Home
Rodale Bookshelf
New Choices in Natural Healing: Heel Spurs

Chapter List

Special Limited Time Offer!
Order today and
Save an Extra 15%!
Use coupon code: LSAVE15

Heel Spurs

We already have 19 bones in each of our feet. So we don’t need any more, especially when they come in the form of painful heel spurs.

Spurs are knobs of unwanted bone that grow on the bottoms of your feet. They start when the main ligament that runs across your sole and connects to the heel gets irritated. Spurs are a common problem for runners and other folks who are hard on their feet. The natural remedies in this chapter—in conjunction with medical care and used with your doctor’s approval—may help prevent or relieve the pain of heel spurs, according to some health professionals.

See Your Medical Doctor When...

You have heel pain for more than five days.
You experience calf pain in addition to heel pain.
You are unable to walk.

Hydrotherapy

You can get relief from spur pain by using an ice pack, according to Terry Spilken, D.P.M., a podiatrist and adjunct faculty member at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City. He says to wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to the spur for ten minutes, then remove the pack for ten minutes before using it again. Do not apply the pack directly to the skin or leave it on for more than 20 minutes, since many experts say this can cause skin damage.

Vitamin and Mineral Therapy

Add more calcium and magnesium to your diet with supplements, says Julian Whitaker, M.D., founder and president of the Whitaker Wellness Center in Newport Beach, California. He suggests taking 1,000 milligrams of each daily at the first sign of heel spurs, continuing until symptoms improve. Calcium and magnesium will also help prevent or ease the pain of future heel spurs, he says.

See also Foot Pain

Shop with Us: Brands A-Z; Products A-Z; Autoship; Ways to Shop; Member Discounts

Customer Service: Contact Us; Help Desk; Shipping Policy; Return Policy; Ask a question; Track Your Order

My Account: My Account; My Order History; My Shopping Cart

Health Library: Vitamin Guide; Guide to Herbs; Health Concerns; Home Remedies; Seniors Health; Women's Health

About Us: Our Blog; Our Philosophy; Corporate Discounts; Affliliate Program; Terms of Use

Featured Partners

Email Sign up: Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!

Call us M-F 9am-5pm: 1-800-439-5506

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material. MotherNature is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.All discounts are taken from suggested retail prices. Prices are subject to change.