It is a common condition to feel your feet burning. Health professionals refer to this condition as lower leg-burning feet syndrome (BFS).
The feet become painful and uncomfortable when they suffer from BFS.
This article looks at the common causes of BFS and home remedies to treat it.
Causes of Burning Feet
1. Diabetes
The condition of diabetes can result in high blood sugar levels, which damage blood vessels and nerves. This type of damage is known as diabetic neuropathy. Up to 50% of people with diabetes have, or at some point will have, diabetic neuropathy.
2. Heavy Alcohol Consumption
BFS is one of the most common symptoms of heavy alcohol use, which involves damage to the nerves in the body caused by alcohol. This results in alcoholic neuropathy, leading to nerve damage in the body.
3. Small fiber sensory neuropathy (SFSN)
This neuropathy causes painful burning in the feet as well as loss of feeling and short bursts of pain. Damage to the myelin sheath, which covers and protects nerve fibers, results in this disease. Diabetes can be a factor, although the cause isn't known in most cases.
4. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)
Among the most common inherited nerve diseases, CMT affects the nerves that control muscles. The disorder is progressive, so symptoms worsen over time. The first symptom is burning or pins and needles in the feet and hands.
5. Athlete's foot
Also known as tinea pedis, an athlete's foot is a contagious fungal infection that affects the feet and toenails of athletes.
6. Lifestyle factors
The use of poor footwear and standing or walking for extended periods, especially in hot weather, can lead to hot or burning feet.
Burning Feet Home Remedies
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Infections caused by fungi, such as athlete's feet, can be contagious. Apple cider vinegar can help treat infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and other microbes. If you prefer to ingest it, you can mix one tablespoon of it with a glass of water and honey as per your taste or soak your feet in a foot bath comprising hot water and apple cider vinegar. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove this treatment’s effectiveness.
2. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)
By using RICE, a person can reduce the symptoms of a burning foot, which involves resting the foot, applying ice to the ankle, using compression, and elevating the foot. Using RICE can reduce swelling and inflammation, therefore reducing the symptoms of BFS.
3. Foot Massage
Massage helps increase blood flow in any part of the body. Therefore, if you suffer from BFS, you can massage your feet to improve circulation and blood flow.
A 2015 study found that Thai foot massage helped people with diabetic neuropathy improve their balance, range of motion, and sense of touch.
4. Ginger
Ginger has medicinal properties and is used to treat various medical problems, including burning feet. Ginger oil contains anti-inflammatory properties and may be effective in treating burning feet.
You can massage your feet for up to 20 minutes with a spoonful of ginger juice mixed with olive or coconut oil. A cup of ginger tea also work wonders in such a condition.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric contains the compound curcumin. Several skin conditions and neurologic disorders may be effectively treated with curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
Turmeric can be taken as a supplement or a powdered form along with 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper. A person can take it three times a day.
One 2013 study suggests that if a person takes curcumin in the early stages of neuropathy, it may positively affect and help prevent chronic neuropathy from developing.
6. Epsom Salt
Many people have been using it for ages to treat pain, and it is also a mild laxative. You can soak your feet in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes to treat burning feet syndrome. In addition to providing relief from pain, it also cools down your feet. You can also use Epsom salt solutions for treating athlete's feet.
7. Soaking Feet in Cold Water
While this method can temporarily alleviate the burning sensation in the feet, people suffering from erythromelalgia should avoid using it because it may damage their skin.
8. Fish Oil
Fish oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate pain and discomfort. If a person has BFS due to diabetes, they may benefit from fish oil treatment.
A study published in 2018 found that fish oil could slow the progression of diabetic neuropathy and even reverse it.
9. Lidocaine or capsaicin
Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic that medical professionals often use to numb the skin before certain procedures, such as taking blood.
Some medical professionals recommend topical creams containing capsaicin and lidocaine patches for treating the symptoms of diabetic neuropathic pain. These are both commonly prescribed for people with diabetes who suffer from BFS.
10. Wear proper shoes
Wear comfortable and fitting shoes of your size to maintain proper blood circulation. Do not wear tight-fitting shoes as they will reduce blood flow to your feet and cause discomfort.
11. Diet and hydration
Consuming foods rich in proteins and fatty acids, such as fish, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, nuts, and flax seeds, can help improve burning feet. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking more fluids.
12. Exercises
Exercising regularly like walking, running and jogging helps to ease your legs' burning and painful condition because exercise improves blood flow within the body.
Also Read: 5 Exercises to Boost Weight Loss
Summary
BFS refers to the common sensation of burning or tingling feet. A variety of conditions lead to BFS, such as diabetes, athlete's foot, and excessive alcohol consumption. Several home remedies can help a person treat BFS symptoms. The list includes cold water baths, Epsom salts, turmeric supplements, and fish oil.
