Lockdown is finally over, and it’s time to get your feet out of those slippers they have been hiding in for the past few months, and out into the open!

Here at Verdant Alchemy we love our baths, but over the summer months we like to mix things up a little. Instead of a nice relaxing bath after a long day we are championing the same healing benefits of salt baths, but in the small, perfectly formed packages – the foot soak.

Whether you have been on your feet all day at work, rushing round town, working out or you have just taken a nice country walk. Your feet take a battering most days, and we think it’s time to take a moment to yourself to sit back and relax – you’ve earnt it!

 

Background

The ancient art of the foot soak can be traced back hundreds of years to the ancient Chinese & Japanese civilisations, where the daily practice of foot soaking was commonplace. There are strong links with reflexology, and it was widely believed that feet were the foundation of health and wellbeing.

Reflexology is a technique of massage on certain parts of the feet that correspond to specific body parts. For example, if you suffer from headaches then reflexology would massage the corresponding part of your foot to relieve the pain from your head. The effectiveness is deep rooted spirituality and energy flow.

Whilst the efficacy of reflexology is doubted by some, there is no doubt that looking after your feet and giving them a bit of love can only be a good thing.  If your feet are sore after a long day we recommend a nice soak, see below ‘how to’ for the ultimate experience…

 

Here’s the science

Aching / Swollen feet – Soaking feet in warm water promotes blood flow which helps reduce swelling, while mineral absorption support your metabolism and support healthy blood flow. A little gentle self-massage also aids recovery of weary muscles and helps relax and relieve stress after a long day.

Fungal infection / Reducing odour – Sulphur cleanses pores and has powerful antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. Whilst carefully selected essential oils have powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which combine to help kill the bacteria and fungus that cause may foot odours, replacing them with the perfume of your choice is an added bonus.

Hard skin / corns – Dermatologists recommend salt baths for patients with psoriasis, eczema, and other dry skin conditions. Warm salt water softens the skin while the salt crystals can be used as an exfoliant, while soothing sulphur and essential oils cleanse the skin and support the dermis. We recommend giving your foot a nice, gentle massage, exfoliating with the salts and smoothing off any hard skin with a pumice.

Relieve stress – Magnesium deficiency can reduce your serotonin levels, the happy hormone which creates a feeling of wellbeing and relaxation – this can help clear the mind & improve decision-making. Stress builds over time and if left unchecked it can influence our mood impacting our well-being.

 

How to foot soak

For the ultimate experience create a peaceful, relaxing environment – turn the lights down low, put on some music or stick on a movie.

Fill a tub [large enough for your feet] with hot water and dissolve a handful of our natural and luxurious bath salts in it for a super concentrated burst of goodness for your feet.

Soak your feet for around 10mins to soften them then take another handful of salts and scrub both feet with your hands.

Submerge your hands and feet to dissolve any excess salts, then take a few drops of bath oil and you can give your smooth feet a quick massage. Rinse, then pat dry with a towel.

We recommend our breathe in, yoga om or detox bath salts for the most relaxing foot soak.