Mycoses can easily spread throughout the body, but a person's nails and feet are the favorite place for their localization. The virus is very easily transmitted and spread, and therapy requires an integrated approach.
There are many pills and medicines used to treat fungal infections. But at the same time, the demand for folk remedies against toenail fungus remains high.
What is a mushroom?
There are many types of fungal pathogens in nature that can affect the human body. Fungus is always unpleasant and painful. The patient is transmitted from person to person in different ways: in public places, in public shoes, in direct contact.
The most common localization is the feet, ie the feet and nails. This placement is due to a number of reasons:
- increased sweating of the feet due to individual characteristics;
- tight, uncomfortable synthetic shoes;
- permanent wounds on the legs, micro cracks, scratches, corns;
- stress;
- intoxication caused by alcoholism and smoking;
- permanent hypothermia of the legs.
The disease is not immediately recognizable, the initial stages are almost asymptomatic. Then the unpleasant symptoms begin to appear actively:
- unpleasant pungent odor of the feet;
- the nail plate becomes white and lamination may appear;
- itching, sometimes there is a burning sensation;
- sores form on the skin around the nails, erosion is visible.
Treatment depends on the stage of the nail fungus, the sooner the problem is detected, the easier it will be to eliminate. However, it should be understood that the fight against such a disease is very difficult, it can take months or even years. The disappearance of the marks does not mean the complete elimination of viral spores in the body. This may not only mean a decrease in activity, but under certain conditions the virus will recover.
Why should you choose folk remedies?
The course of treatment for fungal infections can last several months. There are many pharmaceutical products that mycologists recommend to prevent the formation of new fungal spores. But none of them is 100% guaranteed.
Therefore, experts recommend using different methods to treat nail fungus, combining traditional and folk methods.
Advantages of alternative medicine:
- cheaper than pharmaceuticals;
- practically no contraindications and side effects;
- When used properly, fully confirm their effectiveness.
The most popular methods to get rid of the fungus can be recommended by experts. The key is to use new tools with great care. In addition, 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 by a mycologist, but people over the age of 35 are at risk.
Iodine is a time-tested tool
To date, iodine is still an effective tool for nail fungus that 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 dose should be strictly observed when applying it.
This method is very effective if used from the beginning of the disease, when the first symptoms appear. You should follow the instructions to avoid damaging the nail plate and skin during treatment:
- Get iodine at the pharmacy and check its shelf life.
- Wash and dry your feet thoroughly. It is very important that the patient uses only his own towel, which reduces the risk of transmission of the infection.
- Apply a drop of iodine to each affected nail and the nail placed next to it and rub well.
- Allow the iodine to dry slightly and then do not wear socks for a while, 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 tenderness may be observed, and some people notice pain and burning during friction. Unfortunately, the advanced stages of this disease cannot be treated with iodine.
Table vinegar in the fight against mycosis
Vinegar compresses are another popular recipe to get rid of mycosis at home. To do this, use ordinary 9% table vinegar and use it to make baths.
The recipe is simple: vinegar and cold water should be mixed 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, you need to prepare a bath with hot water, the feet are lowered into it to evaporate. When the nails soften, the feet are placed in a vinegar bath. The procedure can be performed every two days, the full course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Propolis
This folk remedy has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, so it is used to combat bacterial and fungal spores. You can buy propolis in pure form at the pharmacy, but you must use it diluted in a water bath. Also, some experts recommend the use of propolis infusion over alcohol, but it is still undesirable to use for mycoses.
There are two ways to deal with this unpleasant disease:
- moisten a cotton pad in liquid propolis and treat the affected area twice a day;
- At night, a piece of slightly melted substance is applied to the affected nails, but such a compress can be stored for no more than 2 hours.
This is an effective tool for nail fungus, but use it very carefully.
Tea mushrooms
Kombucha is a controversial treatment, some experts claim that it can activate the process, while others claim that it can completely get rid of mycosis and related problems.
First you need to prepare a medicinal solution, for which the mushrooms are soaked in sweet tea for a week. The solution should acquire a brown color and a special fragrance, then it can be considered ready. The main feature of kombucha is its antibacterial and antifungal effect.
It is also used in two ways:
- A piece of fungus should be peeled and peeled and squeezed a little to remove excess liquid, then rubbed gently on the damaged nail plate. The procedure is worth repeating 2-3 times a day.
- Compress is done before bedtime. The feet should be washed and dried. Then take a piece of mushroom and cut it lengthwise. Immerse one part in warm water, send the other back to the syrup. Take a sponge out of the water and stick it on your nails, put cellophane on top and put on a tight sock or even two. Compresses can cause tingling, slight pain, a slight burning sensation - such symptoms are quite justified and only confirm the effect of the fungus.
tar
This odorless substance is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, so it is recommended to use it at home to quickly get rid of nail fungus. The most actively used maple bark is the processed maple resin. It can be purchased at a private pharmacy.
Birch tar is often the basis of ointments, but in the case of mycosis, the product is used in its natural form.
In fact, this product is very popular in the field of cosmetology. It is very popular for its effect on various types of cosmetics (tar soap, tar shower gel and tar shampoo).
First you need to steam your feet. It is better to do this in soapy water. After that, cut off the dead parts of the nail and lubricate the new areas with tar and rub well. Then you should not wear it for several hours, the resin is better absorbed when exposed to air. After that, it is not recommended to wash your feet for at least a day, after which you can take a cold bath for your feet. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, you should wear socks made of natural fabrics and treat your shoes with a light tar solution.
Foot baths using tar soap are also actively used. To prepare, take half a bar of soap, grate it and dilute it in warm water (2 l). You can add a little soda. Perform the procedure for no more than 20 minutes, then clean the coarse tissues and leave the feet to dry.
Herbal decoctions
It is no secret that there are many herbs that are actively used in traditional medicine due to their antiseptic properties. Decoctions of such plants are used to treat mycosis:
- celandine;
- nettle;
- burdock root;
- plantain;
- sage;
- calendula;
- St. John's wort;
- chamomile
Dried flowers of these plants are used to make mildew. It is very important for a couple to respect the proportions and keep enough time. Only decoctions on water are used to treat the fungus, alcohol, milk and other bases are prohibited.
Decoctions experts recommend using it only as an adjunct, they are able to enhance the process, but do not cope with the advanced stages. In addition, some of the herbs presented may cause an allergic reaction.
You can get rid of nail fungus quickly with folk remedies, but you need to be patient. Sometimes you need to use several recipes for full effect. A full course of treatment can take years. It is best to consult a specialist before choosing a treatment method. And do not start the process under any circumstances, it is extremely difficult to treat the severe stages.