Onychomycosis – or toenail fungus – is not a new medical problem by any stretch of the imagination, and anyone who has suffered from it knows how problematic it can be. It’s unsightly, uncomfortable, potentially painful, and difficult to treat due to its tendency to recur. There are plenty of over-the-counter and prescription medications that can treat toenail fungus, and there are relatively new laser treatments available for serious cases. Unfortunately, those can all be very expensive, and depending on the severity of a fungal infection some of them may not do the trick. Before you consider spending money on modern treatments, consider some of these old-fashioned home remedies for toenail fungus. Some of these remedies will not work for everybody as toenail fungus is notoriously tough to kill, but they are inexpensive. Most use common household products or food items. Try some of them and see what works. You’re bound to find at least one home remedy for toenail fungus that will work for you.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil can be a very effective home remedy for toenail fungus. The treatment itself is very simple; just dip a cotton ball in the oil and rub the infected toenail twice a day. Naturally, this is most effective when done in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to bed. A popular variation of this remedy is to use a mixture that is equal parts tea tree oil and lavender oil to treat fungal infections. As with the pure tea tree oil, just dip a cotton ball in the solution and rub it on your infected toenails.
2. Listerine® Mouthwash
Listerine® mouthwash is surprisingly effective in treating toenail fungal infections thanks to medicinal properties that control fungus growth. Soak your feet in the mouthwash for fifteen to twenty minutes twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening. It sounds strange, but it apparently works well.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
This is a well-known home remedy for toenail fungus that is said to be very effective. All you need to do is soak your feet for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time in a container full of equal parts vinegar and water. As with the Listerine treatment, it is recommended that you do this twice a day.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
A mixture that is equal parts water and store-bought hydrogen peroxide is said to be one of the best remedies for toenail fungus. Make sure to use three percent hydrogen peroxide for best results, and soak your feet in the solution for fifteen minutes. As always, make sure to dry your feet completely when you are finished.
5. Turmeric Powder
A very old remedy for toenail fungus is a paste made from turmeric powder and water. Just apply the paste to your toenail and rinse it off once it dries.
6. The Onion Treatment
This is probably the most basic toenail fungus treatment on this list. All you need to do is peel an onion and cut it into slices. You then simply rub the infected toenail with the slices for a while. This has been a popular home remedy for any fungal infection for years.
7. Lime Juice
This is similar in execution to the tea tree oil treatment. Soak a cotton ball in concentrated lime juice and rub it on the affected toenail.
