Aromatherapy is a complementary health practice that you can use for many health problems, including calluses on the feet. Calluses can be painful and ugly but they can be treated simply at home with aromatherapy oils, such as tagetes and carrot. However, if you have calluses due to a complex medical condition, like diabetes, you should consult a qualified health care practitioner for advice before using aromatherapy for callused feet.
Calluses
According to MayoClinic.com, calluses are formed from constant friction on the skin. They are common on the soles and heels of your feet and cause dry, thick and hard areas on the skin. Calluses differ to corns in that corns are smaller than calluses and are located on the top of the foot. Use aromatherapy oils on a regular basis on your feet to help soften and smooth the skin, and minimize the risk of the formation of calluses.
Essential Oils
Both Valerie Ann Worwood, in “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy,” and Julia Lawless, in “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils,” recommend the use of tagetes essential oil for the treatment of calluses. Worwood also recommends combining tagetes oil with carrot essential oil. Dilute the essential oils in a vegetable oil base before applying the blend to your feet.
How to Use
Worwood advises that you add 30 drops of tagetes essential oil to 2 tbsp. of a vegetable oil base, such as sweet almond oil. Massage the blend onto the callused area of your feet three times a day. You can also add two handfuls of salt and 2 tsp. of cider vinegar to a bowl of water in order too soften up the calluses before applying the massage oil. Wash your feet daily for several days before starting to apply the massage oil. The calluses should become soft. You can then use a pumice stone to file away any dead skin.
Cautions
Do not confuse tagetes essential oil with calendula massage oil -- tagetes is botanically known as Tagetes minuta and calendula massage oil is botanically known as Calendula officinalis. Similarly, do not confuse carrot essential oil with carrot massage oil -- carrot essential oil is extracted from the seed of the plant whereas carrot massage oil is macerated from the root of the plant. Lawless advises to use tagetes essential oil in moderation due to possible skin sensitization. Consult a qualified health professional before using aromatherapy for the treatment of dry callused feet.
References
- The Mayo Clinic: Corns and Calluses
- “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy”; Valerie Ann Worwood; 1991
- “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils”; Julia Lawless; 1995
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