 10 -15 minutes
Feeling like you are coming down with something or are already sick? Try these soaks!
Foot Soak for Colds and Flues
1/4 cup powdered ginger
olive oil
hot water
Proceed as above and mix ginger in water. Soak and enjoy!
For children make sure you coat delicate feet and ankles with olive oil to protect them from possible burning from the ginger
And of course, there's EARTHING. Which we've always just called 'going barefoot'....
There’s a growing buzz in the health world these days about a phenomenon called Earthing. It has to do with the natural, gentle electrical charge present on the surface of our planet. You get a dose every time you go outside barefoot. You may feel it as tingling in the feet when walking along the wet sand at the beach or on a dew-moistened lawn. Or as a sensation of warmth rising up through the feet and legs. Or you may not feel anything, yet still receive the energy just the same.
The Earth, you see, is an electrical planet, and you are a bioelectrical being living on an electrical planet. Your body functions electrically. Your heart and nervous system are prime examples.
As strange as it sounds, the very ground beneath your feet may actually be the single-most powerful medicine on the planet, capable of significantly reducing pain and inflammation, improving sleep and energy, and speeding recovery from injuries and exhaustion. Mother Earth grandly provides all living beings – you, me, and the rest of the animal kingdom – with this surprising and overlooked source of health, healing, and recovery: a virtually limitless supply of free electrons that give the ground we walk on its natural, subtle, and negative electrical charge.
To benefit from it, all you need to do is connect with it.