There are those who believe that the feet are a pathway into the soul. Reflexologists view the feet as a mini roadmap of the body, with points on the feet connected to different parts of the body. In the west, we tend to view our feet as mere appendages used to get us from here to there... that is, until pain strikes and we realize how vital our feet really are. For advice on how to keep feet happy and healthy on a daily basis, I consulted Stuart J. Mogul, DPM, a prominent New York podiatrist and surgeon and author of Perfect Feet: Caring and Pampering (Stewart, Tabori and Chang).

PAMPER YOUR TOOTSIES

I've spent some of my favorite vacations at spas where guests are encouraged to hike and exercise all day, followed by luxurious, foot-saving soaks and massages. But the good news is that you don't have to visit an expensive spa to give tired feet a boost. There are many natural approaches to happy feet that you can practice anytime at home. Dr. Mogul's favorites include...

Soak your cares away. Relieve swelling and comfort tired feet in a revitalizing footbath. Good aromatherapy options include essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, rosemary, cypress and tea tree. (An added advantage to cypress and tea tree: They're natural deodorants.)

A simple formula: Add three to five drops of an essential oil to a bowl of hot water. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salts, and soak feet for five to 15 minutes.

Banish foot odor. Odor -- one of life's small but painful embarrassments -- is a metabolic by-product of bacteria, explains Dr. Mogul. It's easy enough to remove by soaking your feet in liquids, in addition to essential oils that also have antibacterial properties, such as tea (tannic acid) or vinegar (acetic acid).

A simple formula: Combine one part vinegar (any type) with four parts hot water, and immerse feet for five to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and repeat as needed.

Massage away pain. When you're on your feet all day, muscles grow fatigued and lactic acid begins to accumulate. This is an irritant to nerve endings, explains Dr. Mogul. It's what makes your tired feet feel so sore. Foot massage relieves discomfort by increasing local blood flow and milking away the lactic acid from the muscles.

A simple formula: Massage tired feet with several drops of the essential oil of your choice diluted with a tablespoon of a medicinal oil such as arnica (good for aches and pains) or tincture like calendula (beneficial for skin diseases and wound healing). Do not use arnica on broken skin. Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, suggests massaging with a technique called "lymphatic drainage." This is done by gently milking the tissue toward the body, in a way similar to how you might squeeze the water out of a towel from one end toward the other. This will help move metabolic by-products out of the feet and return them to circulation.

DON'T OVERLOOK THE BASICS

Of course, all the soaks and massages in the world cannot always compensate for the mistreatment that feet are frequently forced to endure. Don't overlook these basic rules...

Wear shoes that fit well. Tight shoes are the biggest culprit in foot ailments, from painful blisters to bunions and hammer toes (in which the toes curl under). Women in particular are prone to buying shoes that are too small because they think it makes their feet look better. Here's a secret: Uncomfortable shoes make you look "ugly" when walking. Better to walk beautifully in slightly larger shoes. Your best bet: Shop for new shoes in the late afternoon, since feet swell as the day progresses.

Do not ignore corns and calluses. To get rid of hard, dry skin, smooth daily with a pumice stone and/or an exfoliating foot scrub.

To avoid dryness and cracking, every day apply a deep, rich, moisturizer. This is particularly important during the dry winter months, notes Dr. Mogul. Dr Rubman's favorite moisturizers use squalane as a key ingredient.

The bottom line: Take good care of your feet, and they will take good care of you. By exercising a little care and