Nail Fungus Home Treatment

Now it’s possible to use a nail fungus home treatment with more confidence than ever in the potential for success. This is because scientific research has shown that some natural remedies really do have antifungal properties and great potential for fighting off the fungi that invade hair, nails and skin. We're not talking about vinegar soaks and hydrogen peroxide here although those older remedies may also work (they lack scientific backing), we're talking about herbal extracts and oils - tea tree oil, Pau d'Arco, and other essential oils.

A natural remedy for nail fungus infection (onychomycosis) is preferable to a nail fungus prescription drug for several reasons. Prescription drugs for onychomycosis tend to be very expensive - because the daily dose amounts to dollars rather than cents, and a typical course of treatment spans months or even years, the patient neither a drug plan to cover the cost, nor a very healthy budget, will often not be able to afford the drug. Even if money's no object, however, fears of serious side effects remain - though the modern drugs are much less toxic than drugs of the past, potential side effects of oral medications for onychomycosis include organ damage and other toxicities. Patients taking these drugs should be monitored for problems and those with preexisting liver or kidney problems should not take them at all. These limitations make it important that we find a nail fungus home treatment that works.

The natural substance that shows the greatest promise at present as a nail fungus home treatment is tea tree oil. This essential oil is extracted from the leaves and stems of a plant that grows in Australia. Applied directly to the affected nail, either as a pure oil or in a blend of other oils and herbal ingredients, it appears to be effective in clearing the infection in many cases. Scientific research has backed up anecdotal evidence that tea tree oil has antifungal properties, and as a natural preparation, it is available at a fraction of the cost of nail fungus prescription medicine. Tea tree oil should not be taken internally, as it has not been shown to be safe when ingested.

Another alternative to nail fungus prescription medicine that is validated by some scientific research is Pau d'Arco, an extract of the inner bark of a South American tree. This natural fungus home treatment is usually prepared as an infusion or tea. It is used as a beverage or as a soaking solution. As a beverage it has been used for centuries by indigenous South American people, and more recently by medical practitioners in that part of the world. It is said to have many other health benefits. As a soaking solution, its role would be to penetrate the infected nail and act directly on the fungus.

Good quality Pau d'Arco is somewhat more difficult to obtain than Tea Tree oil, and is likely to remain a somewhat marginal nail fungus home treatment. Tea tree oil, in contrast, is readily available and becoming more so. Even low concentrations combined with other herbal ingredients may be sufficient to treat onychomycosis. Given the disadvantages of the nail fungus prescription medicine currently available, either of these options is worth a try.

Always consult a medical doctor for a proper diagnosis of nail fungus infection before using any treatment.