Home Remedies For Nail Fungus

Health & FitnessMedicine

  • Author Rick Hutch
  • Published August 19, 2008
  • Word count 589

Nail fungus infections, also referred to as onychomycosis, are extremely common. Approximately 12% of all Americans suffer from nail fungus. Toenail fungus infections are much more common than fingernail fungus, and are more difficult to treat. This is because fungi thrive in dark, warm and moist environments.

Natural treatment for nail fungus: put iodine on the fungus and bandage (make sure you are not allergic).

When just begun apply tea tree oil on the fungus.

Drip 1 drop of bleach on the fungus, keep applying even after it's gone.

Keep your feet dry and try to walk with sandals.

Vicks Vaporub - apply this along with essential oils to the affected area. What you want to do is have the nail filed first, that way the treatment works more effectively. Make sure that you rub it into the top of the affected toe nail. This way you make certain that the Vick’s is where it should be.

It may help you a lot to apply pure oregano essential oil. The benefit from this oil lays in its ingredients as it comes power packed with antiseptic, anti fungal and analgesic properties that would keep the fungus at bay.

One of the other recommended essential oils for nail fungus is tea tree oil, which can be found in any of the stores around your area. It has been noted the there is scientific evidence which points to the antifungal action of this oil. Remember in order for it to be effective you need to do this on a daily basis.

The most popular home remedy for nail fungus is probably soaking the affected nail in a solution that will kill the fungus. Common soaking solutions contain dilute chlorine bleach, household vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or Listerine mouthwash. It requires daily soaking for weeks or months to clear the infection, and better results are often obtained if the nail is filed from the top to make it thinner, which allows for better penetration.

Vinegar. While there's no direct evidence that a vinegar soak can cure nail fungus, some studies have shown that it can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Experts suggest soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts warm water. Be sure to rinse well and pat your feet dry when you're done.

VapoRub. As with vinegar, there have been no controlled clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub on nail fungus, but there have been numerous anecdotal reports that it works. However, there's no consensus on how often to apply this product, so check with your doctor before using this product in a way it wasn't designed to be used.

Vitamin E

People who have used Vitamin E oil to soak their fingers and toes say that this is an effective way to get rid of fungus.

Listerine

Listerine is normally used as a mouth wash but has many home remedy effects for different ailments. Some say to mix it with vinegar and soak your feet or hands in it and others say to just soak your feet and hands in plain Listerine. It is a slow treatment but it is inexpensive and effective.

Mouthwash

Many people who have been affected with nail fungus have testified that mint-flavored mouthwash can be used to treat nail fungus. They claim that the antiseptic property of mouthwash that gets rid of bacteria residing in the mouth also works against fungus thriving on the nails. Soak your feet in undiluted mouthwash for a few minutes a day.

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