Plantar Fasciitis: Home Remedies, Stretches & Reader Reports

Lysine

Posted by judith (USA) on 12/30/2023
★★★★★

Lysine for canker sores works wonders! My son had a mouthful after having his wisdom teeth out and they healed up quickly. Recently I had plantar facitis and found 5 star reviews for lysine and tried it and it worked in 24 hours! Amazing stuff. I don't know what the chemistry behind it is, but I am grateful!

Massage Gun

Posted by Paracelsus (Orlando, FL) on 08/08/2022 46 posts

I would try niacin (niacinamide to avoid the flush). 500 mg 2x per day. Great for inflammation. Works great for arthritis and I would think it could work for your condition. Give it a try, nothing to lose.

Videos to Help

Posted by Charity (faithville, Us) on 01/27/2022
★★★★★

Oxalates, uric acid, calcium and plantar fasciitis and spurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nOATly3j9U my spouse has had a lot of the oxalates and uric acid and foot issues, kidney stones, with marathoning, and this video is very simple to follow to recover quickly with added stretch at the end of it

Calc. Fluor 6X

Posted by Marie (Staten Island, NY) on 07/25/2022

Can you tell me a good dosage of calc flour 6x for plantar fasciitis…..how many pills? how many times per day? I am tired of being in pain everyday….thank you!

Calc. Fluor 6X

Posted by Art (California) on 07/26/2022 2770 posts

Marie,

She used the recommended dose on her bottle which was 4 pellets dissolved under the tongue 3 times per day and she said that worked for her, but the bottle says it can be taken even more often in acute conditions.

Art

DMSO

Posted by Katzie (Calgary) on 04/04/2021
★★★★★

DMSO for Plantar Fasciitis

I used DMSO on my friend's feet, with a thin layer of Castor Oil first, and then 3 drops of straight liquid DMSO, on each. He felt so much better after just 1 treatment! We are continuing this treatment. While doing a deep dive into how DMSO heals so efficiently, I found asStudy that said it heals by correcting the DNA back to what it's supposed to be doing, in whatever body part is sore. I order it from the DMSO store, online or it can be found at any good health food store in North America. Feel well, lovely Earthclinic community!

B-12

Posted by Deirdre (CT) on 07/21/2021

Hi Joanne,

Check out an electric shiatsu foot massager with compression (massage, heat, and compression in one machine is the best).

It's pricey, but it does a phenomenal job. I owned one for 3 years and it makes a huge difference when used regularly. My feet get very sore from 22 years of karate and this machine helps immensely.

When I moved across the country recently, I didn't have room for my first cloud massager in my pod, so I gave it away (seriously dumb thing to do). Before ordering another one last December, I tried 2 other less expensive foot shiatsu massagers.. sent one back and gave the other away. NO COMPARISON. This one is the best on the market in my opinion. Unfortunately, it's pricey at $350.

Here's the website... which I see is offering a $120 discount right now.

https://cloudmassage.com/collections/all/products/shiatsu-foot-massager-machine

Read the reviews on Amazon and you'll see how much it has helped people with PF.

https://www.amazon.com/Shiatsu-Foot-Massager-Machine-Circulation/dp/B074P2M8N8

If that link doesn't work for you in Australia, search Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine -Increases Blood Flow Circulation, Deep Kneading, with Heat Therapy -Deep Tissue, Plantar Fasciitis, Diabetics, Neuropathy.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Patricia (Cali, Colombia) on 11/30/2017
★★★★★

APPLE CIDER WORKS! I have been suffering from Plantar Fascitis and heel spurs since march of this year (2017), I have visited many doctors, purchased all kinds of orthotic devices, braces, anti-inflamatory medication, to no avail... UNTIL I tried the Apple cider vinegar. I have been drinking for the last three days a tbsp of apple cider, a tspn of baking soda, a tbspn of molasses in a small cup of water, three times a day.

I have also wrapped my foot with a small towel soaked in apple cider and I covered it with a plastic bag before going to bed. Last night was the third night that I applied the apple cider to my foot and I am ecstatic! THE PAIN IS GONE!!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! I am soooo grateful for the remedy I found in your website. APPLE CIDER DOES WORK! Thank you very much! Hurray!!!

