Heel pain is one of the most common ailments affecting individuals of any age at some point of their lives. It happens when a ligament, plantar fascia, is inflamed (plantar fasciitis) under different circumstances. Such circumstances varies. It could be caused by old age, wrong choice of footwear, extreme sport activities, standing for long periods of time, fractures, obesity and more. Lots of home remedies are available to ease the pain on your feet. But when the pain becomes severe and continues to go on over a long period of time, it’s time to check and seek the help of your doctor.

If you are experiencing mild heel pain or if you know someone who does, here are some excellent home remedies you can do to help ease the pain.

Heel Massage

One of the best home remedies to ease the burning sensation on your heel is massage. Massaging your heel will help blood circulation on your foot and will also help relax muscles. Though not for long term treatment, heel massage can be the best solution to lessen the pain in the shortest time possible. It can be performed at any point of the day like after a long run or before going out to exercise.

Try to also massage your heel with something cold. You can use some ice wrapped in a cloth. Place it on your heel for 15 minutes every 6 hours.

Hot and Cool Water

For some individuals, the hot-and-cool water treatment is an effective remedy to manage mild heel pain. Hot water will help the flow of your blood while the cold treatment will help reduce inflammation – such they work hand in hand. If you aren’t keen on using water, you can try using warm pad and ice bag. Do this alternately for 10 minutes.

Natural Herbs for Heel Pain

There are various herbs that can help ease your foot pain. The use of herbs in dealing with foot discomfort is relatively safe as they are natural remedies. Some of them are:

• Linseed Oil - Perfect for beginners, the linseed oil is one of the most popular feet remedies. Heat the oil, dip a cloth in the oil and slowly damp it on your aching heel. Do this as often as the pain is present.
  
  
• Clove Oil - Clove oil is effective in treating headaches, joint issues, athlete’s foot as well as foot pain as it supports blood circulation. Lightly massage your heel with clove oil whenever you feel pain on it. It’ll loosen your muscle tissue on your foot and will help circulate the blood, giving you a break from the pain.
  
  
• Mustard Seed - If your foot is hurting and swelling, mustard seeds are the perfect remedy. They aid in removing water from the body, supporting blood flow and helps in decreasing inflammation.
  
  
• Cayenne Pepper - Rich in capzasin, cayenne pepper is set to ease muscle injuries, arthritis, muscle strain, lumbar pain and heel pain. Whenever your feet hurt in case it gets cold, try sprinkling some red pepper on your sock as it will help keep your feet warm. In case your foot is hurting, add ½ teaspoon of pepper powder to a half pail of warm water. Soak your feet for a few minutes. You’ll feel a soothing effect to the pain in a short while.
  
  
• Amica - The amica plant, some of its parts, are considered to have anti-inflammatory abilities, used for hundreds of years in treating sprains. But one should be extra careful in using it as amica has quite a number of side effects.
  
  
• Chamomile - Used for treating inflammations and pain soothing, the chamomile is also one of the perfect feet remedies out there to soothe heel pain. Foot pain or wounds can be treated by soaking feet in chamomile tea.
  
  
• Ginger - Famous for its anti-inflammatory quality, the ginger is said to also aid in alleviating heel pain. Get a dose of it by preparing food with ginger or by making a delicious tea out of it.

Watch over your weight

Overweight people tend to experience heel pain more. This is due to the fact that the more weight you have, the greater the strain you give to your feet when walking. Losing weight and keeping your ideal weight might just be the long term solution to your heel pain. Try to find the perfect workout and diet for your body type. Stick to it and you’ll soon realize that losing weight doesn’t just erase heel pain, but also help in making your whole being so much better.

Include vitamin D and calcium-rich food in your daily diet

What you eat also plays a key role in getting rid of heel pain. Try to eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D as they help strengthen your heel. Foods such as milk and other dairy products aids in the building and strengthening of the muscular system. Include this in your daily meals to give your body the sufficient amount of vitamin D and calcium it needs to absorb them, and you will eventually feel the lessening of the pain on your heel.

Though is doesn’t pose as a serious treat most of the time, heel pain is truly a discomfort. What we do on our everyday lives can do damage to our feet without us even knowing it.  So it’s crucial to always be on the lookout for a healthy lifestyle. A healthy life will now only be good to our feet, but also to all parts of our bodies combined.