Nothing is worse than sore, painful feet and many women over 50 have to suffer this daily affliction. Too many years of wearing unsuitable shoes and spending hours on your feet as part of your work and home lives with little time to pamper yourself will eventually catch up with you.

Health issues such as poor circulation, diabetes and carrying extra weight can cause foot problems as well. Remaining mobile after 50 is crucial in terms of maintaining your health and enjoying a good quality of life, so place caring for your feet at the top of your agenda.

Bunions, hammer toes, corns and calluses can all be dealt with by a good chiropodist and it’s advisable to consult a professional to ensure that you’re wearing suitable shoes and using the best products available to help alleviate these kinds of problems.

There’s plenty you can do at home to improve the condition of your feet, however.

Firstly, invest in a foot spa. These can cost as little as £20 and provide sweet relief with settings for soothing warmth and gentle bubbles. You can always add a little essential oil to the water and enjoy the relaxing benefits of the natural aroma. Lavender and Rose Geranium will both offer relief from stress and strain and leave you feeling great.

Secondly, regularly remove dry, hard skin with the use of a pumice stone, a foot scrub and a foot file. Don’t let the problem build up and take the risk of suffering from painful, cracked heels. Whenever necessary, smother the feet in heel balm before bedtime, seal it all in with a pair of cotton socks and enjoy the results the following morning. Wearing open backed shoes is a definite No if you are prone to hard skin – opt for a comfortable pair of pumps or canvas slip ons instead.

Finally, remember to dry your feet well and use a good moisturiser on your feet after bathing or showering. There are plenty of non-greasy products on the market that offer intense moisturisation.

Many of us know that peppermint is good for a stomach upset and even freshens the breath — for a while, anyway.

Now scientists in the U.S. are claiming that it also increases alertness by as much as one-third.

More, it reduces tiredness by 15pc, they say.

Peppermint is obviously a herb you should have on your shelf, not to mention a box of mint teabags.

It can also easily be grown in small containers or a few feet of spare garden soil.

Peppermint is delicious in salads, soups and casseroles.

Cider vinegar is surprisingly good for you, according to health experts and long-term devotees.

You may shudder at the taste of vinegar — a surprising number of people, especially children, do — but it really is good for you.

Image by Syntagma Photographic

Cider vinegar taken with meals will reduce your blood pressure just as it’s likely to rise.

A shot of the liquid, twice a day, cuts out cravings and helps the body digest food.

Cider vinegar is deemed preferable to other forms, like malt, wine and balsamic, because it is said to have added health benefits, such as antioxidants, as well as tasting sweeter, rendering it more palatable.

It can be bought in good grocery stores, or unfiltered in health food shops.

Sales of alternative medicines are booming despite the long and crippling recession. In just two years, the market has grown by 18 per cent to £213million a year.

Analysts predict sales will increase by 33 per cent to £282million over the next four years. More and more people are rejecting prescription drugs, preferring milder natural remedies. Mintel says the rise is partly explained by official acceptance of many treatments such as acupuncture, which is now available on the NHS.

Other holistic treatments such as the Indian ayurveda, which concentrates on diet, yoga, massage and herbs are making ground against standard invasive therapies.

In these times of recessionary stress, depression has led to a surge of sufferers exploring holistic approaches rather than addictive prescription drugs.

Around 1.5million Britons bought St John’s Wort last year, mainly for depression.