Shoe and Sock Tips
Just wanted to know if any of you had to throw away the shoes you have been wearing during/after the positive results.... And doesn't nail fungus contaminate shoes especially those worn without socks?
Sugar-Free Diet
★★★★★
I had fungus in one of my big toes for about 15 years. During that time I tried strict regimens of both OTC and prescribed topical medications, as well as tea tree oil. Had the nail removed twice so I could get whatever medication onto the infection site, which was at the base of the nail.
Twice the infection appreared to be gone, but later my heart sank as I saw the fungus returning.
Finally I ended up getting a prescription for an antifungal to be taken orally for 90 days. Expensive stuff, about $1000 USD. It did the trick... for three months! I decided to go it again. I got a second prescription, same stuff, thinking it might finish off the fungus 100% this time since it was a smaller infection than the first time. Well it worked... For three years. When I saw the infection returning, I almost cried.
I got online and started searching madly for causes of the fungus. That's when I first learned of the concept of candida, and intuitively felt there was something to it for me. I adhered to a strict diet (Google Candida diet), most importantly NO SUGAR. Worked like a charm; I saw results with my toe in a couple of months.
Over the following ten years fungus reappeared three more times... But at the top of the toenail, whereas before it was the base of the nail. The good news about that was that now I could get a topical medication to it without removing my nail.
The medication I used was bleach. I used the bleach pen, applying a line of it twice a day under the toenail. All three times this killed the fungus within a week. I realize this would not be a popular remedy with naturalists, but stubborn infections call for desperate measures.
Everytime it had appeared I had realized my sugar consumption had gradually increased over time, resulting in another fungus outbreak. So along with the bleach, I also cut out sugar during the treatment phase.
Finally I accepted that I am more sensitive to sugar than most people, and adopted a low sugar diet as a lifestyle.
I have been fungi-free for four years now! My toenail looks normal, as if it had never suffered 15 years of infection.
Hang in there! You have no choice but to be patient with the process, and you too will soon be fungi-free.
(Palmer, Alaska)
09/25/2012
Sunlight
★★★★☆
I've had a persistent problem with Toenail Fungus that made my nails get thick and turn inward like claws. I had read an article in Dr. Mercola's website that had a paragraph in it saying to expose feet to sunlight. I was living in the SF Bay Area (cool and foggy) so it wasn't practical but now I've moved to a climate that is more sunny (Albuquerque) and I started wearing sandals in April. My toenails aren't so curved in any more and they don't hurt so much when I trim them.
This is the link to his article. Scroll down to the paragraph titled "Using Sunlight to Treat Chronic Toenail Fungus Infections"
EC: Interestingly, the Mercola article also references Blue Light and Sunlight for antibiotic-resistant infections. Earth Clinic happens to have a Remedies page on this, created years ago! Click the link above to check it out!
Sunlight
★★★★★
My son has been running barefoot for various reasons. An interesting sidelight is that his toenail fungus disappeared, leading him to believe that sunlight is the key. It would be interesting to try an artificial sun light.
Tea Tree, Lavender, Rosemary Oils
★★★★★
Lynn from Danby, VT writes: "Perfect cure for toe fungus, and it rids your shoes and sox of any crud as well. A third of each of these:
tea tree oil
lavender oil
red rosemary oil
Cotton ball dab all over. Pull on sox and shoes..and, voila! It's gone in a shake. Also smells wonderful. I used to put a dab in all of our trash brown bags when we were selling our house. Everyone asked what smelled so wonderful!
(Grand Prairie, TX)
08/12/2014
Ted's Remedies
★★★★★
YEA!! I can't stop admiring my toes! :>) I want to report that I tried Ted's remedy for fungus on my toes and it worked!! I accepted that my pinkie toes were black but when it spread to the edges of my nails on big toes...it was war!! I followed the instructions: equal parts of ACV and Hydrogen Peroxide on cotton balls for half an hour, then followed with equal parts of Clorox and water (used Qtip), then poured generous amounts of Peppermint and Tea Tree oils. I don't remember when was the last time I saw my pinkie toe nail white but that's what happened within 2 weeks and the edges of my big toes are clear as well. My hubby is convinced and today began the treatment on his toe. Thanks and God bless!!
Ted's Remedies
I am sorry to hear about Ted fm Bangkok. I live in Bangkok and the authorities and the Thai version of the AMA here does not like competition.
I have a fungus problem that seemingly went the wrong direction while being cured but I would appreciate some advice/input if anyone has an idea on the matter.