Iron

Posted by Rw (Southwest Virginia, US) on 01/28/2015
★★★★★

I think it might be different for different people, but iron was the thing that finally made the foot pain go away. It only took a few days. I'm taking 29mg of Ferrous Fumarate, but I'll probably switch to Gentle Iron after this. It's easier on the stomach and not as likely to cause constipation. Gentle Iron is not a brand; several companies make it. It's Iron Bis-glycinate AKA Ferrous Bis-glycinate (sometimes the bottle just says iron glycinate, but just look for Gentle Iron.) Also before I took the iron, I took some extra Iodine and it helped a little, but when I added the iron, pain went. The kind of Iodine I've been taking comes in two brands that I know of-iThroid and Iodoral and it seems to me a large amount of Iodine so I open the capsule and take about 1/4 of the cap a day. Taking the whole capsule every day caused acne.

Gluten-Free Diet

Posted by Kelly (Dublin, Ireland) on 09/28/2014
★★★★★

I've tried EVERYTHING in the last 7 years since I've had plantar fasciitis. Acupunture, herbs, supplements, soaks, inserts, shoes, stretching yoga and finally the best answer for me, one change in my diet.

Over the years ECCO shoes (just some of them) have made walking possible and comfortable. (I hated birkenstock and orthototics).

Yoga stretching helped a huge amount short term as did acupuncture. But the results just didn't 'stick'.

What worked was cutting out gluten. I'm not celiac and have zero digestive disturbance so I'm quite surprised but actually cut out gluten, (as an experiment to improve my diet), noticed day by day in just one week that my feet felt 100% normal!

Going gluten free also just isn't that hard with all the options out there. I thought it would be, in case that's a reservation for any of you out there.

Keep in mind there's sneaky gluten in things like SOY (but you can get gluten free soy)

I hope this helps someone else.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Susan (Tx) on 01/20/2014

I have been suffering with either heel spurs or plantar facititis for over a year. I have done numerous eating plans and recently tried eating paleo. I also started taking 2 tbsp of coconut oil per day and eating more oranges and 1 banana a day. The past few weeks I have been in so much pain that it is horrible to even walk.

I started to look into foods that cause inflammation and got out my Eat Right For Your Blood Type. I am type A+

I should be eating vegetarian and I do prefer veggies and fruits. I was surprised to see that a few of my avoid foods are coconut, oranges, bananas and they have been in my daily diet!

I thought the diet was kinda goofy but was going to give it a try. I have eliminated all of my avoid foods and have been eating mostly my beneficial foods for my blood type.

I am noticing that I am not feeling bloated and my joints and feet feel way better! I am going to keep trying this eating plan to see if it's just a fluke or if there is something to this eating plan.

I will update in a few weeks to let everyone know how things are going.

Cod Liver Oil

Posted by Selina (Morristown Tn ) on 02/24/2016
★★★★☆

A friend recommended fermented cod liver oil to me for my plantar fascitis. She swears it cured her husband and son-n-law. I took one dose and can already tell it is helping. It is absolutely disgusting to take but if it will help I'm willing to continue.

B-12

Posted by Dano (Idaho) on 11/03/2022

I believe the correct measurement is micrograms (mcg), not milligrams (mg). 7000 mg of B-12 would be a huge dose and possibly dangerous.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Aleksei Ar (Ny, Us) on 08/11/2015

Thanks for the tip I will definitely try the ACV.

I have been suffering from Plantar Fasciitis in my left heel for a few months now. It started when I bought a pair of dress shoes and after a few days I noticed pain in my heel that never went away. I run almost everyday as well so the pain is worst right after.

A friend of mine works standing on her feet for most of the day as well and would complain of pain in her heels after work and even on her off days. Now I know what she feels!

Alek

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Maria (Newmarket, Toronto/canada) on 08/18/2011
★★★★★

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.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Michael (Boston, Ma) on 01/16/2011
★★★★★

i just want to share the experience I have had with heel spurs and the success I've had with some of the advice here. I could feel hard, linear growths or spurs, perhaps calcifications, under my right heel. Very sore to push on and I could feel them rolling a bit under my thumb. There were times in the past 2 years when I could not walk properly or without pain. Perhaps connected to this I developed an injury under the pad of my right foot near the middle toe probably due to favoring the heel area. Then I developed a plantar's fasciitis in the same foot so that the whole underside was practically paralyzed with pain.

I am a 48 year old lifelong athlete with a regular yoga practice and feel like I'm in good health. This was debilitating and I could no longer do many of the things that were fulfilling for me. I read that rest was the only thing to do and tried to rest and ice the foot while trying to stay active. That really wasn't successful.

