This Super Easy 2 Ingredient Way Will Get Rid of Nail Fungus Forever
This Super Easy 2 Ingredient Way Will Get Rid of Nail Fungus Forever
Nail fungus can be embarrassing, unsightly, and next to impossible to get rid of. Over the counter topical treatments often don’t reach down into the nail bed where fungus thrives, but anti-fungal pills have long lists of risky side effects. Fortunately, the cure for nail fungus might be as close as your pantry.
Both apple cider vinegar and baking soda have a long history of use in folk medicine and home remedies. A lot of pathogens– fungi included– are only adapted to surviving within a narrow range of pH. Vinegar is very acidic, while baking soda is very basic. This helps disrupt the pH of the pathogen’s environment, leading to healthier, clearer nails. In order to take advantage of this effect, all you need are a basin large enough for your feet, warm water, baking soda, and several cups of apple cider vinegar.
- First, add the apple cider vinegar to the basin. While the amount you need will be dictated by the size of the basin, you want at least enough to cover your nails.
- Allow your feet to soak for about twenty minutes.
- Dry your feet thoroughly.
- Add enough warm water to the basin to cover your nails.
- Add about a half cup of baking soda to the water.
- Soak your feet for another fifteen to twenty minutes.
- Dry your feet thoroughly.
- Repeat several times per day.
In between treatments, it’s a good idea to keep feet clean and dry. Wear open-toed shoes, since fungi thrive in a dark, moist environment. Keep nails and cuticles neatly trimmed, and brush nails with tea tree oil every day to help fight fungus in between treatments. It can take several weeks for fungus to die off, and more for the affected areas of nails to grow out completely, so be patient and keep on top of the treatments.
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you may want to consider starting to keep some on hand. Not only is it good at fighting fungal infections, it can help with a host of other common ailments. While there are plenty of brands of apple cider vinegar to choose from, the most popular are generally the raw, unpasteurized products with the “mother” still intact. The mother of vinegar is the catchall term for the microorganisms that turn juices into vinegar, which may provide additional health benefits by out-competing pathogens in the body.