Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is characterized by pain, swelling, and inflammation of the toe, as well as thickening, thickening, and yellowing of the nail itself. This ailment can be the result of abnormal pH of the skin, wearing synthetic socks, continuous exposure to moisture, sweat build-up in shoes, compromised immune system, poor foot hygiene, or weak circulation that is usually caused by diabetes.
Causes of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus can affect people of all ages, but usually, it is more common in older people. Causes of toenail problems can include:
- poor circulation
- infection
- trauma
- ill-fitting shoes
- poor nerve supply
Toenail Fungus Symptoms
You may have symptoms of nail fungus if one or more of your nails are:
- Dull (without shine)
- Thickened
- Distorted in shape
- Crumbly, brittle or ragged
- A dark color as a reason of debris building up under the nail
You may also feel pain in your toes and detect a slightly foul odor.
Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
If left untreated, toenail problems can cause splitting, cracking, and even loss of the toenail. However, the good news is that this infection is curable and can be treated easily. There are some great natural home remedies that can heal toenail fungus in 1-2 months. Your Health Tubers find these 5 natural remedies as some of the best home treatments for toenail fungus:
- Orange Essential Oil
The health benefits of orange oil can be attributed to its great properties as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, diuretic, carminative, sedative, tonic, and cholagogues substance. As a natural anti-fungal this oil can be applied directly on the affected toenail in order to heal the infection. Just apply a few drops of orange oil on your nail and between your toes. Let it soak in about 1-1 ½ hour.
Orange oil may be a string for people who have sensitive skin. Therefore, you should dilute the oil at 1:1 ratio with a natural carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil.
Note: In order to avoid citrus allergy, we recommend you to test the orange oil on some spot of your skin before applying it to the affected area. (Many wellness and health stores have open ‘testers’ of the products for just such a purpose.)
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a traditional natural remedy for many skin infections. It’s also one of the most impressive remedies for treating toenail fungus. You can use apple cider vinegar both, topically and internally. Just mix 1:1 ratio apple cider vinegar and Epsom salt with 6 parts warm water. Let the mixture cool so that is still warm but not hot. Soak your feet in the mixture for about 30-40 minutes to destroy the fungus. Do this 2 times a day. For better results, you can also dissolve one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of lukewarm water, add a teaspoon of honey and consume. Drink this beverage once a day.
- Tea Tree Essential Oil
The health benefits of this oil can be attributed to its properties as an antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic, antimicrobial, insecticide, balsamic, expectorant, cicatrizant, fungicide, sudorific and stimulant substance. Tea tree oil is a potent remedy for onychomycosis. In order to use this remedy, you need to clean the infected area with some alcohol first. Then, dilute tea tree oil 1:1 ratio with a carrier oil (olive oil would be just fine) and then apply directly on the affected area. Let it soak for an hour. Repeat twice a day, until the new healthy nail grows out entirely, then continue using the remedy for 2-3 more weeks to prevent regrowth.
Furthermore, if you are not really familiar with the usage and dosing of tea tree oil, check out this article for some of the other great reasons to keep this incredible oil in your medicine cabinet.
- Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has numerous health benefits. It contains caprylic acid, one of the medium-chain fatty acids, which has an ability to penetrate the cell wall of Candida and some other fungi, and thus, to effectively destroy the infection. Simply apply a thin layer of this oil to the affected area and let it soak for about 15-20 minutes. Use this remedy a few times a day. Coconut oil is amazing for your skin, but make sure you are not allergic to coconut before applying the oil on your skin.
- Baking Soda and Borax Powder
The fungus requires an acidic environment in order to flourish. Therefore, alkaline baking soda is an ideal remedy that can prevent toenail fungus from spreading by making an uninhabitable environment for it. Moreover, sodium borate, commonly known as borax, is a natural mineral with powerful fungicide. So, these 2 remedies combined can create a treatment that can heal nail fungus really fast. Simply mix equal parts of baking soda and borax powder with some water in order to make a paste. Then, gently rub the mixture onto affected area. You should do this 2 times per day and continue for 2 weeks after fungus seems to have cleared up.
Preventive Measures
You can prevent and treat toenail fungus by keeping your feet clean and dry. Always wear socks made of natural fabrics. Do not re-wear socks, and wear comfortable shoes. It takes some time and patience to eliminate toenail infection, and for your nails to grow back normal and healthy again.
Conclusion:
Modern medicine addresses toenail fungus with oral anti-fungal medicine, topical treatments, and in certain cases surgical removal of the nail. However, some medical treatments may cause certain side effects. Therefore, before visiting dermatologist you can try using natural remedies for toenail fungus that have no side effects (assuming that you are not allergic to them.). Use the above-mentioned, 5 home remedies, regularly. It takes the time to get rid of the infection, so you need to be patient. Natural treatments can help you get rid of toenail fungus for about one to two months. More severe cases of toenails problems can be successfully treated by a podiatrist.
References: Medicinenet.com Aafp.org Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov