Essential Oils for Feet
Pain, Odor, and Other Ailments
Oftentimes we completely forget about our feet unless they are bothering us in some sort of way. The two stabilizing appendages below your legs do so much for you on a daily basis, but when it comes to self care, they are often overlooked. Well today, we are going to give our feet the spotlight they deserve and discuss what Essential Oils are good for feet, how to use them, and even address using Essential Oils for foot ailments.
Fact or Fiction
Have you ever heard that applying Essential Oils to the feet is the best spot because the pores there are the largest or because of the lack of sebum? This, in fact, is one of the biggest myths in Aromatherapy! There are a couple reasons why foot application is not better for absorption.
The skin on the feet is very thick; about 100 times thicker than other parts of the body. This means that it is harder for Essential Oils to absorb into the skin. Additionally, the fact that feet do not produce sebum is not conducive to absorption either. Sebaceous glands, in effect, aid in the saturation of Essential Oils. Just like using a carrier oil, the sebum helps the oils to transport into the skin. So, that being said, it is evident that the feet are not the ideal place for quick or deep penetration, but that does not mean that it is not effective for other purposes.
Benefits of Using Essential Oils for Feet
As you know using Essential Oils topically (more info here) can directly affect the area where applied. This can be beneficial for any issues or pain. After a long, hard day standing on your feet, Essential Oils can be the perfect remedy for your “barking dogs.” Furthermore, they make the perfect addition to a foot soak. And lastly, we absolutely love taking advantage of the deodorizing properties of certain Essential Oils for stinky feet. Now, let’s go a little more in depth on each of these topics.
Using Essential Oils for Neuropathy
Did you know that each foot contains thousands of nerve endings that begin in your spine? These nerves travel down your leg and branch out into your feet and toes. When they become damaged and you experience pain, tingling, numbness, or burning, this is called Neuropathy.
Fortunately, Neuropathy is an issue that can benefit from the use of Essential Oils. There have been several studies that have proven pain relief and better quality of life from certain oils. Lavender is the top researched oil while many other anti-inflammatory and analgesic Essential Oils are on the list as well.
What Essential Oils are Good for Neuropathy in the Feet:
The most efficient way to use the Essential Oils for Neuropathy is to choose which oils you want from the list then add them to a carrier oil at about a 3-5% dilution. This would be 9-15 drops of your blend in one Tablespoon of nut or seed oil. Simply massage onto the painful area to get relief.
For general painful or sore feet, check out this article of Essential Oils for Inflammation.
Using Essential Oils for Stinky Feet
Maybe not the most commonly discussed subject, but an important subject at that, is how to tackle the smell of stinky feet naturally. No one likes when their shoes or tootsies are smelling foul, so how do you use Essential Oils for foot odor?
The key to this conundrum is antibacterial and antimicrobial Essential Oils. Utilizing scents that kill bacteria and fungus is important because these are what grow from sweating in shoes and socks that ultimately leads to Bromodosis (stinky feet). Creating a deodorizing foot powder that minimizes moisture can be super helpful. Simply add a few drops of any of the Essential Oils from the following list to baking soda and sprinkling in your footwear can fight the odor fast.
What Essential Oils are Best for Stinky Feet?
Essential Oils Foot Soak
A wonderfully indulgent but therapeutic way to use Essential Oils is to create a soak for when your feet are feeling tired, sore, or swollen. Soaking your feet in a bath or a tub of warm water with salts and Essential Oils can relax and rejuvenate those achy toes and arches. To make this soak, add a few drops of any of the following oils to an ounce of natural soap or carrier oil and mix it with ½ cup of Epsom or Mineral Salts. Then place the mixture into the water and soak for 20 minutes.
What are the Top Essential Oils for a Foot Soak?
Using Essential Oils for Feet – Tips & Tricks
Now that you know what Essential Oils are ideal for each common foot issue, let’s chat about the best ways to use them.
- Just because your skin is thicker doesn’t mean you don’t need a carrier oil. As always, we recommend using a carrier oil with your Essential Oils to help transport the EO into the skin, have a gentler effect, and save money.
- Using a roll-on is a really easy and quick way to apply oils to the feet. Some of our favorites are Ache Away Roll-on, Lavender Roll-on, and Tea Tree Roll-on.
- During the winter months when skin is dry, try using any of the listed Essential Oils with REVIVE Body Butter on the feet. Here is a great article with more info on the subject.
After you take off your shoes, spritz them with REVIVE Lavender Hydrosol to freshen them up for the next use.
Final Thoughts on Essential Oils for Feet
With all of this information on Feet and the use of Essential Oils, we bet you are ready to get started! When in need of pain relief, deodorizing, or a good soak, look no further than REVIVE.
Backed by third party testing from the most knowledgeable in the industry, you can rest assured that REVIVE’s products are top notch. The oils are sustainably sourced, community focused, and cruelty free which is why REVIVE is the #1 place to find Essential Oil products online.
This is also where you can find some of the best Essential Oil Kits, Roll-ons, Blends, and Diffusers. Additionally, there are some very helpful articles and DIY recipes available on the REVIVE Blog.
