My youngest brother has dealt with unhappy toes for several years now. Almost a decade, actually.
That’s a long time to deal with itchy, burny toes and feet.
Like many people, he tried various creams for his angry little toes (ok, they’re not so little). Some would work for a time, but eventually, it always came back.
Now, the first thing I tell my brother is that eating real food will help, especially when he gets rid of all of the sweet soda and junk “food” he’s so fond of.
He then mentions something about hippie food, I manage to pique his interest by mentioning bacon, but before long, I lose his interest and we’re back to talking about Doctor Who.
Sigh.
One thing I did manage to get him to try though, was an essential oil blend I created.
He’s heard me talk about essential oils for almost two years now, and has seen them work for me a number of times, so he was open to trying them out. Also, I think he may have been a bit desperate. And I may have nagged him a lot bit.
He took the blend home and then I completely forgot about it. Don’t you just love Mommy Brain?
A few weeks later, he came over, took off his shoes and socks and excitedly showed me his feet and said, “Look! It’s gone!”
“What’s gone?” I asked.
“The stuff on my toes.”
“Oh! Cool! How’d you do that?”
This was the point where he dropped his chin, looked up at me like I was an idiot and said, “Duh, Nina, those essential oils you gave me.”
That’s when it clicked and I got really excited. You see, it’s one thing for my essential oils to work for me – I’ve already “drank the Kool-Aid” so of course I believe in them. But when they work for someone else who thinks all I talk about is hippie voodoo, it’s cause for celebration.
Naturally, I shared the success with Facebook.
And then, I decided to write a post sharing the wonderful essential oil blend. Ok, so many people asked me to that I couldn’t say no.
Essential Oils for Happy Toes and Feet (or Magic Sauce for My Bro’s Gross Toes)
- 20 drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 20 drops Melaleuca/tea tree Essential Oil
- 20 drops Oregano Essential Oil
- Fractionated coconut oil
- 10 ml Roll-On Bottle
- Label
Remove the lids of your essential oils and grab your empty roll-on bottle. Carefully add 20 drops of each oil to the roll-on bottle, cover the top with your finger and shake to mix. Fill the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil then snap in the roller part. Be careful not to spill when you snap that in place.
(You could also use a small, glass spray bottle if you’re uncomfortable with the thought of rolling something on your feet. Though, in my experience, nothing has survived on a roller bottle thanks to the essential oils.)
If you get any on your hands, wash your hands with soap and water or dilute it with coconut oil. This is optional of course, but I find that if I don’t do one or the other, I end up absentmindedly rubbing essential oil in my eyes. Not recommended …
Put the lid on the bottle, slap on a label and you’re good to go.
I advised him to apply it in the morning and before bed, and any other time he happened to think about it, so I’m assuming that’s what he did. Actually, I’m assuming he did it a lot less than that.
We are related, after all, and we’re not known for our ability to follow instructions …
I have all of those essential oils but don’t have the roll on bottle. I wonder if I put it in water and used a spray bottle if that would work. I do that with my citronella / catnip oil blend for bug spray. I just shake the spray bottle to mix up before spraying.
I also think using a spray bottle would be more sanitary vs. a roll on bottle that you have to have touching your athlete’s foot (a fungus!!) — more possibility of re-contamination I think.
Rebecca-did you try the spray bottle and water? I want to make this for my daughter. Thanks for sharing Nina!
I was thinking about putting this all info a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil for ease and then dipping a cotton ball in to apply. Thoughts? Does dilution matter when it is being applied to the feet?
How much are you thinking of using, Julie? I recommend coconut oil as it contains antifungal properties and rubs in better than olive oil, in my experience.
Thanks for the tips for athlete’s foot, but I had another question can you use essential oils to make your own poo-pouri? My husband suffers from athelet’s foot but is also in need of some poo-pouri and I would like something made essentual oils 🙂 TIA
Tee-hee! I’ve found that a drop or two of lavender (or any essential oil, really) makes a fabulous poo-pouri. 🙂
What do you think would be a safe dilution ratio for a kid under 6?
Hi, just wondering would it be effective to add oils to distilled water and use a spray bottle? or do oils not mix well in water? could I add a carrier oil and put into a pump. I just don’t see a roller bottle being that useful in small areas between the toes.
