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DIY Foot Soak to Soothe Feet & Prevent Fungus
August 18, 2022
Have you ever experienced a foot soak? A good foot soak offers some much-needed therapy to tired, achy feet and overall relaxation. Healthy, soothed feet can make a difference in your day.
Depending on what you do day to day, your feet can get rather beat up, sometimes forming calluses and rough, dry skin. And, just in case you didn’t know, there are over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments in each foot alone!
Each foot is constructed of 28 bones and 30 joints, in addition to all those muscles. This support system is useful in balance and mobility. So, with all that going on in just one foot, it’s not hard to understand that a little TLC can go a long way.
Taking a foot soak for sore feet or dry feet, followed by a foot scrub, will keep your feet soft and pampered while taking away the stresses of the day. Some natural health practitioners prescribe them, claiming they help reduce the risk of toenail fungus as well as help to relieve a bone spur.
So, what can you soak your feet in to soften them? If you want to make a natural difference in how your feet look and feel, try my homemade foot soak. (You can also try my DIY detox foot bath.) What’s great is that you can customize the ingredients to suit your needs without the chemicals found in most off-the-shelf versions.
How to Make a Foot Soak
In a large jar with a tight-fitting lid, place the Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda. I love Epsom salt since it is a great pain reliever and is a magnesium-rich detoxifier. In addition to treating sore muscles, it helps relieve dry skin.
Sea salt is a great source of minerals to alkalinize and relax the body. And baking soda is naturally soothing for the feet, helping remove bacteria and odor.
Next, add the essential oils. Peppermint essential oil is so refreshing and soothes aching muscles while also helping to release them by easing tension and tightness. Adding to the fight against bacteria is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil also provides relief to the feet by helping to treat wounds. Sweet orange essential oil has a lovely scent but also nourishes the skin of the feet with its high vitamin C content, while improving circulation and helping prevent infection.
And last, but not least, is olive leaf extract. Olive leaf extract contains antifungal properties — another great source for relieving the feet and preventing infection.
To use, place a quarter-cup of the mixture in warm (not hot) water in a foot basin. Stir, then soak the feet for around 20 minutes. Place a towel or absorbent pad underneath the tub or bowl you choose for your DIY foot soak to help keep the area clear of any excess water.
Next, exfoliate with my DIY Foot Scrub. Then gently rinse and pat dry. Finish by applying a moisturizer, such as my Lavender & Coconut Oil Moisturizer for Dry Skin.
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DIY Foot Soak Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 applications 1x
Description
A good foot soak offers some much-needed therapy to tired, achy feet and overall relaxation. Here’s an easy one to make at home.
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup Epsom salt
- ¼ cup sea salt
- 1¼ tablespoon baking soda
- 8 drops peppermint essential oil
- 8 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 8 drops tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops olive leaf extract
- foot bath basin
- 1½ gallons of warm water
Instructions
- In a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid, add the Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda and shake vigorously.
- Next, add the essential oils. Shake again.
- Add the olive leaf extract and shake a third time.
- To use, place a ¼ cup of the mixture in warm (not hot) water in a foot basin. Stir, then soak your feet for around 20 minutes. Place a towel or absorbent pad underneath the basin to help keep the area clear of any excess water.
Notes
After your foot soak, consider exfoliating with my DIY Foot Scrub. Then gently rinse and pat dry.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Category: DIY beauty recipes
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10 Comments
Very important this one good plan
Nice to learn about this combination. Thankyou Dr Axe!
Enjoy all recipes! Also watch you tube all the time!
Warm hearted greetings, Dr. Axe — I have used Epsom salt and baking soda together because I had gotten toenail fungus in the YMCA’s locker room after swimming, and I had not worn flip-flops for protection coming out of the pool. Baking Soda also kills any fungus, mold or mildew on my vegetable garden, that’s why I tried it for the foot bath. It works. Thank you for the recipe.
you mentioned baking salt and olive oil extract in the directions page….was this just a typo for baking soda and olive leaf extract?
Hi Connie … correct! Just fixed. Sorry about that!
By GOD’s Grace Hi Dr.Axe Pray All Is Well With U & Family!!. Did U mean SEA SALT IN THIS RECIPE????
Is there a substitute for the olive leaf extract?
I would love to make this lotion but am unsure which olive leaf extract to use as depending on the brand – they have different ingredients in them.
Thank you