Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
WARNING: This home remedies site is intended to be archival in nature. The natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.
NOTICE: This page was generated previously and may not be up to date. To view the most recent page, go to the dynamically generated version of the Toenail Fungus home remedies page.
Toenail Fungus Home Remedies:
Submitted by Jake Nugent at 2009-07-18 19:23:23
BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF REMOVING TOENAIL FUNGUS USING STORE-BOUGHT ITEMS. This is the e-journal of Jake Nugent.
For over ten years, I've been suffering from Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis) and it kills me. This fungus as greatly affected my life. I live in beautiful sunny San Diego where shoes are optionl and it's been torture not being able to wear sandals, taking off your socks at your friends house, not going to the beach with friends or going swimming. It's uncomfortable both physically and mentally. I'm trying everything I've learned on this website.
Saturday July 18, 2009
Its starts off with a trip to Walmart. I purchased $30 worth of stuff. White vinegar, yellow listerine, hydrogen-peroxide, Vicks Vapo Rub, Tea Tree Oil, bandaids, cotton balls and a rubbermaid container to put soak my feet.
Step 1. I have soaked my feet in the vinegar for over 30mins now and will clean w/ the peroxide, then cover with Vicks. I'll keep you posted of my results.
rating: 6 (35 votes)
Submitted by Toe Fetish at 2009-10-01 00:44:02
EASY. Effective. Cheap: About two years ago I developed toenail fungus most noticably on my right big toenail. It started as a white striation down the middle with thickening of the nail. My toenail developed white flaky debris from the striation and eventually the cuticle. After that, my little toebegan to discolor. Lo and behold each toe eventually had some degree of fungal infection on both feet. BAD spa chair pedicure!
My easy remedy:
1.) Dip a cotton swab in undiluted household bleach. Paint toenails of one foot with it, including around the cuticle and nail tip. Dip other end of swab in bleach and repeat for your other foot. Allow to air dry.
2.) Apply undiluted tea tree oil in the same way as above.
Frequency: once in the morning and once at night.
Three weeks later, my fungus appears gone on all nine toes, and my big badly infected toe seems nearly cleared.
Tips:
1.) Keep toenails short.
2.) If you file, use a new disposable variety and discard after use. Don't reuse from trim to trim.
3.) Wipe nail cutter with bleach after trimming each nail.
4.) Go barefoot whenever possible.
5.) Wear clean socks daily.
6.) Dry toes with hairdryer after baths and showers.
7.) Slough callouses and dead skin from feet daily during shower or bath when feet are softened. Sterilize utensil after use, allow it to dry and don't leave it in moist areas.
8.) Clean shower, tub, linens frequently.
9.) Spray shoes with antifungal between wears. Allow them to dry out by alternating them with another pair.
Remember: Bleach, dry, Tea Tree. If bathing or showering try bleach, dry, shower, dry, tea tree.
Don't double dip those cotton swabs that have touched infected toes into the tea tree!
Best wishes for proud pink toenails going forward. Let me know your feedback and if little piggy feels sexy going to the market!
rating: 6 (34 votes)
Submitted by JacquieB at 2009-05-01 11:55:05
I'd seen on a site this mix for toe fungus and although I've only been using it for three days it is working!
50% Listerine
mixed with
50% Vinegar
Spray toe(s) and let dry
THEN apply Vick's Vapo Rub all over nail (cuticle and under nail) and cover to protect sheets at night.
Do the spray twice a day after shower and Vicks at night while sleeping!
Thank You to whoever had first submitted this as I am on cloud nine with the results!!!!
rating: 6 (25 votes)
Submitted by Steven at 2008-12-16 10:41:11
3 months in to this regime and it is working:
Weekly: Soak toes in vinegar for 25 minutes.
Nightly: Apply Tea Tree Oil to toes, cover with socks (so as not to stain the sheets).
Additional:
At first I used a topical anti-fungal liquid to address athlete's foot around the nail bed. I still apply this once daily.
I now apply vinegar either by cotton swab or dropper daily.
It was difficult at first to clip the nails and to file them, but easier after soaking them in vinegar. After 2 months I kept filing them and now I have smooth nails. Not sure the fungus is gone, but it is a remarkable change.
