Essential oils for toenail fungus: a list of effective ones, instructions, reviews

To combat onychomycosis, many drugs have been created, many of which have systemic side effects and contraindications. A safe alternative to drug treatment is traditional medicine, such as essential oils used for nail fungus. Their unique healing properties successfully fight against mycotic infection.

The principle of action of essential oils in onychomycosis

Essential oils are volatile substances with an oily base. They are extracted from plants using a specific technology. Typically, these products are used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Essential oils used for onychomycosis should have the following spectrum of action listed in the table.

the effect	Description
SYMPTOMATIC	Relieve itching and burning, quickly relieve discomfort.
WOUND-HEALING	Eliminate cracks and small wound surfaces on nails and skin.
ANESTHETIC	Relieve pain associated with a deep inflammatory process.
REFRESHING	Regulates perspiration, thereby eliminating unpleasant odors.

Next, let's talk about the most effective essential oils for mycotic infection.

List of recommended essential oils

TEA TREE OIL. A safe product that successfully destroys pathogens, stopping their growth and development. The drug quickly removes the inflammatory process and promotes the healing of existing lesions on the nails and skin. When used systematically, tea tree oil relieves the symptoms of the disease.

The tool is used to treat the nail plates affected by onychomycosis, 2 times a day. Before the procedure, you need to steam your legs in a hot bath and cut off diseased loose tissue. The oil can be left on the nails until completely absorbed or applied under a compress, which is removed after a few hours. With daily processing of foci of infection, positive results of treatment will be noticeable within 2 weeks.

CLEANER OIL. The drug is effective against many dermatological diseases, and onychomycosis is no exception. The product has a cleansing, disinfecting, anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect. The oil can be used in the following ways:

The first recipe. After the foot bath with the addition of soda and salt, the softened tissue of the nail is cut as much as possible and celandine extract is applied to it. The oil is used undiluted, leaving on the plates for up to 15 minutes. Then the excess of the drug is removed with a paper napkin. The procedure is recommended to be carried out 2 times a day.

The second recipe. On the basis of celandine essential oil, you can prepare a medical compress. To do this, the drug is combined in equal proportions with iodinol, moistened with a gauze napkin according to the size of the diseased nail in the composition and applied to the foci of onychomycosis. From above, the product is fixed with a bandage. After 3 hours, remove the compress, rinse the feet under running water.

The third recipe. Take 10 g of essential oil of celandine and propolis, add 100 ml of medical alcohol to the mixture. Mix the components and apply on nails overnight, fixing the preparation on top with a bandage.

LEMON OIL. The most popular universal product in traditional medicine. It takes care of the nails, penetrating deep into their structure, creating a local antiseptic effect. Can be used prophylactically against onychomycosis. During the treatment, the nails are completely restored, become stronger and healthier.

Steam the feet in a hot bath, dry them thoroughly with a towel. Apply lemon essential oil to the foci of infection, and sprinkle a small amount of soda on top of it. A chemical reaction will occur - the composition will begin to fizzle and release foam. At this moment, the destruction of the fungal microflora occurs. The procedure is repeated daily until the onset of recovery.

CLOVE OIL. Another unique drug widely used in alternative medicine. The product contains up to 90 percent of eugenol, a biologically active component that has a fungicidal and analgesic effect.

Clove essential oil has a high concentration, so it should not be used in its pure form. it is recommended, otherwise, it will not be possible to avoid side effects in the form of a burning sensation and burns skin. The drug should be combined with vegetable or coconut oil, and only then should the affected surfaces be treated.

Cinnamon oil. It is effective in the fight against onychomycosis. Initially, the drug is added to hot water prepared for foot baths - take a few drops of cinnamon essential oil for 2 liters of liquid. Steam the feet for 15 minutes, then dry and remove the soft parts of the nail.

Then pure cinnamon oil is applied to the affected areas of the stratum corneum and left until completely absorbed. Sometimes the drug causes burning and discomfort, which is associated with increased sensitivity of the body. In this case, it should be diluted with vegetable oil in equal proportions.

