Are you training for a race? Or just getting some healthy activity into your life? Either way incorporating herbs in different ways can make you feel and GO better. Using herbs can address some of the potential problems runners deal with in their feet, legs and even their whole body and mind! From the feet up, here’s some info that will enhance your healthy experience.
There is a dearth of clear-cut facts on the internal use of herbs since the medical side is quick to warn us of interactions with all our medications1 …But let’s just talk about some topical and aromatic applications that will infuse us with calm, relief and clearness, and be anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and moisturizing to our feet.
Calming
Lavender oil contains soothing properties that will benefit your toes in more ways than one. Simply by inhaling the scent of lavender, you can lower blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature.2
Yling Ylang oil can help as an antidepressant for everything from nervous breakdowns, acute depression, anxiety, sadness and chronic stress, as a nervine and sedative to soothe tension and bring a sense of calm3. Lavender, Roses, Lilacs and peonies are other calming herbs
Relieving
Rosemary oil is known for it’s Stress relief – Aside from its aromatheraupeutic benefits, rosemary oil is seen to decrease the level of cortisol, a hormone released during the body’s flight-or-flight response to stress. Its anti-inflammatory qualities make it a good way to address pain from sprains and joint aches4
Lemongrass Oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and used to alleviate muscle pain, reduce fever.5
Lemon Balm, Tansy, Tarragon and Calendula are other herbs.
Clearing
Eucalyptus Oil is commonly mixed with other oils to make it more easily absorbed by your skin. This supports the moisturizer process. It is also anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, stimulating.6
Peppermint oil is often used in aromatherapy. It has been shown to improve memory and raise alertness and used to help manage stress and treat nervous disorders and mental fatigue.It can be used to relieve sore muscles when used with massage or added to bath water.7Different mints, Wormwood and Mugwort are other clearing herbs.
In summary, Aromatherapists say, “When you LOVE or HATE the way an oil smells, that can be an indication that your body needs it.”8 As for topical herbs for a foot bath, most herb leaves contain enough magnesium to take lactic acid out of your feet.9
Big Sky Herbs has researched and improved two products that can make runners smell great and their feet happy.
Aromatic Bath Teas and Aromatic Athletic Bag Sacs
In three themes: Calming, Relieving and Clearing
Go to bigskyherbs.com/store-Aromatics and Specialties or Big Sky Herbs Facebook-Shop now
References
1 http://www.gssiweb.org/Article/sse-96-herbs-and-athletes
2 http://www.organicauthority.com/diy-foot-soak-for-runners-sore-aching-and-cramped-feet/
3 http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/ylang-ylang-oil.aspx
4 https://draxe.com/rosemary-oil-uses-benefits/
5 https://draxe.com/lemongrass-essential-oil/
6 https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-eucalyptus-essential-oil.html
7 http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/peppermint-oil.aspx
8 http://www.heartfelthullabaloo.com/faqs.html
9 http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-002120000000000000000.html?maxCount=46
Remember…all toenails go to heaven