I tried VVR, but wasn't too impressed. This is working for me.
Once a week I soak in bathing crystals that have epsom salts and Tea Tree Oil.
rating: 6 (34 votes)
Submitted at 2006-08-30 12:40:34
Soaking the affected nail(s) with distilled vinegar kills off the fungus rather quickly. Apply daily after bathing and let the vinegar dry thoroughly before dressing.
Apparently the fungus doesn't like the shift in pH that comes with the use of the vinegar.
After a friend managed to get a fungus growing under her fingernails from a bad manicure I suggested using vinegar. The 'cure' only required about a week. Toenails, being thicker, seem to take a bit longer.
rating: 5 (127 votes)
Submitted by Marlene at 2007-09-09 00:48:34
The best remedy that helps minimize toe fungus (I don't think it's ever really 'cured') is vinegar. I have tried many topical remedies but straight undiluted vinegar works the best. Just get yourself a Rubbermaid foot size container, pour in the vinegar covering your foot and soak for as long as possible. An added bonus for soaking your feet in vinegar is that if you suffer from 'athlete's foot' it will really help that problem as well, no more itching. Try it! Vinegar is awesome!
rating: 5 (53 votes)
Submitted by T. Powers at 2004-12-29 14:42:38
If your toenail gets really thick and yellow, it is a form of fungus.
Take a nail file and run it over the surface of the toenail. Rub it both horizontally and laterally to make uneven grooves in the top of the nail.
Then rub Vick's Vapor Rub into the top of the toenail. The grooves will help keep the Vick's on the toenail. Do this for several days/nights in a row as often as you can.
The Eucalyptus in the Vick's will kill the fungus on the nail faster than any store-bought anti-fungal available !
rating: 5 (310 votes)
Submitted by elle at 2006-07-08 09:26:49
i have toenail fungus for 2 years now and have been putting on a fungoid tincture constantly, with no improvement. this was given to me by my foot doctor. now with research, i have started the treatment of vicks all day and night ( with a white cotton sock on) in between treatments of apple cider vinegar, bleach and water and peroxide. i just take turns with all of them. i am very determined to get rid of this ulgy thing in my big toe. if you can dedicate yourself to these treatments, then i thnk they will work for you. prescriptions are not good for you and cause damage to your body. the thing to do is never let your toe breathe, keep it covered with vicks, and the fungus will die. i clean it in the shower, dry it and then clean it with either peroxide, bleach or apple cider vinegar. then i let it dry and then put on the vicks. it is already a few days and i am starting to see improvement in the nail.
rating: 5 (59 votes)
Submitted at 2005-03-07 00:02:56
Always keep your feet as dry as possible, as fungus LOVES dampness. I put a few drops TEA TREE OIL on my toenails and cuticles and rubbed it in thoroughly EVERY day.
Do this daily - even when you see healthy nails growing. Contiue until all of the thick yellow nail grows out completely... which will take several months. Also, do NOT polish your nails - it only seals in the fungus and makes it worse (and harder and longer to get rid of).
