Home Remedies For Burning Feet
Home Remedies For Burning Feet – The sensation of burning feet is a common problem nowadays. It may occur as an isolated disorder or as a sign of another issue.
Medical experts label the burning sensation in the feet or burning feet syndrome (BFS) in the lower leg.
BFS often is due to the feet becoming uncomfortably warm and painful. Burning Feet Syndrome or BFS symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the cause.
BFS is more common in older adults, and it becomes more severe at night.
Burning sensation in the feet not only affects the soles of the feet, but can even affect the tops of the feet, the ankles and also the lower legs.
The most common cause of burning feet is diabetes, often related to nerve damage in the feet. However, BFS is also considered a symptom of a number of other issues.
Treatment for burning feet depends on the causes you are facing.
Read on this article to learn more causes of burning sensation in the feet and also the home remedies for burning feet in detail.
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Causes Of Burning Feet
The sensation of burning feet can occur from a wide variety of conditions. It is important to diagnose a cause so you can start treatment.
Peripheral neuropathy, usually known as nerve damage, is considered as a common cause of burning feet. However, nerve damage itself generally results from another medical condition.
Some causes, like foot fungus such as athlete’s foot or shoes that might be too tight, can be remedied easily.
Medical conditions that may cause nerve damage and burning feet include:
1. Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetes may cause high blood sugar levels and gradually uncontrolled high blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels and nerves. This type of nerve damage is known as diabetic neuropathy.
High blood sugar levels decrease the transportation of signals from the nerves. This condition may affect sensation in numerous parts of the body, including the feet.
High blood sugar levels also weaken the walls of blood vessels that transfer oxygen and nutrients to the nerves.
According to studies up to 50% of people with diabetes have to face diabetic neuropathy at some point.
One of the main signs of diabetic neuropathy is burning feet. The damage of nerves can occur throughout the body.
Your risk for neuropathy enhances if you have the following:
- Obesity
- Drinking Alcohol
- High Blood Pressure
- Smoking Cigarettes
2. Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy (SFSN)
Small fiber sensory neuropathy (SFSN) is a painful neuropathy that frequently results in painful and discomforts burning in the feet and hands.
There may even be a loss of feeling in the feet and results in short bursts of pain. It is due to loss of the myelin sheath, which covers and secures nerve fibers.
More common symptoms can even occur, like:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Problems while thinking and focusing
- Pain in bones and muscles
Harmful factors may include:
- Hereditary Characteristics
- Infections, like Lyme disease, HIV,and Hepatitis-C
- Diabetes and other diseases associating to metabolism
- Submission to toxins, which includes alcohol and some vaccines
- Diseases that involved in immune system, like rheumatoid arthritis
3. Use Of Alcohol
People who drink alcohol in high quantities are at risk of another type of nerve damage, known as alcoholic neuropathy. It may result in pain, tingling and weakness in the feet.
People may also face the following symptoms:
- Burning Pain
- Muscle Weakness
- Hypersensitivity to pain
- Problems with gait
4. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) may cause damage to the peripheral nerves of the body. It damages the nerves that control muscles.
Early symptoms include weakness or paralysis in the feet and hands. The people may face difficulty lifting their foot or build up a high-stepped gait.
Finally, muscle atrophy may occur, when the muscles lose mass. A cramping pain may even occur, extending from mild to severe.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is named after the three doctors who first explained it in 1886.
Other names for it known as are peroneal muscular atrophy and hereditary motor and also sensory neuropathy.
5. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a broad term that indicates pain and inflammation in a limb, most commonly after facing an injury or surgery.
It damages the nerves that affect the transmission of signals of the brain and spine.
Most common symptoms that occurs are:
- Tingling
- Burning Pain
- Swelling of the affected limb
- Changes in color or texture of the skin
- Hypersensitivity to a pain trigger
It is thought that over 90% cases occur after a nerve injury or trauma. However, it is not the same in everyone who has an injury that will develop CRPS. This indicates genetic factors may also play a role in these conditions.
6. Erythromelalgia
Erythromelalgia is an almost rare disease resulting in red, hot, and painful feet without a known cause. The intensity of the disease is different between individuals.
Pain may be worsen after:
- Standing
- Exercise
- Walking
- Exposure to heat
7. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome relates to a condition where the nerve that passes from the ankle to the foot is squeezed due to swelling or after an injury.
This may cause a sharp, shooting, or radiating pain in the foot, which may spread up to the leg.
Medical Experts do not know the actual cause why it happens, but 43% of people having tarsal tunnel syndrome had some injury or trauma, like an ankle sprain.
Other Causes Of Burning Feet
Other causes of burning feet are the following:
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Infectious Diseases
- Hypothyroidism
- Kidney Disease
- Athlete’s Foot
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
- Toxin Exposure
- Chemotherapy
Symptoms Of Burning Feet Syndrome
- The sensation in the Burning feet is commonly in the soles of the feet and, in acute conditions, across the top of the foot and lower leg.
