What is Plantar Fasciitis?
One of the most common causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Thus, causing a condition, Plantar Fascia.
It develops over time and is marked by aberrant foot alignment and an inability of the foot to absorb trauma appropriately. Small tiny rips emerge on the fascia over time, collagen on the foot breaks down, and scar tissue forms. This results in severe pain, stiffness, and immobility.
Plantar fasciitis is a type of plantar fasciitis that causes stabbing pain when you take your first steps in the morning. The discomfort usually goes away as you get up and move around.
Sometimes, patients have complained of the same kind of pain at the start of an activity which reduces after the warm-up. The pain may also occur with prolonged standing along with stiffness.
However, in more serious cases, the pain worsens with every passing hour of the day. It causes discomfort that affects roughly 10% of the adult population and the discomfort may become hard to manage.
To fight back with the condition, many people have turned to alternative therapies for Plantar Fasciitis, and with good reason: they don’t have any nasty side effects. Apart from this, essential oils for plantar fasciitis are at the top of the list when it comes to one of the most popular ways to cure Plantar Fasciitis.
Why are Essential Oils Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
Essential oils (EOs) are highly concentrated plant extracts containing active chemicals that support the body’s healing mechanisms.
Essential oils have a lot of benefits. When it comes to boosting blood circulation and lowering inflammation, they are quite beneficial. Inflammation and poor circulation both play important roles in causing pain and discomfort in the body.
Therefore, massage from such oils does not only soothes your heel but also helps speed up the healing process. It has regenerative properties that help to diminish the damage done by chronic inflammation.
If you enjoy the scent and feel of essential oils, adding them into a light foot massage, or simply placing them in a diffuser or on your pulse points to make you feel more peaceful or motivated mentally, is a fantastic idea. The mind-body link is strong, and if you get relief and tranquility from essential oils, by all means, keep using them.
How to Use Essential Oils for Plantar Fasciitis?
There are multiple ways of using essential oils and some may be more effective than others. Following are a few methods:
#1. Healing Foot Soak
Use a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil to dilute your essential oils. 2 to 3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil is a good rule of thumb. You can rub the affected area gently with it as a massage oil. You may also make a foot soak with oils and Epsom salts in warm water. You may combine oils to make your own DIY essential oil blends, which can enhance the effects.
For best results, do daily soaks, especially when you are experiencing a flare-up or increased foot pain.
#2. Deep Tissue Massage with Essential Oils
Massage essential oils gently with a sport or deep tissue massage is the most efficient way to use them. When the oils are absorbed into the bloodstream or applied physically, the effects are most visible, therefore they are frequently combined with unscented lotions or oils before usage.
Your massage therapist should always dilute the oil with massage lotion or carrier oil before applying it to the skin.
Which Essential Oils Are Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
#1. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most effective natural pain relievers available. For centuries, people have used peppermint oil to relieve aches and pains. Peppermint essential oil serves as both a pain reliever and a mild anesthetic. It is also anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and can prevent or lessen cramps and spasms.
The high menthol concentration also aids in the stimulation and relaxation of the central nervous system, resulting in analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory benefits.
To get the best natural benefits in no time, soak 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil in warm water and then soak your foot in the same.
#2. Basil Essential Oil
Basil essential oil is also a powerful natural healing agent, which many people are unaware of.
As a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory essential oil, basil can aid your immune system in lowering swelling and infection while also promoting faster recovery. Basil essential oil also helps to relieve muscle tension and stress, easing the strain on the muscles and ligaments that surround the plantar fascia.
When basil is used, it provides the fastest stress and tension relief. You can even use a diffuser, take a warm bath with a few drops of basil essential oil, or get a massage from this amazing oil.
Apart from that, basil essential oil’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial characteristics can help people’s immune systems.
#3. Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot essential oil is a citrus oil obtained from the bergamot fruit, which is shaped like a pear. This oil is well-known for its ability to relieve neuropathic pain. Many people take it to help them deal with muscle spasms and inflammation.
The reason behind its effectiveness is a chemical contained in bergamot oil called linalool. This substance has been shown to have powerful anti-pain and anti-inflammatory properties.
#4. White Fir Essential Oil
When applied topically, this plantar fasciitis essential oil has a remarkable potential to relieve muscle pain. It comes from Australia’s evergreen coniferous trees and has analgesic qualities as well as decongesting and purifying properties.
White fir is another great single oil for plantar fasciitis. Its analgesic properties help with the pain involved with plantar fasciitis.
#5. Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass is a popular choice to relieve muscle pain which is why it is a good choice for plantar fasciitis too. This one is a wonderful enhancer of normal blood circulation, making it a good treatment for plantar fasciitis symptoms. It has been shown to enhance the repair of connective tissue as well.
Overall, the regular use of this essential oil can help to get maximum relief against plantar fasciitis.
#6. Ginger Essential Oil
Inflammation is one of the most painful elements of plantar fasciitis. When you put pressure on the ligament, it swells and hurts because of this. Ginger essential oil is an excellent choice for reducing inflammation and relieving pain. The ginger essential oil contains the appropriate combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics to combat acute inflammation, which may make walking so easy.
#7. Birch Essential Oil
When it comes to flexibility, this essential oil is unrivaled! It helps to relieve hurting aging muscles and promotes a healthy circulation system, which enhances muscle and skin health, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Because of its anti-rheumatic characteristics, birch essential oil might be your best friend when it comes to your feet. That is why, if you’re seeking homeopathic remedies for plantar fasciitis, it is a natural choice. Birch essential oil is a wonderful wintergreen surge that will delight your senses.
Safety and Precautions
Without any doubt, essential oil treatments can alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis, and this will allow you to do the exercises that will get you back on your feet and keep you on your feet.
When taken properly and carefully, essential oils normally have little if any negative effects. To avoid skin irritation and allergies, essential oils must always be diluted in a carrier oil when applied topically.
To ensure that there is no allergic reaction, perform a patch test on a non-affected part of the skin and wait 24 hours. If you have an allergic reaction to any oil, stop using it right away and seek medical advice.
Conclusion
Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel discomfort that makes daily tasks difficult. Changing your walking style to address plantar fasciitis pain could result in foot, knee, hip, or back issues.
This is why we suggest essential oils. We know that exercises for plantar fasciitis can be painful considering the condition of your heel which is why we think essential oil massages can be a good alternative.
The situation should improve in no time if you utilize the proper application technique. Experiment with alternative natural techniques to relieve plantar fasciitis to speed up the healing process.