Natural Remedies for Nail Fungus: Home Treatments

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Posted by KT (Charlottesville, Virginia) on 03/16/2013
★★★★☆

I used grapefruit seed extraxt (citricidal) on toenail fungus which I've been fighting for about 4 years. First, I thoroughly cleaned the area removing as much of the infected area (toenail and skin) as possible. I then applied a generous drop of citricidal directly on the area and covered with a bandaid. There is a warning on the bottle which says "do not use full strength on the skin". I did it anyway. I'm not recommending anyone else do this; I'm just saying that's what I did. The area was sore for about a day. I've repeated this procedure about 4 times so far with about 2 weeks between each treatment. The results? So far, my toenail has been growing back and there appears to be no trace of fungus. The area is greatly improved. I will continue with this process until my toenail is restored to normal. So, the citricidal seems to be working for me.

Vitamin E Oil

Posted by Boonie (Waukesha, Wi) on 03/11/2013
★★★★★

Vitamin E oil for fungus nails: use a Q tip or cotton ball to massage in to your nails on both sides after your bath or shower. It may take a year to do this every day but the nail will grow out clear. It takes about a year for the new nail to grow out completely. Trim regularily and continue to oil your toe nails every day as needed. Oil all the way to the cuticle to top of the nail and underneath nail surface as much as you can.

Oregano Oil

Posted by Lian (Nairobi, Kenya) on 11/29/2012

I am saying Amen!!!!! To Oregano Oil, had Fungal that refused to go completely for the last TEN years. As we speak, my face is really glowing and am very confident walking with my head's high. It is a powerful cure.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Jc (Columbus, Ga, Us) on 07/23/2013

How long did you soak your toe nails each day, for them three days.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 02/23/2022 92 posts

Question for everybody: How long do you have to soak, before this thick unsightly toenail comes ovf painlessly?

What is it that I'm doing wrong?

I soak the nail in a 3% white vinegar for up to 6 hours per day, but the thick unsightly part of the nail remains hard as a rock. Neither my nail scissors nor my nail file is, or seems to be, any help.

Any advice?

Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by zalmus (Israel) on 09/25/2023

My guess it has to be ACV, not white vinegar. Although many comments relate to White Vinegar too. Also Hydrogen Peroxide 3%.

Castor Oil

Posted by Wolfgang (New York) on 08/07/2017

I have had nail fungus on three toes on my left foot for years. I know this happened because of poor hygiene.

It basically only hurt on the big toe. Keeping pressure off of the foot in a shoe helped but was not a solution.

I read about clorox to help this so I brushed every day and certainly there was soon less pain. My feet felt clean. It still has not gone away but now I see that Castor oil helps a lot.

I think both are good. Tee tree oil did not work for me also too expensive.

Iodine, Hydrogen Peroxide, Colloidal Silver

Posted by Hippocrates (Odin, Missouri, USA) on 04/29/2012 9 posts
★★★★★

Hello all, Many years ago, I went to Hawaii. I walked on the beach barefoot, it was fun. I am unsure if this was the cause but, I came back home, and one toe nail started to get thick and brittle a few months later. It got so thick, toe nail clippers won't go over it to cut it, so I have to hack away at it to get it cut. The others have been totally unaffected.

One day, I decided to cut it, but then went outside and sanded it down to a slightly less-than-normal thickness out of frustration. I noticed that the outside looked normal-ish, but inside it was pithy, like old dead wood, small hollow pockets with brown streaks.

So, I mixed up some iodine I had, some hydrogen peroxide, and some 500 ppm colloidial silver. It was 60% iodine, 20% hydrogen peroxide, 20% colloidial silver. I would paint it on in the morning a few times so that it soaked in nicely, then put on a bandage over the nail or a "finger cot" (like a condom for your finger), then take it off in a few hours. Then, when I got home, I would paint it on several times again, but let it air dry.

The nail started to grow back normally from the base of it, but I moved and was unable to continue to the current living arrangement for a year. It reverted back to the old thick nail by the end.

