★★★★★
Vicks
★★★★★
Listerine
★★★★★
I did not want to subject my body to long treatments of meds that might harm my liver, so I decided to use Listerine at night and Vicks during the day. Be aware that this treatment can take a couple of months, but it does work!! Be patient. I had an especially stubborn fungus. The first thing I did was file nails down as thin as possible without pain, as to remove as much damaged nail as possible. Every other night before bed I would put band aids around toes with the "non-sticky/white" part facing/touching the nail. I then used a syringe to squirt some Listerine inside the bandage - this way nails would be "soaking" all night. During the treatment time remember to keep nails extra short and filed thin so that there is not as much bio burden for Listerine to work through. In the am, take bandages off and let nails dry a bit before putting a dab of Vicks Vapor Rub on the toenails - no band aids, just socks. I did this every other day for about two months. Fungus is gone and I have normal pink flat nails again!!
Vicks
Vicks
Vicks
★★★★★
I took my dremel tool with a sanding wheel and ground off all of the infected nails down to the nail bed. Cleaned it with alcohol, wiped dry, and applied lamisil gel twice a day for six weeks. Each week I would grind off any new nail growth to ensure I kept the infected area exposed. On some occasions I had to grind off more nail because it looked to be spreading. I also wore "finger cots" when showering and tried to keep my nails water/moisture free. This leaves the finger bed/nail area very dry and flakey looking. After this 6 week treatment, I started the vicks vapor rub treatment (off brand) by applying a hefty amount at bed time and covering it with a bandaid. I did this for 2 months. As I said, my thumbs are completely grown out and normal now. My big toes only got the vicks treatment; right is completely cleared and left is still growing out so until it has completly grown out I honestly can't say. Some people claim to see immediate improvement or it worked after 2 weeks... etc. Don't believe it. It will cause a transparent efffect on the nails and make them "look" better but until the nail is completely grown out/connected to the nail bed the fungus is still under there. Most say to do the treatment every night without a missing a single night for 2 months, I say do it until the nail is grown out and looks normal, and that can take 12 to 18 months for toe nails. For me it was about 6 months but my fungus only went about half way back on my toenails to start with. Bottom line, I think the vicks will work for most people but not all, and, you have to be deligent. I did not miss a night, no matter what. If we went away for the weekend I took my vicks with me. If I was sick, I still applied the vicks. I'm very OCD when it comes to these types of things and you need to be to get rid of the fungus. Good luck.
Multiple Remedies
Multiple Remedies
Multiple Remedies
After trying countless conventional methods over the span of three decades, I was finally able to get rid of my plantar wart for good by using the duct tape method. It took patience and diligence, but it worked!
I suffered with every step I took for ages, and have been free of that pain (and the wart) for almost a year now.
Multiple Remedies
As for plantar warts Edgar Cayce (per the link below) had a great remedy for them without having to resort to cutting them out.
http://wartcure99.blogspot.com/2010/04/edgar-cayce-wart-remedy_17.html
Multiple Remedies
I would like to add that I am an RN. I've been practicing since 2005. I have an extensive background. And before I was a nurse I also struggled with systemic candida (I was 28 at the time) and that is an entirely different story. But I will say that during the time I was treated for the Candida my nail fungus did not improve in that one respective toe. I was treated with naturopathic herbal remedies such as colloidal silver, peppermint, numerous tinctures of essential oils, organic diet, Vit C and a plethora of natural flora. With this I experienced an explosive and lifechanging breatkthrough in my general health and my other nails did improve that were not already affected. Oh, but that toe! Oh my goodness...
I am so grateful to have found the posts from people who have been as desperate as I am to find help for this. I plan to try the vinegar and Vicks. I think that would be the safest. I will say that bleach, although it may be effective, can and will absorb into the system through the skin and kill natural flora in the body. That is precisely what you want to avoid. Bleach is very caustic. It is hard on the lungs when breathing the fumes and it can have potentially toxic and even fatal reactions with other substances. Please, please avoid bleach. There are so many other options.
However, as a nurse, and with my experience there are eight key things I would like to share with about preventing the spread of the nail fungus you already have and things you can do to aid your fight, which you may not have thought about.
