Login or Register

Herbs for Plantar Warts

Jul 17, 2010 | By Dr. Shavon Jackson-Michel
Herbs for Plantar Warts
Photo Credit feet in the grass image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com

Plantar warts are a common type of contagious wart caused by the human papilloma virus subtypes 1, 2, 4 and 7. These type of rough surfaced, horny growths occur on the soles of the feet, and according to the Merck Manual, are considered benign and do not correlate to any serious medical conditions. The warts that occur on the plantar surface, or soles of the feet, can be tender and elicit pinpoint bleeding when their hardened surfaces are peeled away. Herbal treatment of warts should be discussed with your health care practitioner before use.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic quality and is an all-star remedy for many topical infections. Plantar warts, which are both a topical affliction and infectious in origin, are the perfect condition to study the effects of tea tree oil. A small trial in 2000 comparing the effects of tea tree oil and salicylic acid, a conventional therapy for warts, on plantar warts was performed by podiatry major Leisa James from the University College Northampton. The study found a 100 percent concentration of tea tree oil applied once daily for 12 weeks significantly reduced the pain associated with plantar warts. Using herbs for your warts should be discussed with your doctor.

Herbal Salve

An immersion of herbal extracts of clove, black seed and white willow leaf into an olive oil base was studied by researchers at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in Iran for wart removal. Clove bud was used for its local anesthetic and disinfectant properties and black seed for its disinfectant, diuretic and anti-parasitic compounds. The leaf of the white willow tree, which is also the origin of aspirin, is an efficient pain reliever and anti-inflammatory while the soothing and antioxidant properties of olive oil are healing to wounds. The 2008 study published in the European Journal of Scientific Research found that the salve or paste made from these herbs compared well to the conventional wart treatment of salicylic and lactic acid. Six weeks using the herbal treatment was approximately 87.8 percent effective at resolving the lesion, while conventional therapy was 89.9 percent successful. Using herbs for your warts should be discussed with your doctor.

Banana Peel

Bananas are known for their high potassium concentration and are sometimes the first instinct for therapy when treating conditions of low potassium or imbalanced electrolytes such as a Charlie horse. Although warts originate from an infectious source, one’s susceptibility to warts might lie in an internal deficiency of potassium.
Dr. John R. Christopher, a naturopathic doctor and master herbalist, notes that warts might consistently return, even after being removed, if a potassium deficiency is not addressed. Although this theory has not been confirmed by science, the use of banana peels, which retain much of the potassium of the fruit, provides strong anecdotal evidence. A natural home remedies article on Skinverse.com suggests putting a banana peel, cut into a section large enough to cover the wart, against the wart, with the fibrous or inside portion facing the skin. It should be firmly held in place by a band-aid or piece of tape and replaced at least twice a day. Within a few days to a few weeks, the article notes that the wart should shrink and fall off.

Black Walnut Hulls

Black walnut hulls are native to the U.S. East Coast and Canada and are one of the most commonly used herbal remedies for parasites. Additionally, black walnut retains antiviral properties that might be beneficial in killing the HPV virus that is at the root of a wart. Christopher says that the extract of black walnut be used topically and internally. The suggestion for internal use is five to 20 drops in a cup of hot distilled water, daily.

References

Article reviewed by Kirk Ericson Last updated on: Jul 17, 2010

Must see: Photo Galleries