Treat Toenail Fungus with Folk Remedies: How to Recognize Onychomycosis

What a fungal toenail infection looks likeOnychomycosis—onychomycosis of the feet and hands—is one of the common diseases.According to statistics from the World Health Organization, one in five people on the planet suffers from this disease, which is why treating onychomycosis with folk remedies is very popular and effective in most cases.Healthy nails always look attractive; they are characterized by an even, smooth nail plate with a pleasant soft pink hue and a slight natural shine. If the nails have a different appearance, they are most likely affected by a fungal infection, which is detected in 50% of cases of nail disease.
The main symptoms of onychomycosis (onychomycosis) are:
  • thickening of the deck;
  • brittle nails;
  • Color changes from pale yellow to gray;
  • Redness of the skin around the fingernails;
  • itching and burning sensation;
  • Cracks appear in the skin.
The disease spreads easily and quickly, mainly through public places (swimming pools, gyms, bathrooms, etc. ). The main way fungal infections enter the skin is through micro-cracks that develop due to minor injuries, tight shoes, leg circulation problems, foot deformities, etc.Onychomycosis can be treated using folk remedies alone or in combination with traditional medicines. It is best to use a variety of methods during treatment. In pharmacotherapy, internal and external antifungal drugs are most often used depending on the complexity and stage of the disease. Traditional medicine formulas also offer internal remedies in the form of tinctures, teas, and decoctions, as well as topical remedies in the form of ointments, compresses, and solutions.

Popular folk remedies based on iodine and vinegar to treat toenail fungus

Steam your feet before using folk remedies to treat onychomycosisThere are many folk remedies for treating toenail fungus, but there are a few well-known folk remedies that are more commonly used than others.One of these uses an alcoholic solution of iodine. This product is a powerful antiseptic with disinfecting, cauterizing, drying and tanning properties. In addition, iodine coagulates the protein structure of the fungus, thereby directly destroying it.To treat this condition, apply one drop of 5% iodine-alcohol solution to the affected nail twice daily for 2-3 weeks. Within a week, this simple folk recipe for nail fungus will do the trick. Mild itching and burning may occur, indicating a fungal infection. If the pain becomes unbearable, nail treatments should be reduced from twice to once a day. Generally speaking, the treatment course of this method is 20-40 days.There are also benefits to using iodine for prevention. To do this, you need to treat each nail plate with one drop of the product every two days. At the same time, be careful not to touch the skin of your fingers around your nails to avoid burns or injuries.
It's important to understand this!Treatment of onychomycosis with iodine may cause allergic reactions related to the body's individual intolerance to the substance. In this case, treatment should be stopped immediately and other methods should be used.
Folk remedies for onychomycosis prepared with vinegar are also widely used. You need to prepare a solution of 9% ordinary vinegar and water in a ratio of 1: 8, immerse the infected fingers and nails in it, then steam it with ordinary hot water and clean the surface of the affected area. Get as much exposure to your nail plate as possible. This process should be repeated seven times a day for two days. This folk remedy for nail fungus should be stored in the refrigerator or any other suitable cool place.

Traditional recipes for treating toenail fungus

As mentioned above, in most cases, treatments using folk remedies (most of which are based on natural ingredients of plant and animal origin) help to eliminate toenail fungus (onychomycosis).

Formula 1. Onychomycosis ointment based on vegetable oil and dimethyl phthalate

To prepare this product, you will need the following ingredients:
  • Vegetable oil (sunflower) - 1 tablespoon;
  • Egg (raw) - 1;
  • Dimethyl Phthalate - 1 tsp.
All the above-mentioned ingredients should be mixed and the resulting ointment should be applied to the affected nail. Wrap your fingers in plain plastic wrap and put on cotton socks. Leave the ointment on where it was applied overnight. Repeat this process for 3-4 days. Soon, the affected nail will begin to die and a healthy nail will grow back in its place.

Recipe 2. Kombucha Compress

An excellent folk recipe for nail fungus is based on kombucha. It should be used as a zip archive. You need to take a piece of mushroom board, carefully remove the film from it, and apply the rest from above to the affected nail, wrap it in plastic wrap and fix it with an ordinary bandage or put on a thin sock. The dressing should be applied at night, and in the morning the nails should be rinsed with warm water, if possible, the dead ends should be cut off and the remaining nail plate should be lubricated with an iodine solution. It's worth noting that using kombucha to treat onychomycosis is quite painful, but very effective.

Recipe 3. Fungal ointment based on eucalyptus and honey

Folk remedies for toenail fungus prepared on the basis of eucalyptus are very effective. To do this you need to:
  • Eucalyptus oil - 30-40 grams;
  • Apple cider vinegar - 1 teaspoon;
  • Natural honey (liquid) - 15 g.
It is necessary to mix all the above-mentioned ingredients, cook the prepared ointment in the refrigerator for three days, and then use it every day to lubricate the affected nails.

Recipe 4. Effective antifungal based on lavender and tea tree oils

Essential oils are great for fighting nail fungus, especially lavender. It helps fight infection and relieve skin irritation. Tea tree oil is a natural plant antibiotic. To prepare the product, mix lavender, tea tree and olive oil in equal proportions and apply the resulting mixture to sore nails for 8-10 hours (preferably overnight), protecting the treated nail plate with a thin cotton sock.

Recipe 5. Mouthwash and Vinegar Bath

This folk recipe for treating onychomycosis includes a rather unusual remedy - mouthwash. It should be mixed with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice in equal proportions, diluted with a small amount of warm water, and then the finger with the infected nail should be immersed in the bath for 15 minutes.In order to successfully treat toenail fungus with folk remedies and not cause recurrence, it is necessary to complete the treatment and observe appropriate personal hygiene rules to avoid reinfection with this disease.