- Warm and painful feet
- Tedious pain in the feet
- Feeling of heaviness or paralysis in the feet
- Symptoms may be worsen at night
- Symptoms enhance during the day
- Enhanced sweating
- Variations in skin color, commonly in the type of red spots
Home Remedies For Burning Feet
Treatment for burning feet depends on the causes you are facing.
A medical expert can treat burning feet using the following:
- Vitamin Supplements
- Antifungal Prescription
- Thyroid Supplements
- Magnetic Therapy
- Shoe inserts or Change of shoe
- Light or Laser Therapy
- Electrical Nerve Stimulation
There are numerous home remedies for burning feet that a person can use.
Here we will learn 9 home remedies for burning feet that may provide you relief, these are:
1. Soaking Feet In Cold Water Or An Ice Bath
Soaking the feet in cold water may temporarily reduce the symptoms of burning feet. However, any body suffering from erythromelalgia should not use this remedy, because this may damage their skin.
2. Foot Massage
Massage enhances the blood flow to parts of the body. Hence, if a person is suffering from burning feet, they can massage their feet to boost circulation and blood flow to the parts of the body that need it. This may support treating some of the symptoms of burning feet.
A 2015 study described that Thai foot massage helped people having diabetic neuropathy improve their balance, the extent of movement in their foot and even foot sensation.
3. Fish Oil
Fish oil has anti-inflammatory characteristics which may be helpful in relieving pain and discomfort.
If a person has burning feet because of diabetes they may want to treat their burning feet with fish oil.
A 2018 study showed that fish oil may slow the development and also reverse diabetic neuropathy.
Fish oil supplements are even available over the counter (OTC). An individual can take between 2,400 and 5,400 mg of fish oil supplements throughout the day.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar may fight against bacteria, fungi and other dangerous microbes.
Soaking the feet in a foot bath containing hot water and apple cider vinegar may be an impressive way of treating an athlete’s foot.
However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm how effective this remedy may be.
5. Rest, Ice, Compression And Elevation (RICE)
An individual can relieve the symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome by using RICE remedy.
This method involves rest of the foot, applying ice to the ankle, using compression and also elevating the foot.
RICE remedy may help to relieve swelling and inflammation, which can reduce the symptoms of burning feet.
6. Lidocaine Or Capsaicin
Lidocaine is considered as a local anaesthetic. Medical experts generally use lidocaine to dead the skin before carrying out certain actions like taking blood.
Capsaicin is found in chilli peppers and provides natural pain relief. A 2011 study suggests that capsaicin is impressive in helping to control the pain.
Some medical experts suggest topical creams consisting of capsaicin and lidocaine patches as effective treatments for the signs of diabetic neuropathic pain. They are both commonly used treatments for burning feet in people with diabetes. However, there is little evidence to prove their use.
Topical lidocaine is also a familiar treatment for pain linking with Small fiber sensory neuropathy (SFSN) in both patch and gel form.
7. Turmeric Supplements
Turmeric consists of the compound curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and it may be an impressive treatment for numerous skin conditions.
Curcumin is also an impressive treatment for various neurological disorders.
An individual may be able to apply turmeric supplements to treat burning feet linked to damaged nerves and other nerve pain.
An individual can take turmeric in supplement form, or they can also take 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper three times a day.
A 2013 study showed that if an individual takes curcumin in the early stages of neuropathy can get the positive results.
The study indicates that curcumin may help in preventing chronic neuropathy from developing.
8. Ginger
Ginger oil has anti-inflammatory characteristics and may be an effective treatment for burning feet.
A 2014 study suggested that Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil was more effective in relieving back pain and disability than conventional Thai massage.
Many ginger oils are also found over-the-counter (OTC).
According to a 2020 study of mice, they looked at the use of ginger extract. It shows that ginger extract may be an impressive treatment for diabetic neuropathy.
However, recognizing the potency of ginger for the specific treatment of burning feet and neuropathic pain needs more research.
9. Epsom Salt
People frequently use Epsom salt to treat various issues, including pain and the signs of athlete’s foot.
Epsom salt having natural compound properties contains magnesium sulfate.
It has many uses that may include:
- Reducing the symptoms of athlete’s foot
- Exfoliating the skin
- Decreasing Odor
- Reducing inflammation
- Relieving Constipation
People enter Epsom salt into hot water, before soaking their feet in the mixture for 20–30 minutes.
Epsom salt foot baths may treat the symptoms of burning feet. However, an individual with diabetes should consult with their doctor before taking an Epsom salt bath. That’s why Epsom salt can enhance the risk of foot damage in people with diabetes.
The Conclusion
Burning feet syndrome is a term for the common sensation of tingling or burning feet. A large variety of conditions cause burning feet, that may include diabetes, athlete’s foot and also heavy alcohol intake.
There are many home remedies an individual may use in order to treat the symptoms of burning feet. This may include cold water baths, Epsom salts, turmeric supplements and fish oil supplements.