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.
Bleach
Posted by Dibro (North Ms) on 02/16/2017
★★★★★
Bleach kills everything but sin. Looking back I remember when they advertised medicinal uses on the back of the label. But good Ole FDA made em stop. This nail fungus cure really worked for me! Pain in toe nails totally gone in less than a week. In my case nail bed healthy & pink in three weeks time.
Everyone has their own degree of nail fungus & also sensitivity to the mixture. So I experimented with my skin type. Started with less bleach and worked up from there. After each soak I let feet air dry. For the faint of heart. Soaking feet in bleach & water is really no different than dipping your toes in a chlorinated swimming pool. I soaked both feet in pan of hot water just deep enough to completely cover them. Using 2 parts hot water one part unscented bleach. 1x day for 20-30 minutes. For faster results I could have soaked am & pm. Every few days Trimmed carefully.
The soreness gone was the first mile marker. Then next a healthy color returned. Thank God for tender mercies!
Alkalize
Posted by Ck (California ) on 12/27/2016
What is ACV?
EC: ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar
Listerine
Posted by Jill (California) on 12/15/2016
I've read that rubbing alcohol is damaging to the liver, I use cheap vodka instead.
Baking Soda
Posted by Elsa (Corpus Christi, Texas) on 12/08/2016
Thank you. I'm going to try it myself and I'll have my mother try it. She's a cancer (non-curable according to western medicine) carrier. I'll be ever so grateful for your insight if the cancer dies.
Listerine
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 08/27/2016
HI U KAREN,,,,,,,,,,, listerine is a weak sister compared to Dr Tichenor's liniment that he developed in the War Between the States. He treated all wounds with this. It is made in New Orleans and few stores carry it, so I now buy mine via the internet. It is too strong to be used directly and must be diluted. Here is the URL.
https://www.drtichenor.com
It will cure all the things you are addressing.
=======ORH============
Listerine
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 08/27/2016
Dear Karen,
My guess is that this could take a while to heal. I would try soaking once or twice a day for a month for 20 minutes and see if there is any improvement. If there is, continue on. It could take 6 months.
A solution that is 1/2 vinegar (white distilled) and 1/2 water is also good for fungus. Or a gallon of water with 1/4 cup borax as a soak.
You could also try putting a mixture of castor oil and coconut oil (1/2 and 1/2) on his callouses and covering them with socks at night. Castor oil and coconut oil are healing and softening. This would also protect the sheets.
~Mama to Many~
Listerine
Posted by Karen (Maryland Hts, Mo) on 08/27/2016
How many days do is the Listerine soak needed to cure athletes foot fungus? How many times a day did you soak? What about the type of fungus that causes the really thick, cracked heels that hurt very badly? My husband has this problem and his terribly rough feet wear holes in our fitted bed sheets. I have to replace or repair the sheets every 6 months or less. His heel callouses are about 1-1&1/2" thick. Please advise.
Macadamia Nut Oil
Posted by Tom (Livingston, Tx) on 05/22/2016 67 posts
★★★★★
Years ago, I had a lifelong fungal toenail, the left big toe. I started taking macadamia oil, two tablespoons after each meal.
Two months and two 16 oz bottles later, the toenail dropped off and grew in healthy over the next year.
I now take 1 tablespoon daily because Macadamia oil also takes the sting out of my candida pain, making the pain livable and hardly noticeable.
Macadamia oil has 18% palmitoleic acid, an antimicrobial.
I also began having intermittent numbness and tingling in my toes which went away sometime during the same 2 months of taking macadamia oil, causing my fungal toenail to drop off and regrow healthy and pink during the next year.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kristina (Evergreen, Co) on 05/19/2016
★★★★★
I've had toenail fungus for years but was slow on the uptake. At first my last two nails on each foot grew in deformed and separated from the nailbed, growing upward. Eventually my big toenails grew in ribbed and discolored. They also began to separate from the nailbed and developed white patches. I also developed my first Ingrown nail. After a lot of research I began using tea tree oil along with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and ACV. Two months in my nails are growing in clear and smooth!
Here's the regimen that works for me: (I keep the nails trimmed very short. I clean my tools regularly as well. ) In my morning shower I scrub my nails with a designated toothbrush and Dr. Bronners peppermint oil soap. Before I step out of the tub, I spray my toes with hydrogen peroxide. ( It comes in spray bottles at my local drug store)
Next, I swab my nails with alcohol on a cotton ball, then with ACV on a cotton ball, then I paint my nails and cuticles with a qtip and tea tree oil. I follow the same regimen at night. From other posts I've learned I've got to keep this up long after it appears the fungus is gone. I use this regimen because it's easy, cheap and I can sustain it over time. And it's working! It took only a few days for the white patches to disappear and of course the whole nail needs to grow in to see results.
