Soul Healing

5 Reasons to Treat Toenail Fungus with Essential Oils

Five reasons to treat toenail fungus with essential oils

Treat Toenail Fungus with Essential Oils

Natural: Essential oils are aromatic compounds from plants. They are plant protectors extracted through cold press and steam distillation. Their properties guard against infectious invaders and insects. They are not seen as foreign to us and are absorbed quickly into our cells without needing to attach to a receptor. This bioavailability means fast action! Pure therapeutic grade essential oils can be used topically, aromatically, and internally.
Safety: Antifungal medications have side effects. Some are more significant than others. One of the most powerful benefits of using essential oils is how safe they have proven to be. When used correctly, essential oils are a great way to treat toenail fungus and support our health in many ways. They are 50-70 times more potent than herbs, so less is more when using them. One to two drops topically is all you need, and a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil should be used.
Antifungal properties: Some of the most effective are Tea Tree, Oregano, Arborvitae, Cinnamon, and Cedarwood. Diluting these oils with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil is essential. Apply these oils topically – combine two to a roller ball bottle or start with one. Soaking your feet with Epsom salt and tea tree is beneficial and feels terrific.
Cost-effective: The cost of one drop of essential oil is minimal. You are way ahead of the game compared to a synthetic drug counterpart. Be forewarned if your essential oil is low cost; it is probably not pure, will not yield the desired effects, and can be harmful. They should be free of pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, and contaminants.
Additional health benefits: Whatever essential oil you choose, you will receive the many health benefits that the plant provides—for instance, Cinnamon is an antioxidant and helps regulate blood sugar. Lavender is great for skin rashes but also very calming. Essential oils have multiple chemical constituents, each delivering its benefits.

*TIPs: File the top of the toenail down for better penetration of the oil and be sure to treat your shoes as well!

Image of person doing foot strengthening exercises

What Is Metatarsalgia?

About Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia (pronounced “met-ah-tar-SAL-jah”) is a condition that causes pain and swelling in the ball of your foot. Although it’s commonly linked to high-impact sports, it can happen to anyone.

What Causes Metatarsalgia?

Metatarsalgia is caused by extended pressure on the sole of your foot. Sports that include running and jumping are the most common causes of this condition, especially track and field, football, basketball, and soccer.

Athletes aren’t the only ones at risk. You can also develop it if you:

• Were born with a high arch
• Regularly wear high heels
• Are overweight
• Have bunions
• Have weak foot ligaments

What Are the Symptoms of Metatarsalgia?

If you have this condition, you may experience:

• Aching or burning in the ball of your foot
• Pain when you flex your foot
• Sharp pain when walking barefoot
• A feeling like there is a stone in your shoe

Is it Morton’s Neuroma?

The condition known as Morton’s neuroma or Morton’s toe (interdigital neuroma) can also cause symptoms like these. Morton’s is a buildup of excess tissue around a nerve that normally affects the third or fourth toes. People with Morton’s report burning pain and the feeling that they have stones or pebbles in their shoes.

Many foot conditions have the same symptoms. The only way to know for sure what you have is with a proper diagnosis. If you’re experiencing foot pain, make an appointment with a podiatrist to find out what you have.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Metatarsalgia

Any ongoing discomfort is a good reason to visit your foot care professional. Your podiatrist will use x-rays, bone scans, or ultrasound to determine what’s causing your pain.

If you don’t have the typical risk factors for this condition, your doctor may look for foot deformities or other conditions that cause a biomechanical imbalance in your foot.

Treatment for metatarsalgia includes resting the foot and protecting it from further damage. It may take about three weeks to experience complete healing. Your podiatrist may recommend that you:

• Stay off the injured foot
• Wear a pressure bandage
• Use cushioned pads or custom orthotics
• Do gentle stretching exercises
• Take over-the-counter pain medications

Will You Need Surgery for Metatarsalgia?

Surgery is only necessary if regular treatments do not work. Your podiatrist may decide you need surgery to remove a pinched nerve. In most cases, however, you’ll get relief from less invasive treatments. Learn more in our e-book Natural Solutions to Common Foot Problems for natural ways to treat Metatarsalgia and other great natural solutions.

