Fungal diseases affecting the toenails and feet cause serious discomfort and can significantly affect a person's quality of life. In addition, nail fungus is characterized by a long and complex treatment process, when detected at later stages.
However, it is easier and relatively simple to treat if treatment is started in time when the first symptoms of a fungal infection appear.Traditional medicine suggests adopting some recipes that can solve the problem of fungal development.
Iodine protects nail health
Having a protein structure, dermatophyte fungi parasitize the nails, the skin of the feet and between the fingers, and feed on the horny scales of the skin and the keratin that is part of the nail plate.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the most popular remedy for treating onychomycosis at home is an alcoholic iodine solution. An iodine solution has a detrimental effect on the structure of protein cells, destroying them; In addition, iodine is a fairly strong antiseptic and has pronounced fungicidal properties (resistance to mold formation).
Don't forget that iodine is a very active substance and if handled incorrectly, it can cause some damage, such as chemical burns, etc.
The affordable price of iodine makes this drug attractive to consumers for the treatment of nail fungus, as well as for preventive purposes. It is worth remembering the rules that must be followed when using iodine solution for medical purposes.
Safety rules when working with iodine
- Treating the skin with iodine solution can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
reaction. Therefore, before starting to use it, examine the skin reaction by smearing the area of the bend of the elbow with an iodine solution. - Regular use of an iodine solution strongly pigments the nail with a yellow color, which can only disappear with the growth of a new nail.
- If used incorrectly or if the permitted dosage is exceeded, a chemical burn or inflammatory skin lesion (dermatitis) may occur.
- Only nails and affected skin areas should be treated and only at the stage of primary symptoms.
Recipes based on iodine solution.
- Recipe 1. An alcoholic solution of iodine (5%) is applied, one drop to each affected nail twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime, using a cotton swab for comfort. To prevent the disease, as well as for additional strengthening, the same solution can be lubricated, but in a smaller dose, on healthy nail plates.
- Recipe 2. The six-week treatment is divided into three stages of fourteen days each. During the course, infected areas of skin and nails are treated alternately: Castellani liquid in the first two weeks, iodine solution in the second stage, vinegar solution (9%) in the last two weeks.
- Recipe 3. First, a solution is prepared consisting of the following components: iodine, chloronitrophenol, vinegar essence, garlic juice, in equal parts, a teaspoon of each component. This solution should be used to treat the infected nail every day before going to bed. First, the nail must be steamed and the soft part removed. Before use, the medicinal mixture must be shaken.
When treating nails with any manicure accessories, it should be remembered: to avoid infection of healthy nails, the affected areas must be treated with separate tools.
Treatment with copper sulfate.
![Copper sulfate used against toenail fungus](/images/articles/67/Copper%20sulfate%20used%20against%20toenail%20fungus.jpg)
Copper sulfate, or copper sulfate among people, is most often used to accompany traditional treatment of fungal infections. It comes in the form of crystals, dissolves easily in water and is non-toxic. Two forms of treatment are applied.
- Copper sulfate solution. It can be done at home. One teaspoon of copper sulfate crystals is dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water. The resulting solution is very concentrated, so for treatment it is advisable to use it diluted: 1 tablespoon. l. solution per 1. 5 liters of water. With this solution, take ten-minute foot baths before treating the affected areas of the skin and nails with medications recommended by the doctor.
- Copper sulfate ointment. Copper sulfate crystals are calcined on a hot surface until the color changes to gray or white. Then mix it with other ingredients: yellow sulfur, tar or goose fat, one teaspoon each. The resulting ointment is used to treat sore nails daily until complete recovery.
Sea and table salt for the treatment of fungal infections.
![For toenail fungus, take sea salt baths.](/images/articles/67/For%20toenail%20fungus,%20take%20sea%20salt%20baths.%20.jpg)
Sea and common salt can be added to therapeutic foot baths. At the same time, the affected areas of the skin of the foot and nails are disinfected. As a rule, these antiseptic procedures are aimed at infections living on the skin and are necessary to prepare the nails for the subsequent application of medicinal ointments.
