Lavender oil is one of my favorite aromatics. It can work really well on your feet. That’s why we’re now seeing more people suggesting lavender essential oil for the feet.

It’s believed that lavender oil contains compounds that work as natural tranquilizers. The lavender plant has historically been used for relaxation and sleep. There’s now scientific evidence that lavender can help calm the body and stabilize the mood.

Rubbing some diluted lavender essential oil on the soles of your feet seems to be a pretty common practice, at least judging by the number of other bloggers who’ve been suggesting it. Because this aromatic can help you relax, some people like to put lavender oil on the soles of their feet, right before going to sleep.

Also, lavender essential oil is thought to be good for helping to remove toxins from the body. However, I can’t claim this as a fact. Actually, I’d have no way to measure if this is happening, if I used this aromatic oil on my feet. But I can tell you that some people use lavender oil with this in idea in mind.

Lavender essential oil is also considered a good natural pain reliever. I’ve used it for my own nerve pain. Both on its own and as part of a pain relief formula.

Lavender Essential Oil for Feet

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One of the ways I’ve personally used lavender essential oil, on my feet, is by doing a foot soak. I mixed lavender oil with Epsom salt and baking soda. Then I put some of this mixture in a pan of warm water and stuck my feet in it.

Here’s how much to use for an average or large size foot basin:

1/4 cup of Epsom salt

1/4 cup of baking soda

4 drops of lavender essential oil

Some holistic-minded people consider lavender and Epsom salt soaks a good way to help your body detox. Although I have no way of proving that this is actually true, it’s a very relaxing way to end the day.

One thing I know for sure is that soaking my feet in lavender essential oil and Epsom salt does is soften my skin. So dead skin comes off readily if you scrub it afterwards with a pumice stick.

Putting Lavender Essential Oils On the Soles Of Your Feet

It’s believed that toxins are able to exit the body through the feet. This has given rise to various natural products, such as ionic foot detox machines and foot detox pads. I should note that both of these treatments are controversial.

But years ago I did visit an incredible naturopath. She was a big fan of ionic foot baths. So she believed that toxins can be eliminated through the feet.

Putting Lavender Oil On Your Feet

But anyway, if you subscribe to the theory of foot detox, there’s no reason why you can’t use lavender essential oil on your feet.

Or, you can use lavender oil solely for relaxation. To do that, simply massage diluted lavender oil on the bottoms of your feet.

Lavender essential oil also appears to contain natural analgesic agents. This is why it’s often included in various essential oil pain blends. Some people with chronic pain report that it even affects their feet. So one natural remedy they might want to try is lavender oil, mixed with a carrier oil.

Lavender oil is soothing and cooling. There’s scientific evidence it works for pain. One study published in the Evidence Based Complimentary And Alternative Medicine journal found that foot massage with lavender oil reduced pain and blood pressure in a group of ICU patients on artificial respiration.

I’ve used lavender oil with good success on bug bites. It immediately reduces the itching. So it might be a home remedy to consider for itchy feet. (Chronically itchy feet could be a sign of an underlying health problem. So make sure to get it checked out.)

Lavender Essential Oil Foot Bath

There’s yet another reason some people put essential oils on the soles of their feet. This is often done with the belief that nerve endings in our feet are connected to our organs. This is the concept behind the growing popularity of foot reflexology.

Some Western doctors don’t put a lot of stock into foot reflexology. But it has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine.

If you decide to put lavender essential oil directly on your feet, you’ll need to put it in a carrier oil.. (Carriers are always needed for massage.) As a beginner, I didn’t appreciate the strength of essential oils. So I ordered my first few bottles, and liberally applied the oils to my skin. Without a carrier oil.

Fortunately, I didn’t develop a sensitivity or have an adverse reaction. Now I know this was a really bad idea. Essential oils are very safe when used as directed. This means with a carrier if you plan to put them on your skin.

Lavender Oil On Feet For Sleep

You just need a little bit of lavender essential oil. This is then mixed with a carrier oil, and applied to the soles of your feet. (You can also rub some of this mixture on the inside of your wrists.) Here’s a standard dilution ratio for using an essential oil with a carrier oil:

1 teaspoon of carrier oil (You can get it here)

3 drops of lavender essential oil (You can get it here)

Mix these two together and apply to the soles of your feet. You can cover your feet with natural cottons socks. Enjoy your rest.

