Effective Folk Remedies for Treating Toenail Fungus

Fungal diseases affecting toenails and feet can cause severe discomfort and can seriously impair a person's quality of life. In addition, onychomycosis is characterized by a long and complicated treatment process that is only discovered at a later stage.However, if treatment is started promptly when the initial symptoms of a fungal infection first appear, it can be easier and relatively uncomplicated to manage.Traditional medicine recommends some recipes that can address fungal growth problems.

Iodine protects nail health

Dermatophytes have a protein structure and live on the nails, on the skin of the feet and between the toes, and feed on the keratin in the skin's keratinous scales and part of the nail plate.It's no surprise, then, that the most popular treatment for onychomycosis at home is an alcohol-based solution of iodine. Iodine solutions have a harmful effect on the structure of protein cells, destroying them; in addition, iodine is a fairly strong antiseptic and has pronounced fungicidal properties (prevents the formation of mold).

Don’t forget that iodine is a very reactive substance and can cause some harm, such as chemical burns, etc. if not handled properly.

The affordability of iodine makes this drug attractive for treating onychomycosis as well as preventing nail fungus. It is worth remembering the rules to follow when using iodine solutions for medical purposes.

Safety rules when using iodine

• Treating the skin with iodine solutions can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
  reaction. Therefore, before you start using it, apply iodine solution to the crook of your elbow and check the skin's reaction.
• Frequent use of iodine solution can give nails an intense yellow color that cannot be removed until new nails grow.
• Chemical burns or inflammatory skin damage (dermatitis) may occur if used incorrectly or in excess of permitted doses.
• Only the affected nail and skin areas should be treated, and only during the main symptomatic stage.

Recipes based on iodine solution

• Recipe 1. For convenience, apply drops of an alcoholic solution of iodine (5%) to each affected nail twice daily in the morning and before bed. To prevent this disease and further build strength, the same solution (but in a smaller dose) can be lubricated onto healthy nail plates.
• Recipe 2. The six-week course of treatment is divided into three phases of fourteen days each. During this procedure, infected areas of the skin and nails are treated alternately: in the first two weeks with Castellani solution, in the second stage with iodine solution, and in the last two weeks with vinegar solution (9%).
• Recipe 3. First prepare a solution with the following ingredients: iodine, chloronitrophenol, vinegar essence, garlic juice, equal parts, one teaspoon of each ingredient. This solution should be used to treat infected nails every day before going to bed. Nails should first be steamed and the softened parts removed. The drug mixture must be shaken well before use.

When treating nails with any manicure accessory, you should remember: in order to avoid infection of healthy nails, separate tools should be used to treat the affected areas.

Copper sulfate treatment

Copper sulfate, or copper sulfate as it is also known, is most commonly used in conjunction with traditional fungal infection treatments. It exists in crystalline form, is soluble in water, and is non-toxic. There are two forms of treatment available.

• copper sulfate solution. Can be done at home. Dissolve one teaspoon of copper sulfate crystals in 1 liter of boiling water. The resulting solution is very concentrated, so it should be handled in dilute form: 1 tbsp. Lake solution per 1. 5 liters of water. To use this solution, soak your feet for ten minutes and then treat the affected areas of skin and nails with medications recommended by your doctor.
• copper sulfate ointment. Copper sulfate crystals are calcined on a hot surface until the color changes to gray or white. Then mix it with the other ingredients: a teaspoon each of yellow sulfur, tar or goose fat. The resulting ointment is used daily to treat sore nails until full recovery.

Sea salt and table salt for treating fungal infections

Sea salt and regular salt can be added to therapeutic foot baths. At the same time, disinfect the affected areas such as foot skin and nails. Typically, this antiseptic procedure targets infections on the skin and requires preparing the nails for the subsequent application of ointment.

Salt itself does not cure fungi, but it is often used as a component of ointments and mixtures based on folk recipes.

For example, garlic water is great for fighting advanced fungal infections; use it twice a day to treat feet and affected nails. This water is easy to prepare at home. Mix grated garlic with salt until you get a paste. The resulting mixture was dissolved in 200 ml of water. After final cooling, dissolve an additional 4 tablespoons. Lake salt.

Unusual uses for regular soda

Plain soda can be a great help in treating another type of fungus – yeast. These fungi can also affect the feet, living on the skin and nails. It is recommended to use baking soda in several recipes that work quite well.

• Recipe 1. Daily baths with soap and soda help the medicinal ingredients contained in the medicine to penetrate better directly into the affected area. This is often difficult because the affected nail is very thick, grows quickly and blocks penetration, while soap and soda can soften the nail plate. Mix 3 cups club soda and 3 Tbsp. Lake grated soap, then dissolve the resulting mixture in 7-10 liters of water. Keep your feet in the air for 20 minutes every day for 4-5 days.
• Recipe 2. Dilute a certain amount of soda with water into a paste and use it to cover the infected nail. After applying the soda paste to your nails for a few minutes, add a little lemon juice. The mixture is then removed, the nails are washed with soap and treated with an antifungal agent. This drug is also used only as companion therapy.

Using birch tar treatment process

Birch tar is a powerful remedy for various skin conditions. Therefore, you can treat your feet with natural birch tar. However, the feet are prepared in advance. Steam your feet in warm, soapy water and then receive follow-up treatment: removing rough and affected skin from your feet and trimming infected nails. Then apply birch tar with a cotton swab and use a rubbing motion to lubricate the dry skin on your feet. You should not wear socks or shoes for the next hour and a half. Give the tar time to absorb into the skin.Tar is equally effective as a healing agent in an ointment or mixture. You can prepare your own tar ointment, which contains 5-10% tar in the first stage. You will need a rich nourishing cream or fat of some kind. Add natural tar to the cream, mix everything well. The ointment is ready for use.Another effective option for treating fungi is sulfur-tar ointment, which consists of a base in the form of tar, sulfur powder, cream or fat in the ratio: 3: 2: 10. Apply a thin layer of ointment to the affected area, allow it to dry and apply the patch over it.

Using tar soap can be used to prevent any skin disease as it contains up to 12% pure tar and has antiseptic properties. You should choose handmade tar soap, the usefulness of its ingredients is unquestionable.

Chelidonium cleanses skin

Chelidonium is a poisonous plant whose sap is used successfully to treat fungi and other skin diseases.

• celandine juice. Chelidonium juice is used to treat diseased surfaces of the skin and nails. Mix freshly squeezed juice with alcohol (70%) in a 1: 1 ratio and infuse within the next 24 hours. The treatment process takes about a week and is performed regularly on the pre-prepared nails and feet 3-4 times a day.

• Celandine infusion. Add 100 g of dried celandine leaves to 1 liter of boiling water. After half an hour, add the resulting infusion to the foot bath and steam your feet for 20 minutes every day.
• ointment. Chelidonium is part of a medicinal herbal ointment used to fight fungal infections. Add 5 drops of fresh celandine juice, 2 drops of oregano and 2 drops of prepared calendula tincture to cooled boiling water (4 tablespoons). Treatment with this ointment takes about 10 days, but the damaged area should be treated at least 3 times a day.
• Celandine oil. You can use celandine oil, available in any drug store, or you can make your own at home, although the process is quite laborious.

It is best to treat onychomycosis by combining folk remedies with traditional medicines - the effect will be stronger, and the treatment time for complete recovery will be significantly shortened.