Should You Use Oregano Oil For Toenail Fungus
Oregano plant, which produces oregano oil, is not new at all and has been in use since the 18th century in parts of Europe, especially in Spain and Italy where it was mostly used for culinary purposes. Besides its use in the kitchen, many people also use oregano oil for toenail fungus treatment, as skin ointment to treat some bacterial infection, as an antioxidant, and more.
Oregano oil whose roots can be found in Europe and Asia is reported to have spread to the U.S. by World War II soldiers who were returning at the end of the war.
Can Coconut Oil Help The Ridges
When there is not enough moisture in your nails, you are likely to end up developing ridges. While coconut oil has microbial properties, it is thought that it can help to eliminate ridges because it can act as a moisturizer. The moisturizing properties of coconut oil may potentially be able to keep your nails hydrated to some degree. Some people have added coconut oil to their nail care routine by applying a few drops of coconut oil and massaging it into the skin.
As An Oral Medication:
- Dilute a few drops of oregano oil daily in water or in your favorite juice. If concentrated oregano is too strong for your taste, you can purchase the oil in soft gel capsule form.
Using comfortable rubber flip-flops will allow the oil some time to work into the affected area without creating a mess on the floor of your house. This will also keep your socks and carpets from being stained by the oils. Whats more, the scent of oregano may be a welcome treat in the kitchen, but it will leave a strong and sharp odor on your carpet that you may find less than appealing.
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Foot Fungus: Causes And Risk Factors
A foot fungus is a fungal infection of the skin, better known as athletes foot, says Sundling. The fungus enters through cracks in the skin. Its known as athletes foot because athletes or anyone who is more active and sweats a lot is more at risk. Kids are also more at risk, because they dont tend to wear different shoes, and changing your shoes is one way to avoid foot fungus.
Foot fungus is very common. It does not mean that someone is dirty or didnt bathe, and if you have a compromised immune system, you may be more susceptible, says Sundling.
How To Prevent Both Foot And Toenail Fungus
While toenail fungus and foot fungus arent the same condition, the following tips can help you prevent both, says Sundling:
- Practice good hygiene, such as keeping your feet clean.
- Alternate your shoes during the week. Your feet sweat all day long. Alternating your shoes allows them to dry out, so the fungus cant survive.
- Wear moisture-wicking socks that help dry out shoes and kill fungus. You can find these at running stores and athletic stores. If your socks are exceptionally sweaty, changing them more than once per day can help.
- Wear shoes in public places like locker rooms, pools, and gyms to limit exposure to fungus.
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When To See A Medical Provider
If youve recently tried a home remedy for your toenail fungus but have not noticed an improvement in your symptoms, reach out to your medical provider for help.
Additional symptoms that warrant more immediate medical attention are:
- A fungal infection that doesnt go away or improve
- Toenails that are painful to touch, red, or drain pus
What Essential Oils Kill Toenail Fungus
If you have a question in mind as to what essential oils kill toenail fungus, the answer is thatthere are many essential oils for fungus on skin but oregano oil is the one that treats toenail fungus with perfection. Apart from oregano oil, Tea Tree oil is also considered to be one of the best and the safest oils in treating toenail fungus. Tea tree oil when mixed with any other carrier oil like coconut oil and applied on the fungus, it effectively removed the fungus completely within a few days of usage.
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Vicks And Tea Tree Oil For Toenail Fungus:
Vicks have many strong ingredients in it which have the power to fight against fungus.
Ingredients:
- Massage the tea tree oil on the clean and affected nail
- Let it dry for few min.
- Then rub the vicks on the infected nail
- Leave it for few minutes and wipe it off
Repetitions: Repeat this process once in a day.
Best Time to apply: Before bed.
How To Apply Coconut Oil On Infected Toenails
Using coconut oil for toenail fungus is pretty straightforward. You wonât have to hassle or even ask other people for assistance.
The only issue is the fact treatment may last for a while. Still, that is much better than risking your health with volatile drugs!
Here is how you apply it:
1) First, make sure that both your feet and hands are clean. You will have to dry them afterward properly
2) Put coconut oil on your hands. Donât overdo it, though. This oil is usually sold in a solid form which is why you will have to roll it in your hands to warm it up
3) Start applying the oil. Make sure it also reaches underneath your nails
4) Leave it be for at least 10 to 15 minutes
5) You can combine the oil with some other natural solutions such as tea tree oil
There you go!
As you can see, it is pretty simple. The only thing you will have to keep in mind is that coconut oil therapy lasts for a while, so you will have to be very disciplined.
