Plantar fasciitis is a condition that is characterized by wear to the fascia—the connective tissue located between the heel and ball of the foot. Heel pain from plantar fasciitis is usually intense in the morning when one wakes up.
If left untreated, it leads to inflammation and micro-tears on the heel. Plantar fasciitis can be unbearable, especially with the first steps that you take in the morning. That’s why it is essential to seek immediate treatment.
One of the ways that you can manage the pain from plantar fasciitis and treat the condition is through aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses concentrated plant extracts (essential oils) for treatment.
In addition, applying them directly to the heel has been found to ease pain and provide relief from plantar fasciitis.
How Essential Oils Help with Plantar Fasciitis
Massaging your heels can be an excellent way to promote blood flow and reduce the inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis. What better way to do this than by using essential oils? Certain oils contain anti-inflammatory properties which are known to manage chronic heel pain.
For example, frankincense oil has been found to contain boswellic acid which inhibits the inflammatory process and reduce swelling.
Besides frankincense, other types of essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and bergamot have been proven to provide relief from heel pain and inflammation.
This is particularly true when the use of these oils is accompanied by healthy foot care practices, including:
- Exercising the feet through simple stretching exercises
- Wearing shoes with heel support or using inserts
- Resting painful heels and not subjecting them to excess strain
Benefits of Essential Oils
If you suffer from chronic heel pain, the immediate action that you would take would be to visit a physician for treatment. Some people even get over-the-counter creams and gels. What benefits do essential oils have over other forms of treatment?
Well, essential oils are natural remedies; therefore, they do not contain chemicals or harsh ingredients that would react with the skin.
However, you have to ensure that you use them as instructed. Some can be rubbed directly onto the skin while others require diluting with water. Some oils can cause skin reactions when misused.
Best Essential Oils for Plantar Fasciitis
Before buying any essential oils for plantar fasciitis, it is vital to confirm that they contain the healing properties required to ease pain and inflammation. Good oils should:
- Have anti-inflammatory properties
- Be antispasmodic (able to relieve involuntary muscle spasms that result from inflammation)
- Have analgesic properties (able to provide pain relief)
Here are four of the best oils that you can consider if you are suffering from plantar fasciitis.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil has analgesic properties that make it an ideal solution to heel pain. Extracts from the eucalyptus plant are widely used in OTC remedies due to their ability to help reduce pain and inflammation. The oil is also spasmolytic, and this helps ease the throbbing pain that results from heel inflammation.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is a versatile remedy that contains antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. So if you are suffering from heel pain and other foot conditions that result from infection, you can use this oil for relief. Research shows that using lavender oil produces the same analgesic effects as using some of the top medications that are prescribed for chronic pain.
Frankincense Essential Oil
This is one of the essential oils that have been around for centuries. As aforementioned, it contains a powerful acid which fights against inflammation. Frankincense also contains stimulant properties which stimulate the body’s immune system to promote quick healing.
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot oil effective in reducing inflammation, controlling muscle spasms, and alleviating heel pain. It contains a compound known as linalool which helps to reduce tension in your heel tissues. Bergamot oil can also help heal tissues that have suffered tears as a result of plantar fasciitis.
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, it is essential for you to seek remedy before the condition worsens and necessitates medical treatment or surgery. You can use essential oils as part of your foot care routine to keep problems at bay.