Lavender Essential Oil On The Bottom Of Your Feet

At first, I was surprised how little of the aromatic oil I actually needed. A commonly recommended dilution ratio is one drop of essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. This is often used in aromatherapy. It’s not as greasy s regular coconut oil. It’s also more easily absorbed by the skin.

One thing I’ve learned is that essential oils are very strong. For instance, I’ve heard that one drop of peppermint oil is the equivalent of anywhere from 15 to 70 cups of herbal tea. So you want to use aromatics judiciously.

Lavender Essential Oil for Relaxation

Anyway, lavender oil is considered a good choice for relaxation. This is one of the oils I use to help me get some rest. For years, I’ve suffered from insomnia. So I use essential oils to help me fall asleep.

One brand of lavender I most often recommend is sold by Plant Therapy. This company has exacting quality control standards. All of its oils are tested twice for purity. One of these tests is done independently. I’ve tried several brands of lavender essential oil. This one is my favorite.

I also like the fact that Plant Therapy clearly distinguishes between real lavender, which you can see below, and lavendin, a close cousin that doesn’t smell as good.

Plant Therapy Lavender Oil

Lavender Epsom Salt Baking Soda

Lavender, Epsom salt and baking soda appears to be a very popular combination. I’ve used it myself, to soak my feet. You can also use it in your bath, as well as for household cleaning projects. (See the recipe below.)

I sometimes keep a jar of this mixture near my kitchen sink. I use it to clean my stainless steel basins. It’s a good alternative to chemical scouring agents, and it seems to work as well, if not a lot better. (It sure smells a lot better.)

At Christmas, I like to give jars of this solution to my friends. This is a very easy recipe. You can store it in an empty Mason jar. Here’s how I make these non-toxic bath salts.

1 empty Mason jar with lid (If you don’t already have Mason jars on hand, they’re available here)

Epsom salt

Baking Soda

Lavender essential oil. (If you don’t already own your own, (it’s available here.)

Fill the Mason jar 3/4 of the way with Epsom salt. Top it off with baking soda, leaving enough room to thoroughly shake it. Add 10 drops of lavender oil and shake it again. Store it covered. It should last indefinitely.

Difference Between Lavender and Lavendin Essential Oil

When shopping for lavender essential oil, you want to know what you’re getting. It’s been widely reported that some companies use oil from the flowering lavendin plant, and then pass it off as real lavender.

Although lavendin in and of itself is not a bad thing, as it’s said to have its own medicinal properties, it doesn’t smell nearly as sweet as lavender. So you run the risk that it could have been doctored with chemicals, to make it resemble its more exquisite cousin.

That’s why it’s a really good idea to become familiar with various essential oil companies, so you can find one or more that you trust. Although the large multilevel marketing companies sell excellent products, I usually don’t prefer to shop this way.

So I was thrilled to find Plant Therapy, one of the non-MLM alternatives I often recommend on this site. I’ve been using Plant Therapy oils for years. Chances are you won’t find Plant Therapy essential oils at your local health food store. But they’re available online.

Aura Cacia is another brand I use too. I’ve ordered multiple bottles of Aura Cacia lavender essential oil and have always been very happy with the quality. Aura Cacia is sold in a lot of health food stores. But I never buy it there. I always find better prices online. Plus, I know there’s a higher volume of sales. Freshness is important with essential oils, which eventually go bad.

Stored properly, lavender essential oil should last several years. But if you buy it off the shelf, you have no idea who long it’s been sitting there.

Aura Cacia Lavender Oil

Using Lavender Essential Oil On Your Feet

Not all essential oils can be used on children under the age of 10. But lavender essential oil is one of the aromatics considered safe for children aged two and older. It’s one of the featured oils in Plant Therapy’s KidSafe line. Like many other essential oils, it’s believed that lavender oil contains natural infection-fighting agents.

Lavender oil is often included in germ-fighting recipes made for children. It could be used diluted in a slightly lower strength than the standard adult dilution. For children, you would add 3 drops of lavender essential oil to 2 teaspoons of carrier oil. This could then be put on the bottom of the feet, right before bed.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.

For Additional Reading

Lavender and the Nervous System

Does Lavender Oil Help Sleep?