Then out of frustration I turned to the web and found this site. In just a few days I have seen incredible change. I purchased msm and have been taking 1000-2000mg hourly with no negative side effects, 1000 mg of magnesium daily, 1000 mg b1 several times a day. I have added calcium, I had been taking none. I have been taking 5000iu vitamin d3 daily, sometimes more. A good b complex as well as a good multivitamin. I have also ben drinking apple cider vinegar with some baking soda. Physically I have been applying an apple cider vinegar, baking soda and molasses soaked pad overnight and during the day in my shoe. I have been massaging regularly with coconut oil and applying arnica afterwards. I have also tried some massage with castor oil. I have been doing band stretches on the foot pulling the toes toward me and pressing back against the band. And lastly I have done some weak bleach solution soaks on the foot. In 2-3 days I can feel the area smoothing out and the pain is diminishing.

This is a first report and I am excited by the prospect of fully healing. I realize that I was probably deficient in calcium and magnesium and will make permanent changes there. You can do this with some determination and hands on massage of your own foot. you have to move through the soreness to begin to generate blood flow and healing, breaking down the scar tissue and buildup in the tissues.

Foot Stretch

Posted by John (Us) on 07/31/2016
★★★★★

Thank you Rexe, I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this gave me instant relief.

Within seconds of the first stretch, 90 percent of the pain is gone. I can walk normally. Best remedy yet for me. Thanks

Zinc

Posted by Sanjay Patel (London Uk) on 10/10/2020 5 posts

Just off the shelf 10mg Zinc tablets.

Zinc

Posted by Sanjay Patel (London Uk) on 10/10/2020 5 posts

Coming back to your request and this is from the Zinc bottle label:

"This product is gluten free. This product is free from yeast containing ingredients. No artificial colourings, preservatives or additives of any kind are used.

Suitable for Vegetarians.

INGREDIENTS

Maltodextrin (bulking agent), Microcrystalline Cellulose (bulking agent), ZincCitrate, Magnesium Stearate (anti-caking agent), Silicon Dioxide (anti-caking agent)."

Hope this helps.

Foot Steam

Posted by Janis (Bloomington MN) on 01/10/2020
★★★★☆

I have a job that keeps me on my feet, walking most of the time, so I haven't had the luxury of just staying off my feet for a few days. I've been dealing with plantar fasciitis for several months and have tried just about everything.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed my heel felt better after a shower, so I was thinking maybe heat is the answer. Then I was disappointed because a heating pad didn't do much, But then I tried moist heat and it has helped tremendously! I just heat up some water in a small saucepan and put my foot over the steam (be careful not to burn yourself!).

B-12

Posted by Laurie (Qualicum Beach, Canada) on 01/13/2021 3 posts

Tessa,

The link you sent regarding Dr. Berg's advice on exercises for plantar fasciitis are excellent! I am feeling instant relief from these. Thanks:)

B-12

Posted by Tessa (Okanagan) on 07/21/2021

Hi Joanne G. -

I actually found the following tip on Earth Clinic and it worked for me.

2 Simple Stretches / Exercises to Fix Plantar Fasciitis (Dr. Berg)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXdlPuKfyXs

Dr. Berg has many wonderful, easy-to-understand videos. He explains things simply and with the layperson in mind.

There are also a number of very good remedies in the following Earth Clinic link. Not everything works for everybody but you might get lucky.

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/plantar-fasciitis-treatment-alternative-medicine.html

Cheers,

Tessa

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Diane (California) on 09/25/2022

I take 2 TBLSP in 8 ounces of water in the morning and have been doing this for over a couple months...I don't know if it's helping because I'm doing many other things like stretching the fascia (arch) many times through the day...be gentle...nothing too rough...I think I was too aggressive and possibly injured my arch and it's going to take 6-9 months to repair. I am going to start taking ACV also in the evenings to get this GONE. Good luck. Diane

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Magnolia (US) on 09/26/2022

Get you a massage gun from Amazon - many to choose from. It will cut the pain almost immediately and begin the healing process. My daughter-in-law and I both had it at the same time and it worked for us both. She delayed getting one about 6 six weeks and was sorry she waited. Go slowly and on low speed and keep it moving over the bottom of the foot and over the calf muscles - beats anything else that I tried by far!!!!

