Herbal Foot Bath

Happy Earth Day !

Roses are red
Violets are blue
For Earth Day this year
Let’s all plant a few

After a weekend of digging and planting in the garden, what better way to end it, than with a fragrant and relaxing herbal foot soak.

Here’s a recipe for the herbal foot bath. You’ll need a two gallon  plastic tub, a handful of baking soda and 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Fill the tub half way with very warm water add the baking soda and the essential oil. Swirl the ingredients and immerse your feet. Soak until the water has cooled. Towel dry your feet or let them air dry naturally. If you don’t have any essential oil, add 2 herbal tea bags to the water along with the baking soda. Tea bags work almost as well as the essential oil. A few good choices might be chamomile, lemon or mint.

Here’s another recipe for a foot soak. This one uses Epsom salts and peppermint essential oil. Fill the tub half way with very warm water, add 1/4 cup Epsom salts and 5 drops of peppermint oil to the water. Swish your feet in the water for about 10 minutes. Towel dry. What a great feeling ! No peppermint oil? Use 2 peppermint herbal tea bags.

If your feet are sore and tender, add 1 tablespoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the foot tub, and use very warm water. Soak until the water is cool. The salt and soda help to relax tendons in the feet, the cinnamon helps to soften toenails and invigorate the soles of your feet.

More ideas for soaking your feet.  Check out the Dollar Store for organza tulle’ bags. Most come six in a package for a dollar. The perfect size for making up little bath sachets. Add about 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts to the tulle’ bags and 1 tablespoon of dried herbs. My favorite herb are lavender buds, peppermint, or rosemary. Tie the bags up after adding the Epsom salts and the herb of choice. Keep the bags in a glass jar, and they’ll be ready to toss in a tub of warm water. Soak until the water has cooled.

Lemon peels and orange peels are wonderful for soaking aching feet. Toss a few peels into very warm water, add a pinch of sea salt, and soak for about ten minutes. Your feet will thank you for the fragrant and relaxing soak.

~ Meadow Walker