Plantar Fasciitis Pain: Holistic Treatment

Apple Cider Vinegar works. Back in 2005 I developed Plantar Fasciitis. For over a year I hobbled along in pain. Finally a doctor took pity on me and showed me my x-ray. He showed me my "heel spurr" and explained it was calcium. He explained that when you do damage to your bones the body sends calcium to help heal it. A light bulb went off on my head... clearly if I could get the calcium to disperse, I could get rid of the spurr. Reading here I decided to try ACV. A small amount in water (taken via straw to protect my teeth). Within 2 weeks.. TWO WEEKS.. something that had plagued me for a year went away. Later that same year, I developed pain in my hip bone. Once again, ACV worked within a week. 10 years later I developed pain in my heel again -- this time in the other foot. I tried ACV and again, it went away within a week. I am not sure the exact mechanism but it seems that your body does the right thing by sending calcium to heal damage but then the calcium somehow gets stuck. ACV breaks it up and allows the calcium to clear.

I had been waking every morning for a few months with terrible pain in my heels and the bottom of my feet. My left foot was more painful. Sometimes after prolonged sitting at work my feet would hurt when I would stand.

I have been drinking organic "with the mother" ACV - approximately 1-2 tablespoons in 12ish ounces of water and a dash of cayenne pepper for about one week. No more pain in my feet.

THANK YOU SO MUCH--I almost can't believe my results!! I found the ACV suggestion two nights ago and am already feeling relief from the plantar fascitis I've had for 4 months. I use raw organic apple cider vinegar, adding 2 ounces to my pineapple/banana/strawberry yogurt smoothie every morning. I would say my symptoms are at least 50% reduced already and I have hope it'll keep going!

Thanks for your tip regarding using Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I found your comment 2 weeks ago and passed this along to a fellow athlete that has had Plantar Fasciitis for months and months and it wasn't getting any better. He has been taking it now for 2 weeks and emailed me to say his foot has made a rapid improvement and has been able to go walking again. Your advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

You have been my life saver! I tried your remedy and getting relief after two days... Had this condition over a year.... Thank you from the bottom of my heart x

Re: Cure a Heel Spur. As recommended by the late Dr. Jarvis, I've used apple cider vinegar to good effect. For instance, I started drinking 2 capfuls a day of ORGANIC apple cider vinegar in an 8 oz glass daily and felt relief from plantar fasciitis in both heels within a few days. It's possible that the potassium in apple cider vinegar is the active/effective ingredient (as Jarvis suggests)? But I've tried taking potassium tablets alone and did not get the same results, so there must be something intrinsic to organic apple cider vinegar that causes the healing effect? Also, it seems to be important that the apple cider vinegar be organic, because "regular" apple cider might actually be white vinegar in disguise and/or they've filtered out all the beneficial qualities from the "regular" vinegar?

Around April 2011, while doing heavy exercises, I got what I thought was another bout of plantar fasciitis. I tried stretching my foot and my calf. I tried homeopathic remedies. I tried 12 weeks of acupuncture. I tried Chinese herbs. While many of these reduced the pain for a while, none took it away. In December 2011 my chiropracter suggested that plantar fasciitis does not last that long and perhaps it was a heel spur. I had my foot x-rayed and, lo and behold, there was a heel spur identified.

I immediately began researching "Natural Heel Spur" remedies and can upon the Earth Clinic site. I read this post about ACV, molasses and baking soda, as well as MSM, and began them all the first week of January. I also added calcium/magnesium supplements. After about a week the pain was subsiding. After two weeks, I stopped taking the Chinese herbs. It was about that time that I stopped adding molasses to my ACV/baking soda beverage. Then I stopped the MSM, as I was feeling lightheaded whenever I took it.

By the end of Week 3, my heel spur was nearly gone. I could push on the area and feel it was slightly tender. By Week 4 (last week), my heel spur was gone. Vanished. Melted away. My foot no longer has the feeling of walking around with a nail stuck in it. While I have to be careful while my foot gets stronger, I can walk short distances without pain. ACV is a lifesaver. ACV works, if you give it time. I believe the way to distinguish between Plantar Fasciitis and a heel spur is the difference between foot pain and feeling like a nail is in your heel. The nail/heel pain signals a heel spur. Try it, and good luck!

I had a heel pain and swelling in the planter fascia since four months and looked like it was increasing with tingling sensation in the heel and it was difficult for me to walk, I tried physiotherapy for 6 times where I got eswt plus applied ice packs for 10 min morning and evening for one month but no improvement, took neproxin for inflammation, but the symptoms were same, so I came to know about this site and read about apple cider vinegar and cold water remedy, just after 3 days after using apple cider vinegar twice a day my pain was all gone, but after a week it came back 30 percent. I am still applying apple cider wrap at night, and drinking it with baking soda, and I am feeling much better and I think ice cold water remedy really works. I will post after I get fully cured . |Thanks to earth clinic, I simply love this site.

I have suffered from severe pain from plantar fascitis and bone heel spurs on both of my feet for over a year now. I have done excersises(given from a P/T), soaking(epsom saltwater), arch supports(professionally made), prayer, ultrasound, corizone shots(the most painful shot in my entire life--ouch), prescription meds, lots and lots of ibuprofren and other ideas.

My orthopedic doctor says he has tryed just about everything he knows and now is trying to ready me for surgury!!! No way in 'H' 'E' double toothpicks will both my feet be cut open!! No way!

I am now trying the ACV wrap on my heels at night with the hopes that this will give me even a hint of relief from this severe pain, (like knives pushing in at the bottom of my feet). Actually, I am anticipating this life altering condition to get much, much better (Lord willing).

My wife (Wendy) helped to come up with this idea about this uncomfortable wrap. She took a female Pad (Always maxi pad), fold it in the center and cut it in half with a sharp scissors, fold the tabs over in the back. Use about 2 tsp for each half and spread around on one end. Use this end to place against your heel and use cheap paper or sport tape to hold in place. I then use a long, larger tube sock to slide over entire piece(being careful not to pull it out of place), and whulla, a cleaner more practical disposable ACV wrap.

I do seem to been having LESS severe pain since I started the wrap (3 days ago) and now am taking the Apple cider/baking soda mixture drink twice and day. (2 tbs apple cider, 1 tsp. Baking soda, 1 tbs honey, 6 oz. Water) the honey makes it bearable to drink. Ha ha (Twice a day).

My very active 10 year old daughter was suffering for two weeks trying to play soccer, etc but in so much pain she couldn't walk. We took her to the doctor where he Dx her with plantar fasciitis and gave her exercises/stretches which she tried with no immediate success, and stopped doing them. My dad recommended apple cider vinegar (acv) and baking soda and this site. She took 2 Tbsp ACV and 1 tsp baking soda (use a tall glass) in a little juice, twice a day. After ONE day of this she noticed the pain was minimal and she could easily participate in her soccer practices. The pain was completely GONE after a few weeks. She continued taking the mixture for awhile preventatively. It was explained to me that the ACV helps balance out the bodies pH levels which can help with many issues.