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.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Angeles Barros (Bronx, Ny) on 06/19/2016
★★★★★
YEA!! I can't stop admiring my toes! :>) I want to report that I tried Ted's remedy for fungus on my toes and it worked!! I accepted that my pinkie toes were black but when it spread to the edges of my nails on big toes...it was war!! I followed the instructions: equal parts of ACV and Hydrogen Peroxide on cotton balls for half an hour, then followed with equal parts of Clorox and water (used Qtip), then poured generous amounts of Peppermint and Tea Tree oils. I don't remember when was the last time I saw my pinkie toe nail white but that's what happened within 2 weeks and the edges of my big toes are clear as well. My hubby is convinced and today began the treatment on his toe. Thanks and God bless!!
Macadamia Nut Oil
Posted by Tom (Livingston, Tx) on 05/22/2016 64 posts
★★★★★
Years ago, I had a lifelong fungal toenail, the left big toe. I started taking macadamia oil, two tablespoons after each meal.
Two months and two 16 oz bottles later, the toenail dropped off and grew in healthy over the next year.
I now take 1 tablespoon daily because Macadamia oil also takes the sting out of my candida pain, making the pain livable and hardly noticeable.
Macadamia oil has 18% palmitoleic acid, an antimicrobial.
I also began having intermittent numbness and tingling in my toes which went away sometime during the same 2 months of taking macadamia oil, causing my fungal toenail to drop off and regrow healthy and pink during the next year.
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.
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.
Iodine
Posted by Cindy Mick (Ohio) on 05/15/2016
★★★★★
I also used iodine and it was very successful in curing the toe nail fungus. Every morning and night for about 4 months.
White Vinegar
Posted by Joy (Greer, Sc) on 05/14/2016
★★★★★
I, too, have had success with vinegar for toenail fungus, even after previously battling a very advanced case for 10 years, although I still have it in one stubborn toenail. I used white vinegar. It was recommended to me to spray it on twice a day, which I think is the fastest and easiest thing to do. I used a 2 oz sprayer found in the travel toiletries section. Wasn't told to soak, but it occurred to me just a few weeks ago that maybe I should soak and saturate that nail, and it is now much improved. Hasn't come back in the other nails, either. Am so happy about this safe, easy and inexpensive treatment.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Jen (Or) on 05/14/2016
★★★★★
3% Hydrogen Peroxide OTC + a cuticle pusher + Tea Tree essential oil = MEANINGFUL RESULTS are in, FINALLY! (*after 20+ years of struggling with embarrassing black toe nails) Blessings and peace to everyone. This is my first post. I am sharing with you guys and gals (my fellow sufferers) what has finally made a difference in my 25+ year struggle with black striped toe nails. I have posted a photo of the stripes (now only on my right pinky toe) that have "haunted" me ever since my tween years (I am 41 now).
Like many of you, my unsightly, discolored and funkified toe nail issue has been part of my identity for far longer than I would like to remember. To make matters worse, I wore toe nail polish to hide behind. For most of the time. Until the past couple of years. I finally had had enough of the ordeal. Or I got lazy. Or got smart. Who knows. With few exceptions (e.g., occasional sandal wear), I started going barefoot natural. I had tried many of the popular remedies, including 70% Isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar, apple cider (ACV), OTC fungus targeting oils and creams, essential oils like oregano and tea tree... even household disinfectant bleach solution for mold and mildew (not my wisest or safest decision ever made, so not recommending you try this one). Until one day. One day it dawned on me that I might combine two approaches combined - the everyday household 3% hydrogen peroxide plus diligent nail hygiene using this one beauty product tool my niece gave to me years ago: a professional quality heavy duty cuticle pusher.
Technique: 1. Use the cuticle tool!
*When my toenails were still soft from my bath/shower, or even many times when I was in the process of taking my bath/shower, I would push my cuticles back and scrape away any excess skin surrounding the nail bed. I always exercised extreme caution bc it was all too easy to get carried away (thus, accidentally scraping so deeply that my toe nail would start to bleed). I read in another person's post about sanding the top layers of the nail bed to get rid of the fungus stuff. I think this is the same type of idea, only I used a professional manicurists tool.
2. Spray the 3% hydrogen peroxide onto the effected nails and let dry without ever rinsing it off.
*I discovered a small spray bottle version of the peroxide that cost like $2 at the supermarket. This helped with aseptic technique, plus was just downright quicker than unscrewing a cap and having to fiddle with a qtip or cotton ball or the like. 3. Apply an essential oil (appropriate to my particular pathogen blasting plan) onto the sprayed nail(s). I tried a few different ones, but ended up settling on tea tree (or melaleuca) because of its multi purpose fullness.
