Stephanie L. Tourles - Herbal Treatments for Healthy Feet

Excerpted from Natural Foot Care,
by Stephanie Tourles

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Edited by Lura Rogers and Nancy Ringer

Cover illustrations by Randy Mosher and Laura Tedeschi

Cover design by Carol J. Jessop (Black Trout Design) and Betty Kodela

Text illustrations by Laura Tedeschi, except pages 1, 3, 12, and 29 by Kathy Bray and page 16 by Randy Mosher Text production by Nancy Ringer

Copyright 1999 by Storey Publishing, LLC

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As the American Podiatric Medical Association states, Foot ailments are among the most common of our health problems. Although some can be traced to heredity, many stem from the cumulative impact of a lifetime of abuse and neglect. Studies show that 75 percent of Americans experience foot problems of a greater or lesser degree of seriousness at some time in their lives; nowhere near that many seek medical treatment, apparently because they mistakenly believe that discomfort and pain are normal and expectable.

Happy feet are healthy feet! If your feet are giving you trouble, locate your problem(s) in the following pages and try the recommended natural remedies to help put your feet back on the path to comfort and wellness. If your tootsies need professional care, then consult with a podiatrist or orthopaedist for advice. To find further foot-health information, contact the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, or the American Podiatric Medical Association and ask for their informative foot-health brochures.

Technically, arthritis is the inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, an increase in fluid in the joint, and changes in the joints structure and function. Approximately forty million Americans are afflicted with arthritis. It can be a very painful and crippling disease, especially when it manifests itself in the feet. The small joints in your feet are particularly vulnerable because of the load they must carry daily

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis, is the most common form of the disease. It is caused by years of joint stress, injury, and everyday wear and tear, which cause degeneration of the cartilage in the joints and minor inflammation. Symptoms include stiffness and pain in the joints after heavy exercise, during damp or cold weather, or after rising in the morning. Osteoarthritis affects individual joints and is not systemic, unlike rheumatoid arthritis.

Foot Fact

According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, amost half of people in their sixties and seventies have arthritis of the foot or ankle.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the entire body. It is a chronic inflammatory condition that destroys the cartilage and tissues in and around the joints and sometimes causes the joints to fuse together, resulting in disfigurement and the inability to walk normally. Symptoms can include fatigue, weight loss, extended periods of pain and stiffness, swelling, and redness and warmth of the joint. Women are more likely than men to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not completely understood and is thought to be caused by bacterial infection, heredity, suppressed immune system, stress, allergy, or improper nutrition.

Normal foot

Arthritic foot

Arthritis is often incurable, but the pain can be somewhat relieved and the progress of the disease slowed with appropriate treatments. For temporary relief, you should try a product called Deep Tissue Oil, which is formulated by medical herbalist Dr. Richard Schulze and is available from the American Botanical Pharmacy (see page 30). Its an all-natural, powerful, deep-heating oil that helps relieve pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. I think it smells and feels terrific. It makes a great massage oil for the feet. I use approximately 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of my favorite base oil plus 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of Deep Tissue Oil to massage my feet and ankles if they feel sore. I dont have arthritis, and am hopeful that I never will, but it sure does make my feet feel super!

This wonderful herbal recipe helps to relieve the pain and inflammation of swollen joints in the feet. It also revs up the circulation and helps ease stiffness. I based it on several formulas that I discovered that were used over a century ago. All herbs called for are in dry form.

2 tablespoons (30 ml) plantain leaves

3 tablespoons (45 ml) powdered marshmallow root

1 tablespoon (15 ml) powdered meadowsweet leaves

1 teaspoon (5 ml) powdered cayenne pepper

To make:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.

2. Add enough boiling water to form a paste. Stir until you have a gooey consistency and the paste feels slippery. Allow to cool a bit if the paste is too hot to comfortably touch.

To use:

1. Spread the paste on a piece of flannel and place over the swollen joint(s). Wrap the area with plastic wrap. Cover with a warm towel (right out of the dryer, if possible). Sit in a comfortable chair, elevate your foot, and relax for about 30 minutes or longer.

2. When finished, rinse your foot and apply a good thick cream to both feet and ankles. Then put on socks.

MAKES 1 TREATMENT

Do I Need to See a Doctor?

Early diagnosis and treatment may help prevent the situation from developing further. Visit a foot specialist if you notice: