When there is not enough time to go to the hospital, and there is no money to buy expensive medicines, you can try to cope with the fungus of the foot and nails with the help of traditional medicine.
We must not forget that folk methods of treating fungus are effective only in the initial stages of the disease. With a more advanced form, it is better to get advice from a specialist.
It is easy to recognize the disease, the following symptoms appear:
- burning, itching;
- darkening of the nail (yellow to green)
- deformation, stratification of the nail;
- bad smell;
- pain in the nail area, redness, swelling.
Treatment with iodine
The cheapest and easiest method of treating toenail fungus is based on the usual iodine solution, sold in any pharmacy. It is endowed with antiseptic properties, leads to the coagulation of proteins (in the fungal structure - protein). The day before you start treating nail fungus with folk methods, you need to make sure that there is no allergy to iodine. It is enough to apply one drop on the skin and see if there is a reaction (redness, itching). Use the solution carefully so as not to cause a burn. There are many folk recipes that use iodine.
- Mix in equal parts vinegar essence, garlic juice, nitrofungin, iodine. Apply the resulting mixture before going to bed, after steaming the nails and removing the damaged areas as much as possible. Shake before use.
- Several times a day, lubricate the damaged areas with a five percent iodine solution. It is advisable to pre-steam the legs. For prevention, all nails should be covered with iodine, but in a small amount and not daily.
- In hot water with the addition of iodine for 10 minutes. soar legs. Wipe infected areas with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, and lubricate with antibacterial ointment. It is better to do the procedure in the evening, leaving the compress until the morning. Repeat three times.
- For two weeks, smear nails 2 times a day with fucorcin, apply iodine for another two weeks, and then nine percent vinegar (also 2 weeks).
- If you have a question about how to get rid of a fungus on your toes, you should try a salt bath. You will need the following ingredients: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of baking soda; 2 tbsp. spoons of sea salt; 1 liter of hot water.
Soar as part of the legs for half an hour. Remove damaged areas as much as possible, wash everything off with soap and water and apply iodine on the foot, nails, between the fingers. Damaged nail, smear three times, allowing each layer to dry.
Iodine solution is an indispensable assistant during the treatment of fungus between the toes with folk remedies. For safety's sake, it's best to wear gloves and use different cotton swabs to treat healthy and infected nails. The duration of therapy is on average 8 weeks.
Vinegar in treatment
An acidic environment is detrimental to fungi. It is better to start the treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies with vinegar. The recovery process will not be fast, but it helps even with advanced options. There are many recipes for a fungus with an acetic base, but even simply wiping the damaged area with a nine percent solution helps. With acetic acid, like any other acid, you need to follow safety rules so as not to get burned.
Vinegar foot baths (you can take table or apple cider vinegar) help well in the prevention and treatment of toe fungus with folk remedies. Take a little warm water in a bowl, pour a glass of vinegar into it and lower your legs for 15 minutes. Wipe your feet without rinsing with clean water, apply the medicine. Repeat the process a couple of times a week.
In the process of treating nail fungus with folk remedies, lotions are often used. A small ball of cotton is soaked in vinegar and placed neatly within the nail. It is fixed with a plaster and a sock is put on. Lotions are enough to put once a day. Duration of therapy - 7 days, then take a short break. The same operation can be performed using apple cider vinegar and vegetable oil in equal parts.
A more time-consuming process is the preparation of the ointment. You need to mix:
- vinegar 70% 2 tbsp. spoons;
- glycerin 1 tbsp. spoon;
- olive oil 1 tbsp. spoon;
- dimethyl phtholate 1 tbsp. spoon.
Mix everything well until smooth. Apply ointment to the nail once a day, wrap the leg with polyethylene, put on a sock. It is better to do the procedure in the evening, and in the morning wash off the remnants of soap (preferably household).
The use of copper sulfate
A solution of copper sulfate is a commonly used folk method for treating nail fungus. A teaspoon of the substance is diluted in one liter of pure water. But such a solution cannot be used yet - it is very concentrated. For baths, dilute: one tablespoon of the solution in warm water (one and a half liters) and keep your feet for about 15 minutes. The nail is lubricated with a drug from the fungus.
