This is information, not medical advice
Everything on Feet Naturally — the conditions, the remedies, the diabetic foot care guide and the articles — is general educational information about foot health. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it is not a treatment plan.
Reading this site does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Maasi J. Smith, Smith Podiatry, or anyone else associated with this guide. Nobody here has examined your foot.
Always consult a professional
Before acting on anything you read here, speak to a doctor, podiatrist, or other qualified health professional — particularly if you have an existing condition, take regular medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are treating a child.
Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you read on this site.
If you have diabetes
This deserves its own warning. Diabetic feet can be seriously injured without pain, and heal slowly once damaged. Many of the remedies described here — hot soaks, acidic soaks, abrasive filing, essential oils — carry real risk on a diabetic foot.
If you have diabetes, treat this site as background reading and take your foot problems to your doctor or podiatrist. Do not begin any home treatment on your feet without asking them first.
Seek urgent care if
- You have a wound that will not stop bleeding.
- There is redness spreading from a wound, warmth, pus, or a smell.
- You have a fever alongside a foot problem.
- You cannot bear weight after an injury, or the foot looks misshapen.
- You have sudden numbness, a cold pale foot, or severe unexplained pain.
- You have diabetes and notice any new sore, blister, colour change or swelling.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number or go to an emergency department. Do not use this site instead.
Natural does not mean harmless
Several remedies described here can cause real injury if misused. Garlic and cinnamon can burn skin. Oregano and thyme oils are harsher still. Lemon and bergamot are phototoxic and can cause severe burns in sunlight. Chaparral has been linked to serious liver injury if swallowed. Essential oils are toxic if ingested and dangerous around young children.
Every remedy page states its own cautions. Read them. Patch test anything new, and stop at the first sign of burning rather than warmth.
Accuracy and limits
The content comes from the books Feet Naturally and Feet Naturally, Diabetes by Dr. Maasi J. Smith, together with material written for this site. Medical understanding changes, and information here may become out of date. We make no warranty that the content is complete, current, or suitable for your situation.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Feet Naturally and Smith App Studio accept no liability for any loss or injury arising from use of this site.