Try This DIY Herbal Foot Soak For After School Sports

After a long day spent standing up (or an endless afternoon at a tough after-school practice), it’s important to sit back and let yourself rest and recover. But for adults with chores around the house and kids with mountains of homework, such luxuries of time aren’t always an option. Fortunately, even a short soak like the one below can help speed recovery and get you back on your feet the next day.

Epsom salts are a long-beloved answer to aching muscles and stiff joints, but there is strangely very little scientific research into the efficacy of Epsom salts as a soak. We like using them just in case (since they don’t do any harm), and either way, the simple practice of keeping your feet in warm water can help ease tension in muscles and loosen worked joints. To maximize your soak, we recommend adding juniper berry oil, which is known for its ability to alleviate muscle fatigue and swollen joints. We also incorporated a few drops of peppermint oil (which works well for relieving aching muscles), geranium oil for its anti-fungal properties (athlete’s foot is a real and ever-present danger for kids), and well-known stress reliever lavender oil (a known stress-reliever that helps bustling masses unwind at the end of a long day).

Graphic: Eidia Moni Amin