Caring For Your Feet

The feet are the most abused part of our skeleton. Some of their insults include frequent trauma, unmerciful chilling, improper footwear, and maintenance of a straining posture for many hours. Nevertheless, a bit of study and a reformation of foot care habits can bring a great deal of reduction in physical and emotional tension-since very few parts of the body have greater potential for such widespread distress as the feet.

SKIN

The skin of the foot is very sensitive because it is so well protected by shoes and stockings. Nevertheless, we generally do not protect feet well enough. It's quite easy for a fungus such as athlete's foot to become entrenched, and it may become extremely difficult to eliminate if feet stay moist, and not very clean. Absorbent socks, and a little cornstarch or baking soda are useful in keeping the feet dry. They should be scrubbed with a soft hand brush every day to remove dead skin.

NERVES

Nerve endings in the feet are quite sensitive, and streets, sidewalks, and corners are all hard on them. Since walking in stiff shoes tires the feet, an occasional barefoot walk can be helpful-especially if there are plenty of pebbles to massage the foot's deeper structures, strengthening the muscles, and keeping the skin in good condition.

BONES

The wearing of high heels is injurious to feet, and a podiatrist friend tells me they shouldn't be worn more than four hours per week. Pick these hours carefully, and don't go over the limit. Dress shoes with low heels are much less tiring than high heels.

TOENAILS

Scrub toenails with a fingernail brush and use an orange stick to remove any dirt under them. Cuticles should be worked faithfully, and toenails should be trimmed close. Long toenails can squeeze the blood out of surrounding tissue and weaken it against infection. Once a fungus gets entrenched in a toenail, it's almost impossible to restore it to life.

CORNS

Calluses and corns develop from excessive pressure and a sustained reduction in blood supply. Substantial stockings are helpful, but for diabetics and the elderly, the treatment of corns assumes even greater importance. A medication containing salicylic acid may be purchased from the drugstore, and while it is quite safe if used properly, elderly individuals with fragile skin may find this ingredient irritating if it gets on normal skin. To remove a corn, make a soapy mixture of warm water and dish detergent, and then soak it for 30 minutes. Using a fingernail, find a good cleavage plane for the corn, then lift it off by inching the fingernail under it. Fingernail scissors or a razor blade may be used, taking great care, of course, not to cut yourself. If this happens, cleanse the wound well with alcohol and apply a square of adhesive tape directly on the skin to seal off the cut.

INGROWN TOENAILS

To treat an ingrown toenail, cut a V in the middle of the nail edge as deep as possible, almost down to the quick. Then take a few fibers of cotton and work them under the edge of the offending toenail. Next, place the foot ankle-deep in water as hot as can be tolerated. (Note: diabetics should only use warm water at about 102° or 103°F.) After three minutes, place the foot ankle-deep in cold water for about 30 seconds. Alternate these soaks four or five times, and then dry toes carefully. Treatments can be repeated every two to four hours until the swelling and pain have gone down.

By: Agatha Thrash, M.D.

Dr. Agatha Thrash co-founded Uchee Pines Institute. A variety of Dr. Agatha Thrash's books are available from the Uchee Pines Country life Natural Food store by calling 877-824·3374