Corns And Calluses

Calluses are found mostly on the hands or the feet and consist of areas of thickened skin. They form when the skin in the affected area is repeatedly pressed upon or folded for long periods of time; they usually tend to affect the thickened skin on the palms and the feet but can arise on the skin in any part of the body. Hardened areas of skin on the feet are called corns; these affect only the feet and especially the folds of skin around the toes. Walking on corn affected feet may be painful and the corns as a rule are minute, sensitive and tender to the touch.

The hardening of the skin under continuous pressure or repeated injury in a small area causes the formation of both corns and calluses. The affected area is hardened in response to the repeated stimuli and serves as a protection from further injury or irritation. Tight fitting footwear especially high heels tends to generate the formation of corns on the feet, calluses on the other hand form from working with the hands while digging etc. or from continuous and long term use of a musical instrument, a guitar player’s fingertips are a good example. Warts which superficially resemble calluses are often mistaken for the same, while warts also come up as hardened areas on the skin-their mode of origin is different from the way in which calluses are formed.

Corn formation in the body is probably due to an acid-alkali imbalance within the body, as such an internal situation increases the susceptibility to corn development, dietary regimen change is the most effective way to address this issue and a change in the diet most contain fresh and raw alkalizing foods in abundant quantities. Some of the types of food that are essential include fresh fruits and vegetables-including of course sour-tasting fruits like lemons and other citruses. These foods tend to increase the oxidization of alkali and ash within the body of the person. On the other hand foods such as meats and dairy products, and cereals including the majority of grains tend to form acids within the body and can predispose the body to corns. Foods that abound in alkalizing minerals include vegetables such as the spinach, the cucumber and the Jerusalem artichoke, fruits such as cherries and raspberries are also an excellent way to beat corn formation in the body. Including two to three apples every day in the diet is another good option. To fulfill the body’s requirement for proteins, it is recommended that plant foods such as legumes and soy bean products like tofu be included instead of animal protein sources, the use of potatoes is also an excellent option in this regard. These vegetables are an excellent substitute to the acid-forming animal products such as meats and dairy products. Alkali forming plant products also exist, the millet and the buckwheat are two such grains. Diets should exclude all processed foods such as white flour and saturated fats, including fried foods from fast food joints and other oily dishes. The intake of sugars, all alcohol, excess of red meat, beverages such as coffee, all chocolates and soft drinks must be restricted as much as possible.

Supplements and herbs

To heal the skin tissues and to soften them up, topical supplements of the vitamin E can be directly applied onto the corns and calluses along the affected region of the body.

The herbal remedies given below will help in the reduction of the corns and increase the rate at which the skin is healed.

Topical application of the milky juice of dandelion or the greater celandine on the corn is recommended as an external measure-these herbal remedies are not for consumption. Till such times as the corn shows signs of loosening off, the applications must be repeated a few times everyday, it may take from a week or two weeks of continuous applications to see results. The elasticity of the skin and its suppleness can be restored through external applications of the horsetail tincture in concentrated form; this herbal remedy can also be consumed if taken diluted using water or some ingestible liquid. Dosage of the diluted herbal supplement can be half to a single tsp. of the tincture thrice everyday till such times as positive results are observed. The affected area can also be treated by applications of an herbal cream or some poultice two times everyday. Apply about five drops of the tea tree oil onto affected feet after soaking them for five minutes in warm water. In addition you can soak feet and dry them well so as to massage the calloused skin using an herbal mixture of the tea tree oil and a single tbsp. either of the almond oil or the olive oil for maximum effect.

What else you can do

Wash your feet carefully everyday to minimize the chances of developing the condition and ensure that you walk barefoot whenever possible each day either indoors or on a grassy lawn. To preclude the formation of corns and calluses on the feet, make sure that the footwear you use is comfortable and has proper insoles which are easy on the feet. The effect of corns that are already developed can be minimized by the use of special protective corn pads on them; these ensure comfort and minimize pain.

More useful herbs

• Garlic
• White Willow