Natural Remedies to Treat Athlete's Foot Effectively

Garlic

Posted by Lyle (Gaborone, Botswana) on 01/01/2013
★★★★★

I've had persistent jock itch and occassional athlete's foot outbreak for 24 years. I stumbled upon this site last month and read thru every post on it.

I liked the post on how one lady from England used garlic on her toes overnight to deal with athlete's foot. I went a step further. I grated several cloves of garlic and applied generous amounts of the garlic paste between my toes and around my gonads. Then quickly put on socks and tight undies. Man, this stuff burns like crazy; thot my gonads were gonna fall off altogether!! After two hours of this burning hell I took off all clothes and reduced the paste to a bare minimum. only then could I sleep.

By morning I was burnt good and proper where the garlic paste had contact with the skin. However close inspection revealed that the fungus was dead on the 3 places it had infected my right foot. It was a bit hard, unlike other areas which were tender, painful and swollen. Within 48 hrs patches of skin was coming off both around the gonads and toes.

Just over a month later, I've not had another outbreak, skin's still peeling off on both my feet with no pain. No skin is peeling off from my gonads.

In the meantime, I've been drinking copious amounts of ACV each morning and evening for the past month - at least two tablespoons each time. Also, I've made it a habit to bath both morning and evening.

Some Saturdays, I sunbathe compeletely naked for 20 minutes since the fungus likes damp, dark places.

I also apply a drop or two of tea tree oil | camomile oil | lavender oil or a mixture of all three with Jojoba oil as the carrier oil mix every morning and evening. So far so good.

I am convinced garlic kills the fungus, but my approach could kill somebody. I suggest applying the garlic paste on just the affected foot patches; unless you're very brave. I was very stupid. LOL.

Perhaps try putting garlic cut into strips onto the gonads kept in place under tight undies. It might still burn, but it'll reduce the extent of the burnt area. By the way, the burns left no scars around my gonads. My feet are not scarred either; there are blotches of light skin, but no scarring. So normal colour is coming back gradually.

Now I intend to ingest half a cup of garlic everyday for a month to rid myself of the fungus streaming up and down my veins. Its days are definitely numbered in my body now. Garlic smell is not a problem - celery takes care of all internal body odours very well, as does parsely. I usually blend fresh celery - about 3 stalks - with other fruits and vegetables (a new raw alkaline diet I just started just over a month ago). Celery also has about two dozen different chemical compounds that kill fungi. Garlic kills lots of fungi too. The two make a perfectly potent fungi killing couple!

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Suetee (Union City, Georgia, United States) on 06/03/2012
★★★★★

A definite YAY here. I have had moccasin type athlete's foot for than a decade. My feet were extremely thick and darkly callused and my toenails were thick, dull and cracking. Nothing I tried worked: bleach, vinegar, OTC drugs but the hydrogen peroxide has been a miracle! I soak my feet in a 3% HP twice a day (undiluted) for the last 2 weeks and used my dremel and pumice stone to remove any dead skin. The dark moccasin pattern is 80% gone, my nails are a healthy white and the nail beds look healthy and my feet feel softer than I can remember. I will continue the twice daily soaks until they are completely clear. I might be able to wear sandals this summer. I hope this helps others out there with the same problem.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mr. Squeak Feet (Eugene, Oregon) on 07/29/2011
★★★★★

Hello, and thanks all for contributing your experience to growing our "common sense" cures. I am posting several huge YEAs for Apple Cider Vinegar in several categories. The first is that ACV cured my bad case of total-foot fungus really really quickly. I simply soaked my feet for about 30 minutes in straight ACV for a few days. First day stung like mad, but nearly cleared it all up. Next morning, my feet looked remarkably better. Second soak even better. Third soak was the charm. A week later, my feet got wet (rains like crazy in the winter here in Oregon), and I worked wearing wet shoes for about 5 hours, and soon foot fungus came back. I'm usually a smart guy, but still just didn't put one and one together that shoes and socks could be helping to re-infect my feet with fungus... ACV worked again. This time I also soaked all my socks, sandals, and tennis shoes in ACV. I also have a little spray bottle of straight ACV that I mist in my shoes after I take them off. It's been a couple months, no issues at all. Thanks Earth Clinic community!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Bonnie (Campton, Ky) on 07/17/2011
★★★★★

