Nail fungus - onychomycosis on the feet and hands - is one of the most common diseases.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, every fifth person on the planet suffers from this disease, which is why treating nail fungus with folk remedies is quite popular and, in most cases, effective.
Healthy nails always look quite attractive, they are characterized by an even and smooth nail plate, with a pleasant soft pink hue 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 cases of nail disease.
The main signs of nail fungus (onychomycosis) are:
- thickening of the nail plate;
- brittleness and fragility of nails;
- color change 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, mainly through public places (swimming pools, gyms, baths, etc. ). The main way a fungal infection enters the skin is through microcracks that occur as a result of minor injuries, tight shoes, circulatory problems in the legs, deformed feet, etc.
Nail fungus is treated only with folk remedies or in combination with traditional medicine. It is better if several means are involved in therapy. Among the medications, antimycotics for internal and external use are the most used, depending on the complexity and stage of the disease. Traditional medicine recipes also offer remedies for internal use in the form of tinctures, teas, decoctions and external use in the form of ointments, compresses and solutions.
Popular folk remedies for nail fungus based on iodine and vinegar
Folk remedies for nail 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 iodine solution. This product is a powerful antiseptic and has disinfecting, cauterizing, drying and tanning properties. Furthermore, iodine is capable of coagulating the protein structure of the fungus, directly destroying it.
To treat the disease, apply a drop of 5% iodine-alcohol solution to the affected nails twice a day for 2 to 3 weeks. Within a week, this simple folk recipe for nail fungus will make itself felt. A slight itching and burning sensation will appear, indicating the beginning 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 to 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 the product every two days. At the same time, it is important not to touch the skin of your 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, therapy must be stopped immediately and other means must be used.
Folk remedies for nail fungus prepared with vinegar are also widely used. It is necessary to prepare a solution consisting of 9% ordinary table vinegar and water, maintaining a ratio of 1: 8, and dip the infected fingers and nails into it, after steaming them in ordinary hot water and removing the affected areas from the surface of the nail plate as much as possible. This procedure must be repeated seven times every day for two days.
These folk remedies for nail fungus should be stored in the refrigerator or any other suitable cool place.
Traditional recipes for nail fungus
As noted above, in most cases, treatment with folk remedies, many of which are prepared on the basis of natural ingredients of plant and animal origin, helps to get rid of 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 tablespoon;
- chicken egg (raw) - 1 piece;
- o-phthalic acid dimethyl ester - 1 tsp.
All of the above ingredients must be combined and the resulting ointment applied to the affected nails. Wrap your fingers in regular plastic wrap and put on cotton socks. Leave the 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 number 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 top thin film and apply the rest to the affected nail from above, wrap it in plastic wrap and secure it with a regular bandage or put on 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 rest of the nail plate with iodine solution. It is important to note that treating nail fungus with kombucha is quite painful, but very effective.
Recipe number 3. Fungus ointment based on eucalyptus and honey
Folk remedies for nail fungus made from 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 of the above ingredients must be mixed and the prepared ointment must be allowed to brew in the refrigerator for three days, then lubricate the affected nails daily.
Recipe number 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 soothes skin irritations. 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 to 10 hours (preferably overnight), protecting the treated nails with thin cotton socks.
Recipe number 5. Mouthwash and vinegar baths
This popular recipe for nail fungus includes a rather unusual drug - mouthwash. It must be combined in equal proportions with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, diluted in a little warm water and immerse fingers with infected nails in the bathtub for 15 minutes.
In order for the treatment of nail fungus with folk remedies to be successful and not cause relapses, it is necessary to complete it, as well as observe the appropriate rules of personal hygiene to avoid re-infection with this disease.