I developed what seemed to be large tinea corporis rash (doctor advised) on my backside about 6 months ago. I did not notice it for quite sometime so it may have been there for some while before that. About 10 weeks ago I saw a doctor here and they gave me the usual anti-fungal cremes. Over several weeks there was no improvement. In fact, the fungus migrated to my hand and fingers and later the elbows and ankles. They then felt it was internal now and gave me Sporanox and Lamisil tablets etc. No change except to increase intensity of the rash symptoms. Not much itching however, only rash and some rash spreading. I tried various other methods and but not much happened. I had systemic candida 15 years ago and beat it with diet and Mycostatin, etc and it was nothing like that.
Forward to 01 December 2013. I started on what I had read from Ted from Bangkok. I began the regimen of Sodium bicarbonate 1/4 teaspoon and water, 3 x per day and 1/4 teaspoon of Borax in 1 liter water. The borax I started at 50 ml per day. After several days a small reaction began what I assumed was Herx effect. The body trying to get the toxins out quickly. Skin on the rash became very dry and flaking off. But then it stopped. So from what I read, if one had a severe fungal case then increase the dosage to about 100 ml per day. This I did with a 5 day on / 2 day off program. Soon the Monday of the second week the dosage was increased to 100 ml per day. By Thursday a real noticeable effect appeared, the skin was dying off the rashes almost everywhere but the rashes were spreading. I put this down to the increased Herx effect. I stopped for the 2 days on Saturday however, the rashes increased.
Dramatically. They started to appear all over. Now they are also around my eyes and lips and under the arms and even the back of my neck. Face feels like it is puffing up from sunburn a bit as a result. They are very dry and itchy and sometimes small lesions develop on the finger joints (though I put this down to the fact they are so dry that it is cracking).
That was Saturday and this is Wednesday. It is quite debilitating and irritating and since it has gone to the eyelids, nose corners, lips, etc etc it is a bit worrisome. I have not done anymore borax since last Friday feeling it was just a increased Herx effect. So that would be 5 days now with no borax use. I still maintain the sodium bicarbonate regimen as before and drinking a lot of water , etc..
These particular effects started after the borax use, nothing like this happened prior. It seems to be increasing daily. I get good sleep, food and exercise, etc.. Any input is appreciated.
Is it the Herx and I just need to wait it out or is it something else. Go back on the borax. ???
Sincerely, John Bkk
(Hotspot, Texas)
12/18/2013
(San Fernando, Philippines)
12/19/2013
Hi John...Your problem seems to be a bit of a mystery but I think it can at least be partially explained.
For fungal problems, Ted recommends drinking the Borax Water at 1/4 tsp borax in a liter of water throughout the day. That's one liter bottle a day. A 1/4 tspn of borax is equivalent to 1000 mgs borax per day.
Your borax water therefore contains 1000 mgs borax dissolved in 1000mls of water. But your own effective per diem dosage is only 50 mls or 100mls per day -- equivalent to 50 mgs or 100mgs per day -- well below Ted's recommended 1000mgs in water per day.
What I'm saying is that the borax dose that your taking -- 50mgs or 100mgs -- is about 5% or 10% respectively of the per diem dose recommended by Ted.
Since borax is a great detoxer of fluoride from the body -- I'm also wondering if you might have high concentrations of fluoride in your body. If you did then the borax would also chelate out any fluoride from your cells and put it into the blood -- which can accumulate in excess and give rise to a form of fluoroderma or skin problems as a detox effect when fluoride is in excess in the blood.
I therefore think that it might greatly benefit you if you were to have a simple hair analysis (not expensive) -- this will tell you exactly what minerals and vitamins you are lacking in your diet and will also tell you what poisons, heavy metals and halides you have in excess in your body. If you have any excess fluoride or other poisons -- it will show up in the results.
You also mentioned that the doctor said that the tinea corporis has gone internal. I find this extremely surprising and hard to believe because tinea corporis is a dermatophyte -- a fungus that can only exist topically on the skin. Much more likely, perhaps, that the doctor meant that you had candida, a well known internal problem. And since you had candida before I think that your problems might also be related to this.
When I had systemic candida, I also had many fungal type skin problems -- including psoriasis(which is apparently incurable), athletes foot(for over 20 years), eczma and tinea cruris. When I eventually got rid of my candida, all these skin problems -- including the psoriasis -- just disappeared.
The anti-candida protocol is shown at this link. This protocol is mainly based on Ted's approach to internal fungal problems.