My feet had been giving me a great deal of pain for a long time. I used the ACV for about 2 months and my feet are no longer itching, cracking, bleeding and no more blisters. I have had it for about 20 years. I threw all of my old shoes away. I soak them for 30 min. a day in ACV that you can buy at the dollar store by the gallon. Also I use vaseline on my feet at night to keep them from being dry. I am so thankful for this site!!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sonya (Melbourne, Fl, Usa) on 06/20/2011
★★★★★

This completely cured my boyfriend's horrible athlete's foot. He had been using OTC creme for over a year and it did noting. He was itching all the time and his foot looked awful. I finally got sick of it and insisted he soak in a solution of ACV and a little water every night for 20-30 min. After about 1 1/2 weeks the fungus is gone and no more itching! Highly recommended!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Marian (Tasmania, Australia) on 10/28/2009
★★★★★

Hi all, I read on your site (I think) that bathing feet in cider vinegar for a minimum of 6 weeks would cure athletes foot. I have had this condition since a teenager, I'm now 58. Usually didn't notice it too much in winter when I was wearing shoes but each summer my heels would crack and give me grief. So I was constantly putting healing cream on with band-aids and this went on all summer. This year it started in the winter, and I noticed that my feet were peeling also. So I quite religiously rubbed organic cider vinegar on my feet each night, and dried them off in front of the fire, an evening ritual before bed. My feet are now completely clear of peeling and splitting and feel so good. I have yet to go through the summer so am hopeful that it continues, if not I will just keep on with the bathing each night. Also started oil pulling about the same time, seseme, sunflower and coconut, it really cleared my sinus problems and I am continuing every second day. Thanks for your great site, I love the empowering vibe, its so hopeful and comforting to see us reclaiming our health from the "sickness industry".
love marian

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Melissa (Orlando, Fl) on 09/17/2009
★★★★★

Hydrogen Peroxide to Combat Athlete's Foot

I have seen countless doctors and dermatologists for my dry, red, peeling, cracked heels that I have had on and off since probably the age of 10. I have been (incorrectly) diagnosed with eczema, allergic skin, and even psoriasis. I have taken oral medications and have been prescribed compounded skin lotions in hopes of "maintaining" my condition at a tolerable level.

This year, I took matters into my own hands. Living in Florida, people walk around in sandals and flip-flops more than half of the year. My feet were so embarrassing. I researched and researched and found that it was highly probable that I had the moccassin-type of athlete's foot. All the symptoms fit - even my mother and grandmother have struggled with similar feet issues. I went for a final opinion from my primary doctor and she agreed - perhaps it was misdiagnosed after all.

I finally decided to try soaking my feet in 50% water and 50% unfiltered, raw, organic apple cider vinegar every night. It produced almost immediate results with my feet feeling soft and peeling less. Nonetheless, after almost two weeks of soaking my feet, I just could not stand the odor anymore - neither could my husband. I stopped and of course the athlete's foot came back with a vengeance.

I finally decided to try 50% water and 50% hydrogen peroxide foot soaks for 20 minutes every night or every other night. I follow through with an "as seen on tv" foot file to take off the dead skin. Finally, I moisturize with organic coconut-based lotion. After almost three weeks, my feet feel and look amazing. I make sure to sterilize the basin I use to soak my feet, the towels, the foot file, and any other instruments with alcohol to ensure that the fungus is killed. Also, I have been more careful to spray my feet with anti-fugal sprays and foot powder before working out or if I wear partially or closed toed shoes.

As a precaution, I will keep maintaining these soaks as long as I can - considering I've had this athlete's foot condition for more than 15 years. I hope some of you have success with this inexpensive and definitely less smelly solution!

Frankincense Oil

Posted by Ethna (Dundalk, Co Louth. Ireland) on 09/01/2009
★★★★★

Massage a small amount of Frankinsense essential oil on your feet. There will be no foot odour for approximately 6 months.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Cheryl (Gainesville, Florida) on 07/27/2009
★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar used to cure my moccasin type athlete's foot.

