Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus

There are various home remedies for toenail fungus, but some of these are not guaranteed to be effective, particularly if your condition is already severe. Nevertheless, most of them are safe and easy to use since the products you will need are already available at home.

Whatever treatment you will use, make sure to trim your nails and clean them well before applying the treatment. Also, maintain proper hygiene at all times. Change socks daily and wear well-ventilated shoes to allow your feet to breathe.

Research has shown that some home remedies for nail fungus are truly effective. Some of them are even more effective than over the counter and prescription medications. If you’re thinking of using home remedies to treat your toenail fungus, here are some remedies you can try.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been found to lower the skin’s pH level, which can also help to minimize unwanted fungi on the skin, thus treating your toenail fungal infection. When using apple cider vinegar as home remedies for foot fungus, experts advise adding two tbsp of vinegar to a basin of lukewarm water. Soak your feet on the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes. Although some people have experienced an improvement in their toenail fungus after trying the apple cider vinegar as a foot soak, more studies are needed to confirm if the vinegar is effective for treating fungal infections.

Garlic

Garlic contains potent antifungal properties that may help fight the fungus that causes infection on the toenails, making it one of the most effective home remedies for toenail fungus. To use garlic as a remedy for toenail fungus, people would chop up a clove of garlic and apply it directly to the infected nail for 20 to 30 mins once a day. But take note that garlic could irritate the skin, and the smell could put you off. While garlic is a popular remedy for toenail fungus, there are not enough clinical trials to support its use.

Listerine mouthwash

Listerine mouthwash contains ingredients like menthol, thymol, and eucalyptol that have antibacterial and antifungal properties, which is why people believe it could be an effective remedy for toenails fungus. In fact, Listerine footbath is a common treatment for athletes’ foot and other fungal infections, including toenail fungus. Soaking the feet with the Listerine foot bath for 20 to 30 minutes can soften the nail plate, allowing the antifungal ingredients from Listerine to penetrate the toenails and kill the fungus. However, there are not enough trials to support its use.

Olive leaf extract

Olive leaves contain oleuropein that has been found to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties. Also, some studies show that it’s effective in killing the yeast Candida albicans, one of the fungal strains that can cause toenail fungus. Studies suggest that the leaves may be effective against fungal infections when taken orally, although no quality trials are available to confirm this claim.

Oregano oil

The oregano oil contains thymol, an ingredient with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Because of this, many believe that oregano is one of the natural remedies for toenail fungus. Although trials investigating the use of oregano oil for fungal infections are lacking, one trial that uses a combination of essential oils of lime, oregano, and tea tree has reported a mycological cure of 78.5% after a year of use.

Snake root extract

The snakeroot extract has long been used as a traditional Mexican medicine for fungal skin infections. One study that compared the topical solution of snakeroot extract to ciclopirox for toenail fungus has shown that the snakeroot extract is more therapeutically effective for 71.1%. Moreover, there have been no severe side effects that have been reported with the treatment. Experts suggest applying every third day for the first month, twice a week on the second month, and once a week for the third month.

Tea Tree Oil

Applying essential oil made from 100% tea tree oil is one of the most effective home remedies for toenail fungus. In fact, its effects are comparable to 1% clotrimazole solution when treating toenail fungus. Another study found that combining tea tree oil with antifungal creams can lead to better results than using antifungal cream alone. Some people would apply the oil directly to the affected toenails, while others would prepare foot soak using tea tree oil to soak their feet.

Vicks VapoRub

Vicks VapoRub is another popular remedy for treating fungal infections. One study shows that 83% of people who applied the Vicks VapoRub once daily to treat their toenail fungus have experienced significant improvement. All people who participated in such a study were very satisfied with the appearance of their nails at the end of the treatment. Experts believe that the reason behind the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub in treating fungal infections has something to do with the ingredients found in it, such as menthol and thymol, which are believed to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Ozonized sunflower oil

The ozonized sunflower oil is a combination of ozone and sunflower oil. It’s prepared by treating the sunflower oil with ozone, leading to an ozone reservoir that slowly releases into the affected nail or skin. Ozone is believed to be a very effective antifungal and bacterial agent that promises excellent results when used as a home remedy for toenail fungus. A study shows that ozonized sunflower oil can help to inhibit the growth of different fungi strains that can cause toenail fungal infection.

Baking soda

Baking soda has been used to treat a wide range of skin illnesses. It’s also believed to be one of the most effective home remedies for toenail fungus. To prepare, mix the baking soda with water to produce a paste-like texture, then apply directly to the affected toenail and leave the paste for 15 minutes. Do this for three to four times each day to remove excess moisture from the nail and inhibit fungus growth.