We all have foot pain symptoms at one point or the other in our lives. Though it can vary from person to person, the commonality is that it is an uncomfortable and irritating feeling. Many factors may contribute to foot pain, like some previous injury, joints being out of alignment etc. While there are many treatments for foot pain which you can find over the counter but be ineffective most of the time, there are effective home remedies for this issue. In addition, these remedies have a longer-lasting effect as they give you relief from pain and also strengthen your feet. 

The best solution for foot pain is to find the root cause of the problem and start addressing it. Some people have chronic foot pain due to diabetes or nerve damage and would need more serious treatment. But for people with an aching foot due to the pressure of the shoe against their toes, there are numerous ways to relieve their discomfort. 

1) Ice pack: 

This home remedy is an excellent way to relieve foot pain, especially if the feet are swollen or immersed in cold water. Take a plastic bag and fill it with ice cubes. Wrap this bag with a towel and place the ice pack on the bottom of your feet or your ankles for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the cold pack from under your feet or ankles and repeat every two hours as needed. Ice can help reduce swelling and inflammation, which can help ease the pain of plantar fasciitis. Place an ice pack on your foot for 20 to 30 minutes daily. Be sure to avoid the ice pack if it's too cold or you have a fever. 

2) Wear comfortable shoes: 

Wearing supportive shoes with good arch support will help prevent foot pain associated with plantar fasciitis.  

3) Try foot spa: 

A pedicure session is another remedy for plantar fasciitis pain relief. Fill a warm bathtub with lukewarm water, add Epsom salt, and soak your feet for 15 minutes per day for three days per week. For best results, ensure you don't wear socks while soaking your feet because this will allow them to breathe freely and stay moisturized throughout the process. 

4) Elevated leg positions: 

Place your legs at an angle so that they are only about 120 degrees apart (slightly wider than usual). This position will allow gravity to decrease pressure on your weight-bearing joints, which may help reduce inflammation or swelling when you stand up or walk around again after sitting for a while. 

5) Epsom salt soak: 

Many ortho-experts suggest Epsom salt for feet swelling and pain. However, Epsom salt is an abundant mineral found in the Earth's crust and has long been used for therapeutic uses. For example, you can use it to eliminate lactic acid and muscle soreness, leading to muscle pain and cramps. Epsom salt can also relieve people living with fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder characterized by widespread muscle pain and fatigue.  

In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of Epsom salt make it a perfect antidote to arthritis-related inflammation. Use a basin or container with 1–2 cups (240–480 mL) of Epsom salts per gallon (3.8 L) water, depending on your preference for density, temperature, type of Epsom salts (fine or coarse), and personal factors such as age, weight, health status. You can use Dr Foot's Epsom salt for painful and burning feet. This Epsom salt for swelling feet contains peppermint essential oil that nourishes and deodorizes your feet.  

6) Castor oil: 

Castor oil is also an easy solution for both long-term and acute foot pain caused by injuries or strains. For long-term pains that are chronic or intermittent, castor oil can be applied topically over the area of discomfort or put on a band-aid to take advantage of its anti-inflammatory properties. However, for acute foot pain caused by an injury or strain, castor oil should be applied on a clean wet cloth placed over the injury site and then wrapped securely in place. 

7) Leg exercises: 

• Sit on the floor. Bend your knees and bring your ankles close to the opposite knee. Rotate one ankle in a circle clockwise and counterclockwise 10 times, then switch ankles and repeat. 
• Place a tennis or lacrosse ball under the arch of your foot and roll it back and forth to massage the bottom of your foot for two minutes. 
• Put a container of ice water under one heel for five minutes at a time, three times per day. 

8) Mustard seed oil: 

On the other hand, mustard seeds are not as commonly used for relief from foot pain but do work for some people. Mustard seeds contain turmeric, which helps relieve inflammation and blood circulation (and improves recovery from injury). Another plant known to help diminish foot pain is ginger root; it has anti-inflammatory properties.