I just want to say THANK YOU!!!!!! I have had the moccasin type of athlete's foot for over a year and it was so PAINFUL! I went to the doctor and tried EVERYTHING! I was spending about $60.00 a week purchasing anti-fungal treatments and followed all the directions to the tee. I was doing anything possible to get rid of this because I'm a diabetic and I was afraid of my feet becoming infected from the athlete's foot. They would crack and bleed, some mornings it was extremely difficult to even walk because they hurt so bad. I kept buying the anti-fungal treatments because I was trying to cure it and trying to prevent it's spread to my toenails.

Out of desperation I did a Google search on home remedies for athlete's foot.....I didn't have much hope, I was just hoping for something to help ease the pain....I thought I would have to live with this for the rest of my life. I read about the Apple Cider Vinegar and I read all the comments and decided to give it a try. WOW!!! Within a week the open wounds were healing. At that point I was only applying the apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball. My husband was so excited about the improvement that he went out and bought a couple of gallon jugs of the stuff so I could soak my feet in it. I have been soaking each foot in it full strength for 30 minutes each for about 3 weeks now and it's almost GONE! It stung a lot at first, but that was because of the open wounds....now the fungus is clearing up and it even makes my feet soft and healthy!!!

Thank you sooooo much! This site saved me from a lot of pain and discomfort! The apple cider vinegar really works!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Yvonne (Apex, NC) on 07/19/2009
★★★★★

My son got athelete's foot. I took him to the doctor and was given a prescription - did not get rid of it. Back to the doc. This time is kind of went away, but came back. This went on for about a year. I threw away his shoes, sox, etc. Finally I heard of apple cider vinegar. I had him soak his feet in a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar for about 15-30 every night for a week. This time is went away and did not return.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Janice (Wilmington, NC) on 06/21/2009
★★★★★

Hi Patrick. No, you definitely don't need the expensive brand of apple cider vinegar for athlete's foot. I got my AF cured (killed?) in 2 days by soaking my toes for half an hour in the generic brand of acv from the grocery store.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Chuck (Lexington, KY) on 06/05/2009
★★★★★

I contracted a severe case of moccasin athlete's foot, which is especially hard to treat. It will spread to all parts of the feet and hands. The only recommended conventional treatment is with a pill that also runs serious risk of liver damage. needless to say not a great set of choices. I'd tried all the creams, etc. to no avail.

So I found this site and tried the remedy. I used a combination of approx. 60% "raw" apple cider vinegar, organic unfiltered with the mother, and probably about 40% hydrogen Peroxide. I soaked my affected areas for 30-40 minutes in the solution and let it air dry.

Seriously, after 2 days almost all the affected areas were visibly far better, and while it's too soon to declare it 100% cured, there is no doubt in my mind that this works. I plan on continuing treatment every couple of days at least for a week or so just to improve the odds of beating this thing, but I couldn't be happier if this cure came with a sack of money. Which, given the cost of medication, it effectively did come with a sack of money.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Lily (California) on 10/05/2021

Just a suggestion.....don't use a basin. Put your ACV in a plastic bag and put your foot in that. If you have a problem on both feet, use 2 plastic bags one at a time. You only need the liquid to cover your foot not a whole basin full. I would sit someplace with the basin in front of me and put the liquid the bags and insert my feet. some bags have handles on the sides like those heavy bags they give you at the market. it makes it easier to keep the bag upright. Also, if you don't have one with handles, you might want to tie a string around the top of the bag while you are soaking so you don't have to hold onto it. I used this method on a trip when I needed to soak my feet from too much walking. It worked beautifully.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Rhonda (Batesville) on 07/05/2015

Do not re-use. Cheap brands of Apple Cider Vinegar works great. Also, just use Apple Cider Vinegar & skip the peroxide..an earlier post said don't mix Apple Cider Vinegar with peroxide.. Damaging.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Missymichigan (Temperance, Michigan) on 05/16/2009

Here's how to penetrate the thick skin of the soles of your feet - I use a foot calus remover - it looks like a cheese grater, only made for feet. Once you are out of the shower and your skin and callouses are soft, just use the devise (found in most retail stores) to remove all calous areas of your foot, then try the home remedies. For fast removal of calouses, I use an electric Dremel tool found in most hardware stores with the round sand paper disc on it - it will clear up all of your callouses in 10 minutes or less but be careful to to put the speed too high. I got this idea from my podietrist who removed all of my calouses with one in her office! Good luck! Your feet will thank you!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Alyssa (Austin, Texas) on 09/01/2009

