Sore feet? Spice things up with cayenne pepper!

Have you ever had one of those days when you stood a minute too long, walked a bit too far, did a bit too much?

One of those days when - even if you were wearing running shoes or your most comfy slippers - your feet would be sore, tired and inflamed?

If yes, then perhaps you need to spice things up!

Let me explain.

Civilizations as long as 9,000 years ago relied on cayenne pepper to relieve strains, muscles aches, and joint pain.

And it works wonders on sore feet, too!

Here’s why it works.

Hot peppers, like the cayenne pepper, contain a natural ingredient called capsaicin. 

Capsaicin stimulates the release of a compound believed to communicate pain between the nerves in the spinal cord and other parts of the body. It first stimulates and then quickly decreases the intensity of pain signals in the body. 

Here are a few ways to use it.

:: Soak.
Stir ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a half-full bucket of warm water. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse your feet with warm water.

::Wrap. 
Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper on a warm, wet wash cloth.  Wrap it around one foot. Repeat on other foot. Rest your wrapped feet for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

:: Powder. 
Turn your socks almost inside out, and ¼ sprinkle teaspoon of cayenne pepper into the toe section of the sock. Then slip your foot inside. Make sure the pepper is distributed evenly across the bottom of each sock. The length of time you wear the socks varies per person - some wear them for 30 minutes while others wear them overnight. Rinse your feet.

:: Rub. 
Mix 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper into 1/2 cup of coconut oil. Rub the blended mix into your feet and cover your feet with socks. Cayenne pepper paired with the anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil will help soothe inflamed feet.

A few cautions:Cayenne pepper stains - so be very careful when and where you use it! Some people experience an itching sensation the first time they use cayenne pepper treatments. Be sure to wash your hand thoroughly with soap or vinegar after using the pepper to avoid getting it in your eyes.

To help preventswollen, tired, aching feet due to high heels, be sure to add Vivian Lou insoles to your shoes. These amazing insoles adjust the pitch and position of the foot in heels so you can wear them 4x longer without pain, aches, soreness, or inflammation!