You can also prepare an ointment: ignite one teaspoon of copper sulfate in a pan (until clarification), add one teaspoon of sulfur powder (yellow) and tar. Stir while heating over low heat.
Treatment with salt
Another answer to the question: how to cure nail fungus with folk remedies is salt. It is used as a sea (softens the nail plate, has an antiseptic effect), and a simple cookery (kills harmful microflora). Salt should not be used as an independent remedy for toenail fungus, but it will serve as a very good adjuvant therapy.
- Prepare a solution: 4 l. water; 100 gr. any salt; 4 tbsp. spoons of vinegar 9%. Do these baths daily.
- Mix equal parts of soda and salt in boiling water, cool a little and keep your feet for ten minutes.
- Mix salt with chopped mint and make lotions for the nail.
- Baths regularly for two weeks: clean water 1 liter; any salt 1. 5 tbsp. spoons; antibacterial essential oil 1 teaspoon (can be replaced with iodine or lemon juice). If necessary, a short break is made (3-4 days) and the procedure is repeated.
- Prepare a saline solution (for 250 ml of water 1 tablespoon of salt), moisten a cotton ball and apply to the problem area. At the end, the feet are rinsed with water with the addition of soda. You may feel discomfort (burning or itching) on the skin. Repeat continuously for 10 days.
- With advanced forms of the fungus, garlic water will help. Squeeze a large clove of garlic through a special press into a glass of boiling water, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of salt, stir. When the solution has cooled, strain it and add four more tablespoons of salt. Wipe the affected areas with this solution several times throughout the day.
soda against fungus
In the treatment of fungus, soda is traditionally used. Baths with a soap and soda solution soften the nails, which contributes to a better penetration of drugs. You will need:
- 5 liters of clean hot water;
- 3 art. tablespoons of grated laundry soap (or replace with tar);
- 3 art. spoons of soda.
Stir until the components are dissolved and keep your feet for no more than 20 minutes. Then cut and file the nail and apply the medicine. Repeat the procedure for 4-5 days.
Mix soda with a small amount of water so that a thick slurry is obtained. Apply the paste on the infected areas, squeeze 2-3 drops of lemon on top. As a result of the chemical reaction, a foamy hiss will be produced, and a slight tingling sensation will be felt. After five minutes, wash off the mixture with soap.
Soda is great for dealing with fungus of an intimate nature, while the treatment of fungus between the toes and nails is best done in combination with medication.
Use of hydrogen peroxide
Although experts question this method, hydrogen peroxide remains the most common folk remedy for toenail fungus. In fact, it only softens and disinfects the problem area, preventing the further spread of the disease.
The simplest method of treatment with folk remedies is peroxide lotions. You can mix it with vinegar in a 1: 1 ratio, make baths or put peroxide thickened with water on the nail. Do not forget about safety measures so as not to get burned.
Other methods
Among the countless folk remedies for fungus, the positive properties of kombucha, which actively fights pathogenic bacteria, are widely known. It is also widely used for the treatment of nail fungus: crushed to a mushy consistency and lubricated the problem area a couple of times a day. In addition, you can make a compress by applying a small piece of mushroom to the problem area at night (wrap it with a film and put on a sock made of natural material). The duration of therapy is one week.
Strongly brewed coffee baths will not only relieve the disease, but also soften the skin of the heels, make the feet smooth.
Novocaine lotions are quick methods of getting rid of the fungus. If the disease has not reached an advanced form, it is enough to apply a cotton ball soaked in novocaine several times to say goodbye to the fungus forever.
Garlic is indispensable in the fight against any fungus. It is also used as an independent component (apply gruel or sliced plates) and as part of tinctures, ointments or compresses with onions and lemon. For 10 parts of water, one part of alcohol and garlic juice is taken. The affected area is treated with this mixture several times a day until the disease passes.
Celandine, birch tar, apricot resin, potassium permanganate, tea tree oil are also used.
There is no definite answer to the question: is it possible to cure nail fungus using only folk methods? But if you combine them with the medication prescribed by the doctor, the disease will recede faster.