Beautiful uplifting, anti fungal and nourishing foot balm: DIY

 After a long day at work, we all want to put our feet up in the air.

Feet often don't get the attention they deserve, and yet they carry our full body weight day in day out! Looking after your feet by giving them some daily pampering has a positive effect on your entire body.

In fact, there are 100s of known trigger points that correlate to your bodies internal organs, as is well known through the practice of reflexology.

However, we rarely stop to think about how hard our feet work and that we should give them some special care. This usually only happens when we start to feel pain, develop calluses or other problems.

One way to end problems and prevent future discomfort is through daily massage of our feet before bed.

This habit helps to relax the feet and the whole body while bringing important benefits to the body like:

• Improves blood circulation

Due to our cosmopolitan lifestyle, most of us don't use our foot muscles properly. Just 10 minutes of foot massage a day already helps transport oxygen to the body's cells, essential for overall health.

• Relieves stress and relaxes

Foot massage gives you more energy by releasing physical tensions and energy blocks that might be holding you back. In addition, the symptoms of stress and fatigue are alleviated!

• Relieves pain

Take a little time out of your day to take care of those niggling pains: headaches, migraines, back and neck.

• Fight depression

Few people know, but there are useful trigger points on the feet to relieve the symptoms of depression. The centre of the big toe is one of them. This spot is directly associated with emotional stability and mental health. So it is good to apply pressure on it for a few minutes, two or three times a day.

To help you out with it, I bring you my favourite recipe of DIY Herbal Foot Balm with Lemongrass.

Lemongrass is antibacterial and antifungal. It’s very cleansing, makes a good skin toner to clean out pores while helping to eliminate odour-causing bacteria.

Lemongrass also help to calm muscles and promote circulation, which brings great pain relief

So let's go:

Ingredients:

• 45ml Lemon Balm/ Marigold Infused Oil
• 45ml Comfrey Oil 
• 45ml Castor Oil
• 6 tsp grated unbleached beeswax or beeswax granules
• 6 drops Lemongrass essential oil
• 4 drops Lavender essential oil
  (Essential oils can be omitted if you have very sensitive skin)
  
• 6drops Vit E oil (Optional)

Method:

Place oils and beeswax in a heatproof glass bowl or glass pyrex jug. 

Place over a gently bubbling water bath in a thick-bottomed pot (take care not to burn yourself).

Heat gently over the water bath until the beeswax melts stirring using a metal spoon.

Take out of the water bath and place on a mat on a solid surface. 

Stir in the essential oils and Vit E.

Pour into sterile glass jars.  Leave the lids off until the balm has set. Put lids firmly on and label with name, ingredients, date. Makes 3x60ml jars or 6x30ml jars.

Uses:

The skin being the largest organ in the body makes it another wonderful medium for absorbing beneficial active ingredients found in herbs and essential oils.

For a deep treatment apply generously to clean feet, massage in- or even better ask someone else to give you a lovely foot rub :) and put clean old socks. Leave to soak in overnight.

Can be also be used as a nourishing hand and cuticle treatment or lip balm.

Notes:

Infused oils are very easy to make yourself either with dried or fresh herbs or can be bought from cosmetic suppliers or herbalists. Sign up to our newsletter for more exciting recipes.

Comfrey is a wonderful muscle and ligament restorative easing achy feet after a long day walking or gardening.

Lemon Balm is wonderfully relaxing and also soothing.

Lemongrass is a powerful deodoriser and anti-fungal helping prevent athletes foot.

Note of caution:

Essential oils are powerful irritants if used incorrectly! Always be extra careful counting the drops of the essential oils so you don't overdo it. 

Always do a patch test when using a new product for the first time by applying a very small amount to your wrist and leaving for 8-12hrs to observe for any irritations or reactions.

If in doubt check with your GP or dermatologist.

Warm Wishes.

Karin Muller

Karin Mueller is co-owner of Solaris tea and has been working in the field of wellness and health for over 20 years now. She is a Medical Herbalist (BSc Hons), practising Midwife (BSc Hons), Massage and Spa therapist and experienced course facilitator and teacher on a wide range of topics related to mindfulness, meditation and women’s health. She is currently also studying in the ‘Medicine of Light’ school to deepen her spiritual practise.