Foot Odor Cure.

YOU could call it Limburger Feet Disease. Bacteria that are similar to the type that ripens limburger into one of the smelliest of cheeses is also responsible for the smelliest of feet, says Gregory Spencer, D.P.M., a podiatrist in Renton, Washington. The bacteria feast on the fat molecules in sweat, and the odor is produced by, well, for the sake of politeness, let's just say by bacterial post meal by-products.

Obviously, one of the best ways to get rid of the smell is to get rid of the bacteria. And, says Dr. Spencer, alternative home remedies provide easy, effective ways to do just that.


VINEGAR AND GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT: Soak Away Problems
"My patients with smelly feet have had very good results with vinegar soaks," says Dr. Spencer.
Put Y4 to 1 cup of vinegar in a basin of warm water and add a few drops of liquid grapefruit seed extract, which is a strong antibacterial. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes a day. Don't use this soak if you have areas of broken skin on your feet, however.
You'll probably have to soak your feet daily for 1 to 2 weeks, until the bacteria are dead. You'll know they're dead when your feet stop smelling.

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL: An Oily Option for Soaking
"I always recommend that clients with foot odor soak their feet daily, adding a few drops (no more than three) of thyme essential oil, which helps reduce unpleasant smells, to the water," says Andrea Murray, a certified reflexologist and herbalist in Portland, Maine. After the soak, don't forget to dry your feet thoroughly, and don't use this remedy if you have open sores.

FOOD: Stop Feeding Bacteria
The smell-producing bacteria on your feet love to feast on the animal fat in beef, pork, lamb, and other types of red meat, says Steven Subotnick, D.P.M., a podiatrist and naturopathic doctor in Berkeley and San Leandro, California.

His recommendation for anyone with smelly feet is to switch to a vegetarian diet. "I see the best results in eliminating foot odor in people who begin to follow this dietary regimen," Dr. Subotnick says. You should check with a doctor before changing your diet, however, as some people may develop anemia if such diets are not properly supplemented and supervised.

NATURAL ANTIPERSPIRANT: Not Just for Underarms

Anymore Look for a natural antiperspirant containing sage or coriander, two odor-stopping herbs, and apply it to the soles of your feet once or twice a day, says Stephanie Tourles, a licensed esthetician, reflexologist, and herbalist in West Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
"Most commercial antiperspirants completely block the moisture flow from the skin, which is not healthy," she says. Baking soda is another ingredient in natural antiperspirants that can help prevent odor, she says.

HOMEOPATHY: Choosing the Right Cure
Homeopathic remedies can also help cure smelly feet, says Dr. Subotnick. He recommends Silicea if your feet are icy cold, sweaty, smelly,

and yellow, and Graphites if your feet smell with or without sweating. Use Rumex if the sweat is very sour-smelling, and try Staphysagria for cold feet that smell like rotten eggs. Consider Pulsatilla if your feet are warm and have an offensive odor and if you tend to get sick after putting your feet in cold water.

For each of the above remedies, take a 6C potency as directed on the label. Stop taking it as soon as the foot odor is gone.