Diabetic Foot Care Advice

The aim of this blog is to help members of the public to understand their feet better. However the information on this blog should never be regarded as medical advice. Readers with foot problems are strongly encouraged to visit their GP if not the podiatrist for further medical assessment and treatment.

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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Plantar Fasciitis Stretching Exercises

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the ligament that connects the heel to the base of the toes. One non-invasive treatment for plantar fasciitis is to do exercises that stretch the Achilles tendon, calf, and plantar fascia. You may want to warm up a little before doing plantar fasciitis stretches.

One warm up is to take steps on a flight of stairs. One stretch begins by standing approximately two feet away from a wall. The person should lean against the wall. Bending one leg comfortably, the person should straighten the other leg, placing it about six inches behind them with the heel on the floor. They should hold the stretch for about ten seconds. The person should feel the stretch of the Achilles tendon in the straightened leg. They should switch positions and stretch the other leg.

The stretch should be repeated twenty times. Another stretch of the plantar fasciitis begins with the person’s toes against the wall with heels on the floor. They should bring their hips closer to the wall so that their feet is at a forty-five degree angle. This exercise stretches the calf and the plantar fascia.

A third exercise can be done while sitting in a chair. The person should rest the ankle of the injured foot on the knee of the opposite leg. They should gently push the toes backward until they feel a slight pull or stretch in the bottom of their foot.

Another plantar fasciitis exercise begins with leaning forward onto a countertop. The person’s feet should be spread apart with one foot in front of the other. Keeping their heels on the floor, they should squat and hold the stretch for ten seconds and relax.

If pain is experienced in the morning as is common with plantar fasciitis, the person can do a simple exercise before getting out of bed. The person should lie on their back. They should use their big toes to write the letters of the alphabet in the air. After writing the alphabet, they should stretch the plantar fascia by gently raising their big toes towards their shins.

Recommended: Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints, Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis And Heel Cushions

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Herbal Remedies For Athlete's Foot

Herbal remedies are alternative treatments that use plants and plant extracts. Therefore, herbal remedies for athlete’s foot contain only plant-based ingredients. Home remedies for athlete’s foot often use plant extracts, but also use other ingredients such as Epsom salts.

Ginger is one herbal remedy for athlete’s foot. Ginger contains caprylic acid. This natural acid fights fungal infections. To prepare a herbal remedy using ginger, one ounce of crushed ginger is added to a cup of boiling water. This mixture should simmer for twenty minutes. After the mixture has cooled, it can be applied directly to the affected area.

One powerful anti-fungal herb is licorice. Licorice contains twenty-five fungicidal compounds. In addition to athlete’s foot, it has been used to treat ringworm. To make a strong licorice tonic, add five to seven teaspoons of dried licorice to a cup of boiling water. The mixture should be brought to a boil and simmered for twenty minutes. The licorice tonic can be applied to the athlete’s foot infection.

Chamomile is a member of the ragweed family. Chamomile oil can be used alone or mixed with tea tree oil. If the person is allergic to ragweed, it should be used cautiously or not at all. If it is used by someone with an allergy, the person should watch the area of application after a small amount is applied. The person should wait a few days to judge if an allergic reaction has occurred before reapplying.

Goldenseal has an antifungal and an antibacterial agent. It can be used as an antibiotic. Goldenseal is available as a tincture or it can be made into a tonic by adding five to seven teaspoons of dried goldenseal to a cup of boiling water. When making the tonic, the mixture should simmer for twenty minutes. After it cools, it should be applied to the affected area three times a day.

Lemongrass tea can be consumed or used lemongrass tea bags can be applied to the affected area as a compress. Tomato sauce with herbs can be used as an antifungal treatment for athlete’s foot. Generous amounts of basil, celery, carrot, dill, fennel, sage, and thyme can be added to a sauce made from tomatoes. The feet can soak in the sauce or people with athlete’s foot can place the sauce between their toes.

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