Authored by Dr Harsh Sharma, Edited and Peer Reviewed by Dr. Pooja Sharma

Published November 2, 2023, Last updated November 2, 2023

Heel Pain is a common problem of the foot that occurs mostly in middle and old age. The following homeopathic medicines for heel pain are very effective –

1. Rhus Tox
2. Valeriana
3. Ammonia Mur
4. Pulsatilla
5. Petroleum
   The heel pain mostly centers just under the heel or behind it. Occasionally, it affects the side of the heel too.

   Before we talk about the indications suggesting the individual homeopathic medicine, let us understand the problem in a little more detail.

Know more about your foot

The human foot has 26 bones and 33 joints. At the same time, there are more than 100 tendons in the human foot. There are two main structures in your foot which are prone to give your tendon. These two are the Achilles tendon and the Plantar Fascia. Achilles tendon is the tendon at the back of your foot which connects to the heel. Plantar fascia is a thick band like tissue at the base of your foot and connects the heel to the toes of your feet.

Stress on your feet

For every 1 mile that you walk, each foot bears 60 tons of stress. It increases all the more if you are overweight. Walking barefoot or with shoes that have hard soles can further aggravate the pressure on your feet. Running on hard surfaces too puts your feet under a lot of stress. All such activities can inflame your Achilles tendon or the Plantar Fascia.

What causes heel pain?

There can be many reasons for pain in heel. Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis, calcaneal spurs, stress fractures, sprain or strain in the foot, bursitis or tumors in the heels are some of the common reasons for heel pain. While there are other reasons too, the most common ones are the inflammation of the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia.

Overuse of the feet, unaccustomed exercise or stress of the feet, running or marching long distances can cause stress and inflammation of the Achilles tendon and/or plantar fascia. Repetitive stress injury from any persistent movement can also cause inflammation of these two tissues. Flat feet can also increase pressure on the tendons.

What is Plantar Fasciitis and how it causes heel pain?

Calcaneal spurs can often come up on X rays of the heels. These calcaneal spurs are often thought of as the cause of the pain. Actually, the pain may not be due to the calcaneal spurs but due to plantar fasciitis. The inflammation of the plantar fascia causes irritation of the bones of the heel and small spurs form. Treating plantar fasciitis rather than the calcaneal spurs yields immediate results in such heel pain.

A commonly overlooked cause of plantar fasciitis is the rigidity of the calf muscles. When the calf muscles are rigid, they do not allow the ankle to bend forward walking or running. This has to be compensated by increased stretching of the plantar fascia which is not meant to be stretched. Removing this rigidity of the calf muscle often relieves the pain in the heel. This is often very surprising to laymen and patients that stretching your calf muscles can cure the pain in your heel.

Symptoms of Achilles tendinitis and Plantar Fasciitis heel pain

The most common symptom is the acute pain early in the morning on rising up from the bed. It is very difficult to put the foot or the heel to the ground. Taking the first few steps excite excruciating pain. Once you take a few steps, the pain slowly improves and you are able to walk better. This is the most common presentation of plantar fasciitis. Running on hard surfaces or treadmills can increase the chances of plantar fasciitis. There may be some pain free days or even weeks but then the pain again surfaces.

In other cases, the pain may be at the back of the heel. Such pain may be worse while walking uphill or ascending stairs. There may even be redness and swelling behind the ankle. Wearing tight shoes or running for too long can cause this pain.

Exercise for Heel Pain

The most helpful exercise to relieve your heel pain is to stretch your calf muscles. There is a simple way to do that.

1. Stand about half a meter from a wall and keep both your hands on the wall at shoulder height.

2. Put one foot back by taking a step backwards. Keep the heel of both feet on the ground

3. Bend the front knee and try to take the back foot as much backwards as you can while keeping the heel in touch with ground.Do this alternately for both feet for a couple of days. You will be surprised to see your heel pain relieved in just a matter of a few days.

Homeopathy for heel pain

Homeopathy is very effective in the treatment of heel pain. Whether the pain in heel is due to Plantar Fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis, these homeopathic medicines are able to relieve the pain once and for all. At the same time, these homeopathic medicines do not act as painkillers and rather treat the root cause of the pain.

