Toenail fungus gives a person not only unpleasant sensations in the form of unbearable itching, burning, swelling, but also cosmetic discomfort. Onychomycosis should be treated without fail, as it can be transmitted to another person and has the ability to progress.
In addition, if ignored, nail fungus often leads to dangerous consequences in the form of transmission of the infection to healthy tissues and its entry into the bloodstream. The result is the spread of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the body. Onychomycosis can be treated not only with medications, but also with traditional methods.
One of the most effective ways is to use celandine oil. This remedy is absolutely safe and is considered very effective. We will further learn how to use celandine oil for nail fungus and other products based on it.
Causes
The fungus develops in a favorable environment: rooms with high humidity. Therefore, it is easy to guess that the main reasons for the development of the infection are visiting public swimming pools, saunas, baths, showers without changing shoes.
Additionally, wet, poor-quality or tight shoes can become a source of onychomycosis. It is also worth saying that there is a high risk of contracting a fungus in people with diabetes, vascular diseases of the lower extremities and eczema of the legs.
Even the regular use of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, the use of clothes and shoes of a sick person can lead to the development of pathologies.
Symptoms of the disease
Onychomycosis has a number of characteristic symptoms, so it is quite easy to recognize. The main:
- crumbling of the nail, its hardening, discoloration, appearance of spots and stripes;
- intolerable itching, redness of the skin around the plaque, swelling of the specified area, peeling;
- separation of the plaque from the nail bed.
The fungus also manifests itself as darkening and clouding of the nail surface.
The effectiveness of treatment with celandine
In the initial stage, celandine for toenail fungus can be used as the only remedy. However, in advanced cases they will not be able to 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 the infection, calms the inflammatory process and prevents relapse of the disease.
Attention!Do not compare celandine with the drug of the same name sold in the pharmacy for nail fungus. The drug is also quite effective against onychomycosis, but 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 corrosive and should be used with extreme caution.
Description of the substance, its properties
Celandine is one of those plants that has long been used in the treatment of various dermatological diseases. It contains various components, thanks to which the inflammatory process is quickly suppressed, even the most severe itching is relieved, etc.
For example, the juice of the plants 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 delicate. Typically used for:
- herpes;
- mycosis;
- psoriasis;
- seborrhea;
- papillomas;
- onychomycosis;
- colored lichens;
- warts
The naturalness and safety of this product allow 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:
- Balance.
- Natural and safe compared to synthetic antifungal agents.
- Availability.
Among the disadvantages are the following:
- As an independent remedy, celandine is not used in the treatment of onychomycosis in advanced cases.
- The juice 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
Antifungal agents based on celandine can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared yourself. Here are the main ways to prepare and use the plant for nail fungus.
Juice
You can make celandine juice yourself. To do this, the fresh plant must be crushed and squeezed with gauze and juice. Apply with a cotton ball on the previously cleaned and dried nail 1-2 times a day. The course of therapy lasts 1-3 months.
Infusions
They are used pure, in the form of applications, sachets or as an additive for hot water foot baths. All methods can be grouped: first take a bath, then apply a compress, then prepare lotions. The course of treatment lasts no more than 21 days.
Decoction
Several branches of the plant (dried) must be poured with a glass of boiling water. Place the container with the liquid on the heat and, after boiling, cook over low heat for 20 minutes.
Then the medicine is filtered and added to a bowl of warm water. The procedure for steaming nails and skin is carried out for 10 minutes a day for 1 month.
Oil
There are several ways to treat nail fungus with celandine: add oil to foot baths, apply directly to the affected area.
In case of nail fungus, it is recommended to mix celandine oil with ethyl alcohol for greater effectiveness. This is a great way to treat nail fungus. Take 15 drops of oil per glass.
The mixture is hermetically sealed with a lid and left to infuse in a glass container for exactly 24 hours. Then the areas affected by the fungus are treated with the resulting medicine. It is not necessary to rinse the product.
Bathrooms
To prepare the foot baths, add to a basin of hot water (1 litre):
- 200 ml of alcoholic tincture;
- 4 tbsp. L. celandine oils;
- decoction of the plant (1: 1 with water).
Everything mixes well. You need to keep your feet in the solution until the water cools. The procedure is performed daily. A solution based on oil, infusion or decoction of celandine effectively relieves itching and stops the inflammatory process.
Celandine oil mixed with soda is considered an effective treatment. Before using the medicine, feet should be steamed in a soda solution (1 tablespoon per 3 liters of hot water). You have to keep your feet until the water becomes warm.
Then diseased nails are filed and disinfected with alcohol. The affected nail plate and the area adjacent to it should be treated daily with celandine oil until the symptoms of onychomycosis disappear.
Compresses and lotions
You can treat the fungus by applying a mixture of oil and hydrogen peroxide to the area affected by the pathogenic fungus. Funds are deposited alternately – every 8 hours. The feet are carefully steamed before use.
Treatment of nail fungus with celandine is carried out using a mixture of lemon juice and celandine oil. The first is to take 2 tablespoons. L. Second: 1-2 drops. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and applied once a day to the areas affected by fungal spores.
This mixture softens the nail and disinfects it. For these purposes it is also recommended to mix oil with vinegar (3%). To 2 tablespoons. L. you need 2-3 drops of oil. The product is applied directly to the affected area or as a compress during the night. Duration of treatment – 2 weeks.
The use of a compress with celandine oil is considered an effective treatment. Nails should be steamed, smoothed with a file, dried and applied to the affected area with oil. Then you need to wrap the legs with cling film. Exposure time 8 hours.
Contraindications
Although celandine has