A Time for Herbal Foot Baths - Foot Care

There is something so calming and rejuvenating about herbal foot baths. I have been doing them for over 20 years and recently have been incorporating them into the Plant Journey Classes I teach. People LOVE them.
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Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs everything we put on it or soak in. It makes complete sense that soaking our feet in an herbal tea bath would be healing on many different levels. When we soak our feet, we are actually steeping our whole body.

Our feet is one of the main ways we connect to the Earth below us. They are our foundation, taking us where we want to go in life. They support us. They hold us in movement and in stillness. They connect the rest of our body to the Earth.

Some cool foot facts:

• Nearly 1/4 of all the bones in our body are in our feet. A human foot and ankle is a strong mechanical structure that contains 26 bones, 7,000 nerve endings, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
• Feet function best in their bare of most natural state.
• In one day, our feet can take a cumulative force of a couple hundred tons.
• When running your feet take up to 5x your body weight.
• Walking is the best exercise for your feet.
• In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) the season you soak your feet in has different health benefits:
• Summer: Helps to eliminate dampness in the body.
• Spring: Promotes the yang chi to move upward in the body.
• Fall: Nourishes the lungs and strengthens the respiratory tract.
• Winter: Enhances our resistance to cold weather.

Herbs for Foot Baths:
Foot baths can generally be used for anything you would take a tea or tincture for OR for pure pleasure and to give some love to your feet.

Almost any herb can be used for foot baths. Your body will be absorbing the property of the herbs through the skin in your feet. Also, consider the scent! You will be getting a mini aromatherapy session at the same time. Foot baths incorporate all the senses! A whole body medicine.

Here is a starter list...

• Calendula Calendula of.: Anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory & healing to wounds/sores.
• Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla: Calms sore, swollen feet & is calming and stress reducing. Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and soothes irritated skin.
• Comfrey Symphytum of.: Comforting, soothing and healing to the skin.
• Eucalyptus leaves: Invigorating and deodorizing. Lovely if fighting off a cold. *A few leaves go along way!
• Ginger root Zingiber off.: Warming and stimulating to feet that are cold.
• Horsetail Equisetum arvense: Reduces perspiration.
• Juniper berry Juniperus spp: Antifungal and soothes achy muscles.
• Kava Piper methysticum: Calms anxiety, soothing and eases stress.
• Lemon Balm Melissa of.: Relaxing, calming and can help to reduce fevers.
• Lavender Lavandula spp: Soothing, calming, eases stress and overwhelm.
• Marjoram Origanum majorana: Invigorates tired achy feet. Smells yummy.
• Oregano Origanum vulgare: Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and deodorizes.
• Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris: Stimulates circulation and eases muscle pain. Opens the imagination.
• Mustard seed Brassica juncea: Warms & stimulates feet that are cold.
• Peppermint Mentha piperita: Cooling and reinvigorating for hot, tired feet.
• Pine needles Pinus spp.: Refreshes tired feet and deodorizes.
• Rose Petals Rosa spp.: Soothing, relaxing, anti-inflammatory and just plain divine.
• Rosemary Rosemarinus off.: Deodorizing, increases circulation & relieves soreness/tiredness.
• Sage Salvia off.: Antiperspirant and deodorizing. Great for feet that sweat a lot or tend towards fungal issues.
• Thyme Thymus vulgaris: Anti-fungal and refreshes tired feet.
• Tulsi Ocimum sanctum: Softening, calming and refreshing

Other additions:

• Apple Cider Vinegar: Anti-fungal and deodorizes.
• Epsom Salt: Relaxes tired and achy feet.
• Milk Powder: Moisturizing, soothing and hydrating to the skin.
• Rolled Oats: Moisturizing, soothing and anti-itch.

 Preparing an herbal tea foot bath.

1. Choose an herb or an herb combination. Use 2 cups fresh herbs or 1 cup dried herb.
2. Place herbs in a 2 qt mason jar filling. Pour boiling water over the herbs and cover tightly. Let steep for 15-20 min.
3. While the herbs are infusing fill a basin/tub or large pot with very warm water about halfway. Make sure the basin is large enough for you to place both feet flat inside with some wiggle room left over.
4. When the herbs are done infusing you can strain out and pour into the basin/tub or the entire mixture with herbs can be poured in. More hot water can be added if desired.
5. Place your feet in the basin/tub, relax and submerge feet for 10 min.
6. Gently dry your feet.

Some other considerations:

• Following up the foot bath with a gentle foot scrub can be really lovely. You can use the foot bath water as a rinse then moisturizer your feet. Letting them air dry for a few minutes elevated.
• Location - Outdoor foot baths can be divine. Pick a beautiful quiet place in the garden and enjoy.
• You can cover the top of the basin with a towel to keep the heat in or lovingly gaze at the plants floating freely in the tub.
• Leaving the herbs to float freely in the foot bath is a wonderful way to connect to the plants you're soaking in.
• Put river rocks or marbles in the basin to roll your feet on while soaking.
• Sometimes I like placing the herbs in a large muslin bag and using that to wash or massage my feet while they are soaking.

Some Foot Bath Combinations
Anti-Fungal Foot Bath: Rosemary, Sage, Lavender & ACV
Earth Goddess Foot Soak: Chamomile, Lavender, Roses, Calendula & Kava
Forest Blend: Pine, Eucalyptus, Bay, Epsom salt
Immune Blend: Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Tulsi, Thyme
Rose Bliss: Rose petals, milk powder

 In gratitude,
Judy


You can learn more from Judy Lieblein in Herbs A-Z classes. 


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