A foot bath with essential oils or herbs is a real tonic. Here are some wonderfully simple recipes that really work, for the most common complaints.
If you are not yet familiar with the therapeutic properties of a simple foot soak — enriched with essential oils or herbs — discover with us these useful recipes for foot baths that benefit both body and mind. Just a few minutes are all it takes for a moment of relaxation and a foot bath to bring wellbeing to your whole body and spirit.
To counter water retention, add a couple of drops of juniper essence and three of orange oil to the water. To reduce swelling, also try a foot bath in barely lukewarm water, adding just one drop of cypress essential oil and one drop of lavender essential oil, plus a cup of salt. Keep your feet soaking for 10 to 15 minutes, then lie down with your feet raised on two pillows.
Promote a good night's rest and relaxation by adding four or five drops of lavender essential oil to a warm foot bath.
If instead you are completely worn out and need a burst of energy, your blend consists of peppermint, geranium and rosemary oil. Just one or two drops in cool water and you will feel revitalised after just a few minutes.
To relieve aching feet, use warm or cool water to which you will add two or three drops of lemon essential oil and the same amount of peppermint oil. Ten minutes is all it takes to feel better. The fragrance will also give your mind a new boost of energy.
Here are a couple of recipes that will come in handy in winter, when temperatures are at their harshest.
To reactivate circulation and treat chilblains, make a foot bath with hot but not boiling water, to which you can add lavender essence and black pepper essence in equal parts: two or three drops will be enough. Keep your feet submerged for a quarter of an hour, until you feel relief. Afterwards, dry your feet thoroughly and rub the skin with tea tree oil.
If instead you feel the first symptoms of a cold coming on, opt for a mustard foot bath: an extremely simple yet highly stimulating recipe that warms you up, thereby helping to improve circulation, stimulates the metabolism and gives you renewed energy. Add half a cup of mustard powder to warm or hot water, immerse your feet and relax for a quarter of an hour.
As an alternative to essential oils, especially for pregnant women, you can use small linen or cotton bags filled with herbs such as chamomile, lavender, mint, ginseng and many others, blending them together for a more powerful effect.
In addition to individual essential oils, there are ready-made blends for the most common needs. Fitomedical, for example, offers Meditazione, Sonno, Autunno, Inverno, Distensione and many others.
A particularly pleasant product is Relax Attivatore by Just, a cocktail of seven relaxing plants combined with eight stimulating ones, for a restorative and regenerating result.
Erboristeria Magentina has also created Essenza Pace, Essenza Armonia and Essenza Gioia, to be used as they are or combined with individual oils to obtain a personalised blend.
One last piece of advice: while soaking, relax. Put your smartphone down. Breathe in the fragrance of the essential oils and keep your eyes closed for a few minutes. You will see that even simply slowing down the pace of your day will make you feel better. From head to toe.