Here are the little-known natural treatments and home remedies for toenail fungus that are guaranteed to finally get rid of those unsightly looking toenails and give you healthy new nails that shine!
Article by Troy Sawyer (Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Health & Wellness Coach, Sports Nutritionist)
Updated November 26, 2024 -- This post contains affiliate links
Let’s be honest, toenail fungus is a ghastly and hideous looking problem. What partner wants to touch or suck on a toe that looks like it’s developed some sort of alien growth!
I’m just kidding of course.
My wife had toenail fungus for many years before she discovered how to treat it successfully using natural remedies, and I still make fun of the way it used to look.
It’s a bit of an ongoing joke we have together.
But the interesting thing is she actually spent lots of money on over-the-counter medications to cure her toenail fungus, yet in the end, none of them worked anywhere near as good as the plain old home remedies!
Toenail fungus is exactly what its name says - a fungus. And the only way to kill a fungus is with a combination of oral and topical treatments. Most books and web sites only give you topical treatments for nail fungus, and although these will work, if you don’t treat the problem internally as well you'll eventually see your fungus return.
So here's 12 of the most potent internal and external remedies for nail fungus you'll find.
Remember though… for any treatment to work you must be consistent in your efforts. If you are, you'll see your nail fungus vanish within a few short months… and be gone for good!
Olive Leaf Extract (OLE): Olive leaf extract is an amazing “cure all” substance. It’s labelled “natures natural antibiotic” because dozens of research findings have found OLE to be the only substance discovered so far that destroys every virus, bacteria, fungus and protozoa it gets tested against!
Olive leaf extract is well-known for its ability to control and treat fungus problems such as candida and tinea - along with being one of the ultimate nail fungus cures. The reason OLE works so well is it destroys the fungus from the inside out, as well as killing any bacteria or parasites which may be unknowingly residing in your body (you would be astounded to discover just how many dangerous and life-threatening parasites actually grow and breed inside of you).
So olive leaf extract has a twofold benefit. It not only kills the fungus, it cleanses and detoxes the body, along with significantly boosting the immune system - so you'll find yourself having loads more energy and developing less illnesses such as colds and flu as well.
When purchasing your olive leaf extract, our advice is to be careful. Most suppliers use cheap and low grade OLE, which unfortunately, does very little. For this reason, we only recommend the super strength Olive Leaf Extract varieties to our clients. Amazon supply some of the strongest and most reputable OLE's available anywhere and are 100% trustworthy. You can check out their product information here if you're interested... Super Strength Olive Leaf Extract.
For dosages and amounts, simply follow the directions listed on the container.
Probiotics: Without enough “friendly” bacteria residing in our bodies, particularly the lactobacillus strain, the “bad” bacteria quickly take over and gain dominance. Once this occurs, fungi are allowed to grow and thrive uncontrolled - which of course includes nail fungus.
The lactobacillus bacteria produces a potent substance that destroys the bad bacteria - along with any viruses, protozoa's and fungi. This includes yeast or candida fungus as well as nail fungus. So be sure to take a good quality probiotic supplement every day to kill the fungus from the inside out (probiotic supplements contain high amounts of the crucial lactobacillus strain). Your local health food store should be able to help you out with this or simply search online for your nearest stockist.
In addition to this, you should look into the art of culturing and fermenting your own probiotic rich foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, natural yogurt and kombucha for an extra supply of lactobacillus. You can never have too many good bacteria so be sure to take in as many as you can! Here's a handy website on how to get started with your own food culturing... Probiotics for Health.
Gelatine, Silica, Biotin, Vitamin C and Essential Fatty Acids: None of these are actually treatments for toenail fungus as such. However, what they will do is keep your nails, and your skin and hair, looking shiny and healthy. These nutrients are all essential for nail health - so what will happen is as the old nail grows out, the new one will come along and it will look the best you’ve ever seen!
Gelatine can be bought from most health food stores or your local pharmacy. Essential fatty acids should come from fish oil, cod liver oil or evening primrose oil (this is especially recommended for females). The other nutrients should preferably come from a good plant-based colloidal mineral supplement or a specific “skin, hair and nail” supplement such as this one.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and Epsom Salt:
This topical treatment works extremely well for toenail fungus. Simply soak your foot with 1/3 of a cup of full strength apple cider vinegar, two cups of hot water and 1/3 of a cup of Epsom salt once to twice a day for at least 30 minutes (it’s easily done while watching TV or on the computer). The longer you can soak your feet for this one the better.
Also, be sure to drink organic apple cider vinegar every day as it’s a potent internal fungus and bacterial killer. Just make sure it’s organic apple cider vinegar and contains the “mother” apple (very important). If you use any other form of ACV it wont work. Simply mix up two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of manuka honey in a warm glass of filtered water and drink down. Do this 3 times daily, preferably 10 minutes before a meal.