rating: 5 (62 votes)
Submitted by Cyndi at 2007-03-02 00:13:53
VVP does work! I had a bad reaction to fake 'fingernails' and all nails on both my hands got infected. Somehow the infection must have traveled thru my body because 3 of my toenails got infected also. Once one nail (toe or finger) is infected, it spreads easily to the next. I was on every med/cream/ointment available and nothing worked. It was terrible, as I was suffering from this for 8 months. My fingernails chipped away and I'd have cuts on every fingertip. I didn't even care about my toenails, but once I started the vicks remedy (rubbing it in ALL the time) it eventually worked. My condition was severe, so it will probably work much quicker on the average person. It's cheap and it doesn't have to be the Brand Vicks - any generic brand will do the same. For the person that said their nail turned black, mine turned a brownish color. The only reason I kept it up was 1. My nails were horrid anyway and 2. I could feel it work. I'd also try the bleach method someone suggested. I can't see how that wouldn't work. I couldn't even consider that with the cuts I had. Vinegar did not work for me. Tea Tree Oil has worked for a couple people I know. Personally, I was afraid to add oil to a fungus, but I guess this type of oil has a drying effect. I also took garlic capsules and acidouphoulis (sp?) I'm not sure if this had anything to do with curing my infection, but I want to add all I did. Garlic is supposed to kill fungus and acidouphoulis is giving you bacteria (the GOOD kind) that your body most likely is depleted off because of all the meds your doctor put you on. aka antibiotics/steriods/etc... OH, one more thing, go barefoot as much as possible (in your home, under your desk) and do not put a bandaid over it. As much as you want to cover this eyesore, it will only make it worse. Good luck
rating: 5 (51 votes)
Submitted by Kathy at 2008-04-20 11:18:49
I have had a bad fungus on my big toenail. I've been religiously soaking (at least 30 minutes) my toes in distilled white vinegar after thoroughly washing my feet with hot soapy water. After soaking in vinegar, let the area dry naturally. Then I load on Vick's VapoRub with a Q-tip on the nail and at the base of the nailbed where new growth begins. I cover it semi-loosely with a bandaid so the gunk won't get all over my sheets. In the a.m., I take off the bandaid and take my shower. I have been doing this for approximately 2 months, and the new growth is amazingly clear and pink!! It may take a while to see a difference, but it has certainly worked for me!
rating: 5 (19 votes)
Submitted at 2007-09-09 23:38:47
I HAVE HAD A TOENAIL FUNGUS ON BOTH MY BIG TOENAILS FOR 10 YEARS. I USED TO HYDE THEM WITH NAIL POLISH. I HAVE TRIED ALOT OF OTC CREAMS AND LOTIONS.
NOTHING WORKED.
THIS IS WHAT IS WORKING FOR ME. I CUT THEM AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE. CLEAN THEM EVERY MORNING AFTER MY SHOWER. I PUT A DROP OF ALCOHOL TWICE A DAY. NO NAIL POLISH. I WHERE SANDELS OR ANY OPEN TOE SHOE SO MY TOES STAY IN OPEN AIR AS MUCH AS I CAN LET THEM. I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TO SEE MY TOES BUT IT WAS WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN.
IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 4 MONTHS OF THIS BUT THEY ARE ALMOST GROWN OUT. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY NEW TOENAILS.
rating: 5 (17 votes)
Submitted by russ at 2009-03-29 16:08:51
what i used to completely kill off toenail fungus was the bleach method, but what i did was using an emery board, i sanded surface of nail each time i did this, i used an eye dropper that i set up just for this, but i did a single drop or two of straight beach on each nail and let it sit for about 10 mins so it could soak in, only had to do this for about a week and it was gone, hasnt come back
rating: 5 (3 votes)
Submitted by Ashley Lomelo at 2005-09-17 17:22:02
Lysterine. I swear it work. Soke your toes every time you get out of the shower. You will see results instantly.
rating: 5 (88 votes)
Submitted at 2006-03-29 17:53:13
oil of oregano for under the toenail infections. takes about 3 months but so do any medicines that you would get from a pharmacy.
rating: 5 (6 votes)
Submitted by y,s, at 2007-06-27 03:48:48
I had to nail fungus for about 4 years on one big toe nail and 2 years on the other big one. They were pretty yellow and very thick. I filed them down as much as possible and trimmed them back. I did have to spend 13 dollars on a big nail nipper. The first 2 or 3 months I soaked cotton balls with white vinegar and put them on the nails while I brushed my teeth at night and while I got ready in the morning. It has taken 4 months and 1 1/2 small bottles of white vinegar (less than 4 dollars). I still have a quarter of my nails to grow out but I can say it works!!!
rating: 5 (10 votes)
Submitted by Liz at 2009-06-11 23:21:18
okay well i have had a fungus on my toenails for like a year now well over a year and i did research and found the vicks vapor rub one and i tried it and the same day within mins of putting in on my nails it was disappering. what i did was i cut the nail as low as possiable than i took a nail filier and rubbed it on top of my nails all kind of ways to scratch it up a lil and than applied the vicks vapor rub on my nail rubbed it in real good and like i said with in mins it was going away as soon as i put it on my nails so it worked for me.
rating: 5 (4 votes)
Submitted at 2009-07-11 20:47:12
I just got a bottle of Miracle Cure stuff from Bed Bath and Beyond. It's meant to cure those thick yellow fungal toenails and it absolutely worked. I have tried all the little home remedies and couldn't stick with one long enough to see results but this stuff worked with in a week.