#1. PETS and SHOES!!! First lets talk about pets. Pets (especially those who roam outside) bring all kinds of microorganisms into your home. If you are healthy and your immune system is strong, you generally don't need to worry. But if you have carpet, I promise you these microogranisms are hiding and reproducing there. If you are currently treating nail fungus and are walking barefoot on an infected carpet then beware, because you could be potentially reinfected. Here's what I would suggest to those of you who have pets OR are living in an apartment or other home where previous residents have lived (because you never know the lifestyle of the tenant before you). Keep in mind that you need to keep your floors clean. If you or your leasing agent can afford to change out your carpet then by all means do so. If you cannot, at least have it cleaned properly. I would recommend doing this in the warmer months such as Spring and Fall when it can dry completely and easily, and I recommend doing it often (twice a year). I don't believe Winter time is the best time to do this because it cannot dry as easily or quickly. Okay, so case and point -- keep your pets clean, keep your carpet clean, and don't roam barefoot. As for shoes... You drag plenty of microorganisms into your home as well. Wear sandals or socks to protect your feet, even when you're in the house. Have a pair of house flip flops you can scuttle around in. And if that doesn't suit you, then clean cotton socks are perfectly acceptable because you're feet will still be able to breathe. Personally, I try to NEVER wear my shoes inside my house. I keep that minimal, because when you wear shoes in your home you WILL inevitably track in organisms (including fungal spores) that can hide in your carpet.
#2. Enough cannot be said for good hygiene and housekeeping. Keeping your bathroom clean is a MUST. Carpeting in a bathroom is a recipe for fungus. Good grief, there is no worse combination. The resident moisture in any bathroom is enough to breed fungus. And even if you have tile, any bathmats used need to be washed routinely, at least every week if not more, depending on the traffic in your bath. Towels need to be hung up to dry, washcloths need to be wrung out, and wet surfaces need to be wiped down. Keep your bathroom ventilated. Keep it clean. Whether your shower or bathe, you need to be diligent in cleaning up after yourself and wiping things down the best you can. I suggest using a natual peppermint mist when you're done. I mix peppermint essential oil with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid. It does wonders. That peppermint will halt the growth of any bacteria or fungus and your bathroom will smell fresh and clean. Get into a good habit, be diligent with it, and it will work for you. Develop a routine cleaning schedule for your bathroom!
#3. Do not ever use the same manicuring set on your hands that you use on your feet. EVER! I am convinced this is why I saw problems once I had my nails professionally done. I just spread. And once you've manicured your feet, place your manicuring tools in a clorox soak overnight. Not many of us have any home sterilization/decontamination other than a reliable dishwasher--and for God's sake that's the last place you want your tools to be! Use nail files that are made of metal, stone or glass. Do not use files that cannot be soaked or cleaned, because they harbor fine dust from your nails that is full of the infection you are trying to eradicate. Such files that are made of wood or sandpaper are meant for a one time use and need to be thrown away. If you do a lot of filing, clean up the dust and wear a mask if you think you might be breathing it in. However, excessive filing is really not necessary. I suggest a once-over and that should be sufficient for most to create a nail that will soak/absorb treatments.
#4. Washing your feet. I truly believe this fungus we deal with is such a huge issue because we fail to wash our feet frequently enough, and we fail to do it properly. We touch things all day long with our hands, right? But we get dirty and we wash them! If we are civilized at all, we're always washing them. But our feet? Not so much. We walk around all day long, even barefoot, and neglect to wash our feet. If you are one to roam barefoot, then perhaps this is something to consider. Simply practice good foot hygiene!
#5. Keep toenails trimmed. The longer the toenail is, the more it can harbor. Honestly, long toenails pack it in! We've all seen sock fuzz. We've all seen toe jam. We've all seen it! But if you leave toenails long, then all of that natural oil, dead skin, dirt and fuzz gives a breeding ground for fungus. Long toe nails are a big no-no!
#6. Use an antifungal powder when wearing socks. Most are cheap and it works for me at warding off other types of fungus such as athlete's foot, etc.
