Nail fungus - onychomycosis on the feet and hands - is one of the common diseases.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, every fifth person on the planet suffers from this disease, which is why treating toenail fungus with folk remedies is quite popular and in most cases effective.
Healthy nails always look quite attractive; they are characterized by an even, smooth nail plate with a pleasant soft pink tint and a slight natural shine. If the appearance of the nails is different, it is likely that they are affected by a fungal infection, which is detected in 50% of cases of nail diseases.
The main signs of nail fungus (onychomycosis) are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- fragility and brittleness of nails;
- color change from yellowish to gray;
- redness of the skin on the finger around the nail;
- itching and burning;
- cracks in the skin.
This disease is transmitted easily and quickly, primarily through public places (swimming pools, gyms, baths, etc. ). The main way a fungal infection enters the skin is through microcracks that occur as a result of minor injuries, tight shoes, circulatory problems in the legs, deformed feet, etc.
Toenail fungus is treated with folk remedies alone or in combination with traditional medicine. It is better that various means are involved in therapy. Among medications, antimycotic drugs for internal and external use are most often used, depending on the complexity and stage of the disease. Traditional medicine recipes also offer remedies for internal use in the form of tinctures, teas, decoctions and external use in the form of ointments, compresses, and solutions.
Popular folk remedies for toenail fungus based on iodine and vinegar
Folk remedies for toenail fungus are quite varied, but there are several well-known recipes that are used more often than others.
One of these is the use of an alcohol solution of iodine. This product is a powerful antiseptic and has disinfecting, cauterizing, drying and tanning properties. In addition, iodine is able to coagulate the protein structure of the fungus, thereby destroying it directly.
To treat the disease, apply one drop of a 5% iodine-alcohol solution to the affected nails twice a day for 2-3 weeks. Within a week, this simple folk recipe for nail fungus will make itself felt. A slight itching and burning sensation will appear, indicating the onset of fungal infection. If pain is difficult to bear, nail treatment should be reduced from twice a day to once. In general, the course of treatment with this method will be 20-40 days.
It is also good to use iodine for preventive purposes. To do this, you need to treat each nail plate with one drop of the product every two days. At the same time, it is important not to touch the skin of the finger around the nail, so as not to burn or injure it.
It is important to know!
Treatment of nail fungus with iodine can cause an allergic reaction associated with the body's individual intolerance to this substance. In this case, therapy should be stopped immediately and other means should be used.
Folk remedies for toenail fungus prepared with vinegar are also widely used. It is necessary to prepare a solution consisting of ordinary table vinegar 9% and water, maintaining a ratio of 1: 8, and immerse the infected fingers and nails in it, after steaming them in ordinary hot water and removing the affected areas from the surface of the nail plate as much as possible. This procedure should be repeated seven times every day for two days.
Such folk remedies for nail fungus should be stored in the refrigerator or any other suitable cool place.
Traditional recipes for toenail fungus
As noted above, in most cases, treatment with folk remedies, most of which are prepared on the basis of natural ingredients of plant and animal origin, helps eliminate toenail fungus (onychomycosis).
Recipe No. 1. Ointment for nail fungus based on vegetable oil and o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester
In order to prepare this product, you will need the following ingredients:
- vegetable oil (sunflower) - 1 tablespoon;
- chicken egg (raw) - 1 piece;
- o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester - 1 teaspoon.
All of the above ingredients should be combined and the resulting ointment should be applied to the affected nails. Wrap your fingers in regular plastic wrap and put on cotton socks. Leave applications with ointment overnight. Repeat this procedure for 3-4 days. Soon the affected nails will begin to die and healthy ones will grow in their place.
Recipe No. 2. Kombucha compress
An excellent folk recipe for nail fungus is based on kombucha. It should be used as a compress. You need to take a piece of the mushroom plate, carefully remove the top thin film from it, and apply the rest to the affected nail from above, wrap it in plastic wrap and secure it with a regular bandage or put on thin socks. The compress should be done at night, and in the morning, rinse your nails well with warm water, if possible, cut off the dead parts and lubricate the remaining nail plate with iodine solution. It is worth noting that treating nail fungus with kombucha is quite painful, but very effective.
Recipe No. 3. Ointment for fungus 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 take:
- eucalyptus oil - 30-40 grams;
- apple cider vinegar - 1 teaspoon;
- natural honey (liquid) - 15 grams.
All of the above ingredients must be mixed and the prepared ointment allowed to brew in the refrigerator for three days, then lubricate the affected nails with it daily.
Recipe No. 4. An effective anti-fungal remedy based on lavender and tea tree oil
Essential oil helps very well against nail fungus, especially lavender. It helps fight infections and relieves skin irritation. And 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 plates with thin cotton socks.
Recipe No. 5. Baths of mouthwash and vinegar
This folk recipe for nail fungus includes a rather unusual drug - mouthwash. It should be combined in equal proportions with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, diluted with a little warm water and immerse the fingers with infected nails in the bath for 15 minutes.
In order for the treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies to be successful and not cause relapses, it is necessary to complete it, as well as to observe proper rules of personal hygiene in order to avoid re-infection with this disease.