HIKING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, TIRED FEET AND TESTING HOME REMEDIES .
	While reading research data on diabetes after mountain biking most of the day, I found a couple of studies that were focused on improving circulation in the legs and feet. Complications from diabetes can cause pooling of blood, poor circulation in the lower extremities, gangrene and amputation of the feet in some cases. I don’t have diabetes but I did have tired feet.

H2O2 AND IMPROVED CIRCULATION.

There are various ways to improve circulation and according to research I read, hydrogen peroxide is one of those ways. Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, has one more molecule of oxygen than water, H2O. The extra oxygen molecule appears to improve oxygen uptake at the cellular level. Most diabetic circulation problems are caused by lack of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Improved circulation not only delivers nutrients and oxygen, it improves elimination of waste and debris from the cells. Proper breath control and exercise can also help improve blood flow to the extremities.

CAYENNE PEPPER CAN IMPROVE CIRCULATION.

Cayenne pepper in a water and vegetable oil solution, like olive oil, can be rubbed on affected areas to help stimulate circulation. I’ve talked to people who’ve used cayenne pepper in this manner with good results. I’ve used cayenne pepper in an olive oil base to relieve pain, improve circulation and for healing a problem knee when I was doing professional athletics. I’ve also read research that used cayenne pepper topically as an analgesic and circulation stimulant with diabetics.

SWELLING OF THE HANDS AND FEET CAN INDICATE POOR CIRCULATION.
	Poor circulation is very often accompanied by swelling in the hands as well as the feet and legs. Vinegar helps reduce swelling and the accompanying pain of tendon and carpal tunnel problems. The vinegar has to be unfiltered, unpasteurized and contain naturally occurring mother of vinegar. White distilled vinegar won’t work as well, if at all.

THE ANSWER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE "NO."

So, here we have a problem: tired, swollen feet that have been in a pair of hiking boots, pedaling a mountain bike for hours and, when the bike couldn’t be ridden, on the trail pushing the bike for a large part of the afternoon. We also have possible information that hasn’t been tried, as far as we know, that can be used to soak the feet and possibly solve the problem. A large percentage of people won’t try anything new and in that scenario the answer to our dilemma is always “no.” Since none of the ingredients can cause any damage if used correctly, I figured that maybe I’d learn something new, so I experimented.

ALUMINUM CAN BE SOAKED THROUGH THE SKIN.
	First I got a stainless steel pan. If I’d had a plastic pan large enough I would have used it. I wouldn’t use aluminum or regular steel because of a chance the metals may dissolve into the solution and get transported into the body through the skin.

VINEGAR, CAYENNE PEPPER AND 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE.

Next I put in a cup of vinegar, the real kind. Then added two tablespoons of cayenne pepper, the super high-octane variety, and stirred it into the vinegar until dissolved. Then I added enough water to cover my feet in the pan and added 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind you get at the store. You could use food grade hydrogen peroxide, the 35% kind, but need to be aware that the ratio needs to be reduced proportionately. You need to be aware that food grade hydrogen peroxide can cause burns and/or blindness if proper safety precautions aren’t adhered to.

PINK, HAPPY FEET.
	Soak your feet in the solution until the water is cold or you have something else to do. Then wash your feet in warm, clean water and dry them thoroughly. I’ve soaked my feet for up to 30 minutes with excellent results and ended up with a pair of nice feeling, pink feet that were ready to go on another hike or ride, even though the rest of me said “No way.”