If you’ve ever struggled with heel pain, you’ll know how much of a drain it can be on your day-to-day life. Whether it’s caused by an old injury, ill-fitting shoes, or a more severe medical condition such as plantar fasciitis, experiencing pain when you’re standing or talking can hugely interfere with your life’s activities and really bring you down.
As long as you know your heel pain isn’t a symptom of anything more serious, it becomes more a case of living with the discomfort. While there are effective pain-busting medications on the market, many of us prefer not to rely on pills every day. But there is a wide range of natural pain relief treatments that can work wonders, especially for heel pain.
Essential oils
Many stimulating essential oils, such as lavender, have been shown to have a positive impact on heel pain. You can mix it with a neutral carrier oil for a pain-relieving foot massage, or add drops to a foot bath.
Ice
Icing injuries can massively help with reducing inflammation, which can, in turn, relieve heel pain. Used crushed ice wrapped in a plastic bag and a soft towel and apply with pressure to areas of discomfort for fifteen minutes.
Shoe Inserts
Making your shoes as comfortable as possible can do wonders for your heel pain while walking or standing. Many pharmacies sell orthotic shoe inserts, which can help add comfort and support to your areas of discomfort.
Exercises
Some simple stretching exercises can make a huge difference to troublesome heels, particularly when done daily. Stretching your hamstrings by pressing against a wall and walking each leg backward can improve your flexibility and balance, taking pressure off of your heels over time.
Massage
The majority of foot massage techniques are relatively simple and rely on using your thumbs to release pressure from your arches. If you struggle to reach, you can also roll your feet on top of a golf ball for an easy self-administered massage.
Epsom salts
Foot soaks can be a wonderful way to treat your feet after a long and painful day. Adding Epsom salts to your foot bath can help boost its healing qualities, as the magnesium sulfate reduces inflammation and minimizes swelling and pain.
Eat alkaline
An alkaline diet has been shown to have positive results in terms of reducing inflammation throughout the body by neutralizing its pH level. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is key, but you can add a daily lemon water drink to kick start your diet change.
Cayenne pepper
You can use spicy cayenne pepper to create a healing poultice on areas of heel pain. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper in ¼ cup of warm olive oil and apply to the affected area. Leave it to dry for fifteen minutes, then rinse with water. You can repeat the process up to three times daily for maximum efficacy.
Take fish oil
Fish oils are rich in omegas, making them great for reducing arthritis pain and muscle stiffness. You can up to 6 grams of fish oil containing at least 30 percent EPA/DHA every day!