I also have begun drinking lemon water to alkalize. Don't know which is helping the most but I suspect it's the tea tree oil given that's what I use the most of. These items are inexpensive and I'm grateful I didn't try medication as my friend did. Her fungus has cleared up but she's concerned about liver problems.
As an added bonus... My feet are always clean and I feel I am nurturing myself every time I take care of them.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kristina (Evergreen, Co) on 05/19/2016
★★★★★
I've had toenail fungus for years but was slow on the uptake. At first my last two nails on each foot grew in deformed and separated from the nailbed, growing upward. Eventually my big toenails grew in ribbed and discolored. They also began to separate from the nailbed and developed white patches. I also developed my first Ingrown nail. After a lot of research I began using tea tree oil along with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and ACV. Two months in my nails are growing in clear and smooth!
Here's the regimen that works for me: (I keep the nails trimmed very short. I clean my tools regularly as well. ) In my morning shower I scrub my nails with a designated toothbrush and Dr. Bronners peppermint oil soap. Before I step out of the tub, I spray my toes with hydrogen peroxide. ( It comes in spray bottles at my local drug store)
Next, I swab my nails with alcohol on a cotton ball, then with ACV on a cotton ball, then I paint my nails and cuticles with a qtip and tea tree oil. I follow the same regimen at night. From other posts I've learned I've got to keep this up long after it appears the fungus is gone. I use this regimen because it's easy, cheap and I can sustain it over time. And it's working! It took only a few days for the white patches to disappear and of course the whole nail needs to grow in to see results.
I also have begun drinking lemon water to alkalize. Don't know which is helping the most but I suspect it's the tea tree oil given that's what I use the most of. These items are inexpensive and I'm grateful I didn't try medication as my friend did. Her fungus has cleared up but she's concerned about liver problems.
As an added bonus... My feet are always clean and I feel I am nurturing myself every time I take care of them.
Iodine
Posted by Cindy Mick (Ohio) on 05/15/2016
★★★★★
I also used iodine and it was very successful in curing the toe nail fungus. Every morning and night for about 4 months.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Suzy (Indiana) on 03/29/2016
I sure understand your frustration with toe nail fungus. I suffered from it for years. Raised, discolored thick and painful nails that nothing would fix until I started taking apple cider vinegar daily, a decent size shot in water in the morning and another at night. I did it for weight loss and my nails grew out beautiful. I wasn't expecting it and I wasn't taking the ACV for that reason. I had no idea it would clear up the fungus but it makes sense when you think about it. I kept the bad part of my nails cut short because they hurt if I hit my toe on something. When I realized they were growing out clean and pink, I kept them well trimmed as They grew out new. They reattached to the nail bed. I can't tell you how happy I am with this. It's the absolute only thing that worked. They are still as pretty as can be. Thank God. I hope you give it a try and stick with it. They take awhile to grow. Trash your old shoes too.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sbs3915 (Louisiana) on 03/28/2016
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Hi, I've had toenail fungus for the last six years. It bothers me aesthetically, but also causes concern that I have fungus in the rest of my body causing aflatoxins.
I've tried Listerine, Vicks, Potassium Iodide, Oregano Oil, and pretty much every other common OTC "cure" including methylene blue topically and orally.
The only time my nails mostly healed I was drinking a gallon of milk a day and heavily supplementing zinc. This led to other problems such as IBS and lower libido so I stopped that regimen.
The other sensitive "cause" is once I start supplementing selenomethionine or even eating more Brazil nuts, the nails start getting more yellow and brittle.
Just looking for any other advice? Or does anyone have luck with internal pharmaceutical antifungals?
UV Light
Posted by John (California) on 03/25/2016
I have been thinking about this idea for sometime now. I'm glad someone did it before I order the lights.
Sea Salt
Posted by Laura (Lbi) on 02/17/2016
★★★★★
No, you pack the salt under the nail bed.
First, clean it out as much as possible with a nice soak and scrape out any gunk under there. Then cram as much salt under the nail as you can. Use some coconut oil on your skin so the salt doesn't burn it. Repeat each day. Wash, clean out, pack with salt. Within a couple days, you will see new pink nail bed growth. It really works!
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.
Baking Soda
Posted by Heather (Los Angeles) on 01/17/2016
What?! You're taking alkaline water to prevent cancer - but you drink Coca-Cola daily???