Do it regularly, and you will relatively quickly solve the issue.
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Your Options For Treating Toenail Fungus
If you think you may have toenail fungus, you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist, who will send a specimen or a piece of your nail to a lab. Different types of fungus are treated slightly differently, so its important to know which type you have, says Sundling.
Also, sometimes the root of the problem is not a fungus at all, but rather another condition, or some kind of trauma to the nail bed for instance, if you dropped something on your toe. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail is painful.
If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
How To Use Oregano Oil For Toenail Fungus
There are different ways to use oregano oil for foot fungus, foot meaning fungus in between the toes and fungus on the toenail. We are presenting a detail description of them below. Choose any of them as per your interest and try it regularly to get relief from the fungus infection. The following methods work for both toenail fungus and fingernail fungus.
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Are There Any Side Effects Of Oil Of Oregano For Toenail Fungus
Oregano oil should be applied in very small quantities. Undiluted application of oregano oil can cause irritation and redness of the skin. As oregano oil is very strong it is good to dilute it with any other carrier oil. If the direct application is not causing side effects then you can use it directly. Oral usage of essential oil doesnt have any significant side effects. However, a higher dosage of oregano oil or supplements can cause upset stomach and worsen bleeding. Furthermore, some people can be allergic to the essential oil so they should avoid it. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid oral consumption of oregano oil.
Oregano Oil For Nail Fungus Reviews
If you want to treat the toenail fungus with essential oregano oil, then you must find the best product.
In the market there are different oregano oils are available. Some of them are specified for topical use, while others are designed to be taken as a topical solution.
The choice of product depends upon the health condition of the user. For the pregnant women, and kids under 2, oral intake is not recommended however, it is better to consult the physician.
As far as the topical oregano oil for nail fungus is concerned, it is fine for everybody as long as a good carrier oil is added.
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Why Is Oregano Oil Effective In Treating Toenail Fungus
Derived from the oregano herb, oregano oil contains fungicidal properties in a concentrated form. By nature, oregano oil has fungicidal properties. These antifungus properties come in handy in countering fungus infection such as toenail fungus.
The best part about oregano oil for nail fungus is that it can be applied externally. When it comes to dealing with an infection on nails, it is necessary to use an external application. Being set apart from the blood supply of the body, toenails do not get blood supply as is the case with the other organs of the body. Due to which, most of the internal medications dont work when dealing with toenail infection.
Side Effects Of Toenail Fungus Medication
One of the many benefits of using a homeopathic remedy is that there are little to no adverse side effects. Topical treatments often prescribed to treat toenail fungus can potentially burn or blister the skin. Oral medications for treating onychomycosis can cause liver or gastrointestinal damage. Be sure to read your medications list of potential side effects. Consult your pharmacist, healthcare provider, or specialist if you are concerned about side effects of prescription drugs.
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Vicks Vaporub Stories And Experiences From Readers Over The Years:
Tom N. touts the house brand at lower cost:
My solution was simple and no fuss. I rubbed Walmart house brand version of VapoRub on toenail, uncovered, each night before retiring. After 5 months the fungus has grown out the end of the nail.
Disclosure: I am not a shill for Walmart.
We have no opinion as to the quality of generic Vicks VapoRub. The relatively low cost of either the name brand or the house brand does not make this a big issue for us. Keep in mind that a jar will last a long time, even with daily applications.
Vagisil For Nail Fungus
Jim P. offers a different optiona vaginal anti-itch product:
On a radio show years ago, Joe or Terry mentioned that resorcinol was an anti-fungal. This is the active ingredient in Vagisil .
So I tried it on my toenail fungus. The results were equal to Vicks VapoRub , but the nail surface was smoother and more normal-looking. All I do is rub Vagisil into the affected nails and nail bed once a day after my shower. 30 seconds once a day is all it takes, and theres no odor or greasy residue.
Note you wont clear up existing fungus you have to wait for new nail growth to see the difference.
Resorcinol has been around for more than 150 years. It has been used topically as an antiseptic and to treat a variety of skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema and acne. Not surprisingly, it has antifungal activity, which might account for why it could be useful against nail fungus.
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Diluting Oregano Oil With Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is also a great option as a carrier oil with oregano oil for toenail fungus.
If you feel that the skin is getting dry, and it may break off, and the fungus will travel inside the skin.
Then the jojoba oil is the best ingredient to add as a carrier oil. Add three drops of oregano oil to a tablespoon of jojoba oil to treat toenail fungus.
