Contemptibly, fungal infection is something that can make one’s life miserable as hell. As much as the fungus is throbbing, it is difficult to treat it, especially if it infects your toenail. The best way to cure toenail fungal infection is to treat it with all-natural and do-it-yourself homemade remedies. For your ease, we have found out the 15 DIY homemade remedies for toenail fungus. Keep reading to catch all the details about toenail fungal infection, and the natural remedies to subside it for real.
Firstly, let us provide you with the list of DIY homemade remedies for toenail fungus.
15 Homemade Remedies For Toenail Fungus
Have a look below to grab a quick hold on the 15 best homemade remedies for toenail fungus:
- Apple Cider Vinegar Footbath
- Baking Soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide Footbath
- Epsom Salt Concoction
- Black Tea Foot soak
- Essential Oils’ Massage
- Zinc
- Cornmeal Paste
- Snakeroot Extract
- Ozone Oils
- Olive Leaf Extract Salve
- Garlic Paste
- Clean Shoes, and Socks
- Proper Diet
- Regular Exercise
Before, going ahead to discuss all of these easy to use homemade remedies for toenail fungus, let us apprise you a bit about fungal infection.
What is a Fungal Infection?
When fungus, a eukaryotic microorganism invades the tissues in some part of the body, it causes fungal infection in the respective area. There are three major types of fungi: yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Most commonly, a yeast named Candida causes fungal infection in various parts of the body including mouth, throat, gut, vagina, and nails.
As in this article, we are concerned with toenail fungal infection, we shall move forward to know about it in detail.
What Causes Toenail Fungal Infection?
A toenail fungal infection is caused when fungus begins to grow on the nail of a toe or inside the skin surrounding the toenail. The fungus can get in either through the toenail cracks or incisions on the toe skin.
As fungi grow in moist and warm environments, it is very likely to cause infection in, under, or on your toenails. Whereas toenail fungus is somewhat worse than any other fungal infection.
Now, let’s have a quick view of the symptoms of toenail fungal infection.
Symptoms of Toenail Fungus
When fungus infects the toenails, the nails are usually:
- Warped
- Easily Breakable
- Oddly Shaped
- Thicker
- Yellowish
- Separated From The Skin
Who Gets Toenail Fungus?
People with the below-mentioned health issues are at greater risk to catch a toenail fungal infection:
- Diabetes
- Nail/Skin Injuries
- Poor Blood Circulation
- Lesser Immunity
Moreover, old age people, especially men are more likely to get a toenail fungal infection. Furthermore, people who are athletes, who wear artificial nails, whoa re habitual of wearing tight shoes/boots, and those who come in contact with someone who already has this infection can be easily infected with toenail fungus.
Now, let’s move ahead to grab a hold on the detailed account of the DIY natural remedies for toenail fungus infection.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the best home remedies for toenail fungus. ACV is
clinically proven to inhibit the growth of fungus. Thereby, you can use it to treat nail fungus. To take advantage of its miraculous antifungal properties, you’re required to soak your feet (the one with fungal infection) in the warm water mixed with AVC. Keep soaking your feet in the mixture of water and AVC for at least 15 minutes. For quick results, you can try this remedy twice a day.
For the record, it can take a few days to subside the fungal infection.
Baking Soda
Baking Soda is known to prevent the growth of fungus. Moreover, its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are effective in treating redness, itchiness, and swelling caused by fungi. Furthermore, it wicks away the moisture whereas its healing properties reduce the infection. Therefore, you can use the baking soda to treat toenail fungal infection, for real.
There are different ways to reduce the toenail fungal infection by using baking soda. Have a look below to grab a hold on such quick and easy ways to use baking soda as a natural remedy for toenail fungus:
- You can add baking soda in a foot soak concoction prepared to treat toenail fungus
- You can apply the paste of baking soda and water on the infected area
- Or you can sprinkle baking soda on your toe as a food powder to prevent the growth of fungus
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide ( H ₂O ₂) is a chemical compound made up of hydrogen and water. As it can be used as an antiseptic to prevent infections, you can either add it in a foot soak or directly wash the infected area with Hydrogen Peroxide to reduce the growth of fungal infection.
To prepare a foot soak, add ⅛ cup of hydrogen peroxide in four cups of cool water. Once it is mixed in water, soak your feet in it for 15 minutes, at least. After taking the footbath, rinse your toenail with warm water, and then dry it gently.
Epsom Salt
Epsom Salt or magnesium sulfate is known for its healing and pain-relieving properties. Where it is used for foot soaks to reduce stress, there you can also use to treat toenail fungal infection. In two quarts of warm water, add one cup of Epsom Salt to prepare a concoction for toenail fungus: soak your feet in it for 10-15 minutes.
Moreover, for more posthaste results, you can add baking soda, hydrogen peroxide (an antiseptic), and vinegar in the mixture of Epsom Salt and warm water.
Black Tea
Black Tea is known to be antifungal as well as it contains tannic acid that helps to kill bacteria, reduce sweating, and dry out the skin. Therefore, you can soak your infected foot in black tea to cure toenail fungus.
To prepare a black tea foot soak concoction, boil two quarts of water, and dip 5-6 tea bags in it. Cool the tea down, and then soak the infected foot in it for 30 minutes.
Essential Oils
Essential Oils have been gaining ground in the world of Homeopathic Medicine. Many essential oils including cinnamon oil, clove oil, and jasmine oil have antifungal and antibacterial properties: therefore, we can use essential oils to treat toenail fungal infection.