Plantar Fasciitis

Posted by Selina (Morristown Tn ) on 02/24/2016
★★★★★

Potassium

Posted by Maria (New Mexico) on 08/27/2015
★★★★★

I have been having a lengthy bout with plantar fasciitis and I'm now having some incredible relief after starting to seriously up my potassium intake. The daily recommended dosage is 4700 mg. Most of us get nowhere near that. You'd be eating all day to do it with food. I use a salt substitute, which is potassium chloride, and while I started the potassium for other reasons, lo and behold, my heel pain has vanished after two weeks! It's well known that potassium deficiency causes leg cramps, but I'm guessing it contributes to the heil pain too. Try increasing potassium to at least the minimum daily requirement, and see if it helps!

Dietary Changes

Posted by Susan (Tx) on 01/21/2014

I was told by my Naturopath dr to start eating vegetarian years ago because I had A+ blood. He also ran tests on me and showed me that my alkaline phosphatase was so low that it didn't even register on the lab charts! Type As have low levels to begin with.

I tried it but it got hard to make two different meals so I went back to making healthy but not good for your type foods. Now I am noticing that my body feels lighter and I am not hurting as much. It seems like a fluke but I am going with my gut feeling and will stick to eating more vegetarian for the time being. I also notice that I'm not clearing the phlegm from my throat!

Thanks for all of the ideas!

Avoid Cortisone Shots

Posted by Lisa Dvorak (Sioux Falls, Sd) on 08/11/2013
★☆☆☆☆

I am a sufferer of heel spurs. I am desperately seeking help and natural help, no doctoring. I had a cortisone shot in my heel about 20 years ago and believe me when I say DO NOT let a doctor do it to you. Oh my gosh it is the most horrific pain you can endure. I'd give birth to ten kids at once before I ever do that again. Believe me it won't be repeated. So if there's a natural solutionI'm all for it. What's everyone recommending.

Toe Pads

Posted by Icandoit (Portland, Or) on 12/20/2012
★★★★★

Hi all, Not sure quite where to post this info but I recently discovered a book that may help many people who look here for help. It's called Why You Really Hurt: It all starts with the foot by Dr Burton Schuler. I found it at my local library but you my find it online, (though I don't think he even has a website). If you google his name you will find many testimonials for this book and how it explains probably most of the pain you may be experiencing in your feet, ankles, heels, legs, hips, back and upwards from there. He says that the problem stems from a short first metatarsal bone, or it could also be that your first metatarsal is hypermobile either way, it affects the way your foot hits the ground and the way it is supposed to reset itself to prepare for the next step. He dispels a lot of misinformation that is out there about pain, and makes it clear that there is something you can do to feel better. Something that he does not make any money from selling to you (which also makes me trust him as a good source of information) and also encourages you to make your own. There is an entire chapter with photos on how to make and attach them to your feet or insoles.

I just started using the toe pads, and I am seeing immediate results-as in I had pain in my heels, feet, ankles and calves on Sunday... Made the toe pads on Monday... And by that afternoon I could tell that all that I learned in this book was true. I had no problems at work that night (I am a waitress at a busy restaurant) and even more miraculously I had no pain in my feet, heels or ankles-zero- when I got out of bed on Tuesday. That has not happened in a looong time.

I was kind of skeptical that two pieces of foam stuck to the bottom of my feet could do much of anything, and in fact, I had this book for months and thought to myself "oh, I will just try icing it, soaking it, yoga, rest, new shoes, new inserts, podiatrist, earthclinic.com, acupuncture and meditation first" No results. It only got worse actually. It was only when I was actually hobbling around that I finally thought "I guess I better try those toe pad things" I am truly amazed and just want to pass along this really great resource. This book is truly the only thing that helped me. I think it may just be able to help you to. There is also another book that I saw raves about on this site called Trigger point Therapy Workbook by Amber Davies. I just got it, but I think it may work well in tandem with the foot pads to help undo the stress my body takes on. I will post my progress, in case it helps.

Yoga

Posted by Chuck (Washington, Dc, USA) on 11/18/2012
★★★★★

I developed plantar fasciitis (no heel spur), which I suspect from running in worn out shoes. I initially got the orthotic from the podiatrist but it was just a bandaid that didn't heal anything.

I'm a yoga practitioner and I unwittingly healed the plantar fasciitis by doing yoga about 3x a week for about 6 months. I talked to a yoga instructor who studied plantar fasciitis and she said that yoga heals plantar fasciitis by making the feet bigger. Worked for me!