Home Remedies for Nail Fungus

Home remedies for nail fungus infections have been popular for many years for a variety of reasons. Fungal nail infections have been troubling people down through the millennia, so people have naturally sought a cure for the problem. Drug treatments for the condition are relatively recent, and they are still expensive and prone to cause side effects. For these reasons, home remedies still outnumber medical solutions. The new global village however, interconnected through the internet, has mixed the home remedy lore of many cultures to create a third group of solutions - alternative and homeopathic remedies for fungal nail infections.

The most popular home remedy for nail fungus is probably soaking the affected nail in a solution that will kill the fungus. Common soaking solutions contain dilute chlorine bleach, household vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or Listerine mouthwash. It requires daily soaking for weeks or months to clear the infection, and better results are often obtained if the nail is filed from the top to make it thinner, which allows for better penetration. Other home remedies for nail fungus involve the direct application of these same substances, as well as others like Vicks VapoRub and various essential oils. Again regular application over a long period, combined with filing and good foot and hand care bring the best results.

Tea tree oil, a product from Australia, is among the essential oil home remedies for nail fungus that show great promise. An extract of the leaves and stems of the tea tree, tea tree oil has been scientifically proven to have some antifungal properties, and it appears to penetrate a thick distorted infected nail better than many other topical products. Tea tree oil is available in pure form or in a blend of other ingredients, and is usually applied directly to the affected nail. If you are shopping for an alternative or homeopathic home remedy for nail fungus, those that contain this essential oil are good choices.

A product from the Czech Republic called Saprox may also be helpful. This is a therapeutic antifungal mud that is particularly recommended for the treatment of fungal skin infections, but it can also be used as a home remedy for nail fungus. The action of this product will likely be enhanced if it is combined with other measures, such as regular soaking in one of the solutions mentioned above. Like all the home remedies for nail fungus this approach will take time, but keep in mind that prescription drugs for fungal infections are slow acting as well, and come with greater risks of side effects.

Before using any of the home remedies for nail fungus, see your doctor to confirm that your nail is, in fact, infected with fungus. Your doctor can take samples for laboratory testing if the diagnosis is in doubt, and help you decide on a course of treatment that’s right for you.