If your toenails feel brittle and are turning yellow, then you might be experiencing toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, a condition that affects nearly 40 million Americans. Here are the best natural remedies for Toenail Fungus that you can try to treat toenail fungus.
- Vicks Vaporub
- Tea Tree Oil
- Oregano Oil
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Ozonated Oils
- Garlic
These remedies can prove to be quite effective over a course of treatment, but it’s always important to stay consistent with daily topical application or foot soaks for best results. In this article, we’ll walk you through each of the natural remedies for nail fungus you can consider and how to use them.
Where Does Toenail Fungus Come from?
Toenail fungus is a common infection that can occur in both your toenails and fingernails. If the fungus goes deep enough, the nail may be discolored and start to thicken near the edges, leading to some level of pain and potentially discomfort while walking.
In many cases, nail fungus can be treated through at-home medications. If your nail fungus persists after treatment, or you are experiencing any of the following, consult a podiatrist:
- Bleeding on the nails
- Pain and swelling
- Difficulty walking
- Diabetes with the onset of nail fungus
How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus Naturally
There are a number of solutions you can consider as a natural remedy for toenail fungus, including things you may have in your pantry. OTC nail fungus treatment products like SwissKlip Nail Fungus Treatment can also be a quick, effective way to handle milder cases.
These treatments are usually applied directly to the affected area, although incorporating them with water into a foot soak solution is often the best way to use them, since doing so allows the treatment to work underneath the nail bed.
Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal is a great example of a topical treatment that attacks fungus as the source.
A natural remedy for nail fungus treatment is only usually effective at treating minor cases of toenail fungus, and as mentioned above, if the issue persists or worsens over time, you should consult your podiatrist.
Be sure to maintain healthy foot hygiene practices like avoiding public areas while barefoot, drying your feet thoroughly, and changing your socks and shoes regularly to avoid reinfection.
Vicks VapoRub
Believe it or not, this topical ointment actually has some merit in treating toenail fungus. To use it, all you need to do is apply a small amount to the affected area once daily.
Doing so has a positive effect as a treatment for onychomycosis, according to this 2011 study, thanks to the antifungal properties of camphor and eucalyptus oil Vicks VapoRub contains. It’s cost-effective, safe, and very accessible.
Tea Tree Oil
Another great natural remedy for toenail fungus is tea tree oil for toenail fungus, sometimes called melaleuca. Swissklip Medi Care Anti Fungal Stick has as its main ingredient tea tree oil. It has both antifungal and antiseptic properties. Simply apply this therapeutic-grade oil directly onto the affected area twice daily using a cotton swab.
Oregano Oil
In a similar vein, oregano oil can be used in the treatment of toenail fungus thanks to the thymol it contains. Thymol has both antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it something to consider as a natural treatment for nail fungus.
Apply twice daily via a cotton swab for best results. Some people even choose to combine oregano oil and tea tree oil together, but just be aware that essential oils are potent and can cause irritation.
As such, you should ideally be using a carrier oil to dilute them. Stop treatment or avoid these solutions if irritation or an allergic reaction occurs.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has some merit as a natural remedy for toenail fungus. It has been demonstrated to have some antifungal properties, disrupting the pH of spores and thus causing them to die; however, the merit of baking soda as a natural toe fungus remedy is still unclear.
Baking soda does help to heal your affected nail and can be applied to the foot directly, incorporated into a soak, or used in your shoes.
Because fungi thrive in moist, damp environments, the drying effects of baking soda may also help to alleviate toenail fungus.
Vinegar
One natural cure for toenail fungus, at least in mild cases, is vinegar. You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar—both are equally potent.
The acid in the vinegar can kill toenail fungus, but it’s worth noting that this solution is best for early treatment or milder cases, since even with a foot soak, vinegar can’t effectively attack fungus that’s rooted deeper in the nailbed. There are certain ways to wear sandals with toenail fungus.
Ozonated Oils
One toenail fungus natural remedy to consider is ozonated oils. Some oils like olive oil and sunflower oil have ozone, which deliver oxygen to the affected skin, killing bacteria and stimulating skin cells for quicker healing.
Certain strains of toenail fungus are susceptible to this treatment, as are some yeasts. To apply, massage a little ozonated oil into the skin, around the affected area, and on the entire toe. You can utilize this treatment once daily.
Garlic
A potent antimicrobial, garlic can be used as a way to naturally treat nail fungus. A more recent 2019 study suggests that garlic is effective in treating toenail fungus. This can be used in the form of a topical treatment or taken orally, which can also enable other positive health benefits.
Use topical garlic treatments carefully, since they can cause chemical burns. To apply, chop cloves of garlic and place them gently on the affected nail or nails for 30 minutes once a day over the course of a week.
Ask your pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements containing garlic to see if it’s right for you.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of ways to naturally treat nail fungus that you can rely on for milder cases. From vinegar to baking soda, they might even be things you have in your pantry cupboard! Try using one or a combination of multiple natural toenail fungus remedies to see if your condition gets better.
If you continue to experience pain or discomfort as a result of toenail fungus, then a podiatrist can help you find the right medication or treatment, during which time you may be able to supplement a natural remedy for nail fungus.
