5 Ways A Homemade Peppermint And Lemon Foot Soak Benefits You

There is nothing like a foot soak. Whether it is to relieve stress, heal the skin of your feet or just relax and pamper yourself, foot soaks are the fastest and easiest way to temporary nirvana.

The popular expression is, “Carry the weight on your shoulders,” but your feet bear the brunt of your body every day. Not to mention being cloistered in formal, closed shoes, or resisting the urge to snap your stilettos in two for putting them through the pain just so you could look good.

Unfortunately, our feet are the most neglected parts of our body because it is so easy to keep them covered and hide their flaws. In the past few years, the necessity of self-love and self-care has really caught on, and if you think about it – what help or good are you to another person (or even yourself, sometimes!) if your feet are constantly tired and you have little or no time to care for them?

You can make a basic foot soak from the essentials you have in your kitchen. When it’s that easy, wouldn’t you just like to soak your feet while you Netflix and chill?

Here’s our recipe for happy feet:

What You Need

• A container wide enough to soak both your feet
• Enough warm water to cover your ankles
• Epsom salt
• Sea salt, or a cup of plain salt
• Baking soda and cornstarch – a tablespoon each
• Any softening oil such as olive oil
• About half a cup of lemon extract
• A quarter cup of peppermint tea
• A half cup of peppermint extract

Directions

Mix all ingredients and soak your feet for at least 15 minutes. Once a week, you can even add a scrub to the routine, and use the scraper or a pumice stone to slough off the dead skin.

Apart from the obvious relaxation the foot soak offers, there are some other health benefits.

1. Relaxes Your Nerves

Ever wondered why stroking or massaging your feet offers the best chance at relaxation, or why most reflexology methods focus on your feet? It’s because your feet have the most nerve endings per square centimeter. Peppermint is a known nerve relaxant while using lemon in the soak can tone muscle function to prevent cramps (1).

2. Universal Detox

The peppermint and lemon in the foot soak help in the elimination of toxins from your body. The act of soaking your feet in warm water with such active ingredients increases blood circulation in the area, resulting in the elimination of toxins. The combination of peppermint, lemon, and Epsom salt will also solve bacterial and fungal issues that can arise from exposure to pollution, humidity, and sweat, or a lack of hygiene. The powerful combination of peppermint and lemon can also help relieve digestion issues, ease the symptoms of common cold, and uplift your spirits.

3. Promotes Sleep

Peppermint is a well-known soothing agent, which can promote better sleep by relieving stress and relaxing your nerves. Better sleeping patterns, in turn, promote better health and lower risk of obesity and other stress-related health issues. The Epsom salt in the soak will help ease the aches, stiffness, or any pain in the feet, which goes a long way in promoting better sleep (2).

4. Good Morning!

Who said foot soaks are only for nights? Indulge in a soak in the morning to ensure better blood circulation throughout the day. It’s like bribing your feet before you slip on the stilettos. This aromatic foot soak will also make your feet smell good and reduce excessive perspiration (as long as you are also using clean socks and stockings), which are other essentials for happy feet.

5. Farewell To Stress

Literally, every second person you speak to today will use the phrase, “I’m stressed!” or “This (insert problem) stresses me out!” Stress can lead to a multitude of health issues, least of all, a stubborn, growing waistline. The Epsom salt used in this soak is rich in magnesium, a mineral that  helps in reducing stress (3). The magnesium in Epsom salts is readily absorbed by the body, therefore relieving stress almost immediately. This is why many medical treatments that target obesity will also check for magnesium deficiency.

While the monthly pedicure is a great way to rejuvenate your tired feet, there are ways that you can enjoy most of the pedicure on a daily basis without spending all that money. And why wouldn’t you?

There are so many ways to add more enjoyment to this foot soak. Why not make an inexpensive, relaxing date night out of it? Or plan a relaxing mother-daughter Sunday? All you need to do is double the quantity of ingredients, and ensure that you have an extra basin (they are cheap enough for you to buy an additional one), and enjoy the experience.

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Chandrama Deshmukh

   

Creativity has no limits. And words have no barriers. Together they can create magic, bridge all gaps.I work with words. Words that sound great, words that make sense, words that sell and words that tell..

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