Ten percent of all skin problems pertain to nail problems. One of the most common nail problems is toenail fungus or toenail fungal infection.
Fungal infection is defined as: "Any inflammatory condition caused by a fungus.  Most fungal infections are superficial and mild, though persistent and difficult to eradicate." - Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 3rd ed., p. 498
Fungus is a living organism that thrives in dark, damp environments such as under and around nails. Toes are more likely to be affected by fungus since they are enclosed in a dark and damp environment that is more common on the foot than on the hand.
In more severe conditions of toenail fungal infection, affected nails can have a yellowish or brownish discoloration. They may thicken or become brittle over time, and may even shed. Sometimes the nails have crumbling edges. Toenail fungal infection can be embarrassing, unsightly, disfiguring, and at times, painful.
The nail itself provides a protective covering that allows the fungus to grow underneath. An accumulation of keratinous debris is usually found beneath the free edge of the infected nail.
While toenail fungus may be difficult to eradicate, nevertheless, with the right information and knowledge, products, and modalities, any fungal infection (including toenail fungal infection) can be successfully eradicated and the toenail or fingernail healed.
Nails not only protect the phalanges of the toes and fingers, but also reflect a person's personal and health habits - positive or negative. Aside from their cosmetic appeal, nails serve numerous important functions. Most importantly, nails often reflect our general and basic state of health. Disease can be reflected in the state of our nails, so our nails are a great sensor of our general state of health.
Darkness of the toenail(s) means lack of oxygen (due to improper circulation) and nutrients. White spots on the toenail(s) mean anemia due to lack of iron. Brittle toenails mean lack of nutrients as well.
Nails are alive and contrary to what many people think, are not made up of dead cells. How could nails grow if they were dead?
Our nails, toe and finger nails, require nutrients (nutrition), care, and maintenance.
Toenails suffer more than fingernails because of where they are positioned on the body and as briefly explained supra, are subject to fungal infection because of how they are usually covered up in socks, stockings, and shoes (enclosed environment), which cause darkness and moisture, the perfect breeding ground for toenail fungus.
Overall, the greatest contributors to toenail fungal infection include (1) poor hygiene of the foot, (2) abnormal pH level of the skin (too acidic), (3) trauma to the nail, and (4) decreased immunity o the person with the fungal infection.
But rest assured, you can heal from any disease including fungal infection. At Dherbs.Com we are always optimistic and enthusiastic about healing and the potential to heal.
Healing Toe Nail Fungus Naturally
Soak your feet in warm (or hot) water in your bathtub or a plastic container large enough to hold both feet. Add one box of sea salt, one cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 6-8 drops of essential oil of Tea Tree. Soak your feet in the solution for about 30 minutes. Perform daily if you can.
 You can also add anti-fungal herbs (in whole or cut and sifted form) to the bath water. Anti-fungal herbs include Black Walnut Hulls, Garlic, Wormwood, Maitake Mushroom, Goldenseal, Echinacea, Neem, and Pau D'Arco.
After the soak, rub and massage your toes (and in between your toes) with Dherbs.Com's Anti-Fungal Nail Oil or Toe Nail Fungal Salve.
You can also use Dherbs.Com's Toe Nail Fungus Spray as a maintenance solution to spray on your toes before and/or after putting on socks and shoes. The spray is also good to spray on after soaking your feet as well.
You can also directly apply essential oil of Tea Tree to the infected toe and toenail.
In addition to Tea Tree oil as an effective antifungal oil, other antifungal essential oils include Spikenard, Cedar, Thuja, and Niaouli. Though not an essential oil, Neem Oil is an exception antifungal oil.
I also highly recommend Dherbs.Com Foot Christening Oil as a foot maintenance oil along with our Soothing Foot Rub-Massage Oil. These products can be used after special foot soaks for general foot care, like after a pedicure or an ionic foot detox session.
Wear open sandals so that your toes can breathe! Toes need to breathe just like other parts of your body.
Wear breathable shoes (organic hemp shoes are very ideal), which usually have small holes in them for ventilation purposes.
Wear only socks made from natural material, i.e. cotton, hemp, flax, etc. These natural materials absorb moisture from your feet from sweating and provide good ventilation.
Avoid wearing nail polish which could encourage the growth of toenail fungus.
After a shower or bath, dry your toes off good with a towel and do not use the towel again until after you wash it. If using a large towel make sure the feet is the last part of your body that you dry off. Remember to dry your feet well as fungus likes warm and damp environments.
If you can afford to, get a pedicure every 2-3 weeks to maintain the care and hygiene of your feet and toes. If you are presently suffering from a toenail fungal infection, avoid nail polish.
A foot reflexology massage should be performed on the feet and toes once or twice a month. For many people the feet can be the most neglected part of the body. Let us no longer neglect any part of our body, especially our feet.
Purchase a foot spa unit and give your feet a pampering massage once or twice weekly. Add essential oils of peppermint and lavender to the water for a soothing and invigorating treatment. Foot spa units can be purchased from major department stores and stores like Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
Ionic foot dextox baths are perhaps the best treatments for the feet and toenails these days due to their cleansing and detoxifying activity. Get these treatments performed as much as you can. They are usually pretty economical and very effective.
If you have an ozone/oxygen machine, you can insert the hose and fish stone (diffuser) into your water while your feet is soaking (in the tub or a foot container). I highly recommend this procedure. Highly!
Thank you for reading!
This article is compliments of www.dherbs.com. |
