11 Best Essential Oils For Feet
Essential oils have been a staple in the holistic, beauty, and aromatherapy spaces for countless decades. The natural ingredients serve multiple purposes related to healing the mind, body, and spirit, with various applications.
While they are most commonly used as part of aromatherapy treatments to allow the body to absorb and inhale the essence of the oils, we are increasingly seeing essential oils used as part of skin care or beauty routines.
There are countless essential oils available, and they are ideal for easing tension in the body and soothing any aches or pains.
While they can be applied topically to various parts of the body, there are also numerous ways to utilize the oils to help relax the body, both internally and externally.
One of the most popular and effective methods for soothing various body concerns is to apply essential oils to the bottom of your feet for optimal results.
Why should you use essential oils on your feet, and what are the best options?
Massaging essential oils onto your feet can be beneficial to your overall well-being, both internally and externally. Many essential oils (such as peppermint, lemongrass, and eucalyptus) will help improve the comfort of your feet and body by easing any aches, pains, or discomforts.
Below, we discuss in depth why using essential oils on your feet is so beneficial, how to use them properly, and some of the best options to choose from.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are a common ingredient used in many skin and body care products, as well as in many aromatherapy treatments.
They are oils that are naturally derived from specific plants and used for different purposes with varying effects.
While essential oils are derived from plants, not all plants are capable of producing useful oils or other substances suitable for personal use.
The essential oils from certain plants can be found in various parts of the plants, including the stem, roots, and leaves. Different oils are found in various spots on the plants.
There is a wide variety of essential oils that can be used to target different concerns, achieve various results, and create different responses from the body.
Essential oils are extracted from certain parts of the plants and then distilled, either through hot water methods or cold pressing.
From there, the essential oils are added to carrier oils, which are also plant-derived oils that allow for easy transfer of the essential oils to the skin.
The carrier oils help dilute the essential oils, making them less potent, which could potentially lead to skin irritation.
Benefits Of Using Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used for countless different purposes. They are often used as an important ingredient in various skincare or body care products, or used separately as part of a skincare routine.
They are most commonly used, though, for aromatherapy purposes.
Aromatherapy offers benefits for both the mind and body, as well as spiritual benefits. The practice utilizes essential oils that can be inhaled through the air and absorbed into the skin.
The scent and essence of the oils can be used in a diffuser, bath soak, or aromatic spray, as well as other methods.
Each essential oil has a different purpose and healing properties contained within its essence, and based on your individual needs, you can choose your essential oil accordingly.
Depending on the oil you choose, it can help to ease tension, reduce any discomfort or pain, and calm the mind and body.
Essential oils are also frequently used in massage treatments or reflexology treatments.
The health and spiritual benefits of the oils help enhance the effectiveness of massage or reflexology treatments, further easing the mind and body.
Why Use Essential Oils On Your Feet?
Essential oils can be used on various parts of the body to alleviate different concerns. However, using essential oils on the feet can have numerous internal benefits, as well as external ones, and can be considered the most important area to use essential oils as part of your body care routine.
The pores on the bottom of the feet are the largest on the body. Along with having the majority of nerve endings that run throughout the body, they are also located there. By applying essential oils to the feet, the treatment can have a positive effect on the entire body.
The bottom of the feet is an important focal point, and in many reflexology treatments, it may be the sole focus. Reflexology is used to help relieve muscle pain and body aches, as well as aid in healing various internal organs, many of which are connected to the pressure points in the feet.
There are various pressure points on different parts of the foot that correspond to varying internal reactions, which can range from easing the tension of a sciatic nerve to helping with digestive issues. When paired with the correct essential oils, the benefits can be amplified to have the best results.
Using essential oils on the feet is also a way to pamper and treat them, especially if they are experiencing any discomfort or soreness. Massaging the feet with essential oil can soften the skin and soothe any aches and pains.
Essential oils are also often antibacterial and antifungal, which can help to cleanse and purify the feet. These properties can also help to eliminate any odor from the feet if that is an issue you are concerned with.
Being antibacterial and antifungal can also help to heal any cuts, wounds, or blisters on the feet from any further irritation or potential infections.
How To Use Essential Oils On Your Feet
There are many ways to use essential oils on your feet that can be easily incorporated into your daily body care routine. They can also be applied to the feet multiple times a day if so desired.
The most common method of applying essential oil on the feet is to apply it directly onto the skin and massage it into the foot, focusing on the desired pressure points.
Massage the oil into the feet until it has completely absorbed. This method can be done at any point in the day, but is ideal to do so at night before bed to help reduce any aches or pains.
It is best to focus the oils on the bottoms of the feet, as this is where most pressure points are located and where the oil can penetrate deeply into the skin.
Other methods for using essential oils on the feet include adding them to warm water to create a foot soak. This method is ideal for alleviating any soreness or aches in the feet.