I am now able to continue my earlier treatments, but didnt figure that you would want to wait a year or two to find out how it goes. It takes about a year for a nail ripped off to grow completely back in (dont ask me how I know ;), so if you do this, I would continue for 2 years to make sure that it was completely gone, then a periodic treatment, once a week or twice a month or so, to make sure that it doesnt come back. If it is thick, even possibly not, make sure to sand it down quite a bit, so that it can absorb down into the nail bed better, since nails arent the most porous of substances. The key is to get it into the nail, as if you put it on and then put on socks that absorb the liquid, it wont go into the nail. That is why I used something to keep the solution from drying out and not soaking in.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 01/28/2012

You have obviously gone to a lot of trouble with your post but I can't agree with some of what you are saying. I cured my toe nail fungus (which had spread to more than one toe) by just drinking the ACV a couple of times a day. I had had the problem for quite a few years. As the nail grew out so did the fungus and I just kept cutting it. Three months later it was pretty much cleared up. There is no need for me now to wash my feet differently or be careful with this or that, my body is healthy. The fungus will only be a problem if the body is not healthy. I heard a great saying once... "you can't fish in dirt". It is the same with our bodies, disease and sick only occur if the body is in a state that allows it to. The same with your immune system. Everyone around you can be sick but if your immune system is strong you won't get sick.

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

Posted by Courtney (Granite Bay, Ca) on 01/28/2012

I beg to differ. Surgery is not the only alternative.

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.

General Feedback

Posted by Stan (Huntsville, Texas United States Of America) on 11/30/2011
★★★★★

The main situation with foot fungus infections is that foot fungus is the number one fungus infection worldwide. It is not an overstatement to say that foot fungus health care is a multiBILLION dollar industry. The healthcare industry shuns/refuses to culture the feet to identify the fungus exact species in many cases due to fear of having the fungi growing in their work environment. Scientists through electron microscope studies have verified that many of these fungi end up inside the cell wall of the human host feet so that vinegar or many other chemicals used will at first work but later on the intracellular fungi will grow again to remind the person that he/she still has the infection. The literature historically has stated that the person gets reinfected eg. from walking barefoot on community shower floors when in fact the "intracellular fungi" simply re-emerged from the intracellular sites.

Vicks

Posted by Timbo2 (Huntsville, Al) on 03/04/2012

Just an update, still clear, no signs of fungus. Left toe nail looks normal but still not completely grown out. Probably another 3 to 5 months before I can actually claim victory for that toe nail. Good luck!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin E, Vitamin D

Posted by Bia (Lahore, Pakistan) on 08/29/2011
★★★★★

Hi,

I would like to share success of cure fungal nails. My daughter aged 7yrs since she was goign through this acute fungal nails which she got it from making bubbles out of liquid dishwasher.

After seeing several doctors, applying medicines, homoepathic, etc.

Finally after great research I applied apple vinegar for 2 years and vitamin E oil cap and manicure them regulary and vitamin D-3 suspension 1tsp at night worked like magic and I want eveyone who are suffering from this should start applying these and see how they vanish as they never existed.

Monica

Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin E, Vitamin D

Posted by Pandoranran (Guangzhou, China) on 06/11/2013

Can you explain the vitamin D3? Was it applied the affected area or taken orally?

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Megny (Miami, Fl) on 08/27/2011
★★★★★

I had an issue with nail fungus for several years - hid it with nail polish until it finally got really bad. 5 of my toes were infected, and the worst was my big toe, which had separated from the nail bed and had debris under it. It's been about a month, and I'm noticing improvements in all my toes, especially the big toe - it's growing in clear and healthy, and the new growth is attached to the nail bed! Here is what I did:

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.

Borax, Clove Oil

Posted by Elly (Topeka, Kansas) on 06/15/2011

I also rub a little lavender oil on my skin if I feel the slightest itch come back and so far so good.

Detoxification

Posted by Jeff (Mckinney, Texas, United States) on 06/10/2011

This site is great. Special thanks to Ted and Bill for all the first-hand information. I have been reading it non-stop since stumbling upon it. I apologize for the length of this, please bear with me.

Here's how I got here: A few years ago I read a book about fungus and all its effects -- the author contributed pretty much everything to fungi and/or mycotoxins including cancer. The reason I purchased this book was due to the following reasons:

1) I was exhausted during my day -- I needed 5 hour Energy shots to keep from falling asleep. This was typically after a meal, so I started thinking I had a major sensitivity to sugar. I was a typicaly SAD (Standard Amercian Diet) guy who loves bread, sugar, and all things meaty. Never really had any of the other symptoms of Candida so don't think that was the cause.

2) I developed a fungus on my torso and in the folds of my elbows. I couldn't get rid of it except to go to the Doc and get Fluconazole. He gave me 4 pills to take 1/week for 4 weeks. I took 2 which got rid of the fungus and then kept the other 2 which a year later I needed to use again to get rid of it. It came back about 4 months ago.

