Rob (Kentucky) on 07/13/2026
ONYCHOMYCOSIS.
From the Book: Hand-book of Skin Diseases, p. 431-433, By Isidor Neumann · 1877
By onychomycosis we understand an affection of the substance of the nail, produced by fungus, which presents the following appearance : The nail generally assumes the shape of a claw, curved over the end of the finger, and ends anteriorly in a thickened extremity. Its surface becomes rough and un-even, the color dirty-yellow, and the whole nail is readily movable in its bed. We find also transverse fissures, of more or less light color, and yellowish spots in the centre and on the under surface. The nail flakes off readily, and is shed in crumbling masses.
The cases hitherto observed, whose number is very small, appeared both on the fingers and toes, and were associated, some with favus and some with herpes tonsurans. It would seem that the crusts or scales get beneath the nails from frequent scratching of parts thus affected, and that the fungal elements, finding there the proper conditions for their development, penetrate the nail-substance, whereby the latter is loosened, and suffers the alterations described. As the fungi grow exceedingly slow in this situation, it may readily happen that the herpes tonsurans or the favus has entirely disappeared from the spots where infection took place, while the onychomycosis continues.
Both the powdery and crumbling masses, as also fine sections of the yet dense nail-substance, show chains of conidia, with clearly-marked nuclei, and here and there free cells. The terminal joints of the chains are sometimes club-shaped.
Various views still prevail as to the nature of this fungus.
VIRCHOW (Archiv, IX. Band) describes a dense net-work, from which single broad threads shoot out, whose ends expand into small chains of oval spores ; he also found umbelliferous structures. He concluded that different forms of this affection occur, related both to favus and to herpes tonsurans. The fungi are related to the botrytis or peronospora and penicillium.
BÄRENSPRUNG identifies onychomycosis with herpes tonsurans ; KÜCHENMEISTER and HALLIER with achorion ; KöBNER describes two cases, which he classes with herpes tonsurans. He represents round cells with short concatenations, which, moreover, enlarge clavate, or branch, and finally may end in delicate threads, bearing on their extremities several elliptical conidia. KÖBNER also once discovered a puccinia.
If we examine a portion of diseased nail by making thin sections with a razor through the yellowish portions, we find its substance penetrated by short-jointed branched fungous threads, somewhat compressed, resembling, slightly, a tape-worm, whose sections, scarcely longer than they are broad, have generally a nuclear cell in their interior ; we like-wise see roundish cells of fungus scattered between the lamellæ of the nail, or arranged in groups, most of them likewise containing a small spherical secondary cell in their centre. Here and there we meet with the arthrococcus. The contents appear in other respects to be watery. These cellular fibres display a firm power of cohesion, and, after maceration of a portion of nail in water, they may be moved, hither and thither, by slight pressure on the cover of the slide, without falling into their composite elements, and should therefore be considered as mycelial threads. We do not find any especial collections of micrococcus or bacteria upon or between the cells of the substance of the nail. In cases where the mycelia are less numerous, they may be more clearly seen after soaking the section in a solution of caustic potash (one part to ten).
Treatment. The treatment consists in removing the loose lamellæ of the nail, and employing local baths of **caustic potash (potassium hydroxide) commonly known as “red devil lye” and corrosive sublimate (two grains to the ounce), and in repeated frictions with turpentine.
**Note: Treating Nail Fungus or Infections (Medical Caution)
Turpentine Pure Gum Resin oil possesses natural antifungal properties that can combat toenail fungus. Nail fungus can also be killed when turpentine is applied topically in the area of infection.
Soaking human fingernails or toenails in lye to treat fungus or medical conditions:
DO NOT DO THIS. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is a caustic, corrosive chemical that will cause severe chemical burns and destroy skin and nail tissue.
Vinegar Soak: Soaking nails in a diluted vinegar and water mixture (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) is a common folk remedy for mild nail fungus, as it creates an acidic environment that can stop fungus from growing.
Rob (Kentucky) on 06/26/2026
Source (2006): https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2006088790A2/en
A method for treating nail fungus by soaking the infected nail(s) in a dilute solution of chlorine dioxide in water.