Adding a few drops of essential oils to a basin of warm water and letting your feet soak for about 20 minutes can be a weekly treatment you incorporate into your typical routine.
Essential oils can also be used with a warm compress and applied to the feet to help relieve tension. The warm compress will help soothe muscle aches, and the added essential oils will also impart an aromatherapy quality.
Similarly, adding essential oils to the warm foot soak water will activate and release their scent into the air, providing a relaxing and aromatic experience.
Much like using essential oils for reflexology, they can also be incorporated into a regular foot massage. To care for and pamper your feet, apply the oil directly and massage it thoroughly into the skin.
This will leave your feet feeling soft, supple, and relaxed.
Best Essential Oils To Use On Your Feet And Why
There are numerous essential oils available on the market for various uses and with different benefits, whether used for aromatherapy or topical body care. However, there are certain essential oils that are more beneficial for your feet than others.
Below are some of the best essential oils for treating various foot ailments, along with their benefits.
1. Peppermint Oil
One of the first and most commonly used oils on the feet is peppermint essential oil. As its name suggests, peppermint has a cooling effect that soothes aching muscles.
Using a peppermint essential oil like this one can help calm and relax fatigued muscles, while also eliminating any odor with its minty scent.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Another common essential oil that is often used is tea tree oil. This essential oil is used in many skincare and body products due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
When used on the feet, an essential oil like this one helps treat conditions like athlete’s foot, while also healing any cuts or wounds on the skin and eliminating any odor with a similarly minty scent.
3. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is an essential oil that is gaining popularity for its various benefits, including its refreshing scent and calming properties.
While those claims do help when applying eucalyptus essential oil to the feet, its primary benefit is the way it stimulates and increases blood circulation.
Eucalyptus essential oil can also help soothe aching feet while preventing potential infections due to its antibacterial properties.
4. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils for relaxation, whether used topically or for aromatherapy. This essential oil’s primary benefit is its calming and stress-relieving effect on the mind and body when used.
Adding a lavender oil, such as this one, to your routine as part of a foot soak or massage will help ease tension, calm the muscles, and provide an aromatherapy quality to your treatment.
5. Chamomile Oil
Chamomile is another calming essential oil that helps ease tension. Using this essential oil on the feet can help ease muscle pain or discomfort.
Chamomile essential oil also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to ease any foot spasms or injuries.
6. Rosemary Oil
With similar anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary essential oil is a helpful product to use on the feet. It will help to increase blood circulation in the feet, while also easing any tension to soothe and calm the body.
Rosemary oil (like this one, which is also formulated with other beneficial oils) will help relax the muscles in the feet. Additionally, rosemary is helpful in reducing sweatiness and odor in the feet.
7. Lemongrass Oil
Both lemongrass and lemon essential oils have antifungal properties that help prevent infections from occurring on the feet. However, lemongrass essential oil can help prevent issues such as athlete’s foot, a common fungal skin infection that typically appears between the toes.
Lemongrass essential oil can also be used for reflexology purposes by massaging it into the feet to help alleviate and ease any tension caused by migraines.
8. Lemon Oil
Lemon essential oil can also help soothe pain in the feet or muscles, thanks to its antifungal properties. It can also help to cleanse and purify the feet, and can help to even out any discoloration due to its skin-brightening effects.
9. Cypress Oil
Cypress essential oil is ideal for soothing muscle aches throughout the body, particularly in the feet. It can help to ease tension and prevent cramping or spasms in the foot.
This oil can also help reduce foot odor, and it has antibacterial properties that protect wounds, cuts, or blisters from potential infections.
10. Bergamot Oil
Another essential oil that helps soothe feet and eliminate odor is bergamot essential oil. This oil can also help reduce foot sweat by minimizing the size of the sweat glands.
Bergamot essential oil can also help to reduce tension by having a calming effect when massaged into the skin.
11. Marjoram Oil
Marjoram is a unique essential oil that has a warming effect when it is applied and massaged into the skin. The warming effect can help to relax the mind and body, and when massaged into the feet at night, can promote restful sleep.
Marjoram essential oil can also help soothe aches and pains in the feet, while promoting increased blood circulation.
Final Thoughts
Overall, essential oils are a multifunctional product that can be used in various ways to provide a calm, centered, and soothing environment.
Whether you are using essential oils for aromatherapy purposes or as a topical beauty treatment, understanding the benefits each oil offers for your body, mind, and spirit is an essential step.
Depending on where you plan to use the essential oils on the body, there are some options that will be more suitable than others.
However, the feet are an effective and crucial place to start as they contain many nerve endings, pressure points, and larger pores that will allow the oils to deeply penetrate the skin and ease any existing tension.
Starting with the oils listed above, along with the methods mentioned, is an ideal way to begin your essential oils journey.