Coke causes major diseases, possibly even cancer. Please research, you need to drink something different (orange juice?) for your hypo-glycemia.
Aloe
Posted by Pr (Texas, Usa) on 01/07/2016
★★★★★
Had my toe nails done in salon 3 times in a row and ended up with a horrible case of toe nail fungus on both big toes. So of course did my research and was using a combination of essential oils to kill the fungus. It was a very slow kill and turned my toe nails an ugly brown. Oh and I also used Grapefruit seed extract. I will have to say these were not working so well so went to doctor. He prescribed the toxic cream and also recommend getting aloe Vera leaf, real whole leaf, not in a bottle or tube. He said to wrap a piece of it around each toe and sleep with it. I will have to say this worked. I was very amazed at how quickly too. After the first initial sleeping with the leaf on toes I applied the gel from the leaf twice a day a.m. and p.m. It has been a month now and I am still applying the aloe Vera mainly because I have it growing in my yard abundantly and for precaution. Really don't need to. While I am at it I put some on my face and complexion is looking very nice. I hadn't realized how hard it was to get rid of toe nail fungus if it really set in. I had always dealt with it when it was just starting and easy to get rid of with essential oils. So grateful for the aloe Vera leaf and the doctor who recommended it.
Gentian Violet
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 12/08/2015
★★★★★
6 year battle with toe nail fungus is finally over! After trying numerous OTC products with no success. Probably because of my lack of daily applications. I finally found a product that worked with only applications once every 3 weeks or so. And it only took 18 months. Starting out my big toe was solid black. Yuk! Now it looks normal again. I'm sure it would have worked faster if I applied it more often but its hard when your busy all the time.
Gentian violet is an antiseptic dye used to treat fungal infections of the skin (e.g., ringworm, athlete's foot). It also has weak antibacterial effects and may be used on minor cuts and scrapes to prevent infection. It will stain our toe nail (and everything else it contacts with...) but that is the working power behind it.
Apply with a Q-tip, allow to dye, put a sock on if you don't want your bed sheet with a purple streek on them from sleeping on them. Give it time, it does work.
Witch Hazel
Posted by Cereluna (Antioch, Ca.) on 07/21/2015
★★★★★
I was a bartender for many years and a common ailment is a fungus developing from handling and scooping ice on your fingernails and skin from the ice. My nails and skin around the nails looked grey-ish black all the time. A friend of mine who did nails suggested I soak my fingers in witch hazel and it worked!! A simple soaking in a bowl with the witch hazel every night for about 10 minutes did the trick. Also works for toenail fungus.
I discovered recently that I have Candida overgrowth, which resulted in a brown motteling of the skin on my arms which is spreading up my upper arms due to candida. I have had this for many years and doctors never knew or cared what it was. After researching, I discovered that it is caused by my candida overgrowth. I started applying witch hazel every day to my arms, followed by sunscreen and then alternating every day with different anti-fungal creams but always using witch hazel first. You have to use different anti-fungals to kill the little creatures because they get resistant if you don't switch up. The zinc in the sunscreen also helps. It's necessary to use a cream after witch hazel because it is drying. In about 3 days I noticed the "rash" getting lighter!! I am so happy that it is working. Mine was so brown and very embarrassing. Don't take pills to destroy fungus! Use witch Hazel!
UV Light
Posted by Veronicac (Texas, USA) on 07/18/2015
★★★★★
Two years ago, at the start of summer, the big toe of my left foot became red, swollen and began throbbing. It was so painful, and I had no idea what the deal was. Then I noticed the toenail was getting yellow, crusty and thick. About a week later the two next to it began doing the same thing. Along with the ugly, disfigured nails came the horrible throbbing pain.
I tried: bleach soaks, vinegar soaks, 4 OTC medicines, prescription penlac (that one helped one toe), peroxide, mouthwash, urine (pure desperation), powders, yeast infection medication, tea tree oil, rubbing alcohol, epsom salts and vicks vapor rub. The middle toe of the three got better. The fungus on the other two laughed and made my toes throb with pain to show me who was boss.
Then I read about laser treatment, but the cost was ridiculous and many people complained it didn't work. So, understanding light was what I really needed, I ordered 36 watt, UV nail light off Amazon for less than $30-the kind salons use to dry finger nail polish. When it arrived I filed my nails down with emery boards as much as possible. Two of the nails were already 3/4 gone. Every day while I was on the computer I put my foot in the nail light for 10 min. - 45 min. I didn't really have a schedule, just daily, whenever I remembered. Also, every time I bathed, I made sure to clip/dig out as much of the crumbly nail as I could.