# 7. Enough cannot be said for a healthy diet. Believe me, I know. I was dying from a systemic Candidiasis infection that was literally decomposing me from the inside out. My organs were shutting down. I was at death's door before I found help. And I want you all to know that modern medicine didn't save me. I was too far gone. My MD told me I needed natural medicine because anything they were going to prescribe would have finished me off. I simply could not metabolize it safely. And as you all know, those antifungal medications are extremely hazardous. They DO damage to vital organs! I found an ND (Naturopathic Doctor) and with God's help, I turned around. It was a three year journey, but by the time it was over I was a radiant, glowing picture of health. And I am not exaggerating. I had compeletely rebuilt my body through painstaking regimen of herbs, hydration, organic diet, deep detox cleansing... It goes on an on. I am truly a miracle. Even my doctor couldn't believe it. And I can tell you that I am not the same. I have learned the value in investing in your body. We invest in all kinds of things --houses, careers, cars, education. But come on people, why aren't we investing in our health?! Isn't it amazing that we miss that? We have so misplaced our values. Here's the hard core truth: living healthy cells create living healthy cells. Period. You don't get them any other way. If you are eating junk, that is all your body has to work with. And when I say junk, I am talking about processed, canned, dead food that has no nutritive value. It may give you calories (energy), but there are no viable nutrients. If you eat like this then the results you will get in maintaining your health and creating your health will be fleeting and minimal. And you are setting up shop for disease. I encourage EVERYONE to please, please, PLEASE respect your body. Invest in it. If you invest in anything, invest in your health. Invest in your body. It is the only one you have. If you will take the time and resources you have to pay your dues and eat right, get adequate rest/sleep, fresh air, sunlight and exercise -- you will be glad you did. This is not rocket science. Eat well! Healthy living whole foods that provide you nutrient-rich energy are not hard to find. You need green food! At least one salad a day as a rule of thumb. They are quick easy fixes! Change it up! Lean meats, whole grains, fresh fruits, veggies, and yes, dairy (yogurt and buttermilk are FULL of awesome flora). Go buy a cookbook. Develop a menu for your palate (personal taste) that is healthy. Determine a budget. If you invest in anything, invest in your health--your body. And you will live a better life. Here is the rundown. Please take a look...
Living Healthy Food will contain the following 7 core components:
1. Kilocalories: the energy provided in food comes from three sources which are in all foods in varying ratios regardless of their origin:
--Carbs (sugars) 4 kcal
--Proteins (amino acids) 4 kcal: proteins are subject to heat. Their structure changes when they are denatured.
--Fats (lipids) 9 kcal
2. Water: all food, even if it is dry, has a resident amount of natural moisture inherent within it, even it if is not readily detected.
3. Microminerals/Macrominerals: these are readily stable in the presence of heat and light).
4. Water soluble and Fat soluble Vitamins: these are destroyed with heat and light.
5. Enzymes: these are the lovely little guys that help you ABSORB your nutrition and break down your food. You cannot obtain health from any food you cannot break down or absorb. Enzymes are inherent within living whole foods. They are destroyed with heat.
6. Fiber: soluble and insoluble. It's in every whole food. Fiber is destroyed the longer you cook something. It is indeed subject to heat.
7. Flora: Last but certainly not least! These are your very, very, very best friends. They come in all kinds of strains and actually account for approximately 80% of your immunity. They fight for you in ways you cannot imagine! They work synergystically and produce oxygen in the body through a production of a type of hydrogen peroxide which wards off fungus! Wow! All natural whole foods will contain flora (or should contain flora). Some contain more than others if they are organic, because pesticides will kill flora. If they kill bugs--they kill flora. So try to eat organic if possible. If you want to incorporate flora rich foods you can focus on supplementing with yogurt, buttermilk, natural sour cream, and a variety of cheeses. Not all cheeses are made with mold. Yes, heat and light destroy these friendly and lifesaving flora. If you do not like yogurt, buttermilk or cheese you can purchase flora in capsules, tablets or powder. Make sure the strains are DDS-I, so they can SURVIVE STOMACH ACID! Yea!
As you can see, dead, processed, canned food does not have all the necessary components to create living healthy cells in you. And we wonder why there is so much disease. We take processed, canned, previously cooked food and cook it again! Now, we all need to cook. But when you do cook, use low heat, and methods such as blanching or steaming that preserve nutrients as much as possible. Do not ever overcook your foods.
