Can You Treat Nail Fungus Naturally?
What is nail fungus?
Nail fungus (also known by its medical termonychomycosis) is a common infection of the nail. It can affect either or both the fingernails and the toenails. It can even affect several nails at the same time.
It starts with a white or yellow brown spot under the tip of the nail but as the fungal infection goes deeper and spreads, the nail may become discolored, thicken and crumble at the edge.
It is always wise treat nail fungus symptoms even if it is mild and not causing any discomfort. This is because the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to treat.
If left untreated, nail fungus could become painful with thickened nails. And even lead to complications such as:
What causes nail fungus?
The main cause is the presence of dermatophyte fungus, but mould and yeast can also be responsible.
You are more likely to develop nail fungus because of:
- Aging.
- A previous history of athlete's foot.
- Suffering from the skin condition known as psoriasis.
- Being diabetic.
- Sweating a lot.
Nail fungus is more common in males.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
Be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms:
- A thickened or brittle nail.
- Scaling under the nail or nails.
- White or yellow streaks on the nail.
- Flaking white areas on the nail’s surface.
- The appearance of yellow spots at the bottom of the nail.
- A distorted nail.
How can you treat nail fungus symptoms?
Give your nails a foot bath. You will need
- 4 to 5 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Warm water in a bowl or other suitable container.
- Towels
Before you start the treatment, trim the nails as short as possible using clean nail clippers. Afterwards, clean the clippers with alcohol. Mix the vinegar with enough water for a feet soak mix. Soak the feet for 15 minutes before drying thoroughly with towels. Add the baking soda to the water mix and soak again for 15 minutes. Dry again really well.
Repeat twice daily to both help destroy fungi and prevent new fungi.
Then continue the treatment with the help of our own H-Nail Fungus Formula which uses established homeopathic ingredients and pure essential oils to tackle the symptoms of nail fungus on the fingernails and toenails. Applied directly to the condition, the product is natural and free from any harmful chemicals or additives.
The Formula works by reducing the fungus in the nail bed. For extra benefits, add a drop of oil to your bath water. 
How can you prevent nail fungus?
Try to follow these tips to prevent nail fungus appearing in the first place:
- By paying attention to hygiene and washing hands and feet regularly and then drying properly.
- By keeping nails (especially toenails) short.
- By being careful about the shoes you wear so that they don't cause sweating. Remember that fungus thrives in warm and moist environments.
- By using socks that are clean and absorb sweat.
- By not going barefoot in public pools and showers.
- By not sharing footwear with others.
- By using an antifungal spray regularly.
SOURCES:
Nail fungus - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Daud FV, et al. (2011). The use of ozonized oil in the treatment of dermatophitosis caused by Microsporum Canis in rabbits [Abstract].
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768949/
Derby R, et al. (2011). Novel treatment of onychomyosis using over-the-counter mentholated ointment: A clinical case series.
jabfm.org/content/24/1/69.full
Flores FC, et al. (2013). Antifungal activity of nanocapsule suspensions
containing tea tree oil in the growth of Trichophyton rubrum.
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11046-013-9622-7
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.