We work our feet harder than anything else every day. They carry our weight through everything we do and often confined in shoes they only want to escape from. It is important not to neglect them. Happy feet make for a happy person! Keeping feet healthy and in good condition is not difficult. There are simple daily stretches you can do to maintain flexibility and circulation in feet and ankles. Pick a time when you have a few minutes and sit on in a comfortable chair. Remove your shoes and, simultaneously with both feet, perform the following holding each position at least five seconds: • Point your toes, extending them as far as you can. • Bend your feet up, pointing toes toward your head. • Rotate feet at the ankles slowly making circles to the right, then to the left, repeating at least three times in each direction. • Drop a hand or bath towel, crumpled, on the floor in front of you. Grip the towel with the toes of both feet at the same time, at least one foot (12 inches)apart and lift until your legs are straight out in front of you. Hold for ten seconds, then drop the towel. Repeat 10 times. A few more excercises without the chair include: • Walk on your tip toes for 30 seconds, relax, and then from a flat footed stance, roll your feet out so you are standing on the outside edges of your feet. Hold this posture for fifteen seconds. Repeat this sequence 5 times. This will help relieve aching arches. • Place feet about one foot (12 inches) apart and squat down so you are resting on your toes. If needed, hold on to a chair or other steady furniture to steady yourself. Slowly roll back so youare resting on your feet, then slowly roll back up onto your toes. Repeat this as many times as you comfortably can, working up to 10 repetitions. This will stretch and excercise your entire lower body as well as your feet, improving balance and flexibility while it strengthens and conditions the muscles. Overall, walking is the best exercise for feet. It stretches, strengthens and improves circulation. Try to walk 4-5 times weekly for ˝ hour or more. You will find that massaging your feet at the end of the day helps soothe sore feet and rejuvenate your entire being. Proponents of acupuncture and reflexology believe that areas in your feet connect to all parts of your body. Pressure points are stimulated to relieve stress and ailments elsewhere. Pampering feet with regular pedicures will keep them smooth and supple, healthy and beautiful. Including massage as part of a pedicure will give you the best of both: Relaxed, refreshed, beautiful feet! A perfectly simple pedicure: Start by washing your feet, then prepare a soothing foot soak in a tub large enough to easily accommodate both feet. Use water that is comfortably hot. For added benefits, add a few drops of essential oil to the soak, epsom salts, or make a tea of herbs placed in a muslin bag and infused in the water (see herb chart below for a few suggestions). Relax and, when feet have softened, use a nail brush to clean cuticles & nails followed by scrubbing all over with a mildly abrasive cleansing cloth, loofa, or ayate to remove dry skin. If needed, a pumice stone or pedicure file will gently remove rough spots and calluses on soles and heels. Dry feet thoroughly and trim nails and gently push back cuticles, as needed, then rinse and dry again. Now massage deeply, paying particular attention to the instep, toes, & ball of foot. To leave feet in top condition use massage oil based on vegetable oil with essential oils (as noted in chart below) or use Simmons Cocoa Butter Creme. Follow up with Simmons Duck Butter™, as part of the pedicure and other times as needed, rubbing it on dry heels and other problem spots to rejuvenate the skin and protect them from further damage. If you paint your toenails, do it now, giving 2 coats for luster and adding a topcoat of clear polish, if you like, for extra shine. Make sure to relax and give ample drying time before putting on your shoes and resuming your day. Happy feet make for a happy you! Herbs for foot care: Chamomile - A, C, 1 Clary Sage - B, C, D, 5 Eucalyptus - B, C, D, 1, 2 Geranium - B, C, D, 2, 4 Peppermint - A, B, C, D, 1,2 Spearmint - A, B, C, D, 1, 2 Rosemary - A, B, C, D, 1, 4, 5 Thyme - B, C, 1, 3 Key: A - Herb B - Essential Oil Use in: C - Foot Soak D - Massage oil Properties: 1 - Deodorizing 2 - Antiseptic 3 - Antibacterial 4 - Antifungal 5 - Relieves stress, soreness Natural Remedy for Nail Fungus... Since writing the above article I have had several people tell us they are effectively using our Herbal Vapors to cure toenail fungus after their Doctor had recommended using vapor rub. Here is some information regarding that reprinted from Associated Content. 'Toenail fungus is a common problem that can be very embarrassing. Those with discolored, yellow, flaking toenails avoid wearing sandals with open toes, and they avoid going barefoot. Toenails infected with toenail fungus are unattractive and disgusting, and as if the embarrassment isn’t enough, toenail fungus can be quite painful. Toenails infected with toenail fungus sometimes loosen and fall off, and in the process, any bumps or other mishaps can cause a great deal of suffering. Many people have toenail fungus, and prescription medications are available that effectively treat this common problem. Although prescription medications can be very effective, their effectiveness doesn’t come without a price. The possible side effects and warnings sound far worse than the pain and stigma of toenail fungus, so many people continue to endure the pain, suffering, and embarrassment. Preparation for Application There is an effective home remedy for curing toenail fungus, but before applying this product, it’s important to properly prepare the toenails so the home remedy can reach the infected tissues. Clip affected toenails as short as possible, and file them down to reduce their thickness. Doing so makes it easier for the home remedy to reach the infection since the infection lies beneath the nails. In addition to clipping and filing the nails, keep your toenails dry, and wear absorbent cotton socks. If possible, don’t wear shoes all day long. Allowing the feet to breathe will help keep them dry and a less desirable host for toenail fungus. A Home Remedy That Really Works Vapor rub is good for much more than clearing chest congestion and stuffy noses. Vapor rub is an effective home remedy that gets rid of toenail fungus. Simply apply vapor rub to infected toenails morning and night. Rub it in after bathing and drying the feet, and before retiring. Wear lightweight cotton socks to bed if you’re concerned about soiling the sheets. If a toenail is falling off, or has fallen off, continue applying the vapor rub as directed. It might take weeks or even months, but before long you’ll notice a new nail coming in that’s clear and free from toenail fungus.' Basic care from the bottom up: bacafrboup Shipping Information - see Information page. Questions? Contact us anytime by e-mail: info@simmonsnaturals.com or call 707.777.1920 from 9-5 Pacific Time, Monday through Thursday. Rated a **** store. copyright 2000 - 2008 Return to top of page.