Nail fungus - onychomycosis on the feet and hands - is one of the most common diseases.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, one in five people on the planet suffers from this disease, which is why the treatment of toenail fungus with folk remedies is quite popular and in most cases effective.
Healthy nails always look quite attractive; they are characterized by a uniform and smooth nail plate with a pleasant pale pink shade and a light natural shine. If the appearance of the nails is different, it is likely that they are suffering from a fungal infection, which is detected in 50% of cases of nail diseases.
The main signs of nail mycosis (onychomycosis) are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- brittleness and brittleness of nails;
- color change from yellowish to gray;
- redness of the skin of the finger around the nail;
- itching and burning;
- cracks in the skin.
This disease is transmitted easily and quickly, mainly through public places (swimming pools, gyms, bathrooms, etc. ). The main way a fungal infection penetrates the skin is through microcracks that occur as a result of minor wounds, 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 several means are involved in the therapy. Of the drugs, antifungal drugs for internal and external use are 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, herbal teas, decoctions and for 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 them is the use of an alcoholic solution of iodine. This product is a powerful antiseptic and has disinfectant, cauterizing, drying and tanning properties. Furthermore, iodine is able to coagulate the protein structure of the mushroom, thus directly destroying it.
To treat the disease, apply a 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, which indicates the onset of a fungal infection. If the 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 it is necessary to treat each nail plate with a drop of 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.
This 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 against toenail fungus prepared with vinegar are also widely used. It is necessary to prepare a solution consisting of common 9% table vinegar 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 areas affected by the surface of the nail plate as much as possible. This procedure should be repeated seven times a 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 to eliminate toenail fungus (onychomycosis).
Recipe no. 1. Nail fungus ointment based on vegetable oil and o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester
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 tsp.
All 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 ointment applications 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 upper thin film and apply the rest to the affected nail from above, wrap it in plastic wrap and fix it with a regular bandage or wear thin socks. The compress should be done at night, and in the morning rinse the 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. Mushroom 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 take:
- eucalyptus oil - 30-40 grams;
- apple cider vinegar - 1 teaspoon;
- natural honey (liquid) - 15 grams.
All the above ingredients must be mixed, and the prepared ointment must be allowed to brew in the refrigerator for three days, and then lubricate the affected nails daily.
Recipe no. 4. An effective antifungal remedy based on lavender and tea tree oil
Essential oil helps very well against nail fungus, especially lavender. 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 nails with thin cotton socks.
Recipe no. 5. Mouthwash and vinegar baths
This popular 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 bathtub 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 and observe proper personal hygiene rules to avoid re-infection with this disease.