How long did it take to cure your brother’s athlete’s foot? I used your recipe and used coconut oil as a carrier and it has not worked on my husband’s feet yet. He has been at it for about six weeks now.
Thanks!
Laurel
Hi Laurel. It took him about four weeks.
Laurel Kirchner… I found this very effective recipe. I didn’t think anything could help me until this. I think about two weeks total and a very bad situation was under control. I put this solution into a pump bottle and used a cotton ball to apply to the feet. Once under control, I occasionally after a shower would apply to feet “just in case” to keep it at bay. Haven’t had a problem again since! Here is the recipe, and then I included the link as she had other suggestions to treat also.
Daily use of this astringent recipe will help soothe infected areas. Add 12 drops tea tree oil, 8 drops geranium oil, 4 drops lemon oil and 4 drops clove oil to a dry, airtight 3 oz bottle. Top up with 2-3 oz of apple cider vinegar. To combine, place bottle between your palms and roll back and forth. Mix this way before each use. Store in a cool, dry place. To apply, add a few drops of the astringent to a cotton ball and swab affected area daily. http://www.escentsaromatherapy.com/Athletes-Foot_c_672.html
Hi Nina
Bit slow to the party on this one but I’m glad I found it! Just one quick question. I have fungal nail on just one nail, I’ve tried a few things, including the silly doctors meds, to cure it but still it persists. I don’t generally have a problem with athletes foot but I was wondering if this might work for the fungal nail, or if you could suggest anything else if not?
Love your site, thanks so much for all the info!
Lindsey x
I would try it for that, Lindsey.
I don’t have any geranium. Can I just leave it out & use all the other oils? Or is there any other I could use in place of geranium? I’m just starting to use EO & only have a handful of oils on hand.
I would just leave it out and try it with the other oils myself.
I am what you could call an essential oil virgin 🙂 I am still learning when and how to use oils.. My 15 year old boy has the stinkiest feet!! yes I realize it is common for this age but it is making me CRAZY!!. I am thinking there might be the start of athlete’s foot going on to.. I was thinking of mixing this, minus the geranium (because I don’t have any) in a 4oz spray bottle… Could I dilute it with witch hazel? I was thinking quick dry. or would I be better to use coconut oil or distilled water.. of something else altogether.
For years, I’ve had occasional bouts of burning/itching of the toes on my left foot, and I’ve always knocked it down with commercial sprays or ointments. This blend works quicker and better than any commercial product. Personally, I use the oil blend straight up, without dilution.
Thanks so much for sharing, Alex!
I made 3 bottles of this. I named mine “VooDoo Toes”. My Mother in Law says she had it on one toe so I labeled hers “VooDoo Toe” lmao Im making this recipe because Im impressed with you story from your bro. My hubby wears heavy boots 15hours a day! We are desperate to find the right blend. Heres to crossing our fingers and find the right magic sauce. lol
Fingers (and toes) crossed!
Great info! I wanted to mention something tho…In the beginning of your article you mentioned “mommy brain” – that is what high potency fish oil is for 🙂 Take it with a fat-soluble meal and in no time the term “mommy brain” will forever be a thing of the past.
Hi everyone. On the subject of “mossy toes” lol….I have made wonderful progress with my husbands feet in that not only have I’ve made and used the above recipe but also been soaking my husbands feet in epsom salt. And this is just soaking my hubbys feet 2 times a week plus applying the above several times a week. My husband works out of town otherwise I’d do it more often. Although, I have read that soaking feet in epsom salt more than 2-3 times a week will lead to over drying and cracking. I’ve made more progress in 2 weeks using this strategy than in months of just using tea tree oil only. Just checking in.:)
That’s awesome!!! Thanks for checking in. 🙂
Just a few thoughts on this subject, I know bleach is not the “hippy” thing but for severe athletes foot try a foot bath of a small amount of bleach and water once or twice a week until it starts to clear. the oils work great but drastic cases call for bleach also consider mixing a spray bottle of diluted bleach for the shower floor to keep from spreading to the rest of the family. That being said this oil mix is great for the toes if it is to thick for your spray bottle thin it with vinegar. For the sole and heel try peppermint and almond oil, very invigorating. O I forgot the bleach will dry your feet so after the bleach bath this mix will burn so just use almond or coconut oil with a little vitamin e oil that nite