Oregano Oil For Toenail Fungus: Why And How To Use It
Although most people don’t realize this, there are a lot of alternative medicines which you can use for toenail fungus like oregano oil.
This condition is really persistent, it can be treated for months with no success, and it is especially common among older people. Toenail fungus is not that damaging to your body it is more of a cosmetic issue. However, if left unattended, it can spread to other toenails and lead to some severe complications.
The reason why fungus appears on toenails is that this organism thrives in damp environments. Not drying your feet, or being exposed to some other source of moisture, makes it an ideal breeding ground.
Toenails that are affected by fungus will show signs of discoloration. To make it even worse, they start bending. If the case becomes severe, you will start experiencing pain and will have trouble putting your shoes on.
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Essential Oils As Home Remedies
Although there isnt much research on the effectiveness of essential oils for toenail fungus, we do know that many oils contain antifungal properties that protect and can help with yeast infections like candida.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts sourced from tree bark and resin, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, nuts, seeds, and even fruit.
Research shows EOs can help with health and well-being:
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that includes the use of essential oils for healing purposes.
So Extra Virgin Coconut Oil For Toenail Fungus
If you wish to get a fragrance free with no added preservatives coconut oil to ensure a safe healing then this is the product to check.
This is a 100% natural extra virgin oil, best for daily use, because when you are fighting the toe-nail fungus a regular use of coconut oil is essential.
The best part is, it is lactose free and that is why it can heal the fungus infected area faster.
The higher lactose content in other coconut oils can increase the fungal production, that is why you must check the lactose content before buying.
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What Causes Toenail Fungus
Nail fungus starts as a white or yellowish spot under the tip of the fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause the nail to discolor, thicken, and crumble around the edge, affecting other nails. It also tends to smell slightly foul.
The infections are caused by various fungal organisms the common cause is dermatophyte fungus, which can be transmitted from soil, animals, and contact with other people. Contact with bacteria, yeast, and molds also can cause nail infections.
Other contributing factors include:
Treatment is not required if the condition is mild, but if the infected nail is painful and has caused thickened nails, doing self-care steps and medications may help. Otherwise, you may want to see a physician.
Amber Listerine & White Vinegar:
Jen says Listerine and vinegar are her go-to solution:
I used tea tree oil faithfully for several years with some improvement. Also oregano oil, recommended as stronger than tea tree oil and quite expensive. Again, some improvement. I tried the Vicks with socks at night, but I dont like sleeping with socks.
Then I began one hour per week of soaking in water with lots of white vinegar. I had immediate success the fungus cleared almost completely and quickly.
Since then I have continued the weekly soaks with vinegar and the amber Listerine and no water one hour while sitting at the computer. I wonder if there is more than one kind of fungus since the tea tree oil was only somewhat successful, while the vinegar was much better for me. If there is more than one kind of fungus, that would explain why different strokes for different folks seems to be a key factor.
Incidentally, the weeds in my garden do not like vinegar so I just dump my used soaking mixture there I have lots of weeds to use it on! And it works.
We have lost count of the number of people who insist that when all else fails, white vinegar and Listerine foot soaks do the job. We are not surprised. Listerine has a good dose of alcohol and other ingredients that attack fungi.
Vinegar also makes the environment inhospitable to fungi. It does take the kind of patience that Jen describes to work the magic.
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Treating A Fungal Nail Infection
Antifungal tablets and lacquers are available that can treat fungal nail infection. Many people find that they try a number of over-the-counter items at a high expense before attending their G.P. for stronger prescription antifungals. Unfortunately, many of these medicines have dangerous side effects.
Clean Socks And Shoes
Regularly changing your socks and shoes can also cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can be washed to rid the growth of yeasts and fungi that may be growing on the fabric. Adding a half-cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washing machine can help eliminate bacteria or fungus on socks or shoes. Some shoes can be machine dried. Drying shoes in the sun is another option when cleaning footwear, but make sure they are completely dry before wearing them again.
Boots and other footwear that are not machine washable could be wiped out with a vinegar and water solution or sprayed with an over-the-counter antifungal spray. Medicated powders are also helpful in treating shoes for foot fungus.
Allowing the feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible can prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing breathable footwear and clean, dry socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes made from bamboo, copper, or specialty fabrics are also available. They can help reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in your footwear.
A proactive approach to keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent the spread of toenail fungus. You can wash or soak feet with warm soapy water or a foot bath using everyday household items. Soaking your feet in an all-natural, homeopathic concoction can be beneficial in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus.
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