Toenail fungus, otherwise referred to as onychomycosis is a contagious fungal infection that you can contract from others already with the condition. If you’ve walked around a public pool bare foot or had a pedicure from a nail salon where the equipment was not well-sterilized, then you could contract the illness. That is, provided the fungus itself is lurking around. Toenail fungus starts off as a white or yellow spot beneath your toenail. As the fungus grows and gets deeper into your nail bed, your toenail can develop a yellowish or greenish discoloration, thicken and even crumble. [1]
What Is The Best Home Remedy For Toenail Fungus?
There are oral medications for the condition, but it gets to a point where the fungus becomes drug-resistant. If that’s the case, you can adopt some home remedies which will aid in improving the healing process of the condition. Needless say, medication can have adverse effects, and if you want to avoid that, you can opt home remedies which is a more natural treatment to toenail fungus. Here are some of the commonly used home remedies that actually work in getting rid of toenail fungus:
Vinegar For Toenail Fungus
In general, vinegar is often used for cooking purposes. However, vinegar has so many beneficial properties for your body including killing fungus. This is because vinegar is acidic and the particular component that makes it acidic (acetic acid) has antifungal properties. Vinegar also helps in restoring your skin’s pH level, so that it can grow back.
To use vinegar in treating toenail fungus; put it in a basin and add a bit of water, then soak your feet for about 30 minutes.
Mouthwash (Listerine) As A Home Remedy For Toenail Fungus
Other than cleaning your mouth, Listerine is also ideal for killing foot fungus. Listerine contains some powerful ingredients such as thymol and eucalyptol which have anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. In addition to that, it contains salicylate which enables falling off of dead skin cells and promotes growth of healthy ones.
To make a Listerine bath, put the mouthwash in a basin, add water, and then soak your feet in the bath for about 30 minutes.
Garlic For Toenail Fungus
Garlic is a seasoning food, which has several medicinal benefits. It is naturally an antifungal, so it will help kill any fungus in your feet and also beat any bad odor.
To fight toenail fungus with garlic, put a garlic clove in a sock, then put it on for a few minutes, or mince the garlic then apply it directly on affected nails. It is advisable that before using the garlic, apply moist heat to the infected toes to open up the pores and bring out any bad stuff to the surface. [2]
Snakeroot Extract For Toenail Fungus
Snakeroot extract is another natural antifungal that is made from plants belonging in the family of sunflowers. In a study, it was discovered that snakeroot extract is as effective in treating toenail fungus as ciclopirox, which is a prescribed antifungal drug.
To use snakeroot extract, apply it to the affected toenails and surrounding area, say once or twice a week for a month, or after a particular interval of time of your choosing.
Oils Therapy For Toenail Fungus
There are several types of oils used in managing toenail fungus, for example; tea tree oil, oregano oil, and ozonized oils. Tea tree oil is a hub of antifungal and antiseptic properties which makes it idea in fighting toenail fungus. Oregano oil contains thymol which has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Ozonized oils such as sunflower oil and olive oil are infused with ozone gas. They are believed to have positive effects that are similar to a traditional medication known as terbinafine cream used in treating a particular type of fungus.
To apply any oil with toenail fungus killing abilities, do so directly on the affected nails about twice a day for about three months continuously. [1] [3]
Diet Change For Toenail Fungus
A diet change can help one improve their overall health. For individuals with toenail fungus, a diet that excludes sugars and foods with yeast– which feed fungus – and include foods that help with balancing bacteria in the body and promoting nail growth is an ideal way of managing the condition. Foods that’s patients with toenail fungus should eat are those rich in fatty acids, vitamin D and calcium, lean proteins, probiotics such as yogurt and iron-rich foods. [3]
Conclusion
The best home remedy for toenail fungus is that which works for you as an individual. You can try the different home remedies and identify which one works best for you. For better results, you can try combining some of the remedies to have a greater chance of killing the fungus.
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