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by Matt at 2010-01-17 14:09:59
THE BEST AND CHEAPEST WAY!!
I have been suffering physically and most of all mentally for over 7 years from my toenail fungus. Like most people I really didn't notice it as a major problem at first and ignored it.. BIG MISTAKE! I tried NailRX (3 month supply) and saw very little results for the $100 I spent and became very discouraged. 2 weeks later after running out the fungus looked worse and now my right pointer finger was getting infected. I had had enough! I started reading everything I could find for a cheaper, more effective cure. Here is what I have found and tried.
We are all busy and cant go bare foot to work. Being in our shoes all day causes moisture and feeds the fungus. Most of us have very limited time in the morning and need something fast and easy.
You will need a few things:
Vicks Vapor Rub, Rubbing alcohol, Band Aids, Q-tips, Nail File, Liquid Bleach and Tea Tree Oil-(if you can afford it)
1.Trim and file your infected nails as best as possible. Making them shorter and thinner is half the battle.
2.Wash toes with anti-bacterial soap in your morning shower.
3.Use a fresh towel or hair dryer on toes. (always use a clean towel)
4.With a Q-Tip, scrub in Rubbing Alcohol and let dry.(only takes a sec to dry)
5.With a Q-Tip, rub a generous amount of Vicks Vapor Rub on and around infected toenails and cover with a Band Aid.
This will keep moisture from getting on and under the nail while at the same time killing the fungus.
When you get home from work take off your shoes and socks and wash your feet in the same way. If you have Tea Tree Oil, apply it with a Q-Tip and walk bare foot as long as possible letting it dry. If you do NOT have Tea Tree Oil, mix Bleach and Water 50/50, apply it with a Q-Tip to the NAIL ONLY. Let it Dry. I do the same to my finger.
Before bed, repeat steps 1-5 and wear clean socks to bed.
After a few mornings you will have this down to about 5-10 minutes.
I have been doing this for just a few weeks now and see about half the fungus gone. IT IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT CURE. It is however a REAL CURE. I will be seeing you all at the beach this coming summer :)
GOOD LUCK!
rating: 5 (2 votes)
Submitted by Lynn Ann Lee at 2008-02-14 08:46:04
Last year (2006) I was told by my doctor that I had toenail fungus. I am now over it (2007)—but not due to anything my doctor did. He prescribed some topical medication, but how do you get it to the fungus? The nail itself protects the fungus from topical salves or soaks. Anyone who tells you to soak your feet in a solution that totally cured it for them—either has lost his toenail, or the nail is so crumbly that it can no longer keep water from penetrating below the nail. My toenail got crumbly at one point, but quickly returned to normal when I began to use a sunlamp.
Let me explain. I read up on this type of fungus. It loves warm, moist, dark places. A restriction of airflow suits it also. Change those conditions and a fungicide is unnecessary. Start wearing sandals, no socks, 24/7. For many that is impossible, but do the best you can when you can. Also use a sun lamp as much as possible, but as little as 2 minutes twice a day will cure the condition. The more exposure--the quicker the cure.
If you do not have a sunlamp, you could try just an extremely bright light bulb down close to your feet. That might work just as well. I don’t know, because I didn’t try that, but I would be interested to know if that would do it. (Caution: when using the sun lamp—you cannot look directly at it without damaging your eyes. Keep a magazine between it and your eyes.)
While you are exposing the affected nail to the light, expose all of your nails on both feet. This will deter your other nails from getting the problem.
