Chiropractors World

If you have ever had an itching, burning sensation on your feet or between your toes, you probably had athlete’s foot. It is a common fungal infection known by the scientific name tinea pedis. This fungus is at home in moist, warm environments such as indoor or heated swimming pools, locker rooms, public area showers and even the gym and locker room of health clubs.

Besides the itching, burning sensation on the bottom of your feet and between your toes, athlete’s foot presents itself in other ways as well. You could have what looks like simple dryness of the skin on the bottom and sides of your feet. The more unappealing appearance of this fungus is cracking, scaly or peeling skin between the toes or on the soles of the feet. Blisters may form as well. And if left untreated, this fungal infection can spread to the toenails where it is much harder to treat and get rid of.

Herbal Remedies for Athlete’s Foot

A doctor’s diagnosis is best for identifying the fungal infection that causes athlete’s foot as there are other health conditions that could present the same symptoms. With the proper athlete’s foot diagnosis, you can try a few herbal remedies before breaking down and filling your doctor’s prescription or request for over the counter medications.

1. Tea tree oil – Tea tree oil is derived from an Australian tree and has long been touted for its antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties. The tea tree oil should be mixed with carrier oil as it can have cause burning or itching when applied undiluted. Almond, grapeseed and olive oil are good carriers to use. Apply up to a 50% tea tree oil solution onto the fungal infection using a cotton ball and then wear a sock over the area so the solution does not rub off. Apply it at least twice a day until you see improvement.

2. Garlic – Garlic contains antifungal compounds which can help kill the infection. While you can cook with garlic and receive some healthful benefits, the best thing to do is rub a few cloves of raw garlic on the affected areas of your feet. Or, crush a few cloves and spread them like a paste on affected areas and leave on for about 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. Applying garlic once a day for about week should do the trick in eradicating the fungal infection.

3. Vinegar – Soaking your feet in equal parts vinegar and water for about 20 minutes twice a day can help kill the fungus that causes your athlete’s foot. The acid in vinegar kills the infection and soothes the itching.

4. Lavender and myrrh oil – Mixed together with carrier oil, these herbal essential oils have healing properties including antimicrobial and antifungal qualities. Apply to the athlete’s foot infection with a cotton ball up to three times a day. A side benefit is softer skin which helps alleviate the scaling and itching.

Give your herbal remedy of choice about week to work its magic on your athlete’s foot. If there is no change or it gets worse, perhaps you may have to resort to that doctor’s prescription or over the counter treatments. The majority of people who go au natural with athlete’s foot treatment do find relief though, so you can expect to as well.

Once the honeymoon phase of exercising to lose weight and get fit and healthy is over, how do you manage to keep going? Injuries, weight loss plateaus and even boredom all play a part in you dragging your feet. How do you get re-inspired? You need to find the right motivation to renew your passion for fitness.

Breathe New Life into your Old Fitness Routine

If boredom is one of your main issues with fitness, spice things up a bit. Choose a fun activity that is physical. Mix it up with some socializing and leave your worries at the door. Belly dancing, synchronized swimming, kickboxing … any physical activity that looks intriguing – try it!

Offer to take a child or pet to the park. Jogging or power walking with a pet on a leash is a new experience and is also a great social activity as well. You will see your surroundings in a whole new way with a pet. Children are full of energy and if you offer an hour of babysitting at the park, you will burn all the calories you need for the day, running after them, swinging them on the swings, throwing the ball around or even a simple game of chase.

Devise an exercise plan based on your mood. If you are feeling down or contemplative, consider a walk in the park punctuated with some stretching and exercise band intervals. When you are keyed up, choose high octane activity such as aerobic class or dancing. Interval training, where you mix steady physical activity with bursts of intense exercise, keeps things lively and just might help you break through weight loss plateaus too.

Never Be Too Tired to Exercise

Choose someone with similar fitness goals and make a date to exercise. If you feel obligated to meet that person to exercise, your mood will more than likely not be a factor. Fitness partners motivate and push each other to do well so you don’t want to let each other down.

When you feel too tired to exercise, move toward your daily fitness goal in small steps. Put on your workout clothes first and see how you feel. Next, put on your athletic shoes and lace them up. Just being in your workout gear is enough motivation to move more and get things done with some spring in your step. Even if you don’t make it to the gym or your workout routine, you will likely be moving around rather than sitting or lying down.

Eating a small snack may help you overcome your tired feeling too. Choose an option with complex carbohydrates and protein such as a hard boiled egg and an apple about two hours before you typically exercise. Make sure you get plenty of iron and vitamin C in your diet along with the requisite eight to ten glasses of water per day. Iron helps you build red blood cells which means proper oxygenation in your body while vitamin C helps iron absorb better in the blood. Water prevents dehydration, a common denominator to fatigue.

Just changing your routine or even the music you exercise to can breathe new life into your fitness program. Find what inspires you; grab a workout buddy; engage yourself in spring cleaning or yard work. Anything that gets you moving, working your muscles and burning calories is a good thing!