Heel spurs are calcified hooks that protrude from the heel. The heel spurs commonly develop as a result of plantar fasciitis. A band of fibrous tissue, called plantar fascia, runs from the heel to the front of the foot. In the foot of a person with plantar fasciitis, the plantar fascia may pull from the heel bone. This can cause calcium deposits to form at the site of the injury. The calcium deposits form a bony, hook-like protrusion of the heel bone known as heel spurs.
Since plantar fasciitis is often caused by over-pronation, or flatfeet, one home remedey for heel spurs is the use of arch supports to provide relief of the plantar fascia. Orthotics that cushion the heel can help alleviate spur pain heel spurs cause. Resting the affected foot may be the only home treatment for heel spurs that is necessary to provide relief. Applying an ice pack and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers can help reduce the heel pain, inflammation, and swelling. Often, the spur pain heel spurs cause subsides in a few weeks.
Some home remedies for heel spurs claim to help alleviate the pain. Drinking alfalfa tea at least twice a day and eating foods rich in calcium are home remedies for heel spurs. Apple cider vinegar is a common ingredient of home remedies. A home remedy for heel spurs is to soak a piece of paper the size of the heel in apple cider vinegar. The paper is then to be worn on the effected heel for four to five days. Another home treatment for heel spurs that uses apple cider vinegar is to apply a mixture of apple cider vinegar and molasses to the sore heels.
Wrapping the sore heel in fresh cabbage leaves and covering the foot and cabbage leaves with a paper wrap has been recommended as a home treatment for heel spurs. Massage is often suggested by medical resources and home remedies. One home remedy recommends massaging coconut oil into the painful heel.
Cheese cloth dipped in linseed oil can be wrapped around the effected heel and kept in place for a few hours. Soaking the foot in a borax solution is suggested as a home remedy. Soaking the foot in chlorinated water might help. Most tap water in the United States contains chlorine. Cold tap water may contain more chlorine than hot tap water, as the heat evaporates some of the chlorine. If heel pain continues to be troublesome, the individual should see a doctor.
