Plantar Fasciitis is a condition that causes pain in the feet, mainly in the heel. There is a piece of tissue that connects the bones in the heel to the toes. This is a ligament called the Plantar fascia. Sufferers of Plantar Fasciitis experience pain that is very intense sometimes. The pain can worsen from long periods of standing or from some types of exercises.

Treatments for plantar fasciitis range from surgical procedures, to medications to help manage symptoms. Surgery isn’t recommended for everyone and medications almost always come with unwanted side effects. There is an alternative though. Using essential oils can be a great way to manage and fight plantar fasciitis, for people looking for a more natural course of treatment.

The Mints

Both Wintergreen and peppermint oil have very minty and refreshing smell. These two are great for reducing the inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis. They also both act as analgesics. They have numbing properties and provide pain relief for those with foot pain.

The Kitchen Oils

Many oils can be used in the kitchen to enhance the taste of foods. Three common cooking oils are clove, lemongrass, and basil. While all of these can make your food quite tasty, they also have properties that can help you deal with your plantar fasciitis.

• Clove – This oil is great for the prevention of spasms in the muscles of the feet, and stopping muscle contractions. It can also be applied in a topical manner to provide some numbing from pain.

• Lemongrass – This oil smells great, but is good for reducing inflammation and providing relief from pain.

• Basil – This oil also fights against inflammation. But, basil can actually fight off plantar fasciitis because it is a strong anti-bacterial oil.

The Flowers

Geranium oil smells so nice. It comes from a flower, also known as the “crane’s bill.”  This oil acts as an anti-inflammatory. It gives you added benefits like; enhancing your mood and increasing mental functionality.

Helichrysum oil comes from a flower of the same name. This oil helps fight against the spasms in the muscles that are associated with painful plantar fasciitis. This oil is a bit milder than some other oils, so it’s a good one to combine with some of the others that have stronger properties.

The Gift

Frankincense, to those who know the Bible at all, was one of the gifts from the wisemen.  It’s known to be able to treat many different things. For plantar fasciitis, it helps with inflammation, and also is a mild stimulant.

The Tree

Birch oil, like many of the other oils already mentioned in this article, has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with the pain of plantar fasciitis. Birch oil has something else to offer for this condition too. Birch helps with the symptoms, but can actually help treat plantar fasciitis. It has characteristics that work at detoxifying. The detoxification properties help to fight against plantar fasciitis.

Conclusion

It’s estimated that at least ten percent of people suffer from some sort of foot pain. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions causing foot pain. The pain and discomfort plantar fasciitis sufferers live with is, sometimes, debilitating. Essential oils can provide you with a natural help and in some cases, solution to the problem of plantar fasciitis and its symptoms, without the unwanted side effects that many medications carry with them.  Check out the essential oils in this guide, and the relief they can provide from your plantar fasciitis pain.

Written by Jeremy Roberts, Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist & Author of the Fast Plantar Fasciitis Cure