One way to prevent stinky feet... Wear socks with a higher content of natural materials. Dress socks generally have high levels of nylon and run-of-the-mill white cotton socks are usually only about 75% cotton. Aim for at least 80% cotton, and when doing the laundry, add about a half cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle. Your socks should come out squeaky-clean, smelling great, and ready to absorb any sweat. Additionally, rotating your shoes works wonders... Try not to wear the same pair of shoes two days consecutively, giving each a day to air out.

Oregano Oil

Posted by Cheryl (Manteca, California-USA) on 02/22/2009
★★★★★

Hi-Please do yourself a big favor if you are bothered by what the dr calls-athlete's foot type rash. For over a year I tried every cream, spray, powder on the market-doctor after dermatologist with biopsy gave me everything-presription including 2 mos of Lamisil pills and cream. The dermatologist got mad when Lamisil didn't work after her biopsy. Well, I prayed so hard and then found Oil of Oregano-wow! 3 days cured-its been months and its still gone. I diluted with olive oil under my tongue and later used the gel capsules to fill and take orally. I diluted this very strong oil with olive oil on the rash itself-stops that horrible itch,too. I later learned Extra Virgin Coconut oil is anti-fungal and mixed the oregano oil with this and used this on the skin. I need to know more-Iam very grateful to Earth Clinic-I learned about the evcc-extra virgin coconut oil from this site. Also, I really never knew what the rash was from-I think it was a Candida fungus type rash -it seemed way worse when I ate sugar. So, I also had to clean up my diet dramatically and I still stay away from processed white flour and sugar etc. But, try Oil of Oregano-anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti parasitic/worms. Great for wiping Candida out. Blessings and good health to you all. I would say-research all you can about all of these oils: Thuja, Thieves oil etc as to there healing qualities.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Katrina (NYC) on 12/21/2008
★★★★★

Athletes Foot: I rented ice skates for 1-hr and next morning got an AF. I read all the solutions here and doing following:

ACV -- i soak my foot for 15 min
ACV+ wet clay -- I put it as a mask on my foot overnight-- improvements right away!!!
Oil of Oregano -- overnight-- great improvements!!!

Oregano Oil

Posted by Jonna (NYC, NY, USA) on 07/27/2008
★★★★★

1:30am, Saturday Night: I read AC from West Midlands, England's post about using Garlic for Athlete's foot a few days ago and was eager to try it. I have had athlete's foot on and off for years. I also have deeply etched cracked heals which I understand is possibly a fungal infection. And then recently the skin around my right big toe started to peel and looks nasty as can be. I tried the best OTC for Athlete's Foot, but with limited success. Takes 5 days to go away and then comes back a couple weeks later.

We had just run out of garlic, so I opted instead for another powerful anti-fungal, Wild Oil of Oregano. I use OO for coughs and sinus infections and had about 15 capsules left. Before going to sleep, I punctured a capsule of oil and rubbed it over both of my feet, especially concentrating it on my big toe, in between my toes where the athelete's foot itched and the cracks on my heals. I put socks on so the oil wouldn't get all over the sheets. It doesn't smell bad at all -- much better than garlic for sure!

Just like AC reported, there was dramatic improvement by the morning! The infection around my big toe was 50% better... The blisters in between my toes had disappeared. The cracks in my heals have started to seal and are unbelievably soft... (I had been rubbing shea butter on the cracks every night, which helped, but not to this extent).

I did the Oregano oil 3 morning and night for 2 days, took a day off. The infection around my big toe is all but gone. No more peeling skin. The cracks on my heels continue to slowly improve. Tonight I switched to Grapefruit Seed Extract and my feet, normally cold, warmed up right away. This may be a great remedy for those suffering from cold hands and feet. My feet are still tinglingly warm 2 hours after applying the GSE.

I have the feeling that the GSE will work just as well as the Oregano Oil. I also am trying the GSE on my perioral dermatitis and will report back any improvements. I can tell you that the itchy postules around my nose have disappeared. I had to wash off the GSE after about 20 minutes because it started to burn.