It’s not uncommon for our foot TLC to begin and end with a pedicure. After a quick nail buff, lick of polish and maybe even a heal balm (if we’re feeling really indulgent), we’re usually ready to tick our feet off as being sandal ready. But, did you know that our feet are actually one of the primary places that toxins are eliminated from the body? Yes, that’s right. It’s why we so often see side effects like stinging and burning, to more severe cases like foot fungus.
Enter: lemon. A delicious addition to any cocktail or dessert, you mightn’t realise that adding a squeeze of lemon to your foot bath will calm, soothe and nourish your aching feet.
What does soaking your feet in lemon juice do?
Lemon juice works to stimulate the toxin elimination process. This natural solution harnesses the antibacterial power of a lemon to relieve the pain and tenderness associated with aching feet. Pain relief aside, a lemon juice foot soak will also work as an exfoliator. By treating your tired feet to a foot bath, you can watch as dead skin gently dissolves and calluses begin to heal.
How long should I soak my feet in lemon juice for?
To get the most out of your lemon juice foot bath, we recommend allowing 10 – 15 minutes for your feet to completely reap the detoxifying benefits.
How do you make a lemon juice foot treatment?
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- ¼ cup of buttermilk
1. In a medium size bowl, combine all ingredients and set aside
2. Fill your bathtub or a bucket to halfway with warm water
3. Next, pour in your lemon foot soak, followed by your feet
4. Leave to soak for 10-20 minutes
5. Washing your feet afterwards is optional, the foot treatment shouldn’t leave any residue or stickiness behind.
FAQs
What is the best thing to soak your feet in if you have toenail fungus?
Foot fungus, otherwise known as athlete’s foot, has been known to benefit from a vinegar soak. Follow a ration of one part vinegar to two parts water and leave your feet to soak for the same amount of time as you would with the lemon foot bath (10 – 20 minutes).
Is it better to soak your feet in hot or cold water?
There’s a time and a place for both. As a rule of thumb, cold water is best used when your feet are aching after a long day of standing up and running errands. Why? Because cold water will constrict the blood vessels which works to reduce inflammation and swelling. Warm water, however, is best called upon when you’re looking to add an element of relaxation or exfoliation to your foot bath.
How do you get rid of hard skin on feet fast?
In short, soak then scrub. The best way to buff away hard skin on the feet is to soak the skin in warm water for 10 minutes and then take a pumice stone like the Neat Feat Pumice Stone ($4.49 at Chemist Warehouse) and use it to gently exfoliate and remove the dead skin. Finish with a moisturising foot balm like the DU’IT Foot & Heel Balm PLUS ($11.49 at Chemist Warehouse).
How do I detox my feet?
If it’s not in a lemon, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar foot bath, we also recommend using other natural detoxifiers like Epsom salts or regular sea salt.
Have you ever tried a lemon juice foot bath?
Yes! i have a lemon tree and tend to freeze the masses of lemons juice that seem to all come at once in the freezer in ice cube trays. Now i have something I can use them for
Ha! I have learnt a lot in the last 8 years or so – I have actually now used those overnight foot stick on things that eliminate toxins from the body overnight via the soles of the feet – or so they say.