Friday 13 January 2012

Chilblains

Ok, so I make it sound as if I'm living in the dark ages in some unheated garret or something. But no, I just have terrible circulation & have always suffered from chilblains.


I follow the medical advice to keep my feet at an even temperature & to wear natural fibres but I still manage to get the dreaded chilblains.

Here's what helps me to alleviate the burning itchiness of my poor swollen toes...

A mustard foot bath- luke warm water & mustard powder

Coat the toes in the hottest mustard available & elevate the feet. The burning sensation goes within about 10 mins but you do look (& smell) a bit strange...

Before going to bed massage the toes with a teaspoon of oil with 2 drops of ginger essential oil & 2 drops of black pepper essential oil (Tiger balm, 'Snowfire' or Olbas oil also does the trick)

On the bright side, I never get chilblains on my fingers...

Does anyone know of any other remedies?

13 comments:

noknittedknickers said...

Ouch! You have my sympathies. I used to get them as a child. Like a cold, they fall into that category of ailment that you know you're not going to die from but that doesn't stop you feeling miserable. At least now I know what to do if I ever get them again.

Celia Hart said...

Poor you! I got them on my toes a few winters ago - long hours sitting in my studio working at the computer almost motionless followed by a too quick cooking by the fire took its toll. My Mum bought me some real sheepskin houseboots for the following winter (I'm wearing them today, still do the job but look a bit shabby). That and the secondary glazing in my studio and moving my desk to the sunnier side of the room have solved the problem for me.

You have my sympathies, the achy itching is ghastly!

Celia

driftwood said...

I use snowfire. I think the terrible smell scares away the chillblains.....

Su said...

I do sympathise as I had them regularly as a child and in my earlier career as a dancer (too many cold rehearsal rooms!). I had them on my fingers too.

Hope you get relief.

Anonymous said...

shiver! I'm not sure I've ever had them, but they sound dreadful!

lizzie said...

I had them as a child - always thought it was something to do with wearing wellies ? We were told to rub snow on them (but never did)

litlove said...

Groan! I have them from time to time, too (equally poor circulation!). I was told to cut an onion in half and rub it on the afflicted area. Not exactly Chanel No 5 is it!

Anonymous said...

I used to have them when I was a child and used to have mustard baths for my feet and Snowfire before putting on socks. Not had any for years, you have my sympathy.

Calico Kate said...

Oh ouch, no idea but you have my sympathies. A friend gets them on her fingers usually in the run up to Christmas and she is making a lot of last minute things and last orders etc. and she's also under the weather, tired, stressed. Could be a vitamin thing too? Extra D or c maybe?
Do hope that they clear soon.
CKx

Mrs. Micawber said...

They sound dreadful. I wish I had some good advice for you....

The treatment interests me. I wonder if the mustard acts as a counter-irritant, or a vasodilator?

Good luck.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I had them as a child too and remember my grandma making me use a mustard bath. I hated it then! Didn't like the smell at all and hated the idea that my feet smelled like a ham sandwich. I think the thing that works now in preventing them is trying really hard not to let my feet get too cold. I know the other secret is not sitting too close to the fire when you come in from the cold but that is SOOO hard!

BadPenny said...

ooh I did suffer terribly with toes as a child ( I think I read that your own urine was a natural cure - but not so sure ! ) They are so painful so I hope you find a soothing balm x

Thrifty Household said...

Mmm, I've read about the urine but not yet tried it...
I'm going to give the onion a go though (maybe whilst looking up 'vasodilator'- I've never heard that word before, think I know what it means but need to check!)

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