Mycoses can easily spread throughout the body, but a person’s nails and feet are the most favorite place to localize them. The virus is very easily transmitted and spread, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications used to eliminate fungal infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against toenail fungus remains high.
What is a mushroom?
There are many types of fungal pathogens in nature that can affect the human body. Fungi are always unpleasant and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in different ways: in public places, shared shoes, direct contact.
The most common localizations are the feet, ie the feet and nails. This placement is due to several reasons:
- increased sweating of the feet caused by individual characteristics;
- tight, uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent injuries to the legs, microcracks, scratches, corns;
- stress;
- intoxication caused by alcoholism and smoking;
- leg hypothermia of a permanent nature.
The disease cannot be recognized immediately, the first stages are almost asymptomatic. Then the unpleasant symptoms begin to appear actively:
- unpleasant pungent foot odor;
- the nail plate becomes white and lamination may occur;
- itching and sometimes tingling;
- wounds appear on the skin around the nails, erosions appear.
Treatment depends on the stage of the fungus on the nails, the earlier the problem is noticed, the easier it is to fix it. But it should be understood that the fight against such a disease is quite difficult, it can take several months or even years. The disappearance of signs does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This may only mean a reduction in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will restart.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment of a fungal infection can take several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them gives a 100% guarantee.
Therefore, experts advise the use of different methods of treatment of nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Advantages of alternative medicine:
- much cheaper than pharmaceutical preparations;
- practically no contraindications and side effects;
- when used properly, fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods of dealing with fungi experts can advise. The main thing is to use new tools with great care. In addition, do not forget about the age of the patient, the use of untested products for children is not recommended. Patients under the age of 16 are seen at a mycologist's examination, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine - a drug tested over time
To this day, iodine is still an effective remedy for nail fungus, which can be used in the early stages of the disease. It is important to remember that excessive use of iodine can cause burns, so the dosage must be strictly adhered to when applying.
This method is very effective if used from the very beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. To avoid damaging the nail plate and skin during the treatment, follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at the pharmacy and check the expiration date.
- Wash your feet thoroughly and dry them. It is very important that the patient uses only his towel, this reduces the risk of transmitting the infection.
- Drop one drop of iodine on each affected nail and the one next to it and rub well.
- Allow the iodine to dry a bit, and after a while do not wear socks, repeat the procedure twice a day.
The full course of treatment lasts about a month. It has such a method and a number of side effects. The skin around the fingers becomes yellow, which creates aesthetic discomfort. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity may be noticed, some people pay attention to pain and burning during rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stage of this disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against mycosis
Vinegar wraps are another popular recipe for getting rid of ringworm at home. To do this, use the usual table vinegar of 9% and baths are prepared from it.
The recipe is simple: it is necessary to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix well. If the disease is in an advanced stage, then we can talk about an increase in concentration, the maximum level of vinegar for the bath is 2: 1.
The water must be cold, otherwise the vinegar will lose its properties. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a bath with warm water, the feet are lowered into it for steam. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a bath with vinegar. The procedure can be done every two days, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, so it is used in the fight against bacteria and fungal spores. You can buy propolis in pure form in the pharmacy, but you must use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend the use of propolis infusion on alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use for mycoses.
Two methods are used to fight this nasty disease:
- moisten a cotton pad in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- at night a slightly dissolved piece of the substance is placed on the affected nails, but such a compress can be kept for no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective remedy for nail fungus, but use it with great care.
Tea mushroom
Kombucha is a controversial method of treatment, some experts claim that it can lead to activation of the process, while others claim that it can completely solve mycosis and related problems.
First you have to prepare a medicinal solution, for which the mushroom is soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should get a brown color and a specific aroma, then it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal effect.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of mushroom should be peeled and peeled and squeezed a little to remove excess liquid, and then lightly rubbed on the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress, done before bed. Feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Dip one part in warm water and return the other to the syrup. Take the mushroom out of the water and attach it to your nails, attach cellophane to the top and put on tight socks or even two. Compression can cause tingling, mild pain, slight tingling - such symptoms are considered quite justified and only confirm the action of the fungus.
Tar
This odorless substance is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, so it is recommended to use it to quickly remove nail fungus at home. Birch tar, a product for processing birch bark, is actively used. It can be bought in a specialized pharmacy.
Birch tar often becomes the basis of fat, but in the case of mycosis, the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Various types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are very popular due to their action.
You need to steam your feet first. It is better to do it in soapy water. Then cut off the dead parts of the nail, and coat the fresh areas with tar and rub well. Then you do not need to dress for several hours, tar is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least one day, after that time you can take a cold foot bath. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made of natural fabrics, and treat shoes with a mild tar solution.
Foot baths with tar soap are also actively used. To prepare it is necessary to take half a bar of soap, grate and dilute in warm water (2 l). You can add a little soda. Perform the procedure for no longer than 20 minutes, then clean the rough tissue and allow the feet to dry.
Herbal decoctions
It is no secret that there are many plants that are actively used in traditional medicine due to their antiseptic properties. Decoctions of such plants are used to treat mycosis:
- celandine;
- nettles;
- burdock root;
- plantain;
- sagebrush;
- marigold;
- St. John's wort;
- chamomile.
Dried flowers of these plants are used to prepare decoctions. It is very important to respect the proportions and maintain a sufficient amount of time for the couple. Only water decoctions are used to treat fungus, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Experts recommend using decoctions only as an aid, they are able to improve the process, but do not cope with the advanced stages. In addition, some of the plants presented may cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus folk remedies, but you have to be patient. For the full effect, it is sometimes necessary to use several recipes. The full course of treatment can take years. It is best to consult a specialist before choosing a method of treatment. And in any case, do not start the process, the difficult phases are extremely difficult to treat.