3) I also developed a toenail fungus. I lost my toenail due to soccer and the new one came in clean but I'm determined to keep it that way.

4) About 3 months ago I went to the dentist for a cleaning. He said I had bone loss and my gums were receding and asked me if I was diabetic. I'm not. I'm in my 40's, over 6' tall and weigh about 200 lbs. (I've since figured out that this is definitely due to Acidosis and having constant acid conditions in my mouth.)

5) Mild digestive issues. Consistent diarrhea, food induced. Let me put it this way, I never really have quiet time in the bathroom -- lots of courtesy flushes are necessary and it was rare to have just a normal 'ol BM. Have noticed recently color tends to be on the lighter brown side indicating not enough bile.

So, going from there I deduced that if fungus is a potential cause of cancer they must thrive in the same type of environment. Indeed they do, they both love acid environments. Armed with information on what a healthy pH is I purchased some strips and started testing. My first test: Saliva = 6.2; Urine = 5.8. That night I took a teaspoon of Baking Soda in a glass of water. I burped several times and went to bed. I didn't sleep well that night, mostly due to feeling some energy and the crazy gas. I woke the next morning and felt better with more energy than I've had in months if not years. A side effect -- it gave me the worst case of gas that I've experienced in a long time -- this lasted for the next few days (I repeated the evening BS in water) but tapered off. QUESTION 1: Any ideas what was going on in my system? I would be interested to hear if anyone has experienced the same.

Next morning my pH was Saliva = 7; Urine = 7.4

So, here I am a week later -- I've read through most of this site and here's what I've implemented thus far. Replaced a lot of my grooming products with natural versions to cut out some pollutants: toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, and deodorant. I've only modified my diet slightly -- cutting back a little on bread and sugar. I'm a huge water drinker naturally and don't drink any coffee but was also a huge black tea drinker with Sweet&Low(Saccharin). I've cut out most of the black tea, all of the Sweet&Low. I take the BS with water at night time every now and then if I feel my pH is edging upward. I squeeze lemons in my water at every meal. I purchased or already had: ACV, BSM, EVCO, Sesame Oil, Himalayan Crystal Salt, powdered Vit C, Borax, Vit D3, Lugol's 5%, and a few detox items like Chlorophyll pills. I did buy the right kind of Milk of Magnesia and some carbonated water -- and am planning on making Mag Water and mixing in some Borax (QUESTION 2 -- is this the best way to start with Magnesium supplementation?)

My current routine:

I started OPing in the morning starting with Sesame Oil b/c I thought with EVCO I might get some Herxheimers. Did that 2 days, and did EVCO today for the first time. No adverse reactions whatsoever -- just noticed by the end of the day my skin is a little oily. Also have been ingesting 1 tbsp of EVCO in the evening each day for the last couple of days.

After Oping, rinsing, and brushing my teeth I've been drinking a small glass of Vanilla Coconut Milk with 1 tbsp of BSM mixed in -- yum! I then eat a banana or a breakfast bar on my way into work. During the day I've tried 1/2 squeezed lemon BS in a half glass of water a couple of times and noticed my pH didn't really move all that much. The last day I've been using ACV BS with some honey (I like this) and noticed my pH has definitely gone alkaline for my Urine -- it's 7. 8. My saliva remains right around 6. 8 though.

I haven't implemented Borax or Lugol's yet b/c I just got those. I haven't been taking the VitC (other than putting it in the honey), D3, or any of the detox support supplements yet either. Not quite sure how to implement all of this into my daily routine -- when to take what. I know I can do a couple of drops of Lugol's in a glass of water in the morning (QUESTION 3: need to be on an empty stomach?)

QUESTION 4: based on the information above and your experiences/expertise should I go through a cleansing routine? Hulda Clark said to do a parasite cleanse (preferably with a zapper -- QUESTION 5: does this really work?), then a Kidney cleanse, followed by a Liver cleanse. Obviously I don't want to do anything that will be taxing on my system if it's uneccessary but I want my system operating on all cylinders.

QUESTION 6: any advice on the order of the cleansing routine? Or if I should do some sort of heavy metal detox prior to instituting a cleanse? Is there a way to know you need to detox from metals or anything else? Any advice on the most efficient way to do a heavy metal detox and what to look for to know it's working?

Thanks for your patience and your help. You guys rock!

