Although bunion pain is hard to get rid of once it shows up, there are ways to get bunion pain relief by using natural remedies. Try them out! Bunions are a deformity on your big toe that can be both painful and unsightly.
Hallux valgus is the scientific name and it is basically the creation of excess bone on your toe with a fluid-filled sac at the base. It has been found that most of the time bunions are a genetic inheritance.
The deformity itself isn’t actually what is inherited, but rather the way of walking, or your gait. If you have this problem, read below for some home remedies.
Get Bunion Pain Relief with these Simple Home Remedies
1. Proper diet
It may be hard to believe, but you can actually get bunion pain relief by eating anti-inflammatory foods such as:
- Olives
- Ginger
- Blueberries
- Garlic
- Strawberries
- Onions
You don’t have to eat them all at once, but do make an effort to eat a diet that includes them.
2. Chamomile
If you’re a tea lover, you should know that chamomile tea is perfect for lowering inflammation in your bunions.
All you have to do is make a nice cup and enjoy it before bed.
If you’ve been in pain all day, this remedy will let you get some sleep.
3. Aspirin
Remember that aspirin can cause allergic reactions on sensitive skin. If that’s you, skip this remedy.
But if your skin can handle it, grind up 3 tablets, mix them with warm olive oil, and massage into your bunions.
4. Localized exercise
If you want to get relief from bunion pain, doing toe exercises, moving them up and down, can be a big help.
- Seated, use your hands to move your toes back and forth for about 5 minutes.
- Then roll a ball with your foot for another 10 minutes.
5. Epsom salt foot bath
You can find Epsom salt in specialized pharmacies or natural grocery stores.
- Dissolve one or two tablespoons of the salt in hot or warm water and soak your feet in epsom salt bath for at least 20 minutes a day to reduce bunion pain.
- Your feet will likely feel much better within a few days.
- At this point, you can change the frequency to every three days, though doing it regularly is still recommended.
6. Essential oils
Bunions often come along with callouses that can be painful and annoying as they rub against your shoes.
- To prevent your skin from hardening, rub it with oil, which will also help with the redness.
- The best essential oils for this are coconut, chamomile, lavender, and olive.
7. Turmeric
Turmeric’s special properties help relieve bunion pain because they act as an anti-inflammatory.
You can take it as a tea and enhance the effect by also applying it topically to your bunions.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of powdered turmeric (5 g)
- 1 teaspoon of an above-mentioned oil (5 g)
Procedure:
- Mix the two ingredients together and apply with a gentle massaging motion.
- To finish, remove with a towel and warm water.
How can I avoid getting bunions?
If you suspect that the pain or bump you feel may be a bunion, the first thing you should do is try to stop its progress by giving your foot more space and seeing a specialist who can advise you on the best way to handle it.
Podiatrists are doctors that have expert knowledge on bunions and can give you the best advice on how serious your case is.
Follow the below tips for some extra help preventing bunions:
- Choose comfortable shoes. The ladies may have to give up a bit of style, but your health comes first. Both men and women should try to wear a more square-toed shoe that fits your foot well.
- See an orthopedist. They can tell you what kind of shoes to wear to reduce bunion pain and keep them from getting worse.
- Wear orthopedic inserts, padding made of silicon or other soft materials, customized insoles, and daytime or nighttime corrective devices. These are all great options for relieving bunion pain and preventing them from getting worse while you treat them.
- Apply hot and cold compresses. Hot-cold therapy can be a big help for bunions. Besides giving the area a rest from the pain, it also gets your circulation going.
Remember that the most important thing is prevention. If you already know that bunions run in your family, you know that you are likely to get them too.
It’s smart to pay attention to any kind of abnormality in the foot area, like pain, numbness, and reddening, and get checked out regularly by a podiatrist.
Getting bunion pain relief is not impossible but does take patience and determination.
Unfortunately, once they’re there, they can turn into an everyday torture. So, pick a remedy above and get to work!
Via: StepToHealth
