Nail fungus is officially referred to as Onychomycosis-Tinea Unguium. The fungus is made up of bacteria, which quickly multiply in dark, warm, moist conditions. The fungus is spread in a manner similar to athlete’s foot, especially if there is some breaking or trauma to the nail, or the popular French nails and nail wraps.
Treatment v Cure
With a hard-to-cure condition such as nail fungus, health care specialists often avoid the word “cure” and prefer to use the word “treatment.” Keeping this caution in mind, and remembering that consulting with a health care professional is the first step, here are some additional ways that people are trying to take care of their nails.
Medical Treatments
Some common medical treatments may work, yet come with cautions of liver damage. According to the FDA, "Both Sporanox® and Lamisil® have been associated with serious hepatic toxicity, including liver failure and death, including some cases involving patients who had neither pre-existing liver disease nor a serious underlying medical condition.” With Lamisil, there are a reported 11 deaths from liver failure and two liver transplants
Because of the side effects in medications, many people search for treatments or cures involving products that are referred to as “natural.”
Vick's Vabor Rub
Some people have tried using Vick’s Vapor Rub on the infected toenails. Reports range from completely eliminating the toenail fungus, to having no effect at all. There is conjecture that this treatment will only work on younger children or people who have just noticed the beginnings of the fungus. If the fungus has been infecting the nail for a long period of time, this treatment could be ineffective.
Mouthwash Soak
There have been some published reports of mouthwash being effective in eliminating toenail fungus. The procedure is simply to purchase mouthwash, with mint being a favorite, pour the mouthwash in a tub, and soak the feet and nails in this solution. Anecdotal evidence claims that mouthwash will eliminate the toenail fungus, but caution that the mouthwash will also begin working on the skin.
White Vinegar, Acidophilis, and Dark Beer Soak
This treatment comes from Dr. Benjamin Lynch, ND, who received a BS degree from the University of Washington in Cell and Molecular Biology, and a doctorate from Bastyr University in Naturopathic Medicine. He and a professor developed this procedure, based on biology.
Biological Basis for the White Vinegar, Acidophilis, and Dark Beer Soak
Dr. Lynch states, “The basic premise behind this odd sounding natural toenail fungus treatment is to soften the nail with the beer, create an acidic environment with vinegar which is beneficial to good bacteria and deadly to fungus and then penetrate the nails with beneficial bacteria to help kill and prevent further recurrences.”
Specific Ingredients of the "Beer Soak"
- 1 liter of room temperature beer, with Guiness Stout being considered the most effective
- 1 liter of white vinegar
- 1acidophilis sachet with 125 billion organisms, purchased and kept cold.
Procedure for the "Beer Soak"
Dr. Lynch suggests soaking the infected nails in a foot-sized tub daily, for 30 minutes or longer. After the soak, then file the nails down, and soak again in the tub for a minute to eliminate the infected nail filings.
Every three days, throw out the solution and make a new batch.
The treatment is advised for 3-6 months, with daily half hour soaks. Dr. Lynch explains that toenails take from 3-6 months to fully grow out, and rarely will the fungus disappear sooner than this time frame.
Some Suggestions for Avoiding the Conditions Leading to Nail Fungus
- Wearing natural materials, such as cotton socks and leather or natural fiber shoes that breathe
- Avoiding sugar and yeast in the diet
- Avoiding nail polish or beauty treatments of artifical nails
- Rubbing a mixture of olive oil and salt on the nails before wearing socks and shoes
No Guarantees and Consult Your Health Care Professional
None of these treatments come with a guarantee, and all advise that people with fungus-infected nails consult their health care providers before beginning treatments.
References
“Toenail Fungus Treatment With the Acidophilis Beer Soak.”
“Toenail Fungus Treatment Guide by a RN Nurse.”
Teresa Knudsen - Teresa's writing appears in the British Library, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Online she has written for USA Today and E How.
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