It's fairly easy to pick up a plantar wart infection if you walk barefoot around a communal pool, shower or gym. Plantar warts are caused by a virus and spread via direct contact. They have a flat or mosaic appearance and grow on the bottom, or plantar, surface of your foot. Plantar warts are generally harmless, but they can spread. If they occur on the heel or ball of your foot, they can be very painful to walk on. Conventional treatment includes over-the-counter acid medications; cryosurgery, or freezing; and laser treatments. There are some herbs that can help clear up a plantar wart and prevent it from spreading, but consult your doctor for advice on which is best for you.
Aloe Vera Gel
The aloe vera plant is related to the lily, and its fleshy, succulent leaves contain a gel used in a variety of herbal preparations. Aloe vera gel, taken directly from the aloe plant leaf, has some antiviral properties. The book "Prescription for Herbal Healing" by certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch states you can apply a small dab of aloe vera gel to the wart three times daily until it disappears. Use a cotton-tipped swab to apply the gel, so the wart doesn't spread to your finger. Use aloe vera gel topically as directed by your podiatrist or physician.
Bromelain
Bromelain is a combination of protein-digesting enzymes produced in the stems and flesh of the pineapple plant. It is a strong anti-inflammatant used to reduce swelling, but it also is an immune system stimulant. Bromelain appears to provide enzymes that help dissolve plantar warts and stimulate your immune system to help fight off the virus responsible for producing them. Bromelain is taken internally as a capsule or tablet. Consult your doctor before using bromelain, as there are some side effects, including nausea, diarrhea and heavy menstrual periods. Don't use bromelain if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or taking blood thinners.
Comfrey
Comfrey is an ancient herb whose roots and above-ground parts have been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years. Comfrey has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is typically used for pain and swelling following an injury. According to Innvista, the flowering tops and roots of the comfrey plant contain allantoin, which can be applied topically in a cream to help remove plantar warts and prevent spreading. Only use allantoin cream containing comfrey externally and under your doctor's supervision, as there are some safety concerns about its internal use.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, native to parts of Australia. Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic qualities and is often used as an alternative therapy for athlete's foot infections and skin infections. It can also be used to treat skin warts, including plantar warts, to prevent them from spreading. Tea tree oil should only be applied topically to the wart, or in its essential oil or cream formulations, because it is not safe to take internally. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" advises using only standardized tea tree oil preparations to achieve the best results. Talk to your doctor before using tea tree oil to treat a plantar wart.
References
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Warts; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bromelain; Steven D. Ehrlich; March 2009
- Innvista: Comfrey
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2010