Good Foot Health Is for Everyone

At The Organic Foot, we offer advanced diagnostics and the latest treatment methods, including plaster-based custom-fitted orthotics. If you’re suffering from any kind of foot pain, contact us.

About The Healing Touch of Reflexology

The Healing Touch of Reflexology

Reflexology is the fifth pillar that supports good foot health. Reflexology is a natural, traditional healing practice that can increase your energy and boost immunity. It is a form of healing massage that focuses on the feet. When practiced correctly, it can help you:

Lift your mood
Lessen pain symptoms
Correct hormonal imbalances
Feel energized and rested
Experience overall wellbeing

Roots of Reflexology

Reflexology is a core part of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for thousands of years. It rests on the belief known as qi (pronounced “chee”), which is a form of energy. This energy, which is essential to wellbeing, flows freely through the body. When it’s blocked, the body will feel fatigued, stressed out, and more prone to illness.

The best way to restore the free flow of qi is with a gentle, focused massage. This massage works best when it is used on distinct parts of the body. Done correctly, it releases qi to flow through the body again and restore its health. Most Chinese practitioners choose specific pressure points in the feet.

Zone Theory

Some health practitioners use zone theory to explain how reflexology works. They believe the body has 10 vertical zones. Every organ, blood vessel, or muscle that is in each zone can be reached through specific points on the toes or hands. For instance, massaging between the second and third toes can help heal your eyes. The pathways between pressure points and parts of the body are connected by the nervous system.

Complementary Therapy

Studies have found that reflexology works well as a complementary treatment. In one study, women who were being treated with chemotherapy reported that reflexology helped them reduce some of their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Other researchers have found that 30-minute foot reflexology treatments helped lower anxiety levels in people being treated for serious illnesses.

Healing Massage

Even if you can’t quite see how qi or zone theory work, there is no question that reflexology has the healing benefits of touch. Touch is a sure way to quiet the central nervous system. This type of holistic, healing touch can lessen anxiety, reduce pain, lift mood, and promote a calm sense of wellbeing.

Reflexology feels wonderful, and its benefits go beyond your feet. When you receive this treatment from an experienced practitioner, you will feel a renewed sense of vitality.

Get on the Path to Whole Foot Health

At The Organic Foot, we believe in healing from the inside out. When you feel energized and free from anxiety, your body can cope with almost anything. Healthy feet are the foundation of a healthy, happy life, and reflexology is a key element of that.

The Power of Plant-Based Medicine

Plant-Based Medicine

Herbal and plant-based medicines have a long history. Plants are still the primary form of medicine in Indian, Asian, and some European cultures.

Science has recently discovered that these traditional Ayurvedic medicines have clinically proven benefits. Nature’s bounty is truly unique, and your backyard may be filled with plants that fight disease and strengthen your immunity.

Focus on Wellness

Herbal remedies do more than address symptoms. They help your body heal holistically. Most medicine focuses on curing the apparent symptoms of illness that come with many side effects. Plant-based medicine focuses on creating total health.

When your body is strong, it can resist diseases and reduce signs of aging.

We believe in total wellness as the start of a long, healthy life. Your feet don’t have to suffer from aches, pains, or deformities like bunions. A holistic approach to foot care means feet that are supple, strong, and able to move freely through your life, creating the structural foundation that keeps us active.

Plants Are Potent

Some people believe that plant-based remedies are less effective than other medicinal approaches, but nothing could be further from the truth. As clinical trials have shown, their effectiveness is just as potent as synthetic pharmaceuticals minus the side effects.

Whether you are treating depression, anxiety, chronic inflammation, arthritis, or foot problems, a plant-based approach will work for you. Best of all, it will enhance your immunity and strengthen your whole body.

Use Plants in Many Ways

The best part about plant-based health is how easy it is to incorporate it into your everyday life. Some herbs and plants can be eaten or made into a healthful, delicious drink. These include mints, lemon balm, dandelion leaves, lavender, and basil.

You can also use the compounds from healing plants in powders, oils, tinctures, and compresses that you apply to your skin. Absorption through the skin is one of the quickest ways to get the benefits of herbal treatment.