It has been discovered that an effective way to treat fungal nail infection comes from applying chlorine dioxide topically, so that it penetrates the nailplate and inactivates pathogens residing in the nailbed— for example, by dissolving chlorine dioxide gas in water, permitting the patient to soak the infected fungal infected nail in the solution for a period of time and for a series of successive treatments to improve the aesthetic appearance of the nail, destroy the fungal infection and to promote healthy nail growth.
Therefore, in a first aspect the present invention is a method treating nail fungus comprising the steps of: preparing a solution of chlorine dioxide in water, and soaking the infected nail or nails in the chlorine dioxide solution for a period of at least 45 minutes, once a day for a minimum of three days.
In another aspect of the present invention the method incorporates soaking the affected nail(s) along with the entire foot, in order to destroy pathogens thereon and help prevent reinfection of the nail by pathogens residing elsewhere on the foot.
In another aspect of the present invention the method incorporates protecting the solution of chlorine dioxide and water from ambient light during the treatment to prevent premature destruction of the chlorine dioxide by photolysis. In another aspect the present invention comprises using a solution of chlorine dioxide in water containing a minimum of 80 parts per million chlorine dioxide as the treating agent.
Chlorine dioxide gas, dissolved in neutral-pH solution at ambient temperature, in a concentration of approximately 80-100 parts-per-million, was administered to several patients suffering from toenail fungus. The chlorine dioxide solution was administered as a "foot soak", under low-light conditions. Treatments were for up to 1 hour/day for up to 7 days. In each case significant improvement in nail appearance was visible early in the protocol or treatment process. New nails reportedly grew in normally within several months, with little to no evidence of the original infection.
AB (Ireland) on 11/16/2025
Eat a teaspoon of black seeds/ nigella seeds 4/5 times a week.
Unbelievable! Watched the damaged nail grow out in 4 weeks.
Tried everything and nothing worked until this.
Darlenr (Cleveland OH) on 09/10/2025
Bev (Texas) on 07/23/2025
GH (BC, Canada) on 06/24/2025
GrassTwig (Geneva) on 04/17/2025
I have tried other remedies, but Iodine drops was the quickest cure, one month cure. I used Nascent Iodine, it is discolored. I'm from Europe and found it at piping rock shop in United States and purchased it there (I'm not affiliated to this merchant).
First cut the toe nail completely up to the root of the nail. Then use a scrubbing pad, kitchen type for example, and scrub any fungus or dead skin on the toe. Then apply one drop of nascent iodine. Let it there for a few seconds, them apply some coconut oil on the toe.
From then on, every day after shower, scrub again, apply iodine drop and after drying, apply some coconut oil. Avoid too much sugar when healing. Good luck with healing toenail fungus.
PayItForward (PNW) on 11/23/2024
UPDATE: It worked beautifully! I missed a few days so for good measure I applied it for 3 weeks, at least twice daily. Can't believe how thorough and fast this worked. My sister had a toe nail fungus for years. This remedied it in less than one month. A healthy pink nail has grown out in place. Super happy!
Tyler (Canada) on 02/23/2024
Alex (Thessaloniki) on 12/19/2023
Alice M. (Williston, Vermont) on 06/19/2023
I've had calloused skin around my toenails for many months and saw a dermatologist and my primary care doctor (twice), and it was at the second visit with my primary care doctor that she said I had athlete's foot. I had no itching or flaking of skin...just thick skin around several toes and some redness. I used terbinafine as prescribed for several weeks, and the redness cleared up, but the calloused skin did not. Eventually, the fungus spread to four toes, and after treating those four toes with prescription nail polish for six months, the fungus spread to all toenails! Very frustrating!
I decided to try soaking in ACV (apple cider vinegar) 20-30 minutes, twice daily for several weeks, and that helped soften and loosen the calloused skin, but did not affect the toenail fungus. I then tried soaking my feet in 50/50 ACV and hydrogen peroxide 20-30 minutes, twice daily, for two weeks, and I was seeing improvement in my toenails, but I had to stop because of chemical burns on my skin. I then prayed earnestly for help, and praise God I received it! I sat in the sun and sprayed hydrogen peroxide on my toes and let it dry (5 mins or less to dry), then sprayed again and let it dry. I continued doing this for 45 minutes or so, and noticed small areas of my toenails were changing from yellow to pink in color. I did this for three consecutive days, with some improvement each day. However, I decided to try coconut oil because I needed to wear socks and shoes and had read on this website that coconut oil could be applied to the toes and covered with socks. For the past 8 days I've done the following:
The fungus has diminished very quickly, and I estimate it is reduced by 70%. Just amazing! This has been very encouraging, and I hope this helps others. I really appreciate this website and folks' willingness to take the time to share their success stories. Praise to God!