*I repeated this as often as I could remember to, like whenever I showered. Three? Four? Five times per week? (though ideally would have been daily, even if it meant foot bathing on non shower days, since this probably would have speeded up the results, I would imagine). Last year at least 4 other nails (in addition to my pinky toe seen in the photos) were partially black, if I remember correctly. Now my only discolored nail of concern is that right pinky toe (which was always the worst, though my left pinky toe was about as bad).
Please don't give up, everyone. Have hope!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Suzy (Indiana) on 03/29/2016
I sure understand your frustration with toe nail fungus. I suffered from it for years. Raised, discolored thick and painful nails that nothing would fix until I started taking apple cider vinegar daily, a decent size shot in water in the morning and another at night. I did it for weight loss and my nails grew out beautiful. I wasn't expecting it and I wasn't taking the ACV for that reason. I had no idea it would clear up the fungus but it makes sense when you think about it. I kept the bad part of my nails cut short because they hurt if I hit my toe on something. When I realized they were growing out clean and pink, I kept them well trimmed as They grew out new. They reattached to the nail bed. I can't tell you how happy I am with this. It's the absolute only thing that worked. They are still as pretty as can be. Thank God. I hope you give it a try and stick with it. They take awhile to grow. Trash your old shoes too.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Sbs3915 (Louisiana) on 03/28/2016
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Hi, I've had toenail fungus for the last six years. It bothers me aesthetically, but also causes concern that I have fungus in the rest of my body causing aflatoxins.
I've tried Listerine, Vicks, Potassium Iodide, Oregano Oil, and pretty much every other common OTC "cure" including methylene blue topically and orally.
The only time my nails mostly healed I was drinking a gallon of milk a day and heavily supplementing zinc. This led to other problems such as IBS and lower libido so I stopped that regimen.
The other sensitive "cause" is once I start supplementing selenomethionine or even eating more Brazil nuts, the nails start getting more yellow and brittle.
Just looking for any other advice? Or does anyone have luck with internal pharmaceutical antifungals?
UV Light
Posted by John (California) on 03/25/2016
I have been thinking about this idea for sometime now. I'm glad someone did it before I order the lights.
Urine Therapy
Posted by Richard B. (Oregon) on 03/10/2016
★★★★★
This may sound bad but it works on fungus between toes. Soak your feet in your fresh urine for about 20 minutes, wash feet. Fresh urine would be urine from that day. Cured mine within a few days. Investigate urine therapy
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!
Garlic
Posted by Carmel (Uk) on 01/17/2016
★★★★★
Had a very badly fungus nail, very horrible and thick, difficult to cut.
Smear garlic juice on it every day or so and it will grow up perfectly fine. Worked for me anyway.
Baking Soda
Posted by Heather (Los Angeles) on 01/17/2016
What?! You're taking alkaline water to prevent cancer - but you drink Coca-Cola daily???
Coke causes major diseases, possibly even cancer. Please research, you need to drink something different (orange juice?) for your hypo-glycemia.
Aloe
Posted by Pr (Texas, Usa) on 01/07/2016
★★★★★
Had my toe nails done in salon 3 times in a row and ended up with a horrible case of toe nail fungus on both big toes. So of course did my research and was using a combination of essential oils to kill the fungus. It was a very slow kill and turned my toe nails an ugly brown. Oh and I also used Grapefruit seed extract. I will have to say these were not working so well so went to doctor. He prescribed the toxic cream and also recommend getting aloe Vera leaf, real whole leaf, not in a bottle or tube. He said to wrap a piece of it around each toe and sleep with it. I will have to say this worked. I was very amazed at how quickly too. After the first initial sleeping with the leaf on toes I applied the gel from the leaf twice a day a.m. and p.m. It has been a month now and I am still applying the aloe Vera mainly because I have it growing in my yard abundantly and for precaution. Really don't need to. While I am at it I put some on my face and complexion is looking very nice. I hadn't realized how hard it was to get rid of toe nail fungus if it really set in. I had always dealt with it when it was just starting and easy to get rid of with essential oils. So grateful for the aloe Vera leaf and the doctor who recommended it.
Gentian Violet
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 12/08/2015
★★★★★
6 year battle with toe nail fungus is finally over! After trying numerous OTC products with no success. Probably because of my lack of daily applications. I finally found a product that worked with only applications once every 3 weeks or so. And it only took 18 months. Starting out my big toe was solid black. Yuk! Now it looks normal again. I'm sure it would have worked faster if I applied it more often but its hard when your busy all the time.
Gentian violet is an antiseptic dye used to treat fungal infections of the skin (e.g., ringworm, athlete's foot). It also has weak antibacterial effects and may be used on minor cuts and scrapes to prevent infection. It will stain our toe nail (and everything else it contacts with...) but that is the working power behind it.
