Warts are common, small growths that usually occur on the hands or feet. Having a rough or grainy texture, warts occur when a virus comes in contact with the skin. A person can develop warts if they are infected with some strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Children and young adults most commonly develop warts because they have weakened immune systems. There are common warts, flat warts, plantar warts, genital warts, filiform warts, and periungual warts, all of which are caused by different viruses.
What Causes Warts?
Warts are primarily caused by HPV, which is a virus that has over 100 different strains. Most of these strains are relatively harmless and only cause common warts, but more serious strains of the virus can lead to cervical cancer. Some strains of HPV cause warts on the hands, while other strains cause warts to develop on the feet. Children usually get warts via skin-to-skin contact, but not everybody who comes in contact with HPV will get warts because each person’s immune system responds differently. Common causes include:
- Scratching or biting a wart
- Sucking fingers
- Continuously biting fingernails
- Shaving the face or legs
- Wet or dry skin (which comes in contact with rough surfaces)
7 Natural Remedies
Get Essential
Essential oils can be great topical solutions that can help to relieve warts. Oregano and Frankincense are two great essential oils that have been proven to reduce and even get rid of plantar warts. Mix one drop of each of these oils with a small amount of coconut oil and apply it directly to the wart(s). Apply this solution 2-3 times a day for 2-4 weeks, or until the wart is gone. Continue applying for one week after the wart is gone to prevent recurrence.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a superstar in the world of home remedies. While the apple cider vinegar does not actually kill the virus, the acidity attacks the flesh that makes up the wart, kills it, and allows it to fall off naturally. Soak a cotton ball in 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and apply it directly to the warts, taping it on overnight. Do this for about 1-2 weeks.
Banana Peel
The inside of banana peels contain a proteolytic enzyme that can naturally eat away warts. You need a utensil to scrape the white mush off the inside of the peel and apply it to your wart(s) twice a day until the wart(s) is gone.
Boost Immunity
Consuming goldenseal and Echinacea increases the strength of the immune system. Both of these have natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory substances, which can help to get rid of the virus.
Balance pH Levels
Establishing a neutral pH balance in your body can help decrease warts and the HPV strains. You can do this by eating a diet rich in alkaline foods (dark leafy greens, sprouts, cabbage, beets, broccoli, onions, garlic, parsley, mushrooms, leeks, cauliflower, eggplant, or carrots, among many other fruits and vegetables). You can also mix 1 teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar in 8oz of water once a day to and drink it to neutralize your body’s pH level.
Get Garlicky
Raw garlic is a fantastic herbal remedy because it has incredible anti-bacterial properties. While consuming raw garlic cloves is beneficial, the best way to use it is to mash it up into a paste, place it on the wart under a bandage, and re-apply every few hours.
A Small Needle
For those that can handle a little pain, you can stick a sterilized needle in your wart(s) to alert your body that something is wrong. When you poke the wart, the body knows that something is not right and it can properly attack the virus. Ice the wart until it is numb, sterilize a clean and sharp needle over a flame, and poke the needle well into the wart. It is best to poke the wart all over because the body will attack the virus faster. Wash your hands after you do this procedure.