Garlic

Posted by Kelly (Cinicnnati, Ohio) on 04/30/2011

to Jen ftom Vancouver BC-- dont know if you still read this (yours was in 09) but for fungus treatment.... To accelerate the garlic (1 clove chopped) effect, mix it with vapo rub (any brand) I used about a heaping tsp of the mixture and loosely bandaged it. I did it on my left big toe and it cleared it up in a couple of days ( whole toenail was black and had brown pus come out when squeezed--i know yuk! ). I got this remedy from EC, couldn't believe it worked so fast. Hope this helps. God Bless!

Garlic

Posted by Kelly (Cincinnati, OH) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★

a while back I combined two things I'd read on this site for toenail fungus and it worked GREAT. chop a FRESH clove of garlic to release the juice and mix it with a tblsp. of vapo-rub ( store brand ok ). Prepare the nail (toe or finger) by cleaning,cutting as short as possible, and squeezing out any pus if present. then put the garlic/vaporub generously on the nail and wrap with a LOOSE gauze bandage. You will be amazed. The black will clear and new nail will soon grow. Blessings!

Iodine

Posted by Lynn (San Diego, Ca) on 02/10/2011

I've had mild toenail fungus for 10 yrs (only sympton is thick toenails) yet I had bunion/hammertoe surgery 2 yrs. ago and since then the 2 hammertoenails have been normal; they are flat and thin and look great. Was it the Betadine applied just prior to surgery? They were wrapped for several weeks following the surgery. What made this happen? I need to know?

Iodine

Posted by Melmc (Orlando, Fl) on 04/26/2012

I believe it killed the fungus because it is an iodine solution. Several people on this site have said how quickly an iodine solution has cleared up their toenail fungus infection. Someone mentioned getting a clear, stain-free iodine solution at CVS where they live. I plan to do this. (It can be very drying to the nails, so I will be using it with Tea Tree oil, which is supposed to help fight it as well. I'm also going to take about 1 tsp of baking soda in a glass of water for 3 weeks to clear out fungus that is probably in my blood, then every 3-4 days for maintenance.)

Oregano Oil

Posted by Maria (Silver Spring, Md, Usa) on 12/15/2010
★★★★★

Oil of oregano cure for fungus rash and nail fungus. I had a horrible fungus break up on my toes and top of my feet. I had blisters and the itching was so very bad. I had to stay off my feet for two days. It made my nail fungus soooo much worse!! I tried soaking in white vinegar and it helped a little, I tried garlic and did nothing, I tried magnesium salts and it helped to dry it somewhat. I tried apple cider vinegar and it did help to lessen the itching but it stained my toenails. I tried soaking the feet in oregano tea )one teaspoon of dry oregano steeped in hot water for one hour. That helped to clear the infection and the blisters, as oregano is antibacterial and antifungal.

Finally after 3 weeks of suffering I bought the expensive oil of wild oregano already premixed with olive oil. It has helped so much. The skin has healed and the toenail fungus is clearing little by little. I shower and dry my feet with paper towels and then with a hair drier. I remove the debris under the nails and put a few drops of the oregano oil on and under the nails. I rub my feet to help the oil penetrate better. I had a toenail that was separated from the bed, so I but a bandage wrapped tightly around the nail. It has helped to speed the healing and to make the toenail grow straight and proper. Almost there. Be patient, oil of oregano helps where other things do not, but it is not an instant cure, but a steady one. To help the toenails grow faster I am taking silica everyday. It works.

Ted's Remedies

Posted by Eridani (Rochester, Ny) on 03/23/2013

Maybe you should try spraying the shoes you wear with the h2o2/acv solution or buying a lotrim spray and use that for your shoes too.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Julie (St. Joseph, Michigan) on 08/26/2010
★★★★☆

Severe fungus infection. Read all the comments here and yes, tried most of them. Started as blisters near two nails. Went to doctor, whom gave me 10 pills, that left me with not only chest pains, but tunnel vision, breathless, and, I think some allergic reaction. Doctor also gave me some prescription salve that burned the badooties out of my hands, they swelled up like something hitting them with blow torch, and the fungus spread down my arms, legs, feet stomach, This drug left me with continual hives for weeks.. In extreme agony, I went to different doctor who prescribed just taking benedryl, and staying away from any form of water, soap. His last words, do not get wet. After a week of agony, as my skin literally fell off my hands in thick cutting skin cutting the tender flesh underneath. I got a suntan, have not done this in decades, but, was so much less pain in the sun. After two weeks, eating yogurt and staying away from sugar, and yeast flour rice and carbs. Taking tons of Vitamin b's, calcium with D, Green tea. I can see it healing, Thank to the Lord above. I am writing this, just in case someone else out there finds themselves in the same predicament. This last doctor told me of many cases he has seen because of the perfect storm.