#8. Hydration and Alkalizing fluids and foods. Drink plenty of water and get lots of Vitamin C. Water should be your closest ally. It is the miracle worker! It is the fundamental fluid of every living thing. Your body is made of water, and it cannot cleanse without it! Water is the only fluid your body readily recognizes and can utilize to remove wastes and hydrate vital organs, joints and skin. When we don't drink water, we fail to "bathe" internally. We become cesspools. Cellular wastes, debris, and toxins build up in our cells, tissues, and organs which can cause disease. Fluid should be alkalizing to the body. It should bring moisture, rehydration, cleansing, and establish a pH balance that your cells can thrive and reproduce in. Water is by far the best, but other wonderful fluids are coconut milk, almond milk, natrual fruit juices that are high in Vitamin C. Any green food will create an alkaline environment. Now please understand (those of you who know chemistry will know this), Vitamin C is ascorbic acid, but when it comes in contact with your body, it turns alkaline instantly. Your body uses Vitamin C like a car guzzles gasoline. It's potentcy is very shot lived, so you need a lot of it throughout the day, especially if you are stressed or healing. The more you feed your body Vitamin C, the healthier your cells will be. Berries of every kind are WONDERFUL! Grapefruit is excellent as well --very rich in Vitamin C. Bananas are great. Now they are full of potassium, but they are also an alkaline forming food. Limes and lemons are awesome avengers! Add their juice to your water, smoothies, etc. Vitamin C helps carry oxygen and it is wonderful for cellular health. And that is really where health begins -- at the cellular level. If you can provide what your body needs to create living healthy cells, then you will live as a healthy person. So with that being said, drink, drink, drink! By the way, Vitamin C is destroyed in sunlight and excessive heat. So keep any Vit C supplements in the fridge and store Vit C rich foods away from direct sunlight. This is why citrus fruits have such a thick skin. It protects their Vit C content.
For those of you who have taken time to read this, I pray it truly helps you. Perhaps you can made some changes or adjustments. Just remember to look beyond your infected nail and realize that there are other factors contributing to your health (or the lack of it), your success in treating this infection, and possible reinfection. The old addage is true, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"! Be diligent, invest wisely where it really does count, and you will see positive lasting results.
One last thing... I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but plantar warts are a VIRUS. They are not fungal. Treating them with fungal medication/remedies will not cure them. This virus circulates in the bloodstream; it can pop up anywhere on the body creating a wart, and they are CONTAGIOUS, just like any other virus. The only way to deal with plantar warts are to have them cut out (surgically removed). They bury deep beyond the dermis of the skin, and are painful. Surgery is many times necessary and is not always lasting. So please keep this in mind if you are struggling with plantar's warts. So sorry for this bad news, but to treat these properly a physician is a must. Even still, keep in mind the aforementioned, and I believe it will help you in your fight.
Blessings to all!
E.
Iodine
★★★★★
Finally, after so many years I see the light of getting new healthy nails. I will continue this routine for a few more months until the new nails are all strong and healthy. I should be able to wear sandles next summer. Using Vicks is important because without it my nails have these white spots, brittle and weak. I believe iodine is quite harsh for nails and strips them dry. Good luck. :)
★★★★★
Shoe and Sock Tips
Shoe and Sock Tips
★★★★★
★★★★★
Multiple Remedies
Listerine and White Vinegar
★★★★★
Have now retired and moved to a warm climate. Wearing sandals ALL the time. Soaking my foot in listerine and distilled vinegar once daily for about 10 minutes (and drying carefully afterward). Following up with daily application of tea tree oil. Filing down surface of nail frequently, trimming nail very short, cleaning out under the nail regularly. Improved my diet to reduce sugars and flour. After four months, I see success! The nail is no longer peeling and looks almost normal now. Will continue this regimen for another month or so and hold off on nail polish for six months to ensure it is all gone.
Henna
★★★★★
I usually use it to dye my hair, but I've been reading up on it, and I'm going to try it on a persistent fungus near my eye. I usually just mix it with hot water and let it sit for an hour, then apply it wherever. Henna can smell pretty strong, but feels absolutely wonderful on your skin.
It has to sit and absorb for a few hours, so don't do it if you're in a hurry, and it can be a bit messy. Now I just need to figure out where to get those tiny little paint brushes to paint it on exactly.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
1: After showering, I would dry my feet REALLY well with a paper towel and hair dryer - using your towel can spread the fungus.
2: I shower in the morning before work, so once my feet were dry I would put straight tea tree oil on all the nails. The big toe looked really bad, so I put a bandaid over that one, since I wear sandals pretty much year-round. I have some light-colored antifungal nail polish (there are several brands out there, I bought mine on Amazon) that I put on the toes that weren't as bad, since I NEVER wear socks and am a little vain about my feet :-)
3: Anytime I was home I made sure I was barefoot with nothing covering my toes. If I was working out and wearing socks, I made sure I wore a clean pair each time that were made of a moisture-wicking material - your feet need to breathe!
4: Every night I'd soak my feet in a 50/50 mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water. Make sure it's at LEAST 50% ACV. It will turn your toenails a sort of yellowish color, be forewarned. Soak them for a minimum of 30 minutes, if you can do more that's best.
