The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Sea Salt
Posted by Daisy (USA) on 11/23/2006
★★★★★
You can go to any Whole Foods Store and buy Himalayan Salt, like I did. It works! Bleach and Vicks are not natural remedies. Please do not do these remedies you will harm your liver and kidneys not to mention bleach is also a skin irritant. Read the warning labels and you will see that they are completely toxic. Rule of thumb, if you can't eat it don't put it on your skin. Also, Monostat is not a natural remedy either. It is a fungicide. After a while it will not work. Your fungus will grow immune and will need stronger stuff. You can create a super fungus that can eat your skin away. Don't do it.
Sea Salt
Posted by Laura (Lbi) on 02/17/2016
★★★★★
No, you pack the salt under the nail bed.
First, clean it out as much as possible with a nice soak and scrape out any gunk under there. Then cram as much salt under the nail as you can. Use some coconut oil on your skin so the salt doesn't burn it. Repeat each day. Wash, clean out, pack with salt. Within a couple days, you will see new pink nail bed growth. It really works!
Mouthwash
Posted by Willard (Wapwallopen, PA) on 11/19/2006
★★★★★
I have been using Listerine on toe nails with good results. I tried many other things for the fungus. It is going to side 3/4 of fungus is gone now It be all gone but forget to put on every day. I would like people to try it and would like to know if it helped anyone else. Both of my big toe nails are 3/4 clear from the side not from the bottom.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Margaret (Victoria, BC, Canada) on 09/24/2006
★★★★★
I cut nail short, soaked it in above solution for a few minutes and used small nail brush to get solution under nail* this is the important part. did this several times a day and before going to bed. lamasil didn't work and vick's only made it worse as it keep the nail moist. I've done this for 4 weeks and my ugly nail is now looking 80% better I can't believe the difference. I'll keep doing it until the new nail grows in. I did hear that soaking it in diluted bleach for a few minutes helps also. I may try that with this treatment. Thanks
Cayenne
Posted by Alice (Sierra Vista, AZ) on 12/11/2006
★★★★★
I was hoping Vince, or someone would explain the concentration of cayenne/salt/ and water. Not knowing, I made a paste where the cayenne and salt were approximately equal, and added enough water to make a paste. I pressed that beneath the nail as best as possible and rubbed it on the top. I have been using Store Brand mouthwash which is identical to Listerine, for the past 3-4 weeks. This has made a huge and fast improvement in my toenails, almost immediately. It was amazing! But I wanted to know more about the cayenne, because I have learned a remedy can be way way way better than I might have imagined! Plus I did not want to give the fungus any opportunity to become resistant to one treatment or the other.
Iodine
Posted by Jay (Rockland County, NY) on 08/24/2006
★★★★★
Iodine Tincture (2.3% solution cured 'Toenail Fungus. I whacked my infected toenails using a large hammer. In about two weeks the nails fell off and I applied iodine. When my new nails grew back, I had no more fungus.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by David (Redding, CA) on 08/24/2006
★★★★★
Over 25 years ago my big toe was injured. Fungus set in and also infected every toe on both feet. Lived with the problem way too long for 25 years. I did not want to take any prescription medications after reading the side affects!!! Then I came across this site by accident! I am so glad I found this site. Got me going and got me thinking from a different perspective.
In the summer of 2005 I started using white distilled vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. I applied with Q tips to each toe twice a day or more diligently.
First thing I noticed was the fungal smell went away! I started to notice a distinct improvement! I would make sure to cut and file my toenails and then sterilize the clippers and file as not to spread or reinfect myself or anyone else. I drank ACV twice a day. 12 oz. of water to 2 tablespoons of ACV. I cut way back on my grains and sugar in my diet as fungus loves these foods. Also don't drink alcohol and beer. You will be feeding your enemy the fungus. I also take probiotics and anti-fungals, such as a good multi vitamin, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, and beta glucan. I took the time to study up on fungus.
My smaller four toes began to clear up completely and the big toes showed big improvement. My big toe nails were more stubborn to clear up. Then in summer of 2006 I started to soak my feet in white vinegar and peroxide for 20 to thirty minutes a day. Wow, my big toes are almost all cleared up! Once they are done then the fungus will have been defeated! But do not let your guard down. Continue with the applications and the foot soakings on not as often. I spray the inside of my shoes with Hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and then I spray my toes during the day. The fungus has not returned to my smaller four toes. You must STARVE the fungus you have living inside your body, then you must take the anti fungals to ATTACK the fungus living in your body, then finally you must ATTACK the fungus externally with what I described above. It is working for me. I hope it works for you. The science behind this says it will from my research. Best of luck to you and best wishes. Warmest Regards
Goldenseal Extract
Posted by Kathy (Carrollton, TX) on 08/04/2006
★★★★★
I had toe nail fungus on one corner of one big toe for a few years. Over-the-counter products didn't work. I read that GOLDENSEAL EXTRACT worked, so I tried that. Used an eye dropper and also gently worked some under the nail with a metal nail file. It tended to stain the nail yellow, but it worked. I sometimes used tea tree oil too. And I'm thinking I may have tried hydrogen peroxide or vicks - can't remember right now. I think trying various of these home remedies helps. I also read that PAU D'ARC extract worked too, but I never bought it, since I got rid of the fungus without needing to try something else. Also, made sure the nail was dry before putting on socks and shoes.
