Louis Pasteur, father of the theory that germs cause disease, recanted this position on his deathbed, when he stated "the microbe (germ) is nothing, the terrain everything." This declaration meant that a would-be invader, whether bacteria, virus or fungus, would not be able to take hold, proliferate and cause illness in the body if there did not exist favorable conditions for it to do so. When it comes to fungus, the terrain is everything, and to cure fungal infections -- permanently -- the first thing is to ensure that the terrain is hostile to that invader.
Step 1
Avoid foods that feed fungus; among the worst offenders are sugar and yeast-containing foods (such as beer and yeast breads). For the first several weeks of antifungal treatment, you should avoid sugar of all kinds, including concentrated natural sugars such as honey and fruit juices.
Step 2
Take supplements that help eradicate fungus from within. Good antifungals include caprylic acid, garlic, oregano oil and grapefruit seed extract. Probiotics also help keep systemic fungus in check; look for a multi-strain supplement that includes at least the lactobacillus and bifidobacteria families.
Step 3
Set aside a basic nail-care kit that is just for the infected toe; this should include at least a toenail clipper, a coarse file, cotton balls and cotton swabs. You may also decide to put any topical fungus treatments you use in a bag with the clippers, etc. for convenience.
Step 4
Trim the infected toenail and file the flat surface in a process that is similar to buffing the nail. Instead of a buffer, however, you will be using a coarse file, and thinning the nail is your objective.
Step 5
Keep filing the nail down until it no longer has a hard, shiny surface and instead looks more like a membrane. This is critical to ensuring that any topical treatments you use get absorbed and reach the fungus.
Step 6
Apply a few drops of a topical antifungal to the nail at least twice a day -- in the morning and right before bed. Tea tree oil is very effective, but if you don't like the smell, you can use citrus seed extract or crushed garlic. Allow the treatment to remain on the nail for several minutes. If you can leave it overnight, that's even better.
Tips and Warnings
- If you get rid of the toe fungus without addressing the underlying factors that are making your body a good place for fungus to grow, the fungus will return. You will not need to avoid sugar forever, but you may find it necessary to reduce consumption permanently to eradicate fungus. Do not use nail polish on a toe that you are treating for fungus.
Things You'll Need
- Antifungal supplements (oral and topical)
- Toenail clipper
- Coarse file
References
- "Smart Medicine for Healthier Living"; Janet Zand, LAc, Allan Spreen, MD, and James LaValle, RPh, ND; 1999.
- "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine"; Michael Murray, ND, and Joseph Pizzorno, ND; 1998.
- "The Private Science of Louis Pasteur"; Gerald Geison; 1995.
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