5 best homeopathic medicines for heel pain

I am giving a short list of the 5 best homeopathic medicines for heel pain though this does not mean that these are the only medicines that are used to treat heal pain. It is just that these homeopathic remedies are more commonly indicated. The only way to determine the right indicated homeopathic medicine is based on the homeopathic law of similarity. Symptoms of the patient must match the symptoms produced by the remedy.

1. Rhus Tox – One of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain with pain worse on first motion

2. Valeriana – One of the best homeopathic remedies for heel pain with pain worse on sitting

3. Ammonia Mur – One of the best homeopathic remedies for pain in heel better by rubbing

4. Pulsatilla – One of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain worse in evening

5. Petroleum – One of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain as if from splinter

I am giving a brief synopsis of the important symptoms indicating the particular remedy. This is more for academic purpose and not for self medication. It is better to take the advice of an experienced homeopathic doctor instead of trying to treat oneself.

1. Rhus Tox – One of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain with pain worse on first motion

When the pain is worse on the first motion after staying still for some time, Rhus Tox is one of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain. There is restlessness in the feet. The pains are tearing in character. The patient feels better by movement and worse on sitting or lying down or staying still. The pains are worse in cold, damp weather. Rainy season aggravates all sorts of pains and troubles.

2. Valeriana – One of the best homeopathic remedies for heel pain with pain worse on sitting

When the pain is worse on sitting, Valeriana is one of the best homeopathic remedies for heel pain. Pains are worse while sitting or standing and resting on the floor. There is constant jerking and tearing in limbs. Hysteria and oversensitive nature characterize this remedy.

3. Ammonia Mur – One of the best homeopathic remedies for pain in heel better by rubbing

When the pain is better by rubbing, Ammonia Mur is one of the best homeopathic remedies for heel pain. There is ulcerative pain in the heels. The tendons feel contracted. Shooting and tearing pains in toes is also present.

4. Pulsatilla – One of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain worse in evening

When the pain is worse in the evening, Pulsatilla is one of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain. The pains are boring in character and are worse on letting the limbs hang down. Shifting pains is another characteristic of this remedy. The patient is usually worse in summers and cannot tolerate heat. Heels remain red, hot and swollen.

5. Petroleum – One of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain as if from splinter

When the pain is as if from a splinter, Petroleum is one of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain. The pains are worse in winter. Cracking in joints is another characteristic indication of this remedy.

FAQs about Heel Pain

• What is the main cause of heel pain?

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Almost 80 % of the cases of heel pain are due to plantar fasciitis. In other cases, Achilles tendonitis, calcaneal spur and arthritis are the causes.

• What is a heel spur?

Heel spur is a bony growth on the heel bone. It occurs due to repeated stress and inflammation of the plantar fascia. Plantar fasciitis causes irritation of the heel bone and leads to bony growth.

• Is walking good for heel pain?

When heel pain is due to acute plantar fasciitis, it is best to take rest, use ice packs etc to reduce inflammation. Using soft soles and extra padding helps to reduce pressure on the heel.

• How can I prevent heel pain?

Wearing shoes with soft soles and good padding, stretching your calf muscles, legs and feet often helps in preventing heel pain.

• Can Homoeopathy treat heel pain?

Yes, Homoeopathy can effectively treat heel pain. Homoeopathy can completely cure your heel pain and that too permanently.

• Can I take Homoeopathy for heel pain during pregnancy? Are the Homoeopathic medicines safe for pregnant women?

Yes, Homoeopathy is perfectly safe for pregnant women and the unborn children.

• Which is the best exercise to relieve heel pain?

Stretching your legs, calf muscles and feet is the best way to relieve your heel pain.

• Is the Homoeopathic medicine Rhus Tox good for heel pain?

Rhus Tox is no doubt one of the best homeopathic medicines for heel pain. The exact choice of the right homoeopathic medicine depends upon the symptoms of the patient which often vary subtly. There are other remedies like Arnica, Pulsatilla, Ammonia Mur, Petroleum and Valeriana too which are pretty effective for heel pain.