Double trouble for foot fungus
Athlete’s foot fungus is something like the mythical vampire of folk- lore: it hates sunlight and garlic. Sounds strange, but you can fight this pesky condition with these two home remedies. Researchers had sol- diers with athlete’s foot compare a gel made from garlic extract toterbinafine (Lamisil), a common drug used to kill the fungus. Both treatments worked equally well, confirm-ing garlic’s antifungal properties.
To try this remedy at home, make a paste of mashed garlic and oil and rub on athlete’s foot spots.You can also dust your feet with garlic powder or cut up raw garlic and put in your shoes. How does sunlight affect athlete’s foot? Since fungus thrives in damp places, it hates to see the light of day. Fight the itchies by putting your shoes on the windowsill when you’re not wearing them or going barefoot in the sunlight.
Tea tree-tment powers away the itch
Reach for tea tree oil when the discomfort of athlete’s foot proves just too much. This ancient Australian remedy is a naturalantifungal agent that clears up symptoms just as well as tolnaftate, the generic name for Tinactin, a common over-the-counter cream. You’ll have to go with the commercial medicine if you want to actually kill the fungus, but for quick relief, use a few drops of tea tree oil in an aromatic footbath, dilute it in vinegar and dab on your toes with a cloth, or add it to a natural foot powder.
Handy no-sweat foot remedies
The average foot has 250,000 sweat glands, producing about 8 ounces of sweat every day. This constant moisture creates a breed- ing ground for the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. To help keep those pups dry, rub on some diaper rash cream containing zinc oxide. Or spray antiperspirant on the soles of your feet.
Fragrant soak soothes athlete’s foot misery
The itching, burning, and scaliness of athlete’s foot fungus can be annoying and long-lasting. To take the edge off your symptoms, try soaking your feet in an aromatic foot bath containing tea tree oil, which kills fungus, and peppermint and sage essential oils which may help with itching.
☛ 3 drops peppermint oil
☛ 5 drops sage oil
☛ 5 drops tea tree oil
Fill a basin with water that is comfortably warm. Mix in the oils, and soak your feet for about 15 minutes. Dry them completely, since damp skin allows the fungus to grow. Remember — don’t put full-strength essential oils directly on your skin.
- FC&A Staff Writer