Have a look below, grab a hold on the names of the essential oils that can be used to reduce toenail fungus:
- Clove Oil
- Clary sage Oil
- Jasmine Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Lavender Oil
- Ylang-ylang Oil
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Lemon Oil
- Thieves Oil
- Cinnamon Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Wild Oregano Oil
About how you can use essential oils to treat toenail fungal infection, either you can mix any essential oil with a career oil such as coconut oil and then apply on the infected area or you can simply add some essential oil in the foot soak concoction.
Zinc
Zinc Oxide has antifungal properties: topical sprays made up of miconazole-zinc oxide are used to treat jock itch, ringworms, and fungal infections. You can spray it or apply it on the infected area to reduce the infection.
Anyhow, you must consult your doctor before using Zinc Sprays to treat toenail fungal infection.
Cornmeal
The ground dried maze is what we call Cornmeal. It is a staple food and known to possess some antifungal properties. You can apply its paste on your toenail to cure the fungal infection or simply, you can soak your feet in the warm water mixed with cornmeal. Try it once a week for proper results.
Snakeroot Extract
Snakeroot extract is an all-natural antifungal remedy used to treat fungal infections. This medicine in the category of homeopathic treatments for toenail fungus. For effective results, you can apply the snakeroot extract directly on the toenail thrice a week to subside the fungal infection.
Anyhow, we recommend you to consult your doctor, and confirm whether the application of snakeroot extract would be best to treat your toenail fungal infection.
Ozonated Oils
The ozonated oils are used as moisturizers, antioxidants, and disinfectants: these can heal the skin, and regenerate the dead cells. Moreover, ozone oils such as olive oil and sunflower oil are proved to be an effective remedy to treat toenail fungal infection.
To take advantage of the antifungal properties of ozonated oil, you can massage the infected area with it. However, firstly, you must clean up and dry out the infected part.
Olive Leaf Extract
Olive Leaf Extract is enriched with oleuropein that has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Thereby, Olive Leaf Extract is one of the best natural remedies to treat toenail fungus. You can intake capsules made up of Olive Leaf Extracts to reduce the infection or can simply apply it in the form of ointment on the infected part to serve the same purpose.
However, must consult your physician before consuming olive leaf extract capsules or even using it as a salve.
Garlic
Garlic has potent antimicrobial properties. Therefore, it can immediately subside fungal infection. Either you can directly put on the garlic chops on the infected area or can orally take supplements containing garlic to cure fungal infection.
The best thing about garlic containing supplements is that these can treat High BP, and Cardiac Health Issues as well. However, people with bleeding disorders, digestion issues, or even stomach ulcers are not allowed to consume such supplements.
So, the best way to treat toenail fungus with garlic is to prepare a paste of garlic and then apply it on the infected area. Remember, it can cause burning sensations.
Clean Socks & Shoes
If you’re having a toenail fungal infection then you must be cautious especially about cleaning up your socks and shoes. We can say that it is somehow mandatory to wash up the socks and shoes in order to prevent the growth of fungi and kill the bacteria that could be growing on them.
So, about cleaning the socks and shoes, you must use warm water to wash them up. Whereas to clean up the shoes, you can hand wash them. However, if your shoes are machine washable then it would be a plus point.
Well, it would be great if you add up a half cup of baking soda or one cup vinegar to the water in which you’re going to wash the socks and shoes.
Lastly, other than being cautious about cleaning up your shoes and socks, you must be careful in choosing your footwear: always wear breathable shoes, and socks made up of antimicrobial stuff.
Proper Diet
Whatever food you eat meanwhile you’re having a toenail fungus can help the infection grow. Therefore, you must be careful about what to eat or what to not while dealing with a fungal infection.
Follow the below-mentioned tips to get on a proper diet that can help to reduce your toenail fungal infection:
- Avoid Consuming Sugary Desserts/Drink
- Avoid Alcohol
- Consume Limited Carbs
- Add More Ginger & Garlic in Your Meals
- Cook Your Food Using Coconut Oil
Regular Exercise
Exercise on a regular basis can help a lot to reduce fungal infection as it makes your body flush out the toxins but here’s the deal that you must follow a few rules to prevent further growth of fungi.
Have a look below to know what you’re supposed to do during and after exercising while having a toenail fungal infection:
- Protect your toenail
- Practice Proper Hygiene
- Wear Antimicrobial Socks
- Sprinkle Antifungal Foot Powder
- Wear Breathable Shoes
- Remove Shoes Soon After the Workout
- Wash Your Feet With Antibacterial Soap After Exercising
- Rinse Gently & Pat Your Feet Dry, Immediately
FINAL WORDS
Nail Fungus causes a common yet nasty infection that at the first merely looks like a yellowish or white spot on or under the nail tip. Gradually, it grows when the infection begins to spread: the nails become discolored, thick, crumbled, and easily breakable. Whereas the skin around and under the nail also looks pale, and hurts when touched. Likewise, when fungi overgrows on or under the toenail, it causes toenail fungal infection. Unfortunately, chances of catching a toenail fungus are greater because the fungus thrive in dampy, warm environments and the toes perfectly match the description. Keep in mind that, the toenail fungal infection must be treated on time to avoid weeks of misery, and inability to move properly: the best and easiest means to treat toenail fungus is the homemade remedies. About homemade remedies for toenail fungus, we have discussed 15 of the best in the above sections. Lucky for you that all of the ingredients required to prepare each of these remedies are easily available as well as quite affordable. So, stop rushing to buy expensive medicines, and give any of the above-discussed homemade remedies to treat toenail fungal infection for real.
Sources:
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Me2kURFFttQC&oi=fnd&pg=PT26&dq=Fungal+Infection&ots=yhqst7wKrv&sig=wb9LDUCivd-7j1EfNUnQr8gjyaI
https://www.jstor.org/stable/30103760
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC161309/
https://www.nature.com/articles/ni1408