FIR OIL. This remedy intensively destroys the causative agents of onychomycosis and eliminates inflammation in the lesions. The drug is used mainly as compresses. A cotton swab is moistened in fir oil and applied to the nail plate, fixing on top with a plaster or bandage. The application is kept on the fabrics for one hour. Then the product is removed, the excess oil is removed with a paper napkin.

The procedure is recommended to be carried out once a day for 10 days. With systematic use, improvement in the symptoms of onychomycosis will not be long in coming.

OREGAN OIL. The drug has antifungal effect. Like many essential oils, it cannot be used in its pure form, as it can lead to complications such as burning, irritation and skin burns.

For treatment, you need to combine 1 tbsp. a spoonful of olive oil and 2 drops of oregano ether. Treat the nail roller with the resulting mixture, and without washing off the drug, leave it overnight if the tool does not cause discomfort and is well tolerated. Carry out processing every day for a month. After this time, the results for the better will be noticeable.

ROSEMARY OIL. The drug successfully fights most of the pathogens of mycosis. It has antibacterial, wound healing and regenerating properties. It is recommended to rub rosemary oil into the nail plates after preliminary steaming of the feet. After the procedure, they become soft, easier to treat with medications and recover.

LAVENDER OIL. The product poses a mortal danger to most strains of fungal infection, including onychomycosis. This agent destroys the cell membranes of pathogens, provoking their death.

The product cannot be used in its pure form. Lavender ether is diluted with any vegetable oil and the foci of onychomycosis are treated, avoiding contact with the skin, in the morning and in the evening. Course 4 weeks. Tea tree extract enhances the effect of lavender oil - they can be mixed with each other.

CASSIA OIL. This product boasts antibacterial, antiviral and fungicidal properties. It has a second name - Chinese cinnamon.

For use against nail fungus, cassia essential oil is diluted 1: 3 with another base product. It is applied to the affected nails up to 3 times a day and left until completely absorbed. The recommended course of treatment is 4 weeks.

THYME OIL. Another agent with antifungal activity against the causative agents of onychomycosis. Among other oils, it most often causes allergic reactions, so it should be used with caution, always in a diluted form.

Thyme ester is applied to the foci of infection every day for a month. You can supplement its action with other essential oils.

GERANIUM OIL. One of the most popular folk remedies valued for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. The drug inhibits the growth of mycotic infection, eliminates inflammatory processes and helps to get rid of the disease in a short time, provided that it is in its initial stage.

Geranium ether is used to prepare foot baths - it is recommended to take 5 drops of the drug for 2 liters of hot water. The procedure lasts 15 minutes, after which the feet must be dried and the affected nails must be treated with additional oil, after diluting it. The manipulations are repeated daily until recovery.

SOUL OIL. Its effectiveness is similar to the extracts of oregano and thyme. The product has a destructive effect on the fungus. According to research, the drug successfully destroys the causative agents of most mycotic infections.

Oregano essential oil is used to prepare baths or by directly rubbing it into the stratum corneum of the nails of the hands and feet. Before use, the drug must be diluted with any base substance.

LEMONGRASS OIL. It effectively copes not only with onychomycosis, but also with other types of fungal infection, for example, ringworm of the head, etc. The product has a second name - the extract of the Brazilian lemongrass. The tool effectively destroys the cell membranes of microorganisms, provoking their subsequent death.

Lemongrass oil is safe to use. It is used to prepare foot baths and to treat foci of onychomycosis.

CASTOR OIL. According to numerous reviews, this remedy also has decent efficacy against onychomycosis. It can be used for nail fungus by rubbing it into the plate every day until complete recovery.

But in order to enhance the result of the treatment, it is recommended to prepare the following mixture: 1 tsp. l. castor oil and 15 drops of tea tree oil. Rub the composition into diseased nails once a day.

How to use essential oils correctly?

All of these products must be diluted with a base agent when treating fungal infections of nails and skin. For this purpose, you can use jojoba, coconut, olive or sunflower oil.

Onychomycosis is treated by treating exclusively the stratum corneum of the damaged nail. The product is not applied to healthy areas of the skin surrounding the plate, since due to the high concentration of esters there is a risk of developing such undesirable reactions as itching, burning and irritation.

Oils should not be taken internally. Before starting treatment, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist.