(Hope Bc Canada)
12/18/2013
Hi John BKK -
May be you won't like my advice but I use the following daily and am a senior with beautiful skin all my life. At the moment I am using Ted's borax remedy for mites in my face. As it is very drying I alternate this with the mid stream of my own urine on a washcloth, massaging it in. However, drugs and meat and alcohol must be left aside for your own blueprint to work. It is a remedy without peer. Use it fresh so there is no odour which only develops when exposed to the elements. Om
(Hope Bc Canada)
12/19/2013
Ted's Remedies
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
Hi Guys. I would definitely not use Clorox on my bare hands. Clorox is unsafe to use on bare skin or to inhale. I would try monistat or the Vicks and ACV method before Clorox. I posted a link for you all to see the very adverse affects Clorox can have. Everybody be safe!
http://www.ehow.com/about_6602332_dangers-breathing-clorox_.html
Ted's Remedies
I am unclear on how to apply Ted's Remedies for toe nails only. I have very bad fungus that has taken the left protion of my large to nail and it is not growing. I have stopped it with Vicks but it still seems to be there and the nail is not growing (maybe it will take a while)
Back to your remedy, do I also use the clorox bleach the vasaline and tree oil on my foot as you state for finger nails?
Ted's Remedies
Hi Ted, I have been having toe and nail fungus for the past 8 years. I always used nail polish to hide them. Until recently I found this great website regarding how to cure nail fungus by home remedy. I have few questions before I start the remedy.
1-Can I mix pure white vinegar with hydrogen proxide for using on my nails?
2- Is the amount used for both equal and since my nail fungus is quite bad, how strong should I use peroxide.
3-In terms of using on my toes and fingernails, can I just use cotton ball to soak it with and put on my nails for 20 minutes or so every day. I also want to use tea tree oil the same way before bed every night. Do you think this will get rid of my fungus after couple of months? Thank you in advance.
Ted's Remedies
★★★★★
Ted Remedy plus Thymol works. First of all.. Be patient. Toe nails take a long long time to grow. My docotor, from Kaiser, prescribed Thymol. It's a liquid that you apply twice a day. I used it for 6 weeks and couldn't see any change. I called the doctor and asked for Lamisil. The doctor told me that he has never known Thymol not to work. So... I added Ted's Remedy. For 2 weeks, twice a day, I did the 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide followed by a 50/50 solution of bleach/water for 30 seconds to a minute and then rinsed. I then followed this by using the Thymol drops.
After 2 weeks I started seeing a difference. At that point I stopped everything but the Thymol. I am now currently 7 months into the entire event of trying to save my toenails and am happy to say that of the 7 infected toenails 4 of them are completely cured and the other 3 are slowly getting there. One of my big toenails was about 80% infected and apparently it takes about a year to fully regrow a big toenail and I appear to be on track for that mark. You must be diligent and patient. My prescription of Thymol costs about $15 a bottle and I have used 3 bottles over 7 months and will probably need another 2 bottles. Also, my doctor told me that he personally uses Thymol once a week just as maintenance.
Ted's Remedies
★★★★★
Yea for Ted's Remedy -
Thanks Ted, I have dealt with toe nail fungus for about 6 years. I actually took the pills (which have gone generic in the last 2 or so years, dropping the price considerably) but noticed a huge effect on my health while doing so. It was sucessful in curing 4 of 5 affected nails, it took about a year and a half to see the results. One toe nail in particular looked suspcious so was applying ACV to it, along with an over the counter fungus remover. It was masked but never really cured, it was on a smaller toe so it wasn't very noticable and I ignored it for a while. This winter I vowed to have another go at curing it and came upon this site.
Ted's recommendation worked wonders for me. I filed down the nail as much as possible, I thought I went to far as I started to feel a bit of irritation and some very slow bleeding but proceeded anyway. I put ACV, H2O2, and a small amount of listerine (another site's recommendation) in a bucket to soak the affected foot. After I would follow up with the bleach/water solution. In the morning I would coat the foot with the Tree/Lavender oil (mixed with vasoline) and at night after the soak I would use Lamisl and I would re-coat with the Tree/Lavender before bed. After 3 days I saw that the nail had hardened under where I had previously filed. The portion under the nail, that I though was the nail bed was really just infected nail that was soft and looked and acted like nail bed (and actually bled), it was really a surprise and now I know where the reinfection was coming from. I re-filed the area again (no bleeding or irritation this time) and saw a huge improvement in the general area and nail, along with dead skin sloughing off of my foot. I have been at it for 2 weeks with exellent results and the new toe nail coming in looks great. I believe that with diligence and this method I will end this stupid thing that has inconvienced my summers for too long. I wanted to leave my feedback and say thanks my foot health in general is so much better. I wanted to comment that a lot of dead skin on the foot may be the same fungus as what can work its way under the nail, I have had a similar dissapearance of that dead skin on my foot while taking the pills and now while doing this soaking method.
