Summer months are the time to take great care of our feet. Below given are the most common problems we all face at one time or other and their remedies.
Corns: Corns basically develop because of ill-fitting shoes. Due to the tight fitting the toes put pressure on the sole of the shoe. In this the toe curls down and does not lie straight or flat. If such curled toes are fitted in the shoes with tight toe boxes then it results in the formation of the hard corns. The main cause for the formation of the hard corns is the excessive pressure which thickens the skin at the point of contact. Below given is a natural remedy to get rid of the corns.
■ Take aloe vera extract and add three pinches of turmeric powder to it. Administer it before going to bed on the corn and tie a bandage. Repeat this procedure for 20 days for best results.
■ Roast or burn cinnamon till it turns black, make powder and add little water and lime (which is used for pan) to it. Now administer this on corns like the above-mentioned method.
Cracks: In summers, due to heat we lose lot of water in the form of sweat and our skin gets prone to be dry and flaking. This brittleness is mostly seen on feet which causes cracks. So, we should wear shoes that are well cushioned especially on the hottest days instead of ultra-thin soles. Ultra-thin soles provide inadequate cushioning and foot support. You can even wear slippers or sandals.
Following are the ways to avoid cracks
■ Wash your feet regularly and dab with a dry towel. It is very refreshing to wash feet as soon as you get home from outside. Washing helps remove dust, germs, sweat etc. from the feet and helps in blood circulation. Make it a regular habit to spare few minutes while taking a bath to clean the feet with brush. This helps remove the dead skin off the feet and prevents the cracks off forming.
■ While cleaning your feet push back your cuticles with a damp wash cloth then rub in some hand cream. Let the moisturiser be absorbed for a minute or two then wipe off any greasy residue.
■ Take 20g of honey comb wax and heat on a low flame, after melting the honey, add 20g of gugal and stir vigorously. On cooling, this becomes a thick paste. Apply this to your feet. With regular use the cracks will disappear.
Numbness or Tingling: Numbness or tingling is often felt in hands, fingers, feet, arms or legs. Most common reason for it is if you sit or stand in the same position for a long time there occurs a tingling sensation in your feet. There may also be other causes like some injury to nerve or some other medical condition like diabetes, migraine etc.
Here are some home remedies to get relief from numbness or tingling
■ Take 100g azwain, roasted and powdered and add little water to it and cook it and then mix it with 50 gm of ghee and again cook till the water evaporates. After cooling store in bottles. Take internally ½ tea spoon twice daily and also apply to your feet before going to bed. This gives relief from numbness.
■ Heat til (sesame) oil and apply to your feet when lukewarm; this too provides relief from numbness.
■ Before start of the meal at night take a little rice and season with azwain, jeera and turmeric powder and mix it with little oil or ghee. First consume this and then the regular food.
Burning sensation: Burning sensation is a very common complaint among older people mainly above the age of 50. There are various causes for the burning of feet. diabetes and some infectious diseases are the main causes. Alcohol too is high on the index of suspicion for this complaint. Below given are some of the remedies for relief from burning sensation of the feet.
■ Reduce drinking of coffee or tea.
■ Crush two spoons of coriander seeds and soak this in water overnight, add little sugar in the morning and drink.
■ Grind castor seeds and mix with little milk to form a paste. Apply this to feet in the night and wash off in the morning.
■ Soak green grams in water and grind it, add little camphor (kapur) to this paste and apply this paste to feet at night.
By Nibhanapudi Suguna
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