5 ways to soothe painful heels naturally

Easy and quick ways to soothe your painful heels without popping a painkiller.

There are a number of reasons why your heels might hurt lack of calcium, wrong footwear or high heels, too much walking or standing, wrong posture, etc. But before popping a painkiller to soothe your heals, how about trying natural remedies first. If you are wondering what you can do when that throbbing pain starts to get the better of you, here are few things you can try.

Massage your heels: This is the first thing you should do when your heels hurt after a tiring day. Sit in a comfortable position, preferably a chair and lift your right leg and place your feet on the left knee. Then, use both the thumbs to apply slight pressure on arch of the feet, heel, and calf muscles, moving slowly and evenly. Massage in one direction (start from calves-heels- arch, repeat) for around one minute and then repeat on your left feet. Continue it for a couple of minutes and then rest for a while before you put your feet to work. You can also use an essential oil like eucalyptus, rosemary or peppermint for massage. Here are six causes of heel pain that you should know.

Roll a frozen ball: Freeze a small plastic water bottle and then wrap it in a cotton cloth. Sit on a chair and place the bottle beneath the arch of your foot. With slight pressure, roll the bottle forward and backward. Do this for about five minutes and repeat with your other foot. Here is one more way of getting rid of painful heels after intense workouts.

Hot and cold water treatment: Most of the time, pain in heels signals plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tough band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the base of your toes. In such a case, an alternate hot and cold application helps to heal the pain. Treating your sore heels to hot and cold water alternatively helps increase blood flow due to the heat, and the cooling effect reduces inflammation. Dip your feet in a hot water tub and let it remain there for a couple of seconds, next remove your feet and dip it into a tub of cold water. Do this alternately for five minutes to lessen the pain. Know whether a hot or cold water pack is more beneficial for a swelling.

Do some simple stretches: Stand barefoot in front of a wall at a hand's distance. Place your hands on the wall and push. Lean forward with your right leg bent at knees, feeling a stretch along the back of your left leg and heel. Hold for 30 seconds; repeat with your other leg. Here is how your flip-flops can make you sick and you never knew it.

Take rest: Nothing can beat this. If none of the above ways provide relief, it is better you stay in your bed for some time, without putting any pressure on your feet. If you experience pain for three weeks or more, it is time you visit an orthopaedic to evaluate your condition and get the right treatment.

Image source: Getty Images

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