Plantar Fasciitis Pain: Holistic Treatment

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 Amy (US) on 04/12/2015

Ok I am having extreme pain in my heel and work standing up on cement for 6-9 hours per day. Anyway, from what I read you drink 2 caps fulls of ACV (organic) in an 8oz glass of cold water? what about the baking soda and molasses, is this just for the taste? How much of each? Please advise, I am desperate and don't want to give up my job or have surgery. Thanks so much, Amy

Magnetic Insoles

Posted by Mary (St Petersburg, Fl) on 03/28/2012
★★★★★

Years ago I bought magnetic insoles from a Japanese manufacturer in hopes that it would give me energy. I was not thinking about the pain I felt in my feet when getting out of bed. What a difference they made. By day 3 I was surprised that my feet did not hurt. I stopped using them and now the pain has come back, this time I know it as Plantar Fasciitis. There are studies out there saying it is a placebo effect. I say not, I was not even thinking about my feet, I just needed energy to get through the long days at work. Guess what? I felt better all over and had energy once the foot pain was gone.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Kira (Beau.cali) on 07/15/2017

Soak feet in foot bath with 1 gallon hottest water you can tolerate and add 1 cup apple cider organic vinegar. Soak about 15 min. You won t need wraps any longer.

Foam Roller

Posted by Cindy (Mi) on 04/03/2018

What I've learned is that you need more magnesium than calcium to heal your plantar fasciitis. The reason that you have heel spurs is that you are taking in way too much calcium and it is depositing into your muscles and heel area. 80% of people in the U.S. are majorly deficient in magnesium. You need it in your body for so many different processes. Get some magnesium spray or gel and rub it over your feet and legs. It absorbs right into the area that needs it most. I've had plantar fasciitis for 9 months now and am finally getting some relief by simply taking in more magnesium. Also, you should take a really good quality vitamin/mineral supplement because magnesium needs some cofactors in order for it to work such as vitamin B6.

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

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Cde (Post Falls, Id) on 04/05/2010
★★★★★

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.

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

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:)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by nigel (canada) on 11/21/2022

Now this is interesting. You don't take borax, do you perchance? I found this site after reading another article about the importance of boron as a vital nutrient. they were saying that it facilitates the proper communication between mineral elements in the body, most particularly calcium and magnesium, and that without boron calcium deposits are much more likely to build up throughout the body.

I currently have plantar fasciitis that keeps just nearly getting better but I always end up straining it. so my problem is largely mechanical but I can't just stop standing for weeks on end so hopefully ACV and continuing with borax will help.

Plantar Fasciitis

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

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jackie (Alabama) on 09/07/2015

I accidentally somehow stumbled across this site tonight, so glad I did. I have plantar fasciitis & left heel spur. I've been dealing with this almost a year now, I've been going to an orthopedic, I've had 5 injections, taken anti-inflammatories, iced, exercises, stretches, The pain is sooooo excruciating! I have not had special orthotics made, he just told me last week a brand of shoe to try. I'm going to try the ACV wrap, but thinking seriously about a second opinion from a big sports clinic in a close by city, nothing has helped!

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!

Calcium

Posted by Bern (Sydney, Nsw, Australia) on 06/20/2012
★★★★★

Some years ago I developed a pain, mainly in the heel area, on both my feet. I was unable to walk for more than half an hour without feeling excruciating pain. It was so bad, I was on my hands and knees crawling. On visiting the doctor, I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. To cut a long story short, I took calcium supplements over a number of months and the pain disappeared. The calcium pills I took are very strong so I caution everyone to be careful of the dosage they take. Other than that, I would recommend heel spur sufferers to take calcium supplements (with Vit D to help absorption) to get rid of this ailment. Hint: constantly look at the health of your nails to see whether your calcium intake is lacking/adequate/too much and vary your intake accordingly.

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