I also wanted to leave feedback to some of the other users of this method. I believe that some other people that have different symptoms (i.e. Not just nail fungus) and should look at different methods as this can be pretty agressive on the skin. For instance, start with the recommended soaking times and if it irritates the condition, stop using. I have upped my soaking times in the past week to a few hours (for the ACV/H202) when available with no adverse effects on my feet.
Ted's Remedies
I started out doing Ted's remedy for nail fungus six weeks ago. My big toenails were just starting to show signs of fungus with those scratchy white marks. I stopped the bleach step after awhile because the skin around my nails was starting to turn red and break down. About ten days ago I backed off the vinegar/peroxide step to every other day because the problem persisted, but kept the vaseline/tea tree oil on it every day. I started noticing that the fungus only extended halfway down my nail now instead of 2/3 of the way down the nail like it had when I started, but my nails were now very yellow, particularly around the perimeter of the nails. I reduced the vaseline/tea tree oil to once per day because my skin was still so dry and red around my nails and the tea tree oil was drying it out further, and I noticed today that the fungus is now progressing further down my nails than before. What am I doing wrong, and what can I do differently? What has caused my nails to turn yellow? I have had this fungus before, and it progressed much further before, but it never caused my nails to turn quite this shade of yellow, even when it pulled the nail away from the nail bed. Last time I treated it with Lamisil prescribed by my doctor, but since that was only two years ago and I didn't want to take Lamisil every two years, I was hoping for a remedy that doesn't require a prescription or that I take a liver function test first. I am so frustrated. Is there a milder treatment since my nails aren't that far gone yet and my skin is so sensitive?
(Chicago, Il, Usa)
09/27/2010
★☆☆☆☆
It appears the reason my nails are all yellow now is that this remedy was breaking down my cuticles and the skin around my nails has allowed the fungus to spread to all of my nails. This should NOT be labeled as "better with side effects" since the side effect is that the fungus is now much worse. Based on my previous nail fungus, if I had left it alone, it would have taken months to progress to this point.
(Chicago, Il, Usa)
03/10/2011
Update: I blame the diluted Clorox for the breakdown around my nails. I do not recommend doing that step unless your nails are so far gone that nothing else works. Here is the version of this remedy I have been using for the last few months (after several trials and errors) that has healthy pink nail finally growing in on every toe: each morning and evening wipe down the nails with the 50/50 vinegar and peroxide solution, then rinse, dry thoroughly, and cover the nails with Vicks vaporub (the Vicks was recommended by my doctor) and sprinkle a foot powder with Micronazole Nitrate over all the toes (I'm not sure how integral the powder part is, but it prevents athlete's foot from being a problem on and around the skin, and it keeps my toes from feeling like they are covered in Vicks vaporub). Since I've been doing this through the winter, my feet have socks and shoes on them almost all the time, but this has not been a problem. A couple of times a week I will soak my (clean) feet in the 50/50 solution for about 15 minutes instead of just wiping them down.
Positive side effect: If you have a problem with rough skin and callouses, the peroxide makes them soft and easy to slough off. Most of my small nails are already grown out, and the large ones are about half-way grown out doing this routine. It is time consuming but I consider it worth it. Doing the routine just once each day didn't have the same effect.
(Rochester, Ny)
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.
Ted's Remedies
★★★★☆
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:)
Ted's Remedies
★★★★☆
So glad I found this site. I have had toenail fungus for about 8-10 yrs. on my big toe that had spread to some of my other toes. Tried so many things and even went to a Podiatrist but to no avail and then I found yall's site in May 2009. My big toe nail is definitely better but doesn't look as good as the other one. The other 2 are all cured. They weren't as bad. Here's what I did. Mainly followed the advice on here. Mixed 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 peroxide in a little bottle. Mixed 4 parts water to 1 part bleach in another bottle. First applied the vin/per. solution on each nail and let it set for a minute or so and then applied a drop of bleach/water to each nail. I let that dry. I begin to notice a difference in a couple of weeks but then I did have to cut the nail and file it down on top on my big toe to really get the fungus killed. I do this a least twice a day sometimes even 3 times. My nails do look a lot better. I just use distilled vinegar not ACV. And sometimes I do apply a little drop of straight bleach to my big toe and little toe. Thanks again for this site.