Apply with a Q-tip, allow to dye, put a sock on if you don't want your bed sheet with a purple streek on them from sleeping on them. Give it time, it does work.
Witch Hazel
Posted by Cereluna (Antioch, Ca.) on 07/21/2015
★★★★★
I was a bartender for many years and a common ailment is a fungus developing from handling and scooping ice on your fingernails and skin from the ice. My nails and skin around the nails looked grey-ish black all the time. A friend of mine who did nails suggested I soak my fingers in witch hazel and it worked!! A simple soaking in a bowl with the witch hazel every night for about 10 minutes did the trick. Also works for toenail fungus.
I discovered recently that I have Candida overgrowth, which resulted in a brown motteling of the skin on my arms which is spreading up my upper arms due to candida. I have had this for many years and doctors never knew or cared what it was. After researching, I discovered that it is caused by my candida overgrowth. I started applying witch hazel every day to my arms, followed by sunscreen and then alternating every day with different anti-fungal creams but always using witch hazel first. You have to use different anti-fungals to kill the little creatures because they get resistant if you don't switch up. The zinc in the sunscreen also helps. It's necessary to use a cream after witch hazel because it is drying. In about 3 days I noticed the "rash" getting lighter!! I am so happy that it is working. Mine was so brown and very embarrassing. Don't take pills to destroy fungus! Use witch Hazel!
UV Light
Posted by Veronicac (Texas, USA) on 07/18/2015
★★★★★
Two years ago, at the start of summer, the big toe of my left foot became red, swollen and began throbbing. It was so painful, and I had no idea what the deal was. Then I noticed the toenail was getting yellow, crusty and thick. About a week later the two next to it began doing the same thing. Along with the ugly, disfigured nails came the horrible throbbing pain.
I tried: bleach soaks, vinegar soaks, 4 OTC medicines, prescription penlac (that one helped one toe), peroxide, mouthwash, urine (pure desperation), powders, yeast infection medication, tea tree oil, rubbing alcohol, epsom salts and vicks vapor rub. The middle toe of the three got better. The fungus on the other two laughed and made my toes throb with pain to show me who was boss.
Then I read about laser treatment, but the cost was ridiculous and many people complained it didn't work. So, understanding light was what I really needed, I ordered 36 watt, UV nail light off Amazon for less than $30-the kind salons use to dry finger nail polish. When it arrived I filed my nails down with emery boards as much as possible. Two of the nails were already 3/4 gone. Every day while I was on the computer I put my foot in the nail light for 10 min. - 45 min. I didn't really have a schedule, just daily, whenever I remembered. Also, every time I bathed, I made sure to clip/dig out as much of the crumbly nail as I could.
Within a week the throbbing was gone. A month later my big toe is pink and half grown out, with no fungus, the toe that was getting better is pink and just a tad short, and the other toe is about 1/3 grown out, and also has no sign of fungus. And didn't even bother using any kind remedy after the first two weeks. The only drawback is my left foot has a nice tan, while my right is kind of pale. Now I make sure both feet take a turn under the nail light. Also, I go barefoot or wear sandals as much as possible to expose my feet to as much light as possible.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Renee (Utah) on 07/10/2015
★★★★★
I started with grapefruit seed extract and take 10 drops internally 3 x day in water. I also rub it on my toenail 2-3 times a day. The next day the hard stuff behind my nail started to soften and I could remove some. Each day I am seeing improvement. It is just amazing.
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Tassi (Berkeley, California) on 05/23/2015
Well, thanks for that idea, and I am very intrigued that you have had such success with vitamin c and skin cancers (! ). But I do not see any tissue loss on my face, just an added fold of baggy, slightly puffy skin at the naso-labial crease. That I would like to lose!
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Tassi (Berkeley, California) on 05/23/2015
Well, thanks for that idea, and I am very intrigued that you have had such success with vitamin c and skin cancers (! ). But I do not see any tissue loss on my face, just an added fold of baggy, slightly puffy skin at the naso-labial crease. That I would like to lose!
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Nanowriter (Hotspot, Texas) on 05/10/2015
Hi Tassi, what you describe makes me think you may have had a cancer that inflamed and then was dismantled, leaving a space under your skin. I say this because I have used vitamin c on my skin cancers and experienced the swelling and then tissue loss as the cancer tissue is removed. It left a definite divot at the time.
The good thing is that the tissue loss in your face will likely fill back in over time.