Within a week the throbbing was gone. A month later my big toe is pink and half grown out, with no fungus, the toe that was getting better is pink and just a tad short, and the other toe is about 1/3 grown out, and also has no sign of fungus. And didn't even bother using any kind remedy after the first two weeks. The only drawback is my left foot has a nice tan, while my right is kind of pale. Now I make sure both feet take a turn under the nail light. Also, I go barefoot or wear sandals as much as possible to expose my feet to as much light as possible.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Renee (Utah) on 07/10/2015
★★★★★
I started with grapefruit seed extract and take 10 drops internally 3 x day in water. I also rub it on my toenail 2-3 times a day. The next day the hard stuff behind my nail started to soften and I could remove some. Each day I am seeing improvement. It is just amazing.
Iodine
Posted by Patricia (Durban, SA) on 03/28/2015
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Believe me I've thought of doing the same thing!! This really had me laughing out loud, thanks for that, needed a good giggle! I'm now using peroxide 10 and Aragan Secret nail oil, I'll let you know how it goes in time to come :)
Vicks
Posted by Laura (Lodi, Ca) on 03/18/2015
How or where can I get oregano juice?
Listerine
Posted by Ava (Toronto, On) on 02/05/2015
Listerine products are Triclosan free. http://www.listerine.ca/tips-and-practices/our-heritage
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Posted by Cc (Slc, Utah ) on 02/01/2015
★☆☆☆☆
Two years ago I tried Lemongrass oil on my toe nail fungus and all it did was to make my nail color go black. It never worked. I had a black nail for months also the nail was curved due to the amount of fungus under the nail.
I finally got it to clear up by using Iodine and Castor Oil applied to the nail and over time the new nail grew in clear and the problem has not come back.
Iodine
Posted by Lenny (WV, US) on 01/18/2015
Are you serious? You whacked your nails with a hammer. Made me laugh.
Niacinamide
Posted by Tassi (Ca) on 12/26/2014
★☆☆☆☆
Niacinamide did not work for me.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Diamonds And Solitaire (London) on 11/01/2014
You might have some sort of defficiency. If you don't eat lots of meat then it could be B6 and B12 defficiency. I would not suggest eating meat but up your B6 and B12 levels through supplements. Check your zinc, magnesium, vitamin D levels. 70% population is defficient in Vitamin D. I would suggest having juice of green leafy vegetables everyday. Dino
Azoxystrobin Fungicide
Posted by Prioris (Fl, US) on 09/30/2014
Azoxystrobin Fungicide
Posted by Timh (KY) on 09/30/2014 2041 posts
Catherine: It would be good if you provided a little more detail on what you have tried that didn't work. Anyway, there really isn't any short answers and magic bullets when it comes to fungal infections simply because most times, especially w/ Candida, it's only a manifestation of an underlying immune problem which is sometimes greatly helped by detoxing and a parasite cleanse.
Here is a link to the E.C. Candida page for your perusal https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/candida.html
Have you read Bill's Killing So Sweetly book advertised here on E.C.??
Azoxystrobin Fungicide
Posted by Catherine (Oregon, US) on 09/29/2014
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Hey there!
I've written before but no one got back to me. I hope I have better luck this time.
Been taking the Borax but it's not working anymore and I need a new anti-fungal as this seems to be main prob.
I'm trying to find Azoxystrobin without added chemicals but have not been able to locate any by web searching. It was mentioned by some ppl on your site but I could only find some huge $500 gal sources and again not sure if there were other ingredients with it.
Can you help me with this or at least respond this time?
Thank you!
Oregano Oil
Posted by Prioris (Fl) on 09/23/2014
I would try Manuka Honey that has at least a MKO rating of at least 400 on nail fungus. That is therapeutic dose. MKO rating measures the amount of active ingredient. Even hospitals use it. Castor oil is something else. I would buy the hand held $20 infrared (infrarex ST-302) on amazon to help it absorb quickly. Your case is interesting because you tried so many things. Have you ever tested to see what kind of fungus it is.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Tassi (Calif.) on 09/22/2014
★☆☆☆☆
I bought an expensive pure wild oregano oil oreganoworld very strong smell, 87.6% min. carvacrol, and it did nothing but SPREAD the fungus from 2 fingernails to all five nails on the same hand. I was also putting it in capsules and taking it internally. I eat no sugar & min. carbs, wear flipflops only, keep all nails dry as possible, also tried remedies: Vicks; ACV; baking soda, borax, iodine (internal & external, all 3); coconut oil; colloidal silver; garlic (burned heck out of toe); GSE ("max strength"); Listerine; Olive leaf extract (internal), I am allergic to rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil and neem oil. I have candida and nothing has worked on that -- food grade H2O2 when reaching treatment dose levels made my ankles swell (edema began so I had to quit H2O2 as edema kept getting worse), I tried niacin and my knees swelled up and became unstable. The candida has me under control, it seems. Cannot drink ACV or I get oral herpes outbreak.
