The best home remedies for nail fungus, popularly known as “unheiro” or scientifically as onychomycosis, are mainly those prepared with essential oils, as a good part of these oils have proven and studied antifungal properties.
Although they can be used alone, essential oils can also be used together with medication prescribed by the doctor, enhancing their effect and accelerating recovery. However, it is important to always inform your doctor about the use of oils, so that doses can be adapted and even guided by specific care.
These natural remedies can even be used when the first symptoms of nail fungus appear, such as the presence of a yellowish spot and thickening of the nail, to try to control the infection, until you consult a doctor. Know how to identify the symptoms of nail fungus.
1. Garlic essential oil
Garlic essential oil is one of the best studied oils for combating fungi and other microorganisms, having a strong effect and is therefore recommended by many doctors and professionals who resort to natural options for treating fungal infections. This effect occurs mainly due to the presence of the substance allicin.
Furthermore, garlic is cheap and quite versatile, and can be used in its natural form or as an oil.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Cut the garlic into slices and apply directly to the affected nail for 30 minutes every day. Ideally, the foot should be washed before and after applying garlic to ensure the best effect. This process must be repeated up to 4 weeks after the nail has returned to its normal state, which can take between 4 and 6 months.
Since some people may have increased sensitivity to garlic essential oil, it is advised to try to keep the garlic only on the nail. If symptoms of burning or redness appear on the skin due to the application of garlic, it is recommended to wash the area with cold water and avoid putting garlic in the area again, as it could cause burns or inflammation.
2. Essential oil tea tree
The oil of tea treewhich can also be known as tea tree oil, contains a compound, known as terpinen-4-ol, which, according to some scientific studies, has been shown to have an antifungal effect, especially against the main organisms that cause nail mycosis.
How to use: one drop should be dripped directly onto the affected nail, twice a day, after washing the area with soap and water. Treatment should be continued for approximately 4 to 6 months or up to 4 weeks after the nail regains normal characteristics.
Although in most cases there are no side effects reported with the use of this oil, people who have more sensitive skin should mix a drop of tea tree with 1 drop of a vegetable oil, such as coconut or avocado, before applying it to the nail.
3. Rosemary essential oil
Just like oil tea treerosemary oil, known scientifically as Rosemary officinalis It has also shown very positive effects in combating fungi responsible for nail mycosis, in studies carried out in the laboratory. Therefore, it can be an excellent natural option to try to control the problem.
How to use: apply one drop directly to the affected nail, twice a day, after washing the area with soap and water. If your skin is sensitive to this essential oil, with irritation and redness in the skin around the nail, it should be mixed with 1 drop of a vegetable oil, such as almond, avocado or coconut oil, for example.
This treatment should be continued for up to 4 weeks after symptoms disappear, to ensure that excess fungi are completely eliminated.
4. Clove essential oil
Clove essential oil is an excellent natural option for nail fungus, as it is rich in eugenol, which has proven potent antifungal action, which helps fight fungi that cause nail fungus, such as Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum e Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
How to use: Apply 1 drop of clove essential oil directly to the affected nail, at least twice a day, after washing the affected area with soap and water. To avoid irritation to the skin around the nail, you can mix 2 drops of clove essential oil with 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, almond oil or jojoba oil, for example. .
5. Thyme essential oil
Thymol and carvacrol, present in the composition of thyme essential oil, have a strong antifungal action that helps eliminate fungi that cause nail mycosis, such as Candida albicansbeing a good natural option to combat this type of mycosis.
How to use: Mix 1 to 3 drops of thyme essential oil with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or other vegetable oil and apply directly to the affected nail, twice a day, after washing the affected area with water and neutral soap. Treatment with thyme essential oil can be done for a maximum of 3 months and should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
6. Oregano essential oil
Oregano essential oil is another good natural option for treating nail fungus, as it contains substances such as carvacrol, caryophyllene and spatulenol, with strong antifungal action that help eliminate the fungi that cause nail fungus, such as Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes e Fusarium oxysporum.
How to use: To apply oregano essential oil, you must mix 3 drops of the essential oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, olive oil or other vegetable oil, and apply to the affected nail 1 to 2 times a day, after washing it. with water and neutral soap. This treatment must be done for up to 3 weeks to ensure that the fungi are eliminated.
