Your ultimate Ayurvedic FOOT CARE GUIDE

There was a time in Indian history when the washing of feet had great cultural and ritualistic significance. Washing the feet of a deity was an integral part of the preparation for worship. It was also an act of honour to anoint a person’s feet. Even on an individual level, one was expected to wash their feet before entering a temple or their own home. There was a belief that evil spirits and negative energy would follow you into the house if your feet had not been washed. In reality, it was probably just a belief put in place to limit the germs entering the house. Either way, our Vedic sages were not wrong about the importance of foot care. But some of these practices did not translate into our 21st-century modern living.

Our feet are our ‘Karmendriya’, action organs or faithful servants that are often neglected and forgotten about until a problem arises. Our feet are important not only because they are our modes of mobility but also because they are connected by subtle energy channels to all our body organs, including the brain. Foot reflexology, the centuries-old practice of applying pressure on these meridian points, is believed to have several benefits that include reducing stress, aiding digestion and improving sleep quality. Ayurveda believes that when feet are tired, so is the mind and when feet are healthy and beautiful it is the foundation of physical grace and stamina. Ayurveda says it is very important to remember to keep your feet clean but never suppress foot perspiration; suppressing perspiration can cause damage to internal organs. It also emphasizes the importance of keeping one's feet comfortable and allowing the soles proper air and ventilation. To take a detailed look into proper Ayurvedic foot care we can divide the rituals into 4 broad categories - ‘Padabhyanga’ or foot massage, herbal foot soak, weekly foot mask, stimulation of pressure points and nerve endings.

‘PADABHYANGA’ OR FOOT MASSAGE
This is considered the mother of all alternate therapies because it holds the power to balance the Doshas, it reduces Vatarelated ailments like mental stress, tension and anxiety while providing calmness and deep restorative sleep. Regular Padabhiyanga activates the immune system and helps the body resist autoimmune diseases. Apart from making your feet soft and supple, it improves your eyesight as well. This type of foot massage is usually done at Ayurvedic centres using medicated oils but you can do this regularly at home using sesame oil or pure ghee. The best time for Padabhiyanga is at night before going to sleep. This must not be done when you are suffering from a cold, fever, indigestion etc.

HERBAL FOOT SOAK
Sushruta, one of the founding fathers of Ayurveda, writes in the scriptures, that a regular foot soak, in warm water infused with herbs and salt has a deep detoxification action. Take a relaxing foot soak by dipping your feet in warm water with 2- 3 drops of witch hazel and 1-2 drops each of lavender, sage and rosemary essential oil. If you would like to detoxify the whole body before bedtime then simply soak your feet in warm water with rock salt or Epsom salt followed by the nightly Padabhyanga. This ritual helps relieve eye stains as well.

WEEKLY FOOT MASK
our feet accumulate a lot of dead skin that sometimes gets left behind in regular washing . For a more focused approach to foot care, it is recommended that you do a weekly foot mask by making a paste using half part almond meal and half ‘Masoor dal’ or red lentil flour along with water and apply it to your feet. Once this paste has dried, rub some oil on the palm of your hands and rub the dried paste until it candles away. Follow this with a sesame or avocado oil massage and avoid wetting your feet or walking until the oil is soaked into your skin.

STIMULATION OF PRESSURE POINTS AND NERVE ENDINGS
It has been well established in Ayurveda and other alternate therapies that the soles of our feet are hosts to many meridian points and nerve endings. Regular stimulation of these points has several benefits right from improving blood circulation to organ function. This does not have to be a tedious process. Here are some easy ways in which you can do this at home. One easy way is to put raw green peas in your socks and walk around for 5-10 minutes. Another simple, at-home trick is to roll each foot on a tennis ball to strengthen foot muscles and increase flexibility in the joint as well. Another great way to relax your feet is to take a barefoot walk on dewy grass early in the morning.