An allergy test must be performed before using a new drug. Apply a small amount of essential oil to the inner surface of the forearm and wait for several hours. If no unpleasant symptoms and sensations arise, you can use this product.

In the table, we will consider what other options for using essential oils in combined form are.

Recipe	Cooking method
POWDER	2 tbsp. l. corn flour or talcum powder, combine with 15 drops of lavender oil and 5 drops of lemon. Mix the resulting composition, leave for 24 hours. The ready-made product can be used to treat foci of onychomycosis and feet for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
COMPRESS	8 tbsp. l. mix apple cider vinegar with ¼ tsp. l. lavender oil and the same amount of tea tree ether. Moisten a gauze pad in the resulting product and apply it to the infected areas for 15 minutes.
OINTMENT	Combine 5 drops of geranium or eucalyptus oil with 3 drops of birch tar and camphor oil. Apply the drug to the cleaned nail plate pointwise, fixing it with a bandage on top, overnight.
SPRAY	Combine 5 drops of fir oil and 10 drops of lemon oil with 100 ml of medical alcohol. Add 50 ml of water to the mixture and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on the foci of infection 3 times a day. The tool is suitable for both skin and nail fungus.
BATH	2 tbsp. l. sea ​​salt and 10 drops of fir oil (or any other with a fungicidal effect) add to 2 liters of water heated to 45 degrees. The time for receiving the procedure is 15 minutes.

Application in children

Essential oils are allowed in pediatrics. But before using any of the drugs, it is advisable to consult with a specialist.

As we remember, the essential oil should be diluted with a base agent - jojoba, olive or coconut. Additionally, it is recommended to mix these components with distilled water in order to achieve an even lower concentration of the drug for the child. The ingredients are combined in equal proportions.

Before using the essential oil for toenail fungus, you need to read the instructions and make sure that this product has no restrictions on its use in children. It must be remembered that you should choose a quality product with 100% natural origin.

If, while using the drug at home, the child has symptoms such as tearing, sneezing, skin irritation and itching, you need to discard the product and consult a doctor.

Use in pregnant and lactating women

The use of essential oils requires caution in women when carrying a baby or breastfeeding.

The rest of the oils do not have such a ban, but still require a careful approach. They should be used strictly according to the instructions after agreement with the attending physician. For women suffering from various allergic reactions, it is better to refuse aromatherapy altogether.

Contraindications and side effects

Treatment for nail fungus with essential oils has the following limitations:

• individual hypersensitivity;
• age up to 3 months.

These funds are prescribed with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In other cases, drugs can be used according to the instructions for use.

Side effects include itching, burning, irritation, and skin burns. Most often, this happens if the essential oil is not suitable for a person or is not used in accordance with the instructions for use.

Prevention of onychomycosis with essential oils

It is important not only to successfully cure the disease, but also to learn how to use preventive measures against toenail fungus. Even after getting rid of onychomycosis and candidiasis, it is necessary to pay further attention to preventing a possible recurrence of the infection.

Foot baths with the addition of a few drops of tea tree oil, a handful of sea salt and baking soda will do just fine with this task. For the prevention of fungal infection, they are recommended to be carried out at least 2 times a week.

You should also pay attention to the condition of the skin of the legs. Any wounds, scratches and cracks are the entrance gate for the fungus. If available, you can treat the skin with essential oils, which will help disinfect the surface and prevent the development of onychomycosis.

Reviews

Tatiana, 40 years old. “I used fir oil for nail fungus. The tool perfectly coped with inflammation, restored the structure of the nail. Fast and cheap. Recommend".

Inna, 34 years old. “I dripped pure lavender oil on my nails - I got burned. Then I switched to tea tree extract. The remedy helped, now I use it for prophylaxis in the form of baths 2 times a week. "

Marina, 27 years old. “Nail fungus is a terrible problem. I approached her in a complex way - first I added geranium oil to the foot baths, and then applied a cream with a fungicidal effect to dry and clean plates. After 4 weeks I completely got rid of the disease. "

If a nail fungus develops, it is recommended that you immediately consult a qualified doctor. The specialist will determine the form of the disease and select the optimal treatment regimen. Essential oils can successfully supplement it, and in the future become an excellent preventive measure.