Researchers have identified thousands of healing compounds in medicinal plants. The teachings of ancient Chinese, Indian, African, and other ancient therapeutic cultures have shown that these compounds work as well as chemical medicines without the dangerous side effects.

Essential Oils

At the Organic Foot, we stress holistic care involving all our sensory and emotional pathways. Essential oils are an effortless way to activate your senses. They provide powerful healing through aromatherapy, topical application, and internal use.

Because of its direct pathway to the limbic system in the brain, aromatherapy is a proven way to lift spirits, calm your mind, and improve your focus.

We apply essential oils to the sole for the best results. The healing properties of the oils enter the skin quickly. They are not seen as foreign and slide directly through membranes. They provide a gentle way to enhance foot health. We can help you choose essential oils that counter the effects of illness, medicine, and environmental toxins.

Learn More at the Organic Foot

At the Organic Foot, we make plant-based medicine one of our five pillars of good foot health. We focus on a whole-body approach to your feet when you work with us. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of organic foot care, read “Natural Solutions to Common Foot Problems “ by Dr. Dawn Olsen Figlo.

All About the Benefits of Earthing

Benefits of Earthing

When was the last time you walked barefoot on the beach or a warm patch of grass? Do you remember the deep sense of peace you felt? Thinking about it now, you can probably close your eyes and remember the sense of physical and emotional clarity you experienced.

You may not have realized it at the time, but you were practicing earthing. Earthing, sometimes called grounding, is the practice of connecting to the earth’s core to heal yourself naturally.

Earthing Fights Disease

Free radicals are unstable, uncharged molecules that your body produces naturally in response to stress. Your body can develop more free radicals when you’re fighting illness or when you’re exposed to toxins.

They have been linked to many health conditions, including:

Inflammation and oxidative stress
Cardiovascular disease
Insomnia
Hormonal disruptions
High blood pressure
Aging
Neurodegenerative diseases

Fight Free Radicals

The good news is that you can fight free radicals with simple lifestyle changes:

Get some exercise daily. Exercise heals your lungs and lowers your stress levels. and helps rid your body of toxins.

Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which have prominent levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants.

Take measures to reduce your stress levels, including mindful living, meditation, and yoga.

Avoid processed foods, excessive alcohol, and tobacco.

Limit your exposure to toxic chemicals.

Practice earthing.

Earth for Your Health

Earthing is one of the best ways to combat free radicals. The earth is full of free electrons that neutralize free radicals, slow down aging, and decrease inflammation. They are natural antioxidants, and you can absorb them most easily through your feet.

You Can Practice It Anywhere

One of the best things about earthing is that you can renew your connection to earth’s gravitational force anywhere. Here are some ways to practice earthing or grounding.

The outdoors: The easiest, most affordable, and probably most enjoyable way to do it is to go outside. Step outdoors. Breathe deeply. Let your feet feel the earth beneath you. If you can walk barefoot safely, do so. Try to walk on several types of ground cover. Doing so is a wonderful way to increase the number of connections you make, and it improves balance and proprioception.

Earthing mat: An earthing mat reduces electric and magnetic field (EMF) exposure to forge a close connection to your skin and the earth. You can use them indoors. Try an earthing mat while you practice meditation or yoga. You can also use one while you’re watching TV, listening to music, or writing. Let the earth’s vibrations reach you as you go about your daily activities.

Earthing patch: An earthing patch is excellent for travel or targeted relief of a specific area. You simply plug the patch into a grounded outlet and wait for the lights to show that it’s ready. Use your patch to ground your hands, feet, or any part of your body.

Take the Organic FOOT Path to Good Health

Earthing is one of the many natural, organic healing methods you can practice at any time. It restores your connection to the earth, promotes good foot health, and renews your whole body. What are you waiting for? At the Organic Foot, you’ll learn more ways to use nature’s healing powers.

Image of barefoot person stretching feet

Improve Your Foot Alignment for a Balanced Body

Proper Foot Alignment Results in a Balanced Body

Foot alignment is something we don’t think about that often, but it’s integral to healthy feet and joints. Your foot alignment affects your posture, balance, functional strength, and gait. Misaligned feet can cause foot problems such as calluses, plantar fasciitis and bunions, and joint pain in the knees, hips, and back.