Oregano Oil: Oil of oregano is an extremely effective treatment for nail fungus. Its powerful antiseptic, antibiotic and anti fungal properties go to work straight away to destroy the parasitic organism that causes nail fungus. Simply apply 2-3 drops of wild oregano oil to the affected nail 3 times daily for at least three months.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil contains some incredibly potent antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal agents - namely 3 different fatty acid chains. Coconut oil also moisturizes the skin, hair and nails, along with replenishing the body with vital nutrients. To use as a nail fungus remedy, apply some organic coconut oil directly to the infected nail and nail bed and take a tablespoon orally 2-3 times per day.
Borax Powder and Baking Soda: Borax and baking soda kill all types of fungus, whether they be internally or externally located. And as a treatment for toenail fungus and athletes foot, they work like a charm!
Mix up some borax powder with baking soda (and water) to make a paste. Then simply wet your feet and toenails and rub them with the borax/baking soda mix twice daily.
Be aware that borax powder has actually been banned in some countries, particularly many EU countries, so you'll need to check and see if it's available in your area. If it is you'll be able to purchase borax online or buy it from your local supermarket (it's usually in the cleaning section).
For more information on borax and it's amazing healing properties, we recommend you click on the link here. It's well worth the read... Borax Cures and Health Benefits.
Listerine Mouth Wash: Yes I know, this is technically not a natural remedy for treating toenail fungus, but it works extremely well so we've included it here. Soak your toes and feet in 30-50ml of Listerine mixed with two cups of warm to hot water at least once a day for 30 minutes. Because Listerine is such a powerful antiseptic, it kills the fungus fast!
Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is another terrific treatment for nail fungus. Its powerful antiseptic and anti-fungal properties quickly destroy any type of toenail fungus. Simply clean the nail with alcohol first then apply some undiluted tea tree oil to the affected nail with a nail brush or Q-tip. Do this at least twice a day and you'll begin to see almost immediate benefits (this is the treatment my wife used with great success).
Hydrogen Peroxide (HP): Yet another easy treatment for toenail fungus that gives outstanding results. HP is a powerful disinfectant and anti-fungal, which is why it works so well for both toenail and fingernail fungus. Hydrogen peroxide is also known as an oxidative therapy treatment (increases blood and tissue oxygenation). Scientists recently discovered that fungus, particularly the fungus responsible for toenail and fingernail fungus, is anaerobic, which means it doesn't like oxygen. In fact it's impossible for it to survive in an oxygenated environment. When hydrogen peroxide is applied to the nail, it causes "oxygenation", effectively killing the fungal infection at the source.
To use the HP either soak your toe(s) in some undiluted 3% grade hydrogen peroxide (make sure you dilute the higher grades) for 20-30 minutes a day or take a nail brush or Q-tip and apply a liberal amount directly to the nail. You can also take hydrogen peroxide orally to destroy the fungal infection (and any other infections) from the inside out. This fantastic book outlines the exact HP protocol you should use for this... The One-Minute Cure: The Secret to Healing Virtually All Diseases.
Vicks VapoRub: An article published in the 2003 April edition of Phytotherapy Research revealed that the ingredients in Vicks VapoRub kill the fungi responsible for toenail and fingernail fungus. Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil and thymol (the key ingredients in Vicks) were all tested against various forms of fungus, including the popular funguses that cause toenail fungus, and they inhibited the growth (destroyed) all of them! Another study published in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine back in 2011 also found positive results when Vicks VapoRub was used to treat toenail fungus in a clinical trial. 1
To get the most out of the Vicks remedy first wash your foot and dry thoroughly. Apply the Vicks VapoRub to the infected nail with a Q-tip, making sure you thoroughly cover the nail right up to the edges, along with getting down under the nail into the cuticle. Repeat this process twice daily if possible for best results.
Emery Boards and Scissors: To achieve maximum results with any natural remedies and topical treatments for toenail fungus, it's essential that you keep the nail trimmed short and filed every week. Also remember to disinfect the scissors beforehand so the fungus doesn’t spread to your other nails when you trim them - and be sure to discard the emery boards after each use as well.
...Note: You can use only one or two of the topical treatments listed here or a combination of some or all of them. Just remember though that you'll have to continue with the treatment until the old nail has completely grown out or your nail fungus will return. With the internal treatments, you really need to use all of them if you possibly can or you won’t get lasting results (or be as healthy) so try not to scrimp on any of those.
There are plenty more natural remedies and treatments for nail fungus out there, but we've found most either don’t work that well or they’re too much bother, so we haven’t included them here. Bleach is a popular home remedy for toenail fungus but we strongly recommend you don’t use it. The reason for this is simple… any chemical you use on your skin, including your nails, ends up in your bloodstream. And bleach is one of the most toxic chemicals there is!
In addition, try and limit the amount of sugar, pasteurized milk and hydrogenated fats in your diet. These help candida and other fungus grow in the body. Also wear open shoes and try and let your feet “breathe” as much as possible. Moisture from sweaty feet is one of the main causes of toenail fungus.
So we recommend you try these natural treatments for your nail fungus… You'll be pleasantly surprised by the results!
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