The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Posted by AJ (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/09/2007
★★★★★
I have tried three application of lemongrass oil and I am making WONDERFUL progress. I have had serious to moderate toe nail infections for the past 3 years. Nothing I have tried has worked until now. I have applied lemongrass oil to all infected nails. The infected portion of each nail turn black within 24 hours of application. New nail that is healthy looking is just peeking in from the base and I am I very excited. I think this remedy with an essential oil will work for some. Also, the oil smells great!
Vicks
Posted by Becky (San Diego, CA) on 11/15/2006
My Dr. (at a very well know medical organization), he asked that I not tell anyone that he told me to try this instead of the prescription he could have given. Apparently the prescription stuff takes just as long to work approx. 3mos and cost a lot more and has bad side effects on other organs in your body. The Vicks Vapor Rub every night before bed rubbed on toes, covered with socks and WOW! What a find... Renewed my faith in my Doctor as well.
EC: We have long suspected that many of these emails are from the manufacturer (or their PR firm). We post them here for your reading enjoyment.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Julie (River Grove, IL) on 05/02/2006
★★★★★
I am very happy to pass this on to anyone who has this condition because you will absolutely get rid of your discolored/thickened toenails with no side effects! I know because my nails are clear and beautiful again. Apply oil of oregano to your nails with a Q-tip in the morning and evening. You can buy oil of oregano at any health food store. Do this and your unsightly toenails will be a thing of the past. Do this for approximately 6 or 7 months, so your new clear toenails will grow in and that's it! I followed this advice and my nails are completely clear and normal.
Iodine
Posted by Brenda (Bear, DE) on 01/18/2006
★★★★★
Iodine is excellent for toenail fungus, ringworm, fever blisters, moles and skin tags, hangnails, etc. Just a few drops on a q-tip is all it takes. Use daily until the "boo-boo" is gone.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Nancy (Westport CT) on 07/06/2005
★★★★★
I have fungus on one big toe and nothing worked . One day I decided to put peroxide let it sit dry then pour alcohol on it and it is cured and has grown back and I no longer get ingrown toenail . I had cut it as short as possible to get the peroxide etc in there.
General Feedback
Posted by Mary (Apple Valley) on 02/19/2025
Hi. I have toenail fungus and my doctor said that it is systemic and can't be treated topically. So all your remedies supposedly don't actually cure it, just temporarily alleviate the symptoms. I read here that olive leaf extract worked. But do the topical ones actually work as well. I know the medical establishment doesn't credit anything but what it sells.
Baking Soda
Posted by Leanne (Australia ) on 03/12/2022
Try spraying with tea tree oil.
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Posted by John B (Pahoa, HI 96778) on 10/21/2021
★★★★★
I used lemongrass oil after beginning a probiotic a month earlier. The lemongrass oil killed the fungus and infected nails. I used it until it irritated the surrounding skin. Two months after taking the probiotics I can see new healthy nail growth at the cuticle, the old dead nails are like scabs. I expect the combination is the answer as I had an appendectomy in 1970 and the fungal symptoms started in the mid 1990's.
Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Richard T. (Columbus, Georgia) on 01/04/2019
★★★★★
I pour a little rubbing alcohol, the cheap stuff you buy for a dollar a bottle also called isopropenal, on my toe nails after I shower. It works well for me. The alcohol soakes into the nail and the fungus.
Garlic
Posted by Carmel (Uk) on 01/17/2016
★★★★★
Had a very badly fungus nail, very horrible and thick, difficult to cut.
Smear garlic juice on it every day or so and it will grow up perfectly fine. Worked for me anyway.
Bleach
Posted by Timh (KY) on 08/03/2014 2041 posts
@Js: The b- vitamin biotin is very good for hair & nails. Coconut Oil taken orally will help prevent reinfection.
Oregano Oil
Posted by CC (Collierville, Tn./USA) on 07/18/2013
All anyone needs for any kind of fungus, is Wild Oregano. You can purchase it at a health store. It kills the fungus! It comes in dropper, capsule, or oil gel cap forms. It will kill any yeast type infections (fungus), and other forms of infection, too. It works by taking it internally, and for a nail fungus, apply to area, as well. I have used it on my animals, also. For over a year, my dog could not get rid of yeast in her ears. Nothing from the doctor worked. I gave her two oil gel caps, twice a day. In three days, it was gone. I gave it to her for another week, just to be sure, like you would take an antibiotic. Do the same for human consumption. Remember... All yeast/fungus related ailments!
Listerine
Posted by Ava (Toronto, On) on 02/05/2015
Listerine products are Triclosan free. http://www.listerine.ca/tips-and-practices/our-heritage
Garlic
Posted by Brad (Albuquerque, Nm) on 10/14/2012
★★★★★
Yeah. Garlic will do the trick for nail fungus. Spreading it on your fingernails will also give your nails a nice gloss. Garlic will clear up fungus.
Essiac Tea Soaks
Posted by Wayseeker (Modesto, Ca/ Usa) on 09/27/2012
★★★★★
Had horrible fungus on toes and hands, resolved readily by soaking in half and half solution of Essiac tea and hot water, for 20 minutes. I also drank 1oz of the Essiac and 1oz of boiling water as a tea, holding it in mouth awhile each sip, for 3x a day on an empty stomach.
This worked when nothing else came close! And fast! I would continue for a month, then only as a preventative needed now and again.
I also scrubbed face of toenails down lightly with soft side of emory board to allow the tea to soak in, and thoroughly removed debri both on and under nails.
Sea Salt
Posted by Anonymous (Somewhere, Texas) on 09/23/2012
★★★★★
Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup or more of salt to the foot bath depending on how much water you have. Think salty like the Dead Sea - this will kill the fungus.
If hot water hurts your toes you can use warm water. But you might want to dissolve the salt in hot water first so the water becomes super saturated then let cool.
You can go to a local feed store and buy bulk fine mineral salts which are the same thing as the some of the more expensive mineral baths salts(mined from the same place). This way you can get a lot of high quality salt cheaply. Hope this helps you.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Not More Nail Fungus! (USA) on 09/22/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I have had toenail fungus for over 10 years. Its disgusting and hurts.
Heres what I've tried: All of them keep the fungus at bay but after a few weeks do not regress the situation.
* H2O2 Foot baths - strength ranging from 3% to 12%
* vinegar foot baths
* vicks
* Lamasil toenail paint - did not work at all. Waste of money
* Oregano oil - too stinky
* tea tree oil - works but I was not consistent
I am now using listerine mixed with alcohol. Its working, but I'm at the 2-3 week stage where all the others have failed, so I'm keen to see what happens next.
Sea Salt
Posted by Mpi (Atlantic City, Nj) on 07/10/2012
★★★★★
I probably tried over 50 different remedies for nail fungus on my big toe and it just kept getting worse. It got so bad, the entire nail was separated from the nailbed, except for a small section at the very base of the nail and I was resigned to the idea that I would lose the nail. Here is what finally worked: SALT.
My routine: At night, pack the affected toe(s) in salt, (less than 1/8 of a teaspoon is plenty! ) making sure to get it well under the nail. You can add a drop of water so some of the salt will get into all the crevices the fungus can grow. In the morning, I use baking soda and a nail brush to scrub it clean and then dab some coconut oil on it to keep the nail from becoming too brittle.
First, I noticed that the fungus stopped advancing down the nail. As the nail grew in, it came in white for a bit and then little by little, I saw pink, healthy nail bed growing at the base of the nail, it is firmly attached to the skin and continues to grow in normally.
