Most athletes need to take care not only of the muscles that directly stress during the chosen activity, but also of the hands and feet . Whether the activity takes place inside structures or outside, be it in the pool or in the gym, in all cases the feet, forced or not in footwear for a long time, are solicited or otherwise exposed to aggression.
So like the muscles, therefore, even the feet need care to perform their function .
The feet, like any other apparatus, sweat and are subject to abrasion, trauma, injury and stress. Corns, bladders, bursitis, fasciitis and other problems affecting the skin, muscles, tendons and bones can compromise not only sporting activity but any other activity normally performed during the day.
If the feet suffer the whole person is faced with a pain that is difficult to ignore : when we are away from home the feet are, for most of the year, forced into shoes that, although they can offer the greatest absolute comfort, are elements that compress, condition, and don't let the skin breathe naturally. It is therefore important to take care of your feet, even more so if our passion is sport and, precisely because of this, we subject our feet to repeated efforts.
Essential oils for sports feet care
The common problem facing the athlete's foot is fatigue . A good foot bath allows you to relax your feet, deflate and relax your entire body. A simple remedy for tired feet is the foot bath with rosemary and bicarbonate essential oil: a small basin is filled with warm water and coarse salt, 4 drops of rosemary essential oil are dissolved, and a spoonful of bicarbonate . You dip your feet and leave them there until you begin to feel the cold water. It dries without rinsing, dabbing slightly.
The foot bath can be followed by a massage to the skin of the feet by combining the following essential oils in a tablespoon of sweet almond oil (or other massage base oil):
> Lavender essential oil 2 drops;
> thyme essential oil 2 drops;
> rosemary essential oil 1 drop.
In case of infections or fungal infections, a drop of tea tree essential oil can be added. The mixture is massaged onto the foot (one spoon for each foot), until it is absorbed, with circular movements, taking care to also treat the part of the nails and between the toes.
Those who practice sports that force their feet into shoes for a long time, such as running, and which add to the solicitation even an excessive heating of the foot, may incur ingrown nail problems. In this case, lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil are used: lavender is soothing, while tea tree is a disinfectant.
For each foot prepare a tablespoon of base oil in which to dissolve 5 drops of lavender essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil. Massage the ingrown nails after cleaning with water and baking soda, and let the oil work for a few minutes before putting the shoes back on. It would be better to do it in the evening, before going to bed, so as to leave the foot free to breathe and allow the oil to work for longer.
Otherwise remove the excess oil with a tissue, sprinkle the inside of the shoe with a little green clay or white clay, and wear the shoes as usual.
In extreme cases of corns, bursitis and joint pain in the feet, and also in the case of hallux valgus, the essential oil of marigold is the best remedy: 10 drops are used in two kitchen spoons, and is used directly on the whole foot, warming up with a deep but not overly energetic massage.