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Tassi (Berkeley, California) on 05/09/2015
I read many impressive things about ozonated olive oil as a cure, so (having tried just about every other remedy for nail fungus and candida) I finally ordered some online from what seems a reputable source. I used it sparingly, applying with a toothpick to just one or two fingernails at first, then after a couple of days I applied it sparingly to all my fingernails, as they are all infested with fungus. From the first application, I was distressed by the intense smell but I think this is just how it is "supposed to smell." After the second day of applying to all my fingers, still very sparingly, my face swelled up. A liquid formed under my skin, a bag formed under one eye, then I watched my face sag down over the next few weeks and now, a couple months later, I am left with having aged in appearance about 5 years. I can't recommend this to anybody who has sensitivities. Note that I never touched my face with the stuff, or anyplace else other than around all the edges of my fingernails.
Iodine
Posted by Patricia (Durban, SA) on 03/28/2015
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Believe me I've thought of doing the same thing!! This really had me laughing out loud, thanks for that, needed a good giggle! I'm now using peroxide 10 and Aragan Secret nail oil, I'll let you know how it goes in time to come :)
Vicks
Posted by Laura (Lodi, Ca) on 03/18/2015
How or where can I get oregano juice?
Listerine
Posted by Ava (Toronto, On) on 02/05/2015
Listerine products are Triclosan free. http://www.listerine.ca/tips-and-practices/our-heritage
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Posted by Cc (Slc, Utah ) on 02/01/2015
★☆☆☆☆
Two years ago I tried Lemongrass oil on my toe nail fungus and all it did was to make my nail color go black. It never worked. I had a black nail for months also the nail was curved due to the amount of fungus under the nail.
I finally got it to clear up by using Iodine and Castor Oil applied to the nail and over time the new nail grew in clear and the problem has not come back.
Iodine
Posted by Lenny (WV, US) on 01/18/2015
Are you serious? You whacked your nails with a hammer. Made me laugh.
Urine Therapy
Posted by Becky (New York, Ny) on 12/28/2014
Hi Tassi,
Yes, the internal borax protocol. 1/8 teaspoon in a liter (not a quart) of water a day. A few years ago I tried soaking in peroxide and borax, but it didn't do much. Join me! Side effects of headache and slight brain fog on the first day of the borax protocol, nothing after that.
Urine Therapy
Posted by Tassi (Berkeley, Ca) on 12/27/2014
Hi Becky, when you say the "borax protocol" do you mean the internal, take say 1/8 tsp in a quart of water over the day? Or is there some soaking involved in what you plan?
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!
Urine Therapy
Posted by Tassi (Ca) on 12/26/2014
★☆☆☆☆
I tried Urine therapy and got zip. Yes, internal plus soaked in it, feet, hands, body, whatever, washed head and hair with it for a couple of weeks. Did nothing for the fungus. Well, maybe it slowed it down a little bit, the soaking part, but surely no cure, and what a mess. Wet things do not seem to really help -- but neither does anything. See my previous NAY under Oregano oil for a list of useless remedies (for me at least). Since then besides urine I have tried: Urea 40% (a moisturizer, it helped a little but has lots of chemical additives and my toes started to ache and be red and sore so I quit); bee propolis (I thought this was working as a topical, but it actually made it worse -- and the internal that I took gave me a big cold sore.); Everclear (a very strong alcohol, as a topical, but not strong enough to do much for my fingernail fungus); Pythium oligandrum aka "cannibal fungus, " from Czechoslovakia (it seemed to be working on one hand but when I tried it on the other it made the original fungus worse -- I have not totally given up on maybe trying it on my feet, but am discouraged and wary); Topical hydrogen peroxide isn't even working like it used to. That is it so far. Oh yeah, diatomaceous earth, internal -- I have been taking it 1 T twice a day for almost 60 days and fungus is only getting worse, nails are not even growing any faster like they say DE will do.
Niacinamide
Posted by Tassi (Ca) on 12/26/2014
★☆☆☆☆
Niacinamide did not work for me.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Diamonds And Solitaire (London) on 11/01/2014
You might have some sort of defficiency. If you don't eat lots of meat then it could be B6 and B12 defficiency. I would not suggest eating meat but up your B6 and B12 levels through supplements. Check your zinc, magnesium, vitamin D levels. 70% population is defficient in Vitamin D. I would suggest having juice of green leafy vegetables everyday. Dino
Azoxystrobin Fungicide
Posted by Prioris (Fl, US) on 09/30/2014
Azoxystrobin Fungicide
Posted by Timh (KY) on 09/30/2014 2048 posts
Catherine: It would be good if you provided a little more detail on what you have tried that didn't work. Anyway, there really isn't any short answers and magic bullets when it comes to fungal infections simply because most times, especially w/ Candida, it's only a manifestation of an underlying immune problem which is sometimes greatly helped by detoxing and a parasite cleanse.
Here is a link to the E.C. Candida page for your perusal https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/candida.html
Have you read Bill's Killing So Sweetly book advertised here on E.C.??
