See a doctor if: A painful, stiff or rigid flat foot, a newly and one-sided fallen arch with pain, or foot pain with numbness or tingling - see a doctor or podiatrist.
Kitchen remedies
Supportive, cushioned shoes with a firm heel and, if helpful, an arch-support insole; calf and foot stretches; foot-strengthening exercises such as toe curls, arch lifts and picking up a cloth with the toes; not going barefoot on hard floors for long; a warm foot soak and oil massage for aching; keeping to a healthy weight to lower the load.
Featured herbs
How to prepare
Cautions
Flexible flat feet are common and often cause no trouble. Support and exercises ease aching but do not rebuild the arch. A foot arch that suddenly flattens on one side in an adult, with pain, can mean a tendon problem and should be assessed.
Related remedies
Night Leg Cramps / Restless Legs (supportive)Muscle Cramps & SpasmsSprains & Strains (first aid)Knee Osteoarthritis (supportive)Post-fracture / Bone Healing Support (supportive)Exercise Muscle Soreness (DOMS) RecoveryCarpal Tunnel Syndrome (supportive)Bursitis / Tendonitis (supportive)
When to see a doctor. Home remedies are for minor, self-limiting complaints in adults. They are not a substitute for medical care, and herbs can interact with medicines. Not for children under the ages stated, in pregnancy, or with chronic conditions without a doctor's advice.