Rob (Kentucky) on 11/21/2022
A few months ago, I started using this liniment with capsaicin for sore muscles and joints, but I thought I’d try it on my toenails and nail folds. I applied it twice a day, after my morning shower and before bed. After four weeks and less than $25, the fungus was undetectable on my toe nails.
Susan (British Columbia) on 10/07/2022
RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 07/31/2022
Better But With Side Effects
Natrelief (Seattle, OR) on 03/12/2022
Frank (Thunder Bay, ON, CA) on 11/14/2021
So, I started considering other ways I might get medication below the nail to treat it. At one point I even considered drilling a hole through the nail to try and introduce some kind of medication.
Then, having made wine for years, I was aware that if the primary fer-mentor became too warm/hot that the yeast would die in what's called a 'struck' fermentation. When that happens the must needs to be cooled down and new yeast needs to be introduced, to restart the fermentation.
I wondered, if heat can kill yeast, perhaps it could also kill fungus. So, here's what I did.
Apparatus:
I took a piece of congregated cardboard about six inches square and made a hole about a half inch in diameter in the centre. For those using metric, this would be about 15 cm and the hole would be about 1.3 cm. If you are treating multiple nails you should consider making multiple templates with different size centre holes commensurate with the size of the nail to be treated. The hole should always be smaller than the size of the nail being treated. The purpose of the cardboard is to protect the skin surrounding the nail, so that only the nail receives the treatment. One further thing I needed was a handheld electric hairdryer.
Treatment: So, each morning after I had my shower, I would hold the cardboard over the nail that needed treatment, and direct the heat of the hair dryer through to hole in the cardboard to treat the nail underneath until I felt a minor pinch. I would then wait about twenty seconds or so for it to cool down, and then do this two more times. I originally intended to do this for seven days, but in the end, just to be sure, I did this for a total of ten days.
I then just allowed the nail to grow out. The nail grew back and there was no more fungus. That was ten years ago and the fungus has not returned.
I hope this is of help to anyone out there that's needing this solution.
Regards,
Frank
John B (Pahoa, HI 96778) on 10/21/2021
Apple Cider Vinegar forToenail Fungus Suzanne (IN) on 10/08/2021
Michael (New Zealand) on 10/08/2021
As an aside, I always have this product in the house and it has served me well over the years, including the adding of one or two drops to a steam inhaler when dealing with sinus complaints in the winter..
If I remember, I also slap a few drops of neat oil on in the morning. But the night time application has the virtue of it being kept on the nail and surrounding skin for many hours whilst asleep, so allowing for sustained penetration.
To get rid of the fungus, it is absolutely necessary to persevere for months but TTO DOES work if you keep at it.
I wouldn't horse around with anything else, with the possible exception of Milk of Magnesia, which I have never tried but a previous poster's post to that effect sounded most interesting.
TTO is very popular here in New Zealand where it is appreciated for its curative properties. Order some on line - a small bottle will last you a long, long time-have some on hand in the medicine cupboard.
As for the obligatory, associated story, which I know you will be eagerly looking forward to-but this one is especially gory and violent, so is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted (parental guidance is advised): well, I had the misfortune to have a splinter of wood drive up under my index finger nail whilst sorting and stacking firewood for the winter. Yep, you guessed it, it was quite painful. What was also painful was my bathroom surgery, which consisted of my driving a sterilized needle up alongside it in order to dislodge it!! The things we do!
I think I ought to invest in some gloves from now on!
Cheers from Down Under
P.S. Would Manuka Honey help the person dealing with a recent case of MRSA possibly- just a thought?
Yet another New Zealand product worth considering.
Rakaia (WA) on 07/21/2021
Coconut oil did not help my toe fungus infection. In fact I felt it exacerbated the problem.
