Herbal Health Information on Athletes Foot

I consider athlete’s foot and Verrucas to be a sign that the immune system is not functioning at an optimum level. A lowered immune system always finds the least point of resistance in the body and something will give.

If your feet are in warm, sweaty shoes that do not allow the feet to breathe then the ever present fungal spores will take hold and grow on the skin of the feet causing itching, flaking of the skin and smelly feet! If the immune system is strong then it will fight the fungal spores and they will not be able to take hold.

Boosting the immune system is very important to help the body defend itself from invading organisms.

Nutritionally it is important to take in large amounts of Vitamin C and Zinc.

Vitamin C is in most fruit and veg, but I have found the best source to be Limes.

Take a fresh lime, cut it in half and squeeze the juice out of one half into a glass.

Fill the glass with cold water and drink it down. A glass a day first thing in the morning will boost your Vitamin C levels. Obviously don’t stop eating other fruit and veg during the day as this will maintain your normal vitamin and mineral intake.

Zinc is fairly low in foods due to modern farming methods and is difficult to absorb. It is therefore essential to have an intake of Zinc daily. It is present in high amounts in Pumpkin seeds, oats, peas and shell fish, but I advise the easiest way of getting Zinc, is to eat about a handful of pumpkin seeds or a bowl of porridge daily. You can buy Pumpkin seeds in any health food shop and large supermarkets. Of course the rest of your diet should be a sensible balanced diet to ensure a good intake of other vitamins and minerals which Vitamin C and Zinc Metabolism (usage) will be dependant on in the body. Drink at least two pints of water a day to help clear out toxins.

Buy shoes which allow your feet to breathe.

HERBAL MEDICINE is used both internally and as a foot lotion.

Internally the traditional immune system boosting herb is Echinacea which stimulates the white blood cells in the blood responsible for removing foreign bodies and also producing antibodies to fight infections.

As a lotion there are two herbs I commonly use in my clinic and these are:-Myrrh (yes the baby Jesus one), and Marigold.

Myrrh is antibacterial, antiviral, astringent (toning) and stimulates the white blood cells locally if used as a lotion. I always like to say that when the three kings gave Baby Jesus the gift of Myrrh, they were giving him the most precious gift of all and that was the gift of Health. I use it in tincture form, but it would have been given to Baby Jesus as beautiful amber coloured beads of Resin collected from sheep’s coats.

The sheep would rub themselves against the bark of the tree and the resin would stick to their wool. That’s just information for a bonus point should you ever get asked in a TV quiz!

Marigold is anti bacterial, antiviral, astringent and the best healer and strenghtener of damaged body tissue. Its Latin name is Calendula officinalis and the “officinalis” bit of the name means it was used by early apothecaries.

Marigold and Myrrh tincture can be used together in equal amounts as a lotion to dab onto the affected areas of the feet. Make sure the tinctures are 1:5 or you will burn your feet. Once you have mixed the two tinctures, dilute the mix down with cool boiled tap water half and half and then use that as a lotion. Make it up freshly every day and dab it on the affected areas three times a day.

If you need more advice about your health please visit me in my clinic

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Linda Bostock

Medical Herbalist/Herbal Health Information