Several natural home remedies can be used to treat fungal infections of the nails, also known as onychomycosis. While the fastest way to treat nail fungus is to use oral (by mouth) antifungal medication or medicated nail cream, home remedies, such as ginger and apple cider vinegar, may be helpful for some. With that being said, there is little scientific support for the use of natural home remedies to treat onychomycosis.
This article discusses 10 natural remedies often recommended to treat fungal infections of the fingernails or toenails, along with whether these remedies are backed by science.
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Ginger
Ginger is one of the oldest and most popular medicinal plants in the world. The root possesses a variety of phytochemicals, including phenols and terpenes, that exert antifungal effects. In particular, the phenol gingerone and the terpene curcumin have been studied for their potential to treat fungal infections.
Ginger essential oil contains considerable amounts of beneficial phytochemicals. The essential oil is safe to apply to your skin and nails, but should always be diluted with a carrier oil first. As is always the case with essential oils, it's best to test the oil against a small area of skin before continuing to use it.
What Are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils, also known as base oils, are oils used to dilute essential oils before they are applied to the skin. Carrier oils are generally skin-safe and may even help with the absorption of the essential oil they are combined with. Olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, and coconut oil are all common carrier oils used in skincare and dermatology.
Green Tea
Green tea may have potential as a treatment against onychomycosis, as its leaves contain a high concentration of phenols with beneficial antifungal properties. Furthermore, green tea extract has been tested against the fungus Candida albicans—a yeast commonly implicated in nail fungus infections. Green tea extract has been shown to significantly reduce colonies of this fungus in lab tests, but more research on its effects in humans is needed.
Neem Oil
Neem is a well-established medicinal plant in many parts of the world. But while there are numerous anecdotal reports of people who cured their fungal nail infections with neem oil, scientific research in humans is lacking. With that being said, when researchers tested neem extract against six fungi, including Candida albicans, in a lab, neem was found to inhibit the growth of all six fungi.
Neem oil is gentle and generally well-tolerated, so you do not need to dilute it with a carrier oil before applying it to your skin or nails.
What Is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Nail Fungus?
The fastest way to get rid of nail is to see a dermatologist for treatment. A dermatologist can prescribe medication to cure the fungus as the nail regrows. Options include a medicated nail lacquer, such as amorolfine or ciclopirox, or an oral antifungal drug, like fluconazole or terbinafine. These medications don't work instantly; It can take two to six months or more for prescription medications to completely cure a fungal nail infection.
Garlic Cloves
Perhaps one of the most well-studied natural remedies for onychomycosis is garlic. Fresh garlic has significant antifungal effects against Candida albicans. It boasts an array of fungus-fighting phytochemicals, including sterols, flavonoids, and phenols, some of which also contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Garlic cloves and essential oil can be applied topically to a fungal infection. But like other essential oils, it's important to dilute garlic essential oil with a carrier oil first.
Henna
Henna leaves are another medicinal plant used since ancient times. Research shows that henna leaves may be particularly beneficial in the fight against the fungus Trichophyton rubrum, which is the most frequent cause of onychomycosis worldwide. The research is so promising that some researchers believe using henna leaves to treat fungal infections, instead of antifungal drugs, could help reduce the risk of antifungal drug resistance.
Aloe Vera
Another well-known medicinal plant is aloe vera. Aloe vera gel comes from the plant's leaves. The gel itself is rich with an array of phytochemicals, including saponins, vitamins and minerals, sterols, and flavonoids, that can help fight fungal infections and soothe inflammation. Applying aloe vera gel to a nail infected with Candida albicans or another fungus may stop the infection from growing, but more research in humans is needed.
Oregano
Oregano also contains many phytochemicals capable of fighting against fungi, including Candida albicans. Oregano may even be effective enough to treat certain fungal infections that do not respond to antifungal medications. Research shows that oregano can effectively stop the growth of various fungi entirely, but it is unclear if oregano can actually kill the infection.
Oregano essential oil is highly concentrated. While it is generally safe and well-tolerated when applied to the skin, it should always be diluted with a carrier oil first.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is one of the most widely tested essential oils for treating fungal skin and nail infections. Clove contains a potent phytochemical in its leaves called eugenol that is proven to stop the growth of various fungi, including Candida albicans. One study published in the journal Molecules found that clove oil was effective for treating onychomycosis caused by Candida albicans in people with compromised immune systems due to cancer.
It may be worth applying clove oil to a mild case of onychomycosis, but like other essential oils, it should be diluted with a carrier oil.
Tea Tree Oil
In lab studies, tea tree oil has been shown to stop the growth of two fungi that are responsible for the majority of onychomycosis infections: Trichophyton rubrum and Thrichophyton mentagrophytes. Tea tree oil may also be applied directly to your skin or nail when diluted with a carrier oil.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Proponents of apple cider vinegar suggest that acetic acid (a substance found in many types of vinegar) can destroy the fungi that cause nail fungal infections. One study showed that wearing a sock soaked with 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water can increase the effectiveness of topical antifungal medication, but there is no evidence that apple cider vinegar by itself is effective.
Summary
"Onychomycosis" refers to a fungal infection of the nail. Since ancient times, numerous natural remedies have been used to treat onychomycosis, including henna and ginger. To this day, natural remedies like clove oil and garlic oil remain the preferred treatment for onychomycosis in many parts of the world, as they are gentler and more accessible than antifungal medications.
Beyond anecdotal reports, there is very little evidence that natural remedies, including the essential oils discussed here, are effective for treating onychomycosis. Still, these treatments are generally safe to try when diluted with jojoba oil, almond oil, or another carrier oil.
