Toenail fungus causes not only unpleasant sensations in the form of unbearable itching, burning and swelling in humans, but also aesthetic discomfort. Onychomycosis should definitely be treated as it can be passed on to another person and can progress.
In addition, if ignored, nail fungus often leads to dangerous consequences in the form of transmission of the infection to healthy tissue and its entry into the bloodstream. The result is the spread of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the body. Onychomycosis can be treated not only with medication, but also with traditional methods.
One of the most effective methods is the use of celandine oil. This remedy is completely safe and is considered very effective. We continue to learn how to use celandine oil for nail fungus and other products based on it.
causes
The fungus develops in a favorable environment for this - rooms with high humidity. Therefore, it is easy to guess that the main causes of infection are visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths and public showers without changing shoes.
In addition, wet, poor quality or tight shoes can be a source of onychomycosis. It is also worth mentioning that people with diabetes, vascular diseases of the lower extremities and eczema on the legs are at high risk of developing a fungus.
Regular use of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as wearing clothes and shoes of a sick person can also lead to the development of pathology.
Symptoms of the disease
Onychomycosis has a number of characteristic symptoms and is therefore quite easy to recognize. The most important:
- crumbling of the nail, hardening, discoloration, appearance of spots and streaks;
- unbearable itching, redness of the skin around the plaque, swelling of the specified area, peeling;
- Detachment of plaque from the nail bed.
The fungus also manifests itself by darkening and fogging of the nail surface.
The effectiveness of celandine treatment
In the initial stages, celandine can be used as the only remedy against toenail fungus. However, in advanced cases they cannot cope on their own. In this situation, treatment must be comprehensive, otherwise complications cannot be avoided.
In addition, the effectiveness of celandine as a prophylactic agent has been proven. The plant resists the spread of infections, calms the inflammatory process and prevents recurrence of the disease.
Attention!Do not compare celandine with the drug of the same name, which is available in the pharmacy for nail fungus. The drug is also quite effective for onychomycosis, but it has nothing in common with the plant indicated in the name. Contains potassium and sodium alkali, salt, soda and water. The solution is also very caustic and should be used with extreme caution.
Description of the substance, its properties
Celandine is one of the plants that has long been used to treat various dermatological diseases. Contains various components, thanks to which the inflammatory process is quickly suppressed, even the strongest itching is relieved, etc.
For example, plant sap is often used to cauterize wounds. This plant is also characterized by antifungal and disinfectant effects. However, celandine juice is too aggressive for the skin and can cause burns and flaking. Therefore, it is more advisable to use it for nail fungus.
Celandine oil is more gentle. Typically used for:
- herpes;
- mycosis;
- Psoriasis;
- Seborrhea;
- papillomas;
- onychomycosis;
- colorful lichens;
- Warts
The naturalness and safety of this product allows it to be used for dermatological diseases in children. Soothes the skin, relieves itching, relieves swelling.
advantages and disadvantages
The benefits of celandine are as follows:
- Budget.
- Natural and safe compared to synthetic antifungals.
- Availability.
The disadvantages include the following:
- As an independent remedy, celandine is not used to treat onychomycosis in advanced cases.
- The sap of the plant has coloring properties, which makes it impossible to use on the hands.
We also note the toxicity of celandine juice.
Treatment options
Celandine-based antifungal agents can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared yourself. Here are the main ways to prepare and use the plant against nail fungus.
Juice
You can make celandine juice yourself. To do this, the fresh plant must be chopped up and squeezed out using gauze and juice. Apply 1-2 times a day with a cotton swab to the previously cleaned and dried nail. The duration of therapy is 1-3 months.
Infusions
They are used in pure form, in the form of applications, sachets or as an additive to warm water foot baths. All methods can be divided into groups: first take a bath, then apply a compress, and then apply lotions. The course of treatment lasts no more than 21 days.
decoction
Several branches of the plant (dried) should be poured with a glass of boiling water. Put the container with the liquid on the fire and, after boiling, cook over low heat for 20 minutes.
Then the medicine is filtered and added to a bowl of hot water. The procedure for steaming nails and skin is carried out 10 minutes daily for 1 month.
oil
There are several ways to treat nail fungus with celandine: Add oil to foot baths and apply directly to the affected area.
For nail fungus, it is recommended to mix celandine oil with ethyl alcohol for greater effectiveness. This is a great way to cure nail fungus. Take 15 drops of oil per glass.