Olive Oil and White Vinegar
Posted by Ellen (USA) on 07/11/2006
★★★★★
I've been using Ozonated Olive Oil & 2 drops of white distilled vinegar at the base of the toenail @ 12 hour intervals. The fungal part is growing out and there is a growing "pink" area between the half-moon and the fungal part. This has been a 30 year fungal infection and this is the most progress that I have ever seen. April through June, I was using many different remedies. But in the last 3 weeks, I have been using the 2 drops at the base of the toenail every 12 hours. This is the cheap white (clear) distilled vinegar that is 4% or 5% acetic acid. And I've been using the ozonated olive oil every 12 hours. I apply it to the toenail and then I cover the toenail with a bandaid, to keep the olive oil in place. I bought the olive oil on ebay. It is working and I am excited! I've been using prescription Thymol in an alcohol solution for over 3 years, and it hasn't done this much. Did I say that I am excited?!
Urine Therapy
Posted by Rollo (Silicon Valley, CA) on 08/05/2008
Please don't drink your urine. It is a waste product that your body is trying to get rid of. It is full of toxins. However, it is sterile, and can definitely be applied externally. The easiest way is to urinate on your nails in the shower.
Urine Therapy
Posted by Becky (New York, Ny) on 12/26/2014
Hi Tassi,
I am with you on all these remedies! They have been NAY NAY NAY all the way for the past 5 years. I've tried oregano oil (made it spread), laser (the filing part before they applied the laser spread the fungus to 3 more toes.. grrrrr), weekly bleach soaks (does keep it under control), apple cider vinegar (zip, nada) and tea tree oil (made it look worse). I am currently trying the borax protocol as I think that is the only thing that will actually work but it's going to take months. Only on my first week, but plan to do 5 days on, 2 days off for at least six months. Look into that. Would be great to have someone else in the same boat trying the protocol. Good luck!
Niacinamide
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 06/19/2006 392 posts
It has been known in academic circles for sometime that vitamin B3 in the form of niacinamide (non-flushing) is relatively toxic to yeast. A scientist found several years ago and concluded (wrongly) that taking vitamin B3 niacinamide will shorten your life span or longevity, through suppressing the SIR2 silencing gene, which is responsible for longevity.
As a result of this little misinformation, people stopped taking niacinamide and candida and yeast infections skyrocketed. Now the reason for the mistake was relatively simple, the scientist was apparently doing a study on longevity on yeast cells. Apparently in higher animals, fruit flies included, the effect of adding niacinamide resulted in longer life of 15%, as well as human embryo cells.
Therefore, if you have candida, yeast infection, or possibly even a UTI (urinary tract infection), taking niacinamide between 100-500 mg/day could solve this mystery that doctors have a hard time suppressing. In fact, you can expand this idea into applying the use of niacinamide NOT NIACIN, as a means of controlling fungus, since fungus is a relatively close cousin of the yeast also.
This is interesting, since in medicine the two most hardest organism to kill is actually fungus and yeast. It is almost a death sentence if you have this and getting rid of it may mean endless nightmare. Who knows, perhaps dissolving niacinamide with vinegar will be helpful in relieving your toe nail fungus infections.
Therefore a possibility exists from the point of view of biological terrain, candida, yeast and fungus infection is a form of niacinamide deficiency.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Anti-Yeast Cream
Posted by Gail (Florida) on 06/16/2006
★★★★☆
I have had a nail fungus in my big toe for about 2 years. I didn't even know it was a fungus until someone told me of their nail fungus problem. Originally I thought I had damaged the nail by injury. My toe nail had a white streak in it, but wasn't all that noticeable. I usually never colored polish on my toes, but for two months, I was using dark colors. In between polishes, I noticed that half the nail was white! I freaked out and mentioned it to a few people who confirmed it was a fungus. I cant believe how the fungus took off so fast because of being covered by the polish! I had created a dark comfy breeding place without even realizing what I was doing. I began researching the web for natural remedies and I have been using the ACV, white vinegar and bleach for about 2 weeks now. The yellowing has disappeared. The affected area is very white. I clipped away most of the fungus, not too short though. Then, I filed the top of the nail so that the solutions that I use would penetrate more easily. The other day, I mentioned my problem to my cousin and she said that a friend of hers had a very bad nail fungus in 2 toes and began using (don't laugh) the generic brand for Monostat 7! She said that she applied it daily and at night she would get a Q-tip and apply under the nail as well as over the nail. She wore a sock to bed too. She did this for a few months until the nail grew out. It worked for her. With all my research, I have never heard of anyone mention this remedy? Any feedback or thoughts on this method? it kind of makes sense since it is a antifungal creme and is used internally. I just started using it tonight. I'm also going to try vicks. Maybe I will alternate between the vicks and the monostat and cleanse twice daily with the ACV and bleach solution. I'll keep you posted on my progress and appreciate any feedback about the Monostat cream. Thanks
Apple Cider Vinegar, Anti-Yeast Cream
Posted by Eric (Sequim, WA) on 06/24/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Just a heads up. I was just on Wikipedia looking at the definition of bleach and stumbled across the following. It warned that mixing common houshold bleach with vinegar can be quite hazardous.