In her book, “Natural Solutions to Common Foot Problems,” Dr. Dawn Figlo cites foot alignment as a physical health pillar. Fortunately, there are ways to improve foot alignment and get your whole body in balance.

Are your feet in alignment?

Ask yourself these questions: Do you find yourself rolling your feet in or out while standing? Do you feel off-balance or experience falls?

When the foot is pronating and supinating, it is out of its neutral alignment. Pronation is when the foot rolls inward, and supination is when the foot rolls outward. Both indicated misalignment of the foot.

Here are some ways to check your alignment

1- Look at your footprint. Wet your feet and stand on a dry surface like cement to see what parts of your feet touch the ground.

2- Look at the wear patterns of your shoes. In pronation, you will see more wear on the inside and supination on the outside. Normal gait goes from heel strike (outer heel) and transfers to toe-off (the big toe joint).

3-perform this exercise:

Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Inhale, lift your heels until your toes are pointed on the floor.
Exhale, and lower your heels slowly.

While you’re doing this, check for the following:

When you lift your heels, do they stay hidden behind your toes?
Do your ankles line up over your toes or wobble?
Did your heels stay hidden when you lowered your feet?
Do your knees stay straight or wobble when you lift your feet up and down?

When you lift your heels up and down, they should stay in line with your foot.

Here are a few ways to improve your alignment.

Strengthen your feet with 3-Position heel Raise

This exercise stabilizes your ankle muscles, which regulate your leg bones. Keep looking at your feet to make sure they stay straight.

Stand with your feet placed together and your back straight.
Lift yourself on your toes ten times.
Stand in the same position, but point your toes outward, so your feet form a V-shape.
Lift yourself up 10 times.
Turn your toes away from your body and repeat the exercise 10 times.

Custom insoles (orthotics)

A podiatrist will make a mold of your foot while holding your foot in (subtalar joint) neutral to achieve your proper alignment. An insole created from the mold customizes your everyday shoes and keeps your foot aligned. Custom orthotics are also very beneficial for athletes while performing sports.

Static Back Stretch

This exercise lengthens your spine muscles and helps rotate your pelvic girdle into a straighter position. You will need a yoga block or a stack of pillows. It’s essential to do this on a firm surface.

Place the block or pillows on the floor.
Lie down in front of the block with your knees bent and your lower legs resting on the b block.
Your legs should feel comfortable.
Extend your arms to the side.
Hold this position for three minutes.

Some people find this very relaxing and enjoyable. You can do this exercise as part of your exercise routine, yoga routine, or meditation session.

A Balanced Being

Balance and alignment encompass so much more than structural health. Living a balanced lifestyle and aligning with our values paves the way to healthy living. The Organic Foot is the alignment of health and happiness.

Five Pillars of Foot Health Create Overall Wellbeing

The Organic Foot – Five Pillars

The foot is a conduit of overall wellbeing. Focus on the foot in these areas improves foot health, reduces pain, and positively impacts us from toe to head. Here is a closer look.

1. Strengthening

Strengthening your feet reduces pain and improves your balance and flexibility. It also reduces your chance of foot pathologies such as bunions and hammertoes. There are 29 muscles in the human foot. Strengthening them supports proper alignment creating a solid foundation. If you’re a runner, walker, or athlete, you’ll get enhanced speed and performance from strong feet. There are several ways to make your foot muscles stronger. Some of them only take a few minutes a day.

Walking Barefoot: When walking barefoot, you’re allowing the foot to move in all three planes of motion and engage all of its musculatures. Walking in the sand is a great workout.
Heel and toe raise: Try them with the feet parallel, with heels touching and toes apart and with toes together. Hold onto a piece of furniture if necessary.
Resistance bands: Use resistance bands to exercise your feet. Place each foot on the resistance band with some tension from a seated position on the floor—point and flex and repeat.

2. Alignment

Most foot problems arise from improper foot alignment—the arch height decreases when this happens. The foot begins to compensate, and the joints take the toll—especially the great toe joint. Bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, and plantar fasciitis can result from this. Knee hip and back problems can also occur as a result of malalignment. Stress is reduced in our knees, hips, and back when our foundation is aligned. Foot alignment is essential at any time, but it’s vital when you’re walking or exercising. At the Organic Foot, we focus on the alignment of the feet.

