A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #41: Take Off Your Shoes

Image by RBerteig via Flickr

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

One simple tip this week: take off your shoes!

I know, you paid a fortune for them / they’re super-cute / they’re “really actually comfortable.”

But they ain’t your feet and your tootsies know it.

Proponents of minimalist (“barefoot”) footwear call shoes “foot coffins” for a reason: they restrict natural movement, essentially freezing your muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments into a living rigor mortis. Some energy medicine specialists even say they cut you off from the true energy of the earth, preventing any kind of grounding and keeping you disconnected from the planet’s healing energy. Orthopedic shoes and inserts can minimize the “shoe death trap,” but the best solution is just to take ‘em off.

Wiggle your toes, do some ankle circles. Set your feet free.

If you’re up for it, get your feet dirty—remember, soil increases serotonin! Don’t forget regular pampering, either, with foot massages and callus removal

Do you go barefoot at home?

Do you go barefoot outside of your home?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #15: Soften Calluses with Vinegar

By Orco Development, via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

Springtime is here! Which means summertime is right around the corner…and that means sandals, flip-flops, and bare feet. If your tootsies have been gathering dust ~ and calluses ~ over the winter, you can prepare to bare them easily with a simple vinegar soak.

Of course, if you’re a runner or dancer and want to keep your calluses, go ahead and skip this section, or bookmark it for after your marathon or big performance

You can use plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Both will soften the tough skin and make it easier to be sloughed off with a pumice stone. Be sure to dilute the vinegar with water, and always moisturize your feet afterward.

Your soft, fresh feet will thank you for it!

Stuff to Know:

• If your skin is highly sensitive, dilute the vinegar with water even further, up to a 1:10 ratio.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• Use this solution right away and do not store it. Discard the solution after use.
• Painful calluses, corns, bunions, and other foot problems can be the result of ill-fitting shoes or health issues. If you have concerns about the health of your feet, please see a podiatrist or other foot care professional.

Vinegar Soak to Soften Calluses

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white or apple cider vinegar
• 2 gallons warm water

Steps to Make:

1. Pour the warm water into a large bowl, tub, or bucket.
2. Add the vinegar and stir.

To Use:

1. Wash your feet first.
2. Place your feet in the vinegar solution and soak for up to 45 minutes.
3. While your feet are sill damp, scrub the calluses in small, circular motions with a pumice stone or stiff, dry washcloth to slough away the skin.
4. Pat your feet dry.
5. Apply your favorite lotion or oil and massage in well. Try coconut oil, almond oil, or vitamin E oil for great results!
6. Repeat daily as needed.

Do you use vinegar in your beauty routine?

Do you give yourself home pedicures or do you prefer to have someone else look after your feet?