5: before bed, when my feet were totally dry I'd put tea tree oil on all my toes and let it soak in. I didn't want to get the oil on my sheets so i'd usually put a pair of (clean! ) socks on once it had soaked in a bit.
I am totally sick of the smell of tea tree oil and ACV, but the remedy is working! It's slow going because the toenails grow so slowly, but if you stick with it and are consistent, you will see results. It's important to let your feet breathe and be exposed to air as much as possible, and also to keep your shower, nail clippers, etc. disinfected.
OTC
★★★★★
Years later, I found this website in 2006, and tried Ted's remedy. My nails were growing clear of fungus about half way, and then one nail reverted when the season changed. So it cured one nail, and I started over with the second nail. Somehow, everytime the nail would start to grow out it would revert again.
So then I took a chance on an OTC product named Keractil, by a new company. I actually thought it wouldn't work, but at least I'd give something else a trie after the past two years of failure. I received that product which looked like it came from a small mom and pop shop, but said what the heck. The worst it could do is not work. So I put it on and two weeks later I saw fungus free nail begin to grow. I still followed Ted's remedy with a weekly foot soak of Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide. During the other days and nights I used Keractil. This product is a lifesaver. Almost 4 months later, I am 95% fungus free of the nail. I also learned that this product is used by members of the military because they wear combat boots and thick socks year round. This product is no gimmick, and I am not trying to endorse it. I really want to share a remedy that works well in addition to Ted's remedy. One last thing is to recommend biosil supplements - which speed the growth of hair and nails. Not everyone's nails grow quickly.
Oregano Oil
Iodine
Oregano Oil
★☆☆☆☆
Detoxification
Colloidal Silver
★★★★★
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
★★★★★
I have been fighting toenail fungus for over 50 years, and of course tried everything. The most promising was oil of oregano, which worked well provided my feet were not exposed to the hot sun (walking in the street). As soon as that happened all the gains I had made vanished and had to start over again. Then I discovered zinc oxide and it cured my nail fungus: my big toenails are now clear after 8 months of consistently using zinc oxide every day. This is what I have done: every morning at the end of my shower I use Zinc Oxide shampoo to wash my feet. Then I dry my feet and nails very well with a paper towel (not a cloth towel) and dispose of the paper towel. Then I clean the nails with a pointed tooth pic (one for every infected nail) and then I dry the nails again with a cotton ball. After that I dry the feet with a hair dryier. Then I apply a zinc oxide cream (found in diaper rash ointment) and rub my feet together to make it penetrate. At night I apply more ointment and also dash zinc oxide powder (also used for babies diaper rash) on my toenals. (I use the cream and powder all day if I am wearing socks). The cream and powder keep the feet dry at all times and no fungus can survive. I suspect that the oregano oil may work in the summer if used in combination with the zinc oxide approach.
I've been using it now for about a week, and my nail looks much better. I purchased some of those "finger ballons or condoms" at the pharmacy and put that on after applying the vicks. This keeps the vicks in place, and the finger dry.
Alkalize
Alkalize
I also had toenail fungus. I started taking 2 tablespoons of ACV with honey twice a day. The fungus gradually disappeared and has not come back. It did take a while but when the new nail grows in the fungus will grow out with the old nail. It was about three months or a bit more for it to be completely gone. It has been nearly a year and it has not come back. I had it in both big toes and it had been there for quite a few years.
Alkalize
Pulse Generator
★★★★★
After the skin healed up a small metal pin was placed between the little and fourth toes. The negative electrode was connected to the pin, the positive electrode was placed in the mouth with enough saliva to increase the area of conductance. A small protrusion of pus came to the surface. Charge flow was increased to 20-25mA at 5V. White staphylococcus aureus necrotizing fasciitis became visible right below the surface of the skin.
This infection would have and probably has gone unnoticed for years. Antifungal creams sometimes with corticosteroids were prescribed in the past never completely curing the infection. Possible eczema and sensitivity to fungi were the only conclusions.
For the necrotizing fasciitis a 10 day course of 30 amoxicillin/clavulanic acid pills (500mg/125mg) were prescribed. To increase treatment effectiveness a blue light-emitting diode was directed at the site of infection (blue light phototherapy kills Staphylococcus aureus).
P.S. Treatment with lytic bacteriophages is also possible but mainly for multidrug resistant bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus resists human defensins by production of staphylokinase. Fungi evade the immune system of their hosts by secreting extracellular protein 6.
Borax, Clove Oil
Borax, Clove Oil
★★★★★
