3 Essential Oils to Help Toenail Fungus
Your health has to be built on a solid foundation. That’s not just a metaphor – your body needs healthy feet in order to maintain its true potential. There are plenty of challenges that the world can throw at your feet, too. From sore feet to athlete’s foot, knowing how to overcome those issues is vital for maintaining proper wellness.
One thing that can be a serious problem is toenail fungus. While compared to most things it’s relatively harmless, the fact is that this fungus can lead to an ugly foot, lower self-esteem, hesitation wearing open toed shoes, and more. And in severe cases it can lead to pain, itching, and more.
The bottom line? Treating toenail fungus is an absolute must, and something that needs to be done as soon as the first signs of the fungus appear. Luckily, there are options out there that can help. And best of all, there are natural options as well – including the use of powerful essential oils that can help to stop toe fungus in its tracks.
What are the Benefits of Going Natural?
There are plenty of reasons that trying a natural essential oil treatment for nail fungus makes sense:
- Cheaper than expensive creams and washes
- No chemical additives
- No harmful potential side effects
- Leaves behind a pleasant scent instead of a chemical smell
- Can provide additional aromatherapy benefits along with improving nail health
In short, choosing the natural route makes sense and could help your feet and toes look and feel better without the need for over the counter creams, sprays, and other treatments. Of course, talking to a medical professional is always important when you notice changes to the health of your feet. But if it’s determined that a fungus is present and not some larger underlying condition, essential oils could be worth thinking about.
Natural Ways to Help Toenail Fungus
It’s important to note that essential oils should only be one part of your treatment plan. Toenail fungus thrives in dark, damp places and as a result it is important to take some additional steps that will help you get even more from this type of treatment. Along with the essential oil treatment, remember the following.
- Change socks often and never allow yourself to wear damp ones. Whether from sweat, rainwater, or something else, always change out of damp socks as soon as possible and never wear the same socks 2 days in a row.
- Try to give your toes breathing opportunities. Wear sandals or go barefoot around the house to help promote better healing and fungus prevention.
- Avoid wearing tight shoes that can restrict airflow around the feet and toes.
- Shower daily and be sure to wash the feet and toes (and don’t forget to dry them well).
Keep these basic tips in mind and combine them with essential oil treatment, and you’ll be on a path to healthier toenails and a foot that’s free from fungus.
Best Essential Oils For Fighting Toenail Fungus
Now that you’ve got a clear idea on the basics of helping your fight against toenail fungus, the only thing left is to start the battle. There are a few key essential oils that work best here, and understanding how to use them is the first step towards relief. With that in mind, here are the three best essential oils for fighting toenail fungus and how to use them.
- Tea Tree Oil – Tea Tree essential oil is one of the most powerful natural antibacterial and anti-fungal essential oils out there. This is because it contains a compound known as terpenin-4-ol, which has been shown to kill fungi and prevent their spread. To use this essential oil, start by cleaning the nail and letting it dry completely. Next, add 3 to 5 drops of the oil to a clean cotton ball, then tape it to the infected nail and allow to sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Repeat this daily.
- Cinnamon Essential Oil – Made from cinnamon bark and distilled to a potent oil, this oil is highly effective at fighting against toenail fungus thanks to the high levels of eugenol found within it. This compound kills fungus and helps prevent further infection and growth. Not only does the cinnamon help to combat the fungus directly, but it helps maintain a drier nail area, thus inhibiting the kind of environment that fungus thrives in. It can be used in the same way as tea tree oil, with a cotton ball compress used daily.
- Oregano Essential Oil – This essential oil has been studied at length for its healing powers and in particular its ability to kill fungi. As such, it’s one of the go-to options for those looking to fight against fungal growth. To use it, place a drop or two of the oil directly onto the infected toenail and allow to sit for 10 to 20 minutes in order to allow the oil to penetrate into the infection.
Keep these oils in mind, and you should be able to naturally fight against toenail fungus and improve the health and beauty of your feet in the process.
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25 Responses
Lucy
Thanks for suggesting oregano and tea tree oils. I suffer from high blood pressure so I wonder if it is advisable to use oregano essential oil.
Chris P
Do not use cinnamon oil without putting it on a carrier (coconut oil works) – it can create a huge reaction when using it without diluting it.
Greg from Wisconsin
I used Oregano oil full strength for about 6 months. It seemed to be effective but then my skin on much of the toes and bottom of my foot as well as the arch and top of the foot became inflamed and the skin began to peel and crack deeply. I stopped the oil and have been treating the dermal trauma with anti bacterial creams and the skin is beginning to heal. The nail fungus seems to be in remission and the nail seems to be growing back. The dermal problem has been going on for about 4 weeks now.
what is toenail fungus
Enjoyed reading the article above , really explains everything in detail,the article is very interesting and effective.Thank you and good luck for the upcoming articles
Lillianlouise
I thought oregano was a hot essential oil and that you had to be careful with it.??are you sure it will not burn in the toenails?
Brandy Jackson
Dont you need to dilute these oils with coconut oil or something? or can you apply them to the nail bed directly?
Anne
Thinking about using the tea tree oil and oregano on my son’s feet to treat nails. Would it be effective to apply the oregano directly to the nail bed and make a salve with tea tree oil and coconut oil to apply to the feet?
Sheila Ressel
I have heard about tea tree and oregano oil for fungus but not cinnamon. Great to know!
Denise thornton
As much as i love cinnamon and the benefits internally i didn’t think of the benefits it had externally on fungus great article write up.
Dawn
??
Angela Saver
We have had experience with Tea Tree Oil getting rid of toenail fungus that even prescription meds didn’t touch, but I had no idea of the other two. Thanks for the great information!
Cyndie Walls
Very Informative! I dealt with toenail fungus and used coconut oil and tea tree which really helped. I had to be consistent with it to achieve a beneficial effect. Thanks for sharing other solutions to cure toenail fungus.
Trish
Love that tea tree, it sure is a versatile oil, cinnamon and oregano make sense too when dealing with fungal infections. Thanks for all of the ways to use them.
Hayley
Wonderful information. :)
gloria patterson
lot of great information I don’t have that problem thank goodness
Melissa Storms
The article is informational, I knew about tea tree oil but I had no clue about oregano or cinnamon oil. Live the pic, too funny with the mushrooms,
Lynne B
I’ve only ever thought of tea tree essential oil in DIY masks. Amazing that it can treat so many other issues!
Jane
interesting article
Mary Anna
Fungus on 2nd toe on each foot refuses to respond to over-the-counter remedies. I need to try this!
Betsy Barnes
It is amazing to learn how essential oils can be used to cure and help so many health issues.
Joanna
wow ineteresting blog of how to treat toe nail fungus using essiential pils instead of chemicals.
Lori Ann Lehner
I would love to win this awesome contest!
Scotty
Thanks for another informative article.
Evelyn
Honestly I find it amazing that essential oils can help with even things like fungus.
Yael
February 18, 2019
Could I put a few drops of tea tree, oregeno and cinnamon oil together with a teaspoon of olive oil and then apply? If so, for how long and do I wash off with soap and water afterwards and dry or leave residue on nails?
Not clear on that.