Two ways to improve your alignment

Strengthening the foot (see above)
Custom insoles (orthotics). A mold is taken of the foot while held in proper alignment. A custom insole is made from the mold to fit your shoes of choice, making every pair custom!

3. Earthing

We spend most of our lives disconnected from the earth’s surface. Earthing, also known as grounding, is the practice of connecting physically with the earth’s electrons through walking barefoot outside, spending time outdoors, working with dirt, and otherwise reclaiming that connection. These electrons dispel free radicals reducing inflammation. A 2012 research study concluded that earthing had potential as a global modality of significant clinical importance.

There are many ways to make this connection, and there are numerous benefits. They include improved sleep, lower inflammation, faster healing, and increased energy levels. The use of earthing/grounding products makes it possible to achieve results from the comfort of your home.

4. Plant Medicine

Let the old become new again! FYI most of our synthetic medications come from compounds in plants. Turning to a safer way to address non-emergent health issues should be our first line of defense. Essential oils are oils extracted from plants. They are the plant’s defense against viruses, bacteria, and fungus and have vital properties to sustain plants’ vitality. When used safely and correctly on us, they can provide many health benefits, locally and systemically (throughout the body). They are beneficial in treating many foot problems, including plantar fasciitis, athlete’s foot infection, and plantar warts. The application of essential oils to the bottom of the feet can enhance overall wellbeing. Combining reflexology and essential oils can maximize the benefits of both.

5. Reflexology

Reflexology is a therapeutic massage that involves placing pressure on specific reflex points corresponding to organs and other body parts. Foot reflexology promotes overall health by reducing stress, enhancing relaxation, and reducing pain in many chronic conditions. Reflexology also incorporates working with energy zones and stimulates the nervous system. This treatment is sure to have you running back for more!

At The Organic Foot, we focus on the foundation of good health. Strong, healthy feet will carry you for a lifetime, and we want to make that possible. Contact us today to get started.

Reference:

Journal of Environmental Medicine: Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons.

You’ve Got a Friend!

More than a Song!

“When you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand

And nothing, whoa, nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest nights”

—Carole King

From Challenge to Adventure

Ever go through a challenging time with a sudden interruption to your sorrow because someone you love has a more urgent and greater need. Observe… What happens? Your problems get smaller. Ahhh, Learn from this!

Beyond Conventional Thinking

Can one healing tool possibly be to help others when you’re going through a difficult time? Absolutely! Don’t believe me? Try it out. When we shift our thoughts away from self, and on to others, happiness happens.

Got Frankincense?

Inhale and relax!

Frankincense, KING of the oils, was traded in the Arabian Peninsula for more than 5,000 years. It comes from the resin of the Boswellia tree. It is mentioned in the Torah/Old Testament in many instances and was a gift to Jesus in the New Testament along with gold and myrrh.

Frankincense can be found in Greek and Roman trade to China in mass amounts. Alain Touwaide of the Institute for Preservation of Medicinal Traditions and The Smithsonian Institute expands “we have textual and archaeological evidence that it was used for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.”

The Wonders of Frankincense

Today it is widely used in skincare, Catholic churches, perfume, and the essential oil industry. Its molecular formula consists of terpenes able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Recent research is showing promising profound health benefits. For me, it’s all about the grounding, centering, and cellular support it provides. Inhale and relax!

The Mind Body Connect

Appreciating the Mind-Body Connection

Bernie Siegel’s Love Medicine and Miracles demonstrates there is much more at play in healing than just the physical. As an MD, he has explored how certain people have miraculous and spontaneous healings that medicine alone can’t explain.

“Science teaches that we must see in order to believe, but we must also believe in order to see.” ―Bernie Siegel, Love Medicine, and Miracles

Mind-Body Connection and Healing

John Sarno’s books have had the power to heal just by suggesting that something other than the physical is causing your back pain! Healing Back Pain is a book I’ve been sharing for years with those who are physically suffering.

The mind-body connection is real, folks! Very real! Sometimes just understanding that and reflecting on your current state of being is the catalyst to begin healing.

“There’s nothing like a little physical pain to keep your mind off your emotional problems.” ―John E. Sarno, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection