After a long day at work, exercise or chasing kids, feet can become sore, achy or might even get swollen. Luckily there are quick fixes and great ways to relax and unwind after a long day. If over the counter pain relievers aren’t your thing and like to go more natural like me its time to consider essential oils. Essential oils can help soothe sore feet and get you back up and moving around.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are concentrated extracts of the plant. They are distilled from different parts of the plant like bark, flowers, leaves, rinds, roots and seeds of fruits and plants. Essential Oils are used in aromatherapy and can be used to treat various health concerns. They can be used to help soothe sore feet.

Best Essential oils for Aching Feet

The best part of essential oils is that you can enjoy a relaxing, pampered session every time you use them. The aroma of these oils will help you relax and unwind after a long tiring day. They can be used to heal sore feet by either topically applying or by soaking your feet in warm foot bath.

You can either use a single oil or use a blend of different oils to treat your sore feet. This will leave your skin soft and fresh with a beautiful aroma.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint oil offers major relief for sore feet. It provides cooling and calming sensation which can help bring quick relief. Nothing beats peppermint oil after a long tiring day. The scent of this oil completely relaxes my mind while the soreness of feet evaporates. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce pain from swelling. The antimicrobial properties are great for relieving pain from athlete’s foot.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary oil is not only good for muscle pain but helps relieve joint pain as well. It helps to improve circulation and reduce pain associated with arthritis. It has been used for muscle and joint pain since ancient times. Rosemary oil is also known to energize and uplift mind and body. It works wonderful when combined with cooling power of Peppermint or Eucalyptus essential oil.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus is an amazing oil when it comes to cooling the skin and helps to relieve tension. It has relaxing aroma and can soothe inflammation. Eucalyptus oil is analgesic in nature which means it can numb your feet and relieve pain. The inflammatory properties of this oil will help relive your feet from the soreness.

Marjoram Essential Oil

Marjoram oil is best known for its comforting and calming effects on our mind, but it can also do that for our feet as well. It has warming effect and helps to improve blood circulation. Marjoram oil has been used for centuries to relieve spasms and stiffness in joints and muscles. It contains analgesic and antispasmodic properties and can provide relief by numbing that area.  It can be very helpful in relieving pain and inflammation in overworked and over-exerted muscles.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is one of my favorite oils and is known for its soothing and calming aroma. Its helps to relive muscle and joint pain and helps heal various skin conditions. It is both analgesic and anti-inflammatory and thus is considered a powerful pain reliever. The antidepressant properties can help you relax as you begin your healing process.

How to Use Essential Oils for Sore Feet

Foot soak is the best way to use essential oils for tired and sore feet. You can also topically apply essential oils diluted with carrier oil or lotion on feet by gently massaging your feet.

Soothing Essential Oil Foot Soak

Warm water combined with the healing properties of oils provides refreshing and calming relief. It is an effective way to relive pain, swelling and discomfort. Foot soak is a perfect way to relax yourself at home. A good soak can make a massive difference to tired feet and are amazingly easy to make.

How to make Foot Soak for sore feet

1. Fill a foot tub or container with warm water
2. Add ¼ cup Epsom salt
3. Add 10 drops of Essential oils
4. Soak your feet for 15-20 minutes or until the water is no longer warm

Essential Oil Foot Massage

Spoil yourself with a relaxing essential oil massage on your feet. You can pay special attention to areas which are sore or if some areas are showing inflammation, you can apply pressure to relieve the soreness. Massaging oils improves blood circulation and relaxes your muscles.

If you want a spa like experience, cover your feet with warm towels after massage and lay down your legs on few pillows. I like to put socks on after massaging my feet so that oils are absorbed well.

How to make Massage oil for sore feet

1. Measure your carrier oils (Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil)
2. Add in your essential oils
3. Gently shake the bottle to mix the oils

Few things to remember while using Essential Oils:

• Essential oils are only for external use and should never be ingested
• Store essential oils out of reach of children and store them apart from other products. Some essential oils can be fatal to pets and therefore always research before using them
• Essential oils must ALWAYS be diluted before applying on skin as they are highly concentrated as can cause irritation. You can dilute them in carrier oil of your choice and the max concentration of essential oils should be 3-4%
• Always do a patch test before applying on larger areas of skin
• It is unclear what effects essential oils have on pregnant and breastfeeding women. While some consider them safe, many doctors advice pregnant women to avoid use of essential oils
• Always buy pure essential oils and stay away from fake counterparts as they wont contain same therapeutic benefits

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for informational and educational purposes. I am not a medical professional and highly recommend consulting a doctor before using essential oils as part of any medical treatment.