Toenail Fungus Home Treatment

The effectiveness of home cures for toenail fungus is often debated, but home treatment is usually the cheapest option to start treating your onychomycosis. Just don't expect results right away, because home treatment is also the slowest method to get rid of that fungus. Here are some of the most popular home remedies for toenail fungus. If they work for you - great! But be prepared to see a doctor if the fungus doesn't go away or if the symptoms get worse.

Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that has been said to help eradicate toenail fungus. Before applying the treatment, make sure to file down the nail to make sure the treatment can permeate the nail surface to where the fungus is living. Take a few drops of undiluted tea tree oil and mix it with a few drops of olive oil and apply it to the affected nail. You may also choose to mix the tea tree oil with lavender instead of olive oil. Both lavender and olive oil will help sooth and irritated skin around the fungus infected nail.

Vinegar
Make a solution of half vinegar and half water and soak your feet in it for at least 30 minutes three times a day or more. It's best to alternate between hot and cold treatments. The acidity of the vinegar restores the pH balance of the nail and helps to sooth discomfort associated with onychomycosis. Although most types of vinegar can be used, apple cider is the most effective, being the strongest astringent. It has been reported that applying a couple of drops of vinegar directly to the nail also works, but be sure the vinegar will actually stay on the nail for a significant amount of time. After soaking, make sure to fully dry your feet. Also, make sure to file down the nail before soaking.

Epsom Salt
Epsom salts, also known as magnesium sulfate, have also been known to help eradicate toenail fungus. As always, for the treatment to do any good, you must file down your nail so that the solution can penetrate into deeper layers. At least two times a day, more if possible, soak the affected nails in a solution of hot water and a few tablespoons of Epsom salt. The longer you can soak your feet in the solution, the better it will work. Try for at least 30 minutes.

Other solutions that have been said to work for relieving nails of fungus are grapefruit seed extract, oil of oregano, and hydrogen peroxide.

Remember, prevention of toenail fungus is better than the cure!