Having foot pain is debilitative and can prevent you from getting work done throughout the day. Most foot pain can be handled at home without you having to make a trip to the doctor’s office. Here are eight ways you can relieve foot pain fast.
Self-massage
Giving your foot a gentle massage will relieve muscle strain, pain, tension, and help stretch tendons. Use your thumbs to press into tender areas, going from heel to toes. Then make circular motions with your fingers to loosen muscles and reduce pain.
Use eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil has been used for centuries to treat colds, help muscle pain, support your immune system, and more. According to Dr. Josh Axe, DC DMN, CNS of Dr.Axe.com, “Eucalyptol, or 1,8-cineole, which accounts for 70–90 percent of the contents of eucalyptus oil, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.” Mix eucalyptus oil into warm water as a soak, or massage it into your foot.
Drink ginger tea
Ginger is a superfood worth adding to your diet, with a plethora of antioxidants and ingredients that reduce pain and swelling. According to a study published in the International Journal of Preventative Medicine, “Ingredients like [6]-gingerol,[6]-shogaol, [6]-paradol, and zerumbone in ginger exhibit anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic activities.”
Roll a frozen water bottle under your foot
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, then freezing a water bottle and rolling it under your foot will do wonders to reduce pain and inflammation. According to Bret Sears, PT, MDT, of Verywell Health, “The ice bottle massage can provide a gentle stretch to your plantar fascia, which may help to improve overall mobility in your arch and foot.”
Use a capsaicin cream
Capsaicin is the spice you taste when you eat cayenne peppers. This ingredient can reduce pain and swelling in cream or soak form. According to WebMD, “When you put capsaicin on your skin, you help block pain messages to your nerves.” Apply capsaicin cream to your foot or mix cayenne pepper powder into warm water for a soak.
Stretch your Achilles tendon
If your Achilles tendon gets damaged, it can cause significant heel pain. To ease it, try what’s called the “lean and lunge” stretch. Stand an arm’s distance from a wall, then lean and put your hands on the wall shoulder-width apart. Lunge with your legs and sink into your hips until you feel your Achilles tendon stretch. Hold the position for thirty seconds, then switch legs.
Use a cold compress
Treating foot pain with a cold compress is a fast way to reduce pain and inflammation. According to Healthline about cold therapy, “It works by reducing blood flow to a particular area, which can significantly reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain.”
Try sesame oil
Sesame oil has linoleic acid and sesamin that help reduce pain and inflammation. According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, “Sesamin is one of the active constituents of sesame oil and represents a promising target for the treatment of pain and inflammation.” Massage sesame oil into skin or use it in a soak for your feet.
Sources:
https://draxe.com/eucalyptus-oil-uses-benefits/
Mashhadi, N. S., Ghiasvand, R., Askari, G., Hariri, M., Darvishi, L., & Mofid, M. R. (2013). Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence. International journal of preventive medicine, 4(Suppl 1), S36-42.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/ice-bottle-massage-for-plantar-fasciitis-2696407
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-capsaicin
https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain/treating-pain-with-heat-and-cold#cold-therapy
Monteiro, E. M., Chibli, L. A., Yamamoto, C. H., Pereira, M. C., Vilela, F. M., Rodarte, M. P., Pinto, M. A., do Amaral, M., Silvério, M. S., Araújo, A. L., de Araújo, A., Del-Vechio-Vieira, G., … de Sousa, O. V. (2014). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the sesame oil and sesamin. Nutrients, 6(5), 1931-44. doi:10.3390/nu6051931
