Why You Should Use Essential Oils to Treat Nail Fungus
Nail fungus, known as onychomycosis in medical terms, is a common nail infection that affects about 5% of the general population. There are many conventional oral and topical treatments for nail fungus but in most cases, even after using these treatments, the nail fungus returns and even spreads to other nails. Using essential oils is a powerful natural remedy that eradicates nail fungus once and for all. Certain essential oils such as the ones listed below have potent anti-fungal properties that help fight off nail fungus fast.
Before using any of these essential oil treatments, first clean the affected nail or nails with warm water and a mild soap and dry them thoroughly with a paper towel.
Top 10 Essential Oils for Toenail Fungus
1. Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil (where to get it) is hands down the best essential oil for toenail fungus and nail fungus in general. I’ve talked about its properties and components that make it a powerful fungus fighter in this article. Its main anti-fungal compounds are carvacol and thymol. It also contains rosmarinic acid and narigin that have been shown to fight fungal infections. It’s recommended to apply a drop or two of oregano essential oil directly onto the affected nail to treat nail fungus. However, only apply it on the affected nail – make sure not to get it on unaffected areas as it is very potent and can burn.
2. Tea Tree Essential Oil
After oregano comes tea tree oil (where to get it) on the list of best nail fungus essential oils. It is a strong disinfectant and its strong antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties help fight off nail fungus. It’s also one of the few essential oils that can be applied ‘neat’ onto the skin so you can use it directly without dilution just like with oregano essential oil.
3. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil (where to get it) doesn’t just smell sensational – it’s also a powerful remedy for nail fungus. It not only has a potent effect on nail fungus but also helps treat various types of Candida and dermatophytes, which are responsible for ringworm as well as scalp and skin fungal infections. Add 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil to a cotton ball and tape it to the affected nail. Leave on overnight.
4. Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil (where to get it) is concentrated in citric acid that prevents the fungus from spreading to the other nails. It also has bleaching properties that helps considerably whiten the yellow nail. Its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties protect the nail from further infection while fighting off the fungus.
5. Thyme Essential Oil
The active ingredient in thyme essential oil (where to get it), thymol which constitutes about 20 – 54 % of thyme essential oil, has strong anti-fungal properties. It is very potent against skin and nail fungal infections and provides a quick cure.
6. Peppermint Essential Oil
Containing potent anti-fungal properties, peppermint oil (where to get it) is another best essential oil for nail fungus. Though not as potent as oregano essential oil, it is cheaper and easy to find. It also provides a cooling and soothing sensation which can help relieve pain and discomfort brought about by the nail fungus.
7. Clove Essential Oil
Another most potent essential oil for nail fungus, clove essential oil (where to get it) has been shown to have powerful anti-fungal activity. One of its main components is eugenol (about 60-90%), which makes it effective against nail fungus, yeast infections including athlete’s foot.
8. Mountain Savory Essential Oil
Mountain savory essential oil (where to get it) is used in treatments of infectious and fungal skin diseases and has been known to eradicate a variety of fungal infections including Pityriasis versicolor, hyper-pigmented areas of the skin caused by the fungus Malassezia furfur and nail fungus infections.
9. Manuka Essential Oil
Manuka essential oil (where to get it) is potent against dermatophytes (a range of skin-pathogenic strains) that are one of the causes of nail fungus. The anti-fungal and antiseptic properties of manuka essential effectively treat nail fungus and provide quick relief.
10. Cinnamon Essential Oil
This warm and spicy essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the inner dried bark of cinnamon. It eases colds and flu as well as reduced period pains. Cinnamon essential oil (where to get it) is rich in eugenol, a potent anti-fungal compound that treats a variety of fungal infections including nail fungus.
Caution
- If you are pregnant or nursing, avoid using essential oils as they are potent and not safe for pregnancy and new born babies.
- Never ingest essential oils without first consulting a professional medical practitioner.
- Always use a patch test on your inner wrist/elbow before using essential oils to test if they are safe for your skin and body.
- Keep essential oils away from the reach of children and pets as they can be very toxic.
- If applying essential oils over a large area on your body, please ensure to first dilute it in a carrier oil, lotion or any other base ingredient to avoid skin irritation and burns. Use the ratio of 1-3 drops of essential oil in 1 tsp of base ingredient.
- Ensure to purchase only 100% pure essential oils.
- People suffering from any health condition should first consult with a doctor before using essential oils.
