Using Essential Oils for Foot Bath Recipes

The potential benefits of a foot soak include relaxation, relieving tired, achy, and painful feet, softening callouses for removal, reducing foot odor, and helping get rid of fungus. Using essential oils for foot bath recipes you make at home can enhance these benefits.

Caution: Medical sources caution against foot soaks for people with diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy, or open wounds or cuts. Also use care if you have fungal problems, as fungus thrives in a wet, moist environment—make sure your feet are completely dry before putting on socks and shoes.

Soaking may dry out your feet, although all the essential oil foot soaks given here include a carrier oil, which helps moisturize. Moisturize your feet as needed.

Basic Recipe for an Essential Oil Foot Bath

General instructions for a DIY foot bath with Epsom salt:

1. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of Epsom salt to a basin of warm water. 
2. Dilute 5 to 10 drops of essential oils in a teaspoon of carrier oil. 
3. Stir the blend into the water. 
4. Soak your feet and ankles for at least ten minutes.

Some suggested essential oils for a foot bath:

• To soothe tired, aching feet: 7 drops rosemary
• To warm up your feet: 3 drops ginger
• To refresh your feet: 5 drops peppermint
• To soothe an injury: 8 drops lavender
• To relax your feet: 4 drops roman chamomile

For a foot scrub to exfoliate and invigorate, blend a little olive oil, a tablespoon of sea salt, and a drop of your favorite essential oil. Scrub your lower leg and the bottom of your feet. See more homemade foot scrubs.

Lavender-Peppermint-Chamomile Soak

For a relaxing foot soak:

• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt

1. Combine the oils in a bowl.
2. Stir in salt and and mix thoroughly.
3. Stir mixture into warm water for a foot bath.
4. Soak feet for at least 10 minutes.

Another option is to use 6 drops of any one of the essential oils (blended in 1 teaspoon carrier oil). A few other suggestions:

• If your feet or ankles are swollen, use cool water with 6 to 10 drops of lavender.

• If you have varicose veins, use tepid water with 6 to 10 drops of lemon essential oil.

• If you have sinusitis, soak your feet in warm water with 6 to 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.

Sources: Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions and Healing With Aromatherapy

Baking Soda Vinegar Foot Soak

Both baking soda and vinegar may help with foot odor. Experiment with one or the other or both.

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup sea or Epsom salt (or a combo of the two)
• 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 5 to 10 drops essential oils of choice

1. Combine the baking soda and salt.
2. Blend the essential oils with the carrier oil.
3. Stir the oil blend and apple cider vinegar into the dry ingredients.
4. Stir the mixture into a large foot basin filled with warm water.
5. Soak your feet for up to 20 minutes.
6. Remove feet and pat dry.

Foot Bath for Athlete's Foot

For a toe fungus foot soak, use a tea tree oil. Soak your feet for at least 15 minutes in a basin of hot water with the following essential oils diluted in 1 teaspoon carrier oil:

• 5 drops tea tree essential oil 
  
• 5 drops sage or rosemary essential oil
  
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
  

More aromatherapy for athlete's foot.

Autumn Spice Foot Soak

• 4 tablespoons Epsom salt
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 5 drops nutmeg essential oil
• 5 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 2 drops thyme essential oil

Combine carrier oil and essential oils. Mix the blend into the Epsom salt. Add the mixture to a foot bath. Soak feet for 15-20 minutes.

Adapted from Jennifer Hochell Pressimone, NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Autumn 2018.3, p. 64.

More Essential Oils for Foot Bath Recipes

Mix the essential oils into the carrier oil, add the blend to a basin of warm water, and soak your feet.

Rejuvenating

• 5 drops lemon essential oil
  
• 4 drops spearmint essential oil
• 3 drops black pepper essential oil
• 3 drops pine essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Relaxing

• 3 drops dill essential oil
• 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 3 drops allspice essential oil
• 3 drops spruce essential oil
• 3 drops anise essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Get more aromatherapy foot bath blends like these two in 500 Formulas For Aromatherapy.

Relaxing

• 4 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 4 drops neroli essential oil
• 4 drops frankincense essential oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Source: Aromasense Essential Oils

Purifying

• 6 drops palmarosa essential oil
• 3 drops patchouli essential oil
• 3 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Source: Floracopeia

Puffy Ankle Soak

Blend 3 drops each juniper, cypress, and pine essential oils in 1 teaspoon carrier oil.

Source: Essential Oils: Your Aromatherapy Guide to Ayurvedic Healing

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