Salt alone cannot cure fungus, but it is often used as an integral part of medicinal ointments and mixtures prepared according to folk recipes.
For example, garlic water is very suitable against advanced fungal infections and is used to treat affected feet and nails twice a day. This water is easy to prepare at home. The ground garlic clove is mixed with salt until a paste is obtained. The resulting mixture is dissolved in 200 ml of water. After final cooling, dissolve another 4 tbsp. l. salt.
Unusual uses of common soft drinks.
Ordinary soft drinks can be a good help in the treatment of another type of fungus: yeast. These fungi also affect the feet, parasitizing the skin and nails. It is recommended to use baking soda in several quite effective recipes.
- Recipe 1. Daily use of soap and soda baths will contribute to better penetration of the medicinal components contained in medicines directly into the lesions. This can often be difficult, since the affected nail is quite thick, grows quickly and acts against penetration, and soap and soda baths soften the nail surface. Mix 3 cups of soda and 3 tbsp. l. Grated soap, then dissolve the resulting mixture in 7 to 10 liters of water. The feet are elevated for 20 minutes a day for 4 to 5 days.
- Recipe 2. A certain amount of soda is diluted with water to form a paste that is used to cover the infected nail. A few minutes after applying the sodium paste on your nail, add a little lemon juice. The mixture is then removed, the nail is washed with soap and treated with antifungal agents. This remedy is also used only as a concomitant treatment.
Birch tar treatment process.
Birch tar is a powerful remedy for treating all types of skin diseases. Therefore, you can treat your feet with natural birch tar. However, the feet are prepared beforehand. The feet, steamed in hot water and soap, undergo further treatment: the rough, affected skin on the feet is exfoliated and the infected nails are cut. Then the already dry skin of the feet is lubricated with birch tar, applied to a cotton swab using rubbing movements. You should not wear socks or shoes for the next hour and a half. Give the tar time to absorb into your skin.
Tar is no less effective as a treatment in ointments or mixtures. You can prepare your own tar ointment, with a tar content of 5 to 10% in the early stages. You will need a rich nutritious cream or some type of fat. Natural tar is added to the cream and everything is mixed well. The ointment is ready to use.
Another effective option for the treatment of fungus is sulfur tar ointment, which consists of tar, powdered sulfur, a base in the form of cream or fat, in a ratio of 3: 2: 10, respectively. Apply a thin layer of ointment to the affected areas, let it dry, and stick a patch over it.
The use of tar soap is useful for the prevention of any skin diseases, as it contains up to 12% pure tar and has antiseptic properties. It is advisable to opt for handmade tar soap, the usefulness of which will be beyond any doubt.
Celandine for clean skin
Celandine is a poisonous plant whose juice is successfully used against fungi and other skin diseases.
- celandine juice. Celandine juice is used to treat diseased surfaces of the skin and nails. Freshly squeezed juice is mixed with alcohol (70%) in a 1: 1 ratio and infused for the next 24 hours. The treatment process lasts about a week, the treatment is carried out regularly 3-4 times a day on previously prepared nails and feet.
- Celandine infusion. Add 100 g of dried celandine leaves to 1 liter of boiling water. After half an hour, the resulting infusion is added to the foot bath and the feet are steamed for 20 minutes daily.
- Ointment. Celandine is part of a medicinal herbal ointment to combat fungal infections. Add 5 drops of fresh celandine juice, 2 drops of oregano and 2 drops of previously prepared calendula tincture to the cooled boiled water (4 tablespoons). Treatment with such ointment will last about 10 days, but damaged areas should be treated at least three times a day.
- celandine oil. You can use celandine oil, which is sold at any pharmacy, or make it yourself at home, although this process is quite labor-intensive.
![Baths with celandine infusion are effective against fungal infections.](/images/articles/67/Baths%20with%20celandine%20infusion%20are%20effective%20against%20fungal%20infections.%20.jpg)
It is still better to use folk remedies for nail fungus in combination with traditional medicine: the effect will be stronger, and the treatment time until complete recovery will be significantly reduced.