Nail fungus - onychomycosis on the feet and hands - is one of the common diseases.
According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, every fifth person 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 flat, smooth nail plate with a pleasant soft pink shade 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 nail disease cases.
The main signs of nail fungus (onychomycosis) are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- fragility and brittleness of nails;
- change in color 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 in which a fungal infection enters the skin is through microcracks that occur as a result of minor injuries, tight shoes, circulation problems in the legs, foot deformities, etc.
Nail fungus is treated only with folk remedies or in combination with traditional medicine. It is better to include different means in the therapy. Antimycotic drugs for internal and external use are the most commonly used drugs, depending on the complexity and stage of the disease. Recipes of traditional medicine also offer medicines for internal use in the form of tinctures, teas, decoctions and external use in the form of ointments, poultices and solutions.
Popular folk remedies for toenail fungus based on iodine and vinegar
Folk remedies for toenail fungus are quite diverse, but there are a few 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 disinfecting, cauterizing, drying and darkening properties. In addition, iodine can coagulate the protein structure of the fungus, thus directly destroying it.
To treat the disease, apply one drop of a 5% solution of iodine and alcohol 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. Mild itching and burning will appear, which indicates the beginning of a fungal infection. If the pain is difficult to bear, the 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, each nail plate should be treated with one drop of the product every two days. In doing so, it is important not to touch the skin of the finger around the nail, so as not to burn or injure it.
It's 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, the 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 in a ratio of 1: 8 and immerse infected fingers and nails in it, after scalding them in ordinary hot water and removing the affected areas from the surface. nail plates 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 a refrigerator or any other suitable cool place.
Traditional recipes for toenail fungus
As stated 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 nail fungus (onychomycosis).
Recipe no. 1. Ointment for nail fungus based on vegetable oil and o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester
To prepare this product, you will need the following ingredients:
- vegetable oil (sunflower) - 1 spoon;
- chicken egg (raw) - 1 piece;
- o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester - 1 teaspoon.
All the above ingredients should be mixed and the obtained ointment should be applied to the affected nails. Wrap your toes in plain plastic wrap and put on cotton socks. Leave the applications with the ointment overnight. Repeat this process 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 poultice. You need to take a piece of mushroom plate, carefully remove the upper thin film from it, and apply the rest to the affected nail from above, wrap it in plastic wrap and fix it with a simple bandage or put on thin socks. The compression should be done at night, and in the morning rinse the nails well with warm water, if possible cut off the dead parts and smear the remaining nail plate with iodine solution. It is worth noting that the treatment of nail fungus with kombucha is quite painful, but very effective.
Recipe no. 3. Ointment for fungi 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 should be mixed and the prepared ointment left to stand in the refrigerator for three days, and then lubricated with it daily on the affected nails.
Recipe no. 4. Effective anti-fungal agent based on lavender and tea tree oil
Essential oil is excellent against nail fungus, especially lavender. It helps fight infections and relieves skin irritation. And tea tree oil is a natural herbal antibiotic. To prepare the product, mix lavender, tea tree and olive oil in equal proportions and apply the resulting mixture to inflamed 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 remedy - mouthwash. Mix it in equal proportions with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, dilute 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 to cause relapses, it is necessary to complete it, as well as to follow the rules of personal hygiene in order to avoid re-infection with this disease.