Coconut oil is a remarkably healthy and versatile substance. It has many uses in health and personal care applications. Just as it is beneficial for your whole body, it is especially helpful in dealing with problems of the feet. In this article, we will focus on the many ways that you can use coconut oil for good foot care. Read on to learn more about how important coconut oil for feet is.
Table of Contents
Make a natural exfoliant
Coconut oil mixed with salt makes an excellent natural exfoliants to help remove hard skin on the feet. Simply combine these two simple ingredients in a bowl (approximately 50/50) to create an effective, all-natural scrub. After a bath, shower or foot soak (e.g. Listerine foot soak), scrub hard skin spots with this mixture to help reduce calluses. Rinse your feet with cool water and follow up by moisturising with coconut oil.
Natural moisturising & skin nourishment
Coconut oil has remarkable moisturising and nourishing properties for the skin all over your body. It is especially good for moisturizing dry, cracked, hard skin on the feet. Apply coconut oil to your feet liberally every night and cover your feet with cotton socks to protect your bedding and help the oil soak in.
Create a cracked heel salve
If you have cracked heels caused by fungal infection, regular soaks with vinegar and water followed by application of this natural, antifungal salve can help.
What you need:
- 2 ounces of magnesium flakes combined with 2 tablespoons of boiling water
- 10 drops each of peppermint and oregano essential oil
- 2 ounces each of shea butter and coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons of beeswax
What you do:
- Place the shea butter and coconut oil in a mason jar in a bowl of hot water to melt together and warm.
- Combine the magnesium flakes and the boiling water.
- Remove the mason jar from the hot water and add the magnesium mixture to the oils a bit at a time stirring thoroughly with a fork between editions.
- Once the oils and magnesium mixture are thoroughly combined, add the essential oils a drop at a time.
- Stir very thoroughly to be sure that all ingredients are completely blended.
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to chill for about 15 minutes and then stir again.
You can keep this mixture in the refrigerator for a cooling salve, or you can keep it at your bedside for convenient application to your heels every night. Be sure to wear cotton socks to protect your bedding and help the salve soak in.
Eliminate smelly feet
Because coconut oil is a natural antifungal, it can often eliminate the problem of smelly feet simply by eliminating foot fungus (i.e. athlete’s foot). Using coconut oil as a nightly foot moisturizer could very well do away with any problems you may be having with foot odour.
You may also wish to follow up in the morning by sprinkling the soles of your feet and between your toes with baking soda. This is also a natural antifungal treatment that has well known deodorant properties.
Treat athlete’s foot & toenail fungus
For especially tough athlete’s foot problems, try adding 10 drops of tea tree oil per ounce of coconut oil. Tea tree oil has powerful anti-fungal properties that can help eradicate athlete’s foot. Other essential oils that are naturally anti-fungal include:
- Oil of peppermint
- Oil of lavender
- Oil of oregano
- Eucalyptus oil
- Frankincense
- Lemon oil
- Garlic oil
- Clove oil
All of these are good additions to coconut oil for use on the feet. Make your choices according to your preferences in scent and in efficacy in your own personal situation. Be careful not to combine more than 3 types of essential oils unless you are well-versed in the use of these oils. Some complex combinations can be overpowering.
No matter which oils you choose, be sure to apply this mixture at least twice a day. Massage it into your feet and infected toenails deeply and thoroughly. Take a few minutes to let your feet “breathe”. It is especially good if you can relax in the sunshine and let your feet and toenails soak up a few rays. The sun also has powerful anti-fungal properties.
Coconut oil can be your go-to personal care product!
Many people find that coconut oil is the perfect replacement for a wide variety of commercial personal care products and moisturizers. It has uses as a conditioner for hair, skin and nails. Its natural antifungal and deodorant properties make it valuable for foot and body care. Combined with essential oils, it makes a luxurious, effective and economical all-around cosmetic product.
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