Olive Leaf Extract
Posted by Marylynn (Louisville, Kentucky) on 04/23/2006
★★★★★
I tried olive leaf extract for overall infection in my body. About 3 months later, during a pedicure, I noticed that my toenails were perfect! I stopped taking it after a while, so finally after a long time, maybe almost a year, the fungus came back. I work in a hot, humid and dirty environment where toenail fungus is a common problem. After discovering this, I looked it up on the internet and read that it does indeed cure toenail fungus!
Iodine
Posted by Jedidah (Spring, TX) on 07/22/2008
I purchased decolorized iodine. It is clear out of the bottle but when it comes in contact with the skin it turns orange red immediately. It doesn't wash off and stays that way for days or weeks. I find that strange since the red colored iodine washes off very easily. Using it with Peroxide soaks and my skin around the nail is very dry and cracking and a little red. I'm going to keep using peroxide and not sure what else. There are so many ideas and opinions. In six weeks I have a trip to a lake resort area. Ikes!!!!!!!!!
EC: Not the colorless brand of iodine we use! It stays clear on the skin unless we've used peroxide first, in which case it does dye the skin orange for a while...
Potatoes
Posted by Beverly (Elkhart)
★★★★★
right now we are using crushed up raw potatoes inside a gauze and put this on the infected toes each night. this pulls out the infection. and afterwards peroxide the next morning with a cotton ball to pull out any more infection. we have been doing this every nite now for two weeks and they are healing. Thanks.
Iodine
Posted by RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 07/31/2022 85 posts
★☆☆☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I suggest you guys use the "Colorless Iodine". Further, watch out for the "100% Natural Iodine", and "Lugol's Iodine", too, because the latter two will stain your nails. Further, watch out for fungus-infected big toenails, too, because if your nails gets stained, they will remain stained for many years to come, because the nail growth rate of fungus-infected big toenails is so slow that it is unbelievable.
White Vinegar
Posted by Allyson (Colorado Springs) on 02/27/2020
★★★★★
I cannot stand the smell of ACV, plain old white vinegar works just as well, I would spray it on the 3 toes 2x a day, waited til the entire toenail bed grew out, no more toenail fungus, rah! Just put the white vinegar in a glass bottle so no plastic uglies leach into the vinegar. It really, really works!!
How to Self-Test for Internal Fungus
Posted by Holly (Millersville ) on 11/06/2017
Mightn't a non sterile and wet from saliva q tip grow mold just from the air? Like a shower curtain? Or leftovers in the fridge?
Hot Springs
Posted by Anne (Glasgow) on 06/09/2017
★★★★★
I suffered from fungal nail on my big toe for over ten years.
Pain... thick nail... lifted off nail bed with thick undergrowth. Tryed many meds nothing worked
I am just back from Thailand and spend days going on trips. 2 that I went to were hot springs.
On the first trip I noticed that night that the undergrowth became soft and I was able to cut my nail
Few days later went back to hot spring and again that night undergrowth fell away
Been home a week and now looking at my toe I can't get over it ... it's looking normal again. Going to get my nails done at the salon now as I do t feel embarrassed by my big tow nail as it's no more and nail has went flat onto nail bed.
Am planning on having foot spas to keep my nails clean and soft to minimise any regrowth. Going to enjoy flashing my toes in my sandles first time in years.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kristina (Evergreen, Co) on 05/19/2016
★★★★★
I've had toenail fungus for years but was slow on the uptake. At first my last two nails on each foot grew in deformed and separated from the nailbed, growing upward. Eventually my big toenails grew in ribbed and discolored. They also began to separate from the nailbed and developed white patches. I also developed my first Ingrown nail. After a lot of research I began using tea tree oil along with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and ACV. Two months in my nails are growing in clear and smooth!
Here's the regimen that works for me: (I keep the nails trimmed very short. I clean my tools regularly as well. ) In my morning shower I scrub my nails with a designated toothbrush and Dr. Bronners peppermint oil soap. Before I step out of the tub, I spray my toes with hydrogen peroxide. ( It comes in spray bottles at my local drug store)
Next, I swab my nails with alcohol on a cotton ball, then with ACV on a cotton ball, then I paint my nails and cuticles with a qtip and tea tree oil. I follow the same regimen at night. From other posts I've learned I've got to keep this up long after it appears the fungus is gone. I use this regimen because it's easy, cheap and I can sustain it over time. And it's working! It took only a few days for the white patches to disappear and of course the whole nail needs to grow in to see results.
I also have begun drinking lemon water to alkalize. Don't know which is helping the most but I suspect it's the tea tree oil given that's what I use the most of. These items are inexpensive and I'm grateful I didn't try medication as my friend did. Her fungus has cleared up but she's concerned about liver problems.
As an added bonus... My feet are always clean and I feel I am nurturing myself every time I take care of them.