The mixture is tightly closed with a lid and infused in a glass container for exactly 24 hours. Then the areas affected by the fungus are treated with the resulting medicine. The product does not need to be rinsed off.
bath
To prepare foot baths, add the following to a basin of hot water (1 liter):
- 200 ml of alcohol tincture;
- 4 tbsp. l. celandine oils;
- Decoction of the plant (1: 1 with water).
Everything mixes well. It is necessary to leave the feet in the solution until the water cools down. The procedure is carried out daily. A solution based on oil, infusion or celandine decoction effectively relieves itching and stops the inflammatory process.
Celandine oil mixed with soda is considered an effective treatment. Before using the drug, your feet should be steamed in a soda solution (1 tablespoon per 3 liters of hot water). You need to hold your feet tight until the water gets warm.
The diseased nails are then filed and disinfected with alcohol. The affected nail plate and the adjacent area should be treated with celandine oil daily until the symptoms of onychomycosis disappear.
Compresses and lotions
You can cure the fungus by applying a mixture of oil and hydrogen peroxide to the area affected by the pathogenic fungus. The deposit takes place alternately – every 8 hours. Before use, the feet are thoroughly steamed.
Treatment of nail fungus with celandine is carried out with a mixture of lemon juice and celandine oil. The first is to take 2 tbsp. l. Second – 1-2 drops. The ingredients are mixed thoroughly and applied once a day to the areas affected by fungal spores.
This mixture softens and disinfects the nail. For these purposes, it is also recommended to mix oil with vinegar (3%). At 2 tbsp. l. You need 2-3 drops of oil. The product is applied directly to the affected area or as a compress at night. Treatment duration – 2 weeks.
Using a compress with celandine oil is considered an effective treatment. Nails should be steamed, smoothed with a file, dried and oil applied to the affected area. Then you need to wrap the legs with cling film. Exposure time 8 hours.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that celandine has many positive properties, there are contraindications to its use. One of them is individual intolerance to celandine products.
In addition, doctors do not recommend using the product for people with serious diseases of the heart, vascular, nervous and respiratory systems.
Do not apply oil to areas where there are cracks in the nails, open wounds, abrasions, etc.
To determine whether you are allergic to celandine, you should apply a small product based on it from the inside to the area at the base of the brush. If redness, irritation or other symptoms harmful to health appear on the skin within half an hour of using the drug, the drug is not suitable for treatment.
Attention!In the complex treatment of onychomycosis, doctors recommend the use of medicines. One of the most effective remedies is celandine balm. It contains not only celandine, but also other medicinal herbs.
The product is considered quite aggressive and can cause side effects if used incorrectly. It should be applied immediately to areas affected by fungus.
General treatment rules
How to treat nail fungus with celandine products? In order for the therapy to give a positive result faster, it is necessary to prepare the legs for the treatment procedures. This requires a number of specific measures:
- Soak your feet well in a solution of hot soda.
- Then treat the foot with a pumice stone and cut off the overgrown nail.
- If the nail plate is affected, you need to carefully process it with a nail file.
- Then disinfect the treated area with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.
- Next, a celandine-based product is applied and a transparent film is placed on top.
The compress is then removed, the oil is washed off and iodine is applied to the affected areas.
Homemade recipes for celandine oil and tincture
To prepare the oil, you need to take a bunch of dry plants and pour a glass of unrefined vegetable oil over them so that it covers the plant by 1-2 cm. The mixture must be placed in a water bath for three hours. The medicine is then filtered several times. The finished product is stored in a cool, dark place.
The second method of making butter is a little different. To do this, dry grass is gently rubbed into your hands or chopped with a knife. The resulting powder is poured 1-2 cm over the vegetable raw material with olive, almond and vegetable oil without additives.
Cover the container with the mixture with a lid and place in a dark place for 1 month. Shake the medicine regularly. The oil is then filtered several times and used according to the instructions for use.
An infusion is prepared from a dry or fresh plant. A glass jar (3 liters) is filled to the brim with dried celandine herb. Alcohol is poured there (to the brim). Cover the container with a lid and leave it in a dark place for 15 days.
prevention
Preventive measures should primarily be aimed at strengthening immune functions. In addition, we recommend only wearing suitable, quality shoes. You must have spare shoes with you in baths, saunas, swimming pools and public showers.