Fungal infections can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's nails and feet are the preferred location for their location. The virus is transmitted and spread very easily, therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medications that are used to eliminate fungal infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against toenail fungus remains high.
What is a mushroom?
In nature, there are many types of fungal pathogens that can affect the human body. The fungus is always unpleasant and painful. It is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in various ways: in public places, through shared shoes, through direct contact.
The most common localization site is the legs, i. e. the feet and nails. This positioning is due to a number of reasons:
- increased sweating of the legs caused by individual characteristics;
- tight and uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent leg injuries, microcracks, scratches, calluses;
- fatigue;
- intoxication caused by alcoholism and smoking;
- hypothermia of the legs of a permanent nature.
It is not possible to recognize the disease immediately, the first stages are almost asymptomatic. Then the unpleasant symptoms begin to actively appear:
- pungent unpleasant odor of the feet;
- the nail plate turns white and lamination may appear;
- itching and sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- wounds are formed on the skin around the nails, erosion appears.
Treatment depends on the stage of the nail fungus, the sooner you notice the problem, the easier it will be to fix it. But it should be understood that the fight against such a disease is quite difficult, it can last several months and even years. The disappearance of the signs does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This can only mean a decrease in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will resume.
Why choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for a fungal infection can last several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them offer a 100% guarantee.
Therefore, experts recommend using various methods of treating nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Benefits of alternative medicine:
- much cheaper than pharmaceutical preparations;
- they have practically no contraindications and side effects;
- if used correctly, they fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods of getting rid of the fungus can be recommended by experts. The main thing is to use the new tools with great care. Also do not forget the age of the patient, it is not recommended to use untested products for children. Patients under the age of 16 are seen at the appointment with a mycologist, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine: a time-tested remedy
To date, 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 observed when applying.
This method is very effective if it is used from the very beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. In order not to damage the nail plate and skin during treatment, you need to follow the instructions:
- Buy iodine at the pharmacy and check the expiration date.
- Wash your feet thoroughly and pat them dry. It is very important that the patient only uses his own towel, this reduces the risk of transmission of the infection.
- On each affected nail and the one that is next to it, drop a drop of iodine and rub it well.
- Let the iodine dry a little and for some time after that 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 turns yellow, which creates aesthetic discomfort. In addition, dryness and hypersensitivity can be observed, some people pay attention to pain and burning when rubbing. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of this disease cannot be cured with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against mycosis
Acetic compresses are another popular recipe for getting rid of yeast infections at home. To do this, use the usual 9% table vinegar, and baths are prepared from it.
The recipe is simple - you need to mix vinegar and cold water in a ratio of 1: 8, mix thoroughly. If the disease is at an advanced stage, then we can talk about increasing the 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 hot water, the legs are lowered for steaming. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. The procedure can be done every two days, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has a strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic property, so it is used to fight bacteria and fungal spores. You can buy propolis in its pure form at the pharmacy, but you must use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend using an infusion of propolis on alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use it for mycoses.
To combat this unpleasant disease, two methods are used:
- moisten a cotton ball in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- at night, a slightly melted 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 get rid of mycoses and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for this the mushroom is soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a brown color and a specific aroma, so it can be considered ready. The main property of kombucha is the antibacterial and antifungal effect.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of fungus should be peeled, peeled and lightly squeezed to remove excess fluid, then gently rubbed into the damaged nail plate. It is worth repeating the procedure 2-3 times a day.
- Compress, done before bedtime. The feet must be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Dip one part in warm water, put the other back in the syrup. Take a mushroom out of the water and stick it on your nails, stick cellophane on top and put on a tight sock or even two. The compress can cause tingling, mild pain, a slight burning sensation - such symptoms are considered quite justified and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
Tar
This odorless substance is famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, so it is advisable to use it to quickly remove nail fungus at home. It is birch tar, a product for processing birch peel, which is actively used. It can be purchased at a specialized pharmacy.
Birch tar often becomes the basis of ointments, but in case of mycosis the product is used in its natural form.
Indeed, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. Various types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo) are highly valued for their effect.
First you need to steam the legs. It is best done in soapy water. After that, cut off the dead parts of the nail and smear the fresh places with tar and scrub well. So you shouldn't get dressed for several hours, tar is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least a day; after this time, you can take a cold bath for your feet. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made from natural fabrics and treat the shoes with a light tar solution.
Tar soap foot baths are also actively used. To prepare, you need to take half a bar of soap, grate and dilute in warm water (2 l). You can add some soda. Perform the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then wipe the coarse fabrics and allow the feet to dry.
Herbal decoctions
It is no secret that there are many herbs that, due to their antiseptic properties, are actively used in traditional medicine. For the treatment of mycosis, decoctions of such plants are used:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- plantain;
- mugwort;
- calendula;
- St. John's wort;
- chamomile.
For the preparation of the decoctions the dried flowers of these plants are used. It is very important to respect the proportions and keep enough time for a couple. For the treatment of the fungus, only decoctions on water are used, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Decoction experts recommend using only as an aid, they are able to improve the process, but do not go through advanced stages. In addition, some of the plants presented can cause an allergic reaction.
You can quickly get rid of nail fungus with folk remedies, but you need 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 no case do not start the process, severe stages are extremely difficult to treat.