Two Homemade Scrubs To Soothe Sore Bunions

If you suffer from bunions, your feet are probably pretty sore after a long day of wearing shoes. Both the skin in the bunion area and the tissues inside the big toe become irritated after the shoe places pressure on them for an extended period of time. One of the things you can to to reduce bunion pain after a long day in shoes is to rub the area with a soothing scrub. These two recipes are great for reducing both internal and external bunion pain, and they take just minutes to make.

Peppermint Patty Salt Scrub

The peppermint oil in this scrub helps cool and calm aching bunions. Epsom salts infuse magnesium ions into the soft tissues in your foot, which helps to reduce inflammation and soreness. Perhaps the best part of this recipe is the smell -- your feet will smell like the holiday season when you're done! To make this foot scrub, you need:

• 1/2 cup Epsom salts
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons mild, liquid soap such as unscented castile soap
• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl, and then transfer them to a glass jar for storage. To use the scrub, simply scoop a teaspoon or so out of the jar, and rub it on your moistened foot. Rub for 5 - 10 minutes; this will give the Epsom salts time to work, and the massaging action will help loosen the tight muscles surrounding the bunion, too. Rinse the scrub away, and enjoy your rejuvenated feet.

Lemon Eucalyptus Salt Scrub

If you do not like the oily texture of the previous scrub, give this one a try. It is a looser, soapier scrub that rinses away completely when you are done. Eucalyptus oil cools and calms your sore feet, while lemon leaves your skin feeling fresh and taut. You'll need:

• 1 bar of castle soap, grated
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Epsom salts
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Use a box grater to grate the bar of castile soap. Mix the ingredients together, and store the mixture in a glass jar. Use about a teaspoon to massage each sore bunion for 5 - 10 minutes, and then rinse the suds away.

Keep in mind that while these scrubs will make your bunions feel better, they are not treatments for the bunions themselves. If you are suffering from ongoing problems with your bunions, be sure to talk to a podiatrist about treatment options, such as splints, shoe inserts, and surgery.

For more information, contact Affiliated Ankle & Foot Care Center or a similar firm.