I’m a big fan of foot soaks and with the scorching temperatures lately, I wanted to share my favourite cooling foot bath for hot and tired feet with you. It’s easy and such a fun and relaxing thing to do on a hot day. This revitalizing foot soak is made with Epsom salt, olive oil and peppermint essential oil, some fresh herbs, cold water and ice cubes.

It’s great to reduce the heat in your body and to soothe your achy and swollen feet. Peppermint oil has amazing cooling properties, and the Epsom salt helps to bring the swelling down. You just need a foot bath or really any big bowl large enough to comfortably fit your feet in. Pick some fresh herbs from your garden or pick up some herbs from your favourite farmer’s market or grocery store and enjoy the extra herbal support.

Peppermint provides a cooling sensation for your feet, while rosemary and thyme help to stimulate your blood circulation and to cleanse the skin. Lemon balm and lavender are soothing and calming and chamomile and calendula have skin healing properties and can help with the swelling of your feet.

If you are looking for more refreshing recipes, please make sure to also check out my post for an ICED LEMON BALM LEMONADE WITH HONEY AND GINGER RECIPE. In case you also love foot soaks and want an idea for the colder months, go to my DIY RELAXING PINE NEEDLE FOOT SOAK post and learn how I make a soothing and relaxing foot bath with fresh pine needles.

TIPS TO MAKE THE PERFECT
COOLING HERBAL FOOT SOAK

You can use your favourite herbs like mint, lemon balm, lavender, chamomile, calendula, rosemary and thyme.

Always dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil (like olive or almond oil) before adding it to the water.

If you have problems with foot odour, add some apple cider vinegar into your foot soak.

The water temperature should be between 50°F and 60°F (10°C- 15°C). If you are new to cold foot soaks start with a water temperature of 60°F (15°C).

Don’t soak your feet longer than 15-20 minutes in the cold water!

Prep for afterwards and place all items (beverage, towel, foot cream, book etc.) you might need close to your foot bath.

For a gentle foot massage place some big marbles into the bottom of your foot bath and gently roll your feet over them.

INGREDIENTS

water
Epsom salt
olive oil
peppermint essential oil
tea tree essential oil
fresh herbs like mint, lemon balm, lavender, chamomile, calendula etc.
ice cubes

MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED

medium sized bowl
basin, foot bath or big bowl large enough to comfortably fit your feet
mortar and pestle

INSTRUCTIONS STEP BY STEP

Take the leaves of any hard stems and add them with your other herbs and flowers to your mortar and pestle. You can keep some flowers aside to decorate your foot soak later if you’d like.

Add in the Epsom salt and crush your herbs.

Dilute the peppermint essential oil with the olive oil in your medium-sized bowl.

Mix with the Epsom salt mint mixture.

Fill your foot bath with cold water, add the salt-oil mixture and ice cubes.

Enjoy your cooling foot soak for 15-20 minutes and relax with the scent of fresh herbs in your nose.

Rinse your feet afterwards, pat them dry and apply foot cream or moisturizer.