Nail fungus isn’t usually dangerous, but it is unsightly. If one family member has fungus-infected toenails, other fastidious members might fear that will reflect badly on them, even though it shouldn’t. Luckily, there are plenty of home remedies that may be useful.
Home Remedies for Nail Fungus:
Q. Our family is getting together with friends for a big beach vacation. I know my husband will be parading around in his flip-flops or bare feet. He is oblivious to his incredibly ugly nail fungus. I am embarrassed every time I look at his yellowish-brown thick nails.
I know you have written about remedies for nail fungus. Any information you can send would be appreciated. Then I will just need to get him to use a remedy until he is cured.
A. The most important ingredient in any nail fungus remedy is patience. It can take a long time for a nail to grow in healthy.
There are lots of remedies, though they don’t all work equally well for everyone. Some people report that foot soaks with cornmeal work for them, while others get results from tea tree oil, Listerine, vinegar or Vicks VapoRub. Hydrogen peroxide is another perennial favorite.
Visitor Testimonials:
Here are some testimonials from visitors to this website:
“As a child I lived on a ranch in Oklahoma and went barefooted most of the time except for school. Needless to say, I had toenail fungus.
“The doctor took my toenail off and scraped the fungus off with me screaming. This was repeated well into my 50s. Then I heard about cornmeal. I immediately got some plain old yellow cornmeal from the grocery store. You know the kind that you make cornbread with. I put ¼ cup of it in lukewarm water since cold water puts it to sleep and hot water kills it.
“I soaked my feet 30 minutes twice a week and by the third week my nails were already on the road to healthy. I now go for years without having to use the ‘cure’ but at the first signs of fungus I do not hesitate to grab my yellow cornmeal.”
“The real cure for nail fungus IS the cornmeal.
“The reason being?: Cornmeal has a natural fungus in it that goes after toenail fungus, with no interest whatsoever in the keratin of the nail.
“You put some cornmeal in your palm and add water, then apply it on an infected nail.
“Let it soak for 1 hour for 10 days.
“My experience: I felt something happening after about 30 minutes. After 3 days of the program, the bent-up nails relaxed and became normal in shape. By the tenth day, there was a slight blackening in places, with clear new nail material growing-in. The nail then crumbled right off where it was blackened. The exposed nail bed was not sensitive. In about two months I will have brand new normal nails.
“This is the real deal, and it’s understandable why. The cornmeal fungus is as ravenous for toenail fungus as a seal is for fish.”
“I tried your remedy for toenail fungus and it worked like a charm – the Hydrogen Peroxide treatment.” Sally
“I read your diluted hydrogen peroxide cure for toenail fungus.
“Recently I had such a problem, and a relative in East Texas told me he had cured his mother’s fungus by putting iodine on her toenail every day.
“I bought white iodine and began the process. Soon I was able to cut away dead toenail and continue to treat my nails. Now 9 months to l year later I have two healthy toenails. I didn’t record the date so I am not sure how long it took. I also forgot some days so if one were diligent the process would probably be shorter.”
How to Learn More:
There are details on how to use these and other remedies in our Guide to Hair & Nail Care. You will also find out a lot more about getting rid of nail fungus in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies. The 264-page book provides details on Listerine and vinegar soaks, Vicks VapoRub, dandruff shampoo, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, tea tree oil or urine soaks. You can also find hundreds of other home remedies for a variety of ailments in on this website.
