One of the most common reasons for patients to visit an acupuncturist is heel pain, a condition that can be extremely painful and restricting to personal activity. Medically, the most common form of heel pain is called plantar fasciitis. This occurs when a ligament (called the plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot, becomes inflamed. Heel spurs form as a result of this pulling of the fascia on the base of the heel bone. Typically, patients complain of sharp, stabbing pain at the base of the heel. Most often the pain is at its worst in the morning on rising; as the fascia stretches with activity, the pain may gradually subside.

The condition is most often caused when a person has excessive flattening of the foot (pronation), but it can also caused by certain mineral deficiencies, silica being the most common one.
Many treatments are available for heel spurs. Most patients with heel-spur pain visit a podiatrist first, and there’s no question that proper structural correction and support do help a great deal. However, while this can significantly reduce the pain, if the primary cause of the spur is calcification, it won’t cure the problem. Nor will the prescription anti-inflammatory tablets that many patients take. Certainly, they’ll dull the pain, but using them while continuing to undertake normal daily activities has the potential to be quite damaging to the foot structure as this places additional strain on the inflamed foot, causing the inflammation to increase and possibly become chronic.

At the first sign of heel pain, consult a podiatrist and have a proper supportive sole put into your shoe to reduce pressure. Then as soon as possible visit an acupuncturist, as 94 per cent of patients suffering with heel spurs respond beautifully to conservative treatment. Acupuncture is more effective than any other form of treatment for heel spur. A traditional technique called Cherry Blossom Needle Technique will be used to treat the spur in conjunction with magnetic heat lamp. Treatment is usually performed three times a week. Patients also use a traditional Chinese foot bath to bathe the foot every night: combine in a saucepan three mandarin peels, two slices of fresh ginger root and two litres of water. Bring the water to the boil, and simmer for ten minutes. When the mixture is bearably hot, soak your affected foot in the water for 20 minutes. You can also use an orange bath: peel two oranges (white pith included), place in a saucepan with two litres of water, bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
I also prescribe an extract of the herb horsetail: three millilitres once a day. Drinking oatstraw and horsetail tea daily also helps as this is an excellent source of silica. The combination of acupuncture, heat treatment and herbs provides the most effective solution for the structural healing of the foot and the prevention of further calcification.

For severe cases, I use certain natural products to produce an anti-inflammatory effect. Two of my favourite products are called Cartrin and Kaprex. They can both provide pain relief in a few days without irritating the stomach or causing ulcers.

Some chronic and very severe cases of heel spur require surgery. If you choose to go this route, make sure you eat collagen-rich food before and after the surgery: these include pig’s trotters, shark fin, and veal-joint soup. Combine in a large saucepan one kilo of veal joint, six thin slices of fresh ginger root, one tablespoon of vinegar, three litres of water, boil rapidly for 20 minutes, reduce heat and simmer for 90 minutes. Refrigerate, and use two cups per day. Alternatively, use the soup as a basis for vegetable or grain soups, or as a stock to cook rice and vegetables.

When your foot returns to normal, take a supplement of the mineral silica, or an extract of horsetail herb to prevent further calcification.

This article was first published in the magazine “Nature and Health”