Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Herbal Remedy For Foot Pain

The causes of foot pain are numerous, and the majority of symptoms that occur from inflammation and soreness of the feet can be cured at home with natural remedies. Certain herbs, such as cat's claw and arnica, are recognized for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities. Using the natural healing qualities of herbs when it comes to bodily pains offers a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional pain relievers.


Choosing a Treatment


Visit your nearest herb shop, co-op or health food store and look for the following herbs: cat's claw, arnica (in gel form), salix, ginger and evening primrose oil. If the selection of herbs is plentiful, pick and choose which remedies you prefer, making sure to select at least one topically applied herb and one internally used herb. The best for foot pain is arnica, one of the most famous herbs for easing muscle and joint pains and bruising. Arnica applied topically can provide overnight relief to bone spurs and other foot-related pain sources. A good herb to take internally is cat's claw, a wild vine native to the Amazon well documented for its pain-relieving qualities.


Creating a Schedule


Develop a regimen for taking your herbs. For arnica, application of the gel across the injured area can be repeated up to five times a day. Most important is the topical application during the evening, where the herb can penetrate your skin as you sleep. Rub in the ointment as deeply as your soreness will allow. When taking cat's claw, consume two quantities of 30 mg to 50 mg twice or three times a day, never exceeding 150 mg. If you purchased a number of herbs for internal use, make certain that they are compatible with one another by consulting a physician or herb specialist. Though evening primrose oil tends to be gentle and reacts well with most herbal therapies, salix might overwhelm a simultaneous treatment.


Results


Treat your foot with care. Most foot-related injuries occur during running, hiking or other athletic, strenuous activities, all of which should be avoided as your foot heals. If you have blisters, keep the foot dry throughout the healing process. When you apply arnica ointment, elevate your foot for 15 to 45 minutes to accelerate healing. As always when working with herbal remedies, never substitute alternative healing for emergency care. If serious pain persists after two days of treatment, seek the advice of your local family doctor or clinic as the problem may be more serious.

Tags: your foot, claw arnica, evening primrose, foot pain