A bunion is a bony deformity of the joint at the base of the big toe often caused by wearing tight, narrow shoes, and high heels. There is an additional bone formation which together with the misalignment of the big toe causes it to protrude out. It can happen as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes, but it can also happen due to influenza, tonsillitis, gout, poor metabolism, improper nutrition, rheumatic infections and so on. They can be quite unattractive, but more importantly they are also annoying as finding fitting footwear can be quite an ordeal.
There is a surgical procedure for their removal but they can appear again due to the usual factors which cause them. However, there are several natural remedies which can help you eliminate bunions without surgery.
Natural remedies for bunions
- The Bay Leaf Method
The excess salt in your organism can easily be resolved with this natural remedy. You need 5-10 bay leaves and 300ml of water. Pour the water in a pot and add the leaves. Cook them for 5 minutes and pour the mixture in a thermos. Leave it during the night.
The next morning stir the mixture and drink it throughout the day in small sips. Repeat the process for 3 consecutive days, preparing a fresh batch every night. Take a one week break and do the treatment one more time. You may notice a more frequent urge for urination, which is completely normal. Do the treatment for 2 months and your bunions will be completely cured.
You can also try the following foot bath with bay leaves.
Crush about 5 bay leaves and add them in 100 ml of 96% alcohol. Leave this for one week and then strain. First soak your feet in a mixture of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Next, dry your feet with a clean towel and apply the remedy and put on cotton socks.
- Soap Method
You can also effectively treat bunions with soap. It will relieve the inflammation and pain caused by them.
Shred some soap and massage the bunions with the soap shavings. Rinse your feet and apply some iodine with cotton swabs in a net like way, making horizontal and vertical lines that are about a centimeter apart from each other. Leave it on to dry completely, put on a pair of cotton socks and repeat the treatment every day for a month.
- Olive Oil
An olive oil massage can be really effective against bunions. It will increase your circulation and blood flow to your feet. It will also stimulate synovial fluid movement around the bones in this area. Just massage the bunions with some olive oil twice a day for 15 minutes until they’re cured.
- Red Pepper
Red pepper contains capsaicin which eliminates the nerves of the compounds that cause pain and discomfort and this makes it an excellent remedy for bunions. Cut one red pepper into half and rub its juice directly on the bunion. Apply some petroleum jelly over this and wrap the bunion with a clean cloth or gauze.
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