Two months prior, I was taking an antibiotic, then purchased some antiviral dish soap and antiviral hand soap. Hot baths and reaction to the fungus drug that messed up my liver. Mind you not only did I get rid of the fungus, but, old age spots, a spider bite on my leg finally healed, three moles disappeared, and, I look now at the fact that medicine is not a cure but a cause. Beware of cleansers, and getting too much sanitation in your life. Kills the good bacteria that protects the skin. I had to restore the good bacteria in my body on it's own. Hope this helps someone else. Fungus lives on sugar and water.

Emu Oil

Posted by Heatherh (Portland, Or) on 08/23/2010
★★★★★

I wanted to get rid of my lifelong toenail fungus before my wedding day 4 years ago. I got a blood test to ensure my liver was in good condition and happily took home a prescription for Lamisil tablets. I ordered them from Canada and started taking them immediately. After about 3 months I started feeling uneasy about the potential damage I was doing to my liver and kidneys and decided to stop taking the drug. Plus I hadn't seen any improvement anyway. My naturopath said I had slow liver function that was causing my constipation. I don't know if this had anything to do with the Lamisil tablets or not but it seemed better to stop taking them than risk harming my organs. Instead I bought a bottle of emu oil and ground up a few of the Lamisil tablets to make a paste. Every morning and night I applied the paste directly to my toenails. After another 3 months my nails were completely clear. I continued to apply emu oil by itself for a few more months. It has been 3 years since my nails cleared up and they are still looking good - no fungus at all, not even athlete's foot.

Ted's Remedies

Posted by Kc (Lafayette, Co) on 04/12/2010
★★★★☆

I have very severe nail fungus on one big toe, always have although its been getting progressively worse over the years. Just a few weeks ago I noticed a different type fungus starting in one of my little toes! "NO WAY!" i thought, so i jumped on here and read all the remedies and comments. I'm a huge believer in ACV but i haven't been taking it recently. I thought Teds Remedy combined with ACV sounded like it would work the fastest. It honestly never occurred to me it would work as fast as Ted says it would, i thought "mines really bad, a few months and it will look better maybe" I cut back all the raised infected nail to get the best penetration, did both the vinegar and hp and the bleach (at 1/1 water directly on the nail with a dropper)and then covered them in vicks for the night. OMG!! I woke up to find the fungus obviously dying (different consistency and color)and the yellowing stripes I couldn't clip back very faded. I did the whole routine again this morning and Ill post back in a week or so to let everyone know how its going. Just as an aside, it took the $175 "prescription" paint on stuff 2 months to have this affect on my nail. I'm cautiously hopeful:)

Dish Soap, Acidophilus

Posted by Mariana (Billings, Mt, Usa) on 04/05/2010 11 posts
★★★★★

Hi, When I was about 17 I got a strange nail fungus in my fingernails. It didn't hurt, but the fungus was quickly and viciously eating them all up and my nails were literally disappearing. Some of my nails were over 2/3rds gone and it was just like a soft skin there where the nail bed should have been.

My mom took me to the doctor, and he said it was a fungal infection. He didn't give me any drugs for it, but told me simply to soak my hands two or three times a day (I can't remember for sure but I think it was two) in dish soap water for 15 minutes each time. He also said to go to the drug store and get some acidophilus pills and take those every day. I did this for a week or two (I made the dish soap water quite soapy) and the infection totally disappeared, and my nails grew back to perfectly normal.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Iris (Raleigh, Nc) on 09/08/2011

Sounds like you might be allergic to the Tea Tree Oil. A couple of years ago, I tried it for fungus on both big toes, and after a few months, I was sure it was working. The fungus part of the nail was moving further out and healthy nail was replacing it. Then, my toes started itching and had blisters all around the toenails. Went to the dermatologist, who said to stop the Tea Tree Oil. It took weeks for my toes to stop itching and heal. After that, the fungus came back with a vengeance. A few weeks ago, I noticed nail fungus on one fingernail and tried Tea Tree Oil for one day. Once again, I broke out in itchy blisters all around the nail. So it's confirmed, no more Tea Tree Oil. It was the only thing I've tried that has ever worked on the fungus, but it's not worth the blisters! Be careful!