Others with toe nail fungus say I have recovered in record time, and believe me the treatment is a lot less messy than soaking in this and that. It is definitely worth a try, and it does not preclude your using other treatments at the same time, if you think you have found one that works.
rating: 4 (14 votes)
Submitted at 2006-02-26 11:14:56
Half soy sauce and half pine sol in a dropper for as long as it takes your toe nails to grow back out, a few drops after every shower, this is an old chinese remedy. My toe nail was brand new in 10 months!
rating: 4 (23 votes)
Submitted at 2007-12-30 09:28:52
Garlic capsules or pure garlic taken daily works great and fast.
rating: 4 (9 votes)
Submitted by cleat toenails at 2009-01-11 16:51:08
URINE! it's free! Urinate in a bootle and let it set for a few days and then soak your feet in it. your urine is just minerals your body didn't use. it will kill the fung if you use it daily until you see clear nails. it's also excellent for your skin. think i'm lying google it!
rating: 3 (18 votes)
Submitted at 2009-07-02 12:09:04
1 1/2-2 Tbs of cayenne pepper powder and a big bowl of warm water. soak your feetfor about 15-20 minutes evey night before bed for 2 weeks. You should start to see results in 2-3 days. I have tried to tell my husband this for the past 5 years that we have been married but he didn't want to take my advice but1 month ago he finally took it and it worked really well. It took it away and now he loves to wear his flip flops everywhere.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by JCR at 2009-07-22 09:59:47
Here is an excellent remedy to cure Fungus Infections of the Feet, also known as toenail fungus or onychomycosis.
1. Invest in a 4 oz. Dropper bottle.
I recommend visiting the following website for your purchase:
(www.specialtybottle.com)
2. Fill your dropper bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
3. Put 2 drops of the isopropyl alcohol at the growing base of the affected nail every night and morning, and within a few months, normal nail will begin to show at the base of the nail.
Other remedies (like distilled vinegar) are effective as well. However, isopropyl alcohol dries or (evaporates) quickly and does not leave the mess that vinegar can leave on the floor.
This alcohol treatment works and it is relatively inexpensive.
Good Luck.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2009-08-31 10:02:11
I use the vinegar method. I filled a film container with vinegar and use a cotton swab. i dry my feet after my morning shower then dab on the vinegar with the swab. I also do it again when I go to bed. In order to get the best result, I first soaked my foot, then using nail clippers ( the kind that look like pliers) i removed all the bad nail part, then used rough sandpaper to grind most of it away. after a few days of the treatment I used the sandpaper again. i think it important to remove as much of the bad nail as possible. I don;t know how I get his, but 1st time was a couple of years ago and I did the vinegar for over a month and it was all gone. Got it again recently and an doing daily and I can see the new growth is fine. Vinegar works great!!
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted by Guppy at 2009-09-12 13:52:24
I tried the vinegar method and it WORKED. Cheap, easy and harmless. Whoever says is doesn't work is wrong. I wasn't interested in the remedies that destroy my liver or kidneys, that's for sure. So here's my situation.
The type of fungus I had was white superficial onychomycosis on my 2 big toenails. It's the 2nd most common fungus and the easiest to cure, lucky for me. It had been there on my 2 big toes for about 6 months and I stupidly failed to realize it was a fungus. I tried treating it with an over the counter remedy, which helped. I got on several forums and read about trying vinegar. I did a little research and learned that the reason vinegar may work is because it changes the pH of the nail bed, making the conditions hard for the fungus to grow.
My method for a solid year, from August of 08 to today (9/12/09) has been to use white vinegar 2 times a day, in the morning and evening, RELIGIOUSLY. I may have missed 4 times the entire year. I put vinegar in an emptied out little bottle of shampoo, the kind you get for free in a hotel. I used an eye dropper and applied the vinegar under the nail and to the sides and nail bed and all over the nail, twice a day, every day, for a year. I also avoided nail polish all year, if I did put it on for a special event, I’d take it off the next day.
My nail problem is gone, my toenails are back to their cute, normal selves. I'm going to keep it up for 1 more month just to be darn sure there's no little fungi still alive just waiting to come back. A year is a long time and 1 more month seems smart just to be sure.
I picked up the fungus in the locker room at my work's gym. Now I wear flip flops. Again, stupid of me to not have been more careful in the first place. Ah, oh well, live and learn.
Good luck...
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Submitted at 2009-09-17 20:08:42
yogurt containing live active cultures: for foot ro toenail fungus, spread a little on the area and let dry. Do this daily. It works quickly and well. For mouth/ gastrointestinal tract, eat yogurt daily.
rating: 0 (0 votes)
Copyright © 2003-2004 - Webmaster