What DOES kind of work for the nail funguses is hydrogen peroxide soaks and dipping or dripping it on multiple times a day. If I get the dose right it keeps the fungus sort of under control, at least the nails do not get maximally weird, although the fingernails are eaten away, & need to be clipped halfway down the nailbed, which is quite painful. I always bleach the clipper in between each nail.
Iodine
Posted by Tg (Oklahoma, US) on 09/22/2014
★★★★★
The first time I experienced toenail fungus, years ago, I tried tea tree oil without success. I eventually saw a doctor who prescribed Lamisil pills for 24 weeks. That worked. The second time I had a fungus infected toenail, over 10 years later, I applied iodine. A single drop in the morning. Probably another at bedtime (I don't recall now). Iodine worked brilliantly! Without risking liver damage (i.e., Lamisil).
Tea Tree, Lavender, Rosemary Oils
Posted by Val (Grand Prairie, TX) on 08/12/2014
Where can I buy the red rosemary oil? I can find the rosemary oil, but not RED rosemary oil. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks, Val
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.
Bleach
Posted by Js (New York, Ny) on 08/03/2014
I am following up to my post in June. I am continuing to soak my foot with a bleach solution for nail fungus twice a week. 2 of the infected nails are clear (yahoo!!! ). The big toe which was the worst of the lot, looks a lot better and has grown out halfway mostly clear. The issue is that the big toe nail is very weakened from fungus, so it looks like it can get reinfected very easily. Does anyone have a supplement recommendation to strengthen nails that have been infected with nail fungus? That seems to be what is needed to prevent reinfection. Thanks!
Listerine
Posted by Dolores (New Jersey) on 06/30/2014
Listerine is also great for dandruff...I have used this remedy for dandruff in the past (about 15 years ago) when the only Listerine available was when it was sold in the brown bag like cover. Tingles but worth the try.
Bleach
Posted by Js (New York, Ny) on 06/14/2014
★★★★★
I am on my second month of soaking my toes in bleach and water to see if I can get rid of nail fungus on one of my feet. It seems to be working. FINALLY! I have tried every other nail fungus treatment on the planet, including laser treatment, to no avail.
I read about the bleach cure from someone on Earth Clinic. I have been using Chlorox bleach (regular, not the splashless one)... about 1/2 cup to a half gallon of hot water in a large plastic bucket (the kind you'd use for mopping the floor). I soak my foot for at least 1/2 hour, sometimes more, once or twice a week. I make sure to dry off my foot with a white towel and then hop to the bathroom to wash off any remaining bleach so I don't turn our carpets white!
If I fly, I make sure to do the bleach treatment on my foot the day before flying in each direction if possible.
Will update again in a few months, but so far, thumbs up on this cure.
Listerine
Posted by Joylie (Solana Beach) on 04/08/2014
I googled, "Triclosan" as someone suggested. It is BAD for your health. Google and see...
Bleach
Posted by Ron (Manila) on 04/01/2014
★★★★★
I had some toe fungus in my two big toe nails for about ten years. I tried many cures but with minimal results. The fungus was very deep under the nail. then by accident I found a cure that killed the fungus fast.
Here is how it happed. I always wear flip flops and with one black pair that I wear my feet get real dirty black and it is hard to remove. One night I decided to try socking my feet in a solution of bleach and water to get rid of the black color on my feet. it didn't work that well in getting rid of the black, but the next week I noticed there was a lot of space under my big toe nails as if the fungus had died. I soaked my feet again and the fungus seemed dead and easy to remove. a month later there was lots of space under the nails indicating that most of the fungus was gone. I socked my feet again and at least once a month for the next four mounts as a precaution to make sure the fungus was gone for good. the fungus is gone now.
here is what I used:
bleach, sodium hypochlorite, known here in the Philippines as zonrox.
I used one half cup of bleach in half gallon of water. I soaked my feet for about 45 min. I did it twice the first week then once a month after that till there was no trace of fungus
It was so fast and easy compared to all the other home remedies that I tried. and best of all it worked.
Listerine
Posted by Lajaun (Seattle, Wa) on 03/24/2014
How much Listerine did you use.
