When there is not enough time to go to the hospital and there is no money to buy expensive medicines, you can try to deal with foot and nail fungus with the help of traditional medicine.
We must not forget that folk methods for the treatment of 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.
Recognizing the disease is easy, 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, which is sold in any pharmacy. It is endowed with antiseptic properties, leads to coagulation of proteins (in the fungal structure - protein). The day before you start treating nail fungus with folk methods, you should make sure that there is no allergy to iodine. It is enough to apply one drop to the skin and see if there is a reaction (redness, itching). Use the solution carefully to avoid burning. 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 as much damaged areas as possible. Shake before use.
- Several times a day, lubricate the damaged areas with a five percent solution of iodine. It is desirable to steam the legs beforehand. For prevention, all nails should be covered with iodine, but in a small amount and not every day.
- In hot water with the addition of iodine for 10 minutes. jump legWipe infected areas with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and apply 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 the 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 toe fungus, you should try a salt bath. You will need the following ingredients: 1 tbsp. spoon of baking soda; 2 tablespoons of sea salt; 1 liter of hot water.
Soar as part of the legs for half an hour. Remove the damaged areas as much as possible, wash everything with soap and water and apply iodine to the feet, nails, between the toes. Damaged nail, apply three times, allowing each layer to dry.
Iodine solution is an indispensable assistant in the treatment of fungus between the toes with folk remedies. For safety reasons, it is best to wear gloves and use different cotton swabs to treat healthy and infected nails. The duration of therapy is 8 weeks on average.
Vinegar in treatment
An acidic environment is harmful 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 vinegar-based fungus, but even just wiping the damaged area with a nine percent solution helps. With acetic acid, like any other acid, you must follow the safety rules to avoid burns.
Foot baths with vinegar (you can take table or apple cider vinegar) help well in the prevention and treatment of toe fungus with folk remedies. Take some warm water in a bowl, pour a cup of vinegar into it and lower your feet for 15 minutes. Wipe your feet without rinsing with clean water, apply the medicine. Repeat the process several 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 in the nail. It is fixed with a patch and a sock is put on. Lotions are enough to apply once a day. Duration of therapy - 7 days, then take a short break. The same operation can be performed using equal parts of apple cider vinegar and vegetable oil.
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 phthalate 1 tbsp spoon.
Mix everything well until smooth. Apply ointment to the nail once a day, wrap the foot 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. One teaspoon of the substance is diluted in one liter of clean 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 hold your feet for about 15 minutes. The nail is lubricated with a fungus medicine.
You can also prepare an ointment: burn one teaspoon of copper sulfate in a pan (until clear), add one teaspoon of powdered sulfur (yellow) and tar. Stir while heating over low heat.
Salt treatment
Another answer to the question: how to treat nail fungus with folk remedies is salt. It is used as a sea (softens the nail plate, has an antiseptic effect) and as a simple culinary (kills harmful microflora). Salt should not be used as a sole remedy for toenail fungus, but it will serve as a very good adjunctive therapy.
- A solution is prepared: 4 liters of water; 100 g of any salt; 4 tablespoons of vinegar 9%. Do these baths every day.
- 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 nail lotions.
- 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, take a short break (3-4 days) and repeat the procedure.
- Prepare a saline solution (for 250 ml of water, 1 tablespoon of salt), moisten a cotton swab and apply to the problem area. Finally, 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.
- In advanced forms of the fungus, garlic water will help. Squeeze a large clove of garlic through a special press in a glass of boiling water, add 1 tbsp. spoon of salt, stir. When the solution has cooled, strain it and add another four tablespoons of salt. Wipe the affected areas with this solution several times throughout the day.
baking soda against fungus
Baking soda is traditionally used in the treatment of fungus. Baths with a solution of soap and soda soften the nails, which contributes to better penetration of drugs. You will need:
- 5 liters of clean warm 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 the baking soda with a little water to make a thick paste. 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.
Baking soda is great for dealing with fungus of an intimate nature, while the treatment of fungus between the toes and nails is best combined with medication.
Using hydrogen peroxide
Although experts question this method, hydrogen peroxide remains the most common home remedy for toenail fungus. In fact, it only softens and disinfects the problem area, preventing 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 apply peroxide diluted with water to the nail. Do not forget about safety measures so as not to burn yourself.
Other methods
Among the countless folk remedies for the treatment of fungus, the positive properties of kombucha, which actively fights pathogenic bacteria, are widely known. It is also widely used to treat nail fungus: grind it to a paste and lubricate the problem area several times a day. In addition, you can make a compress by applying a small piece of sponge 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 removing fungus. If the disease has not reached an advanced form, it is enough to apply a cotton swab soaked in novocaine several times to say goodbye to the fungus forever.
Garlic is indispensable in the fight against all kinds of fungi. It is also used as an independent component (apply mash or chopped plates) and as part of tinctures, ointments or compresses with onion and lemon. For 10 parts of water, take one part alcohol and garlic juice. With this mixture, treat the sore spot several times a day until the disease passes.
Celandine, birch tar, apricot resin, potassium permanganate, tea tree oil are also used.
There is no definitive answer to the question: is it possible to treat nail fungus only with folk methods? But if you combine them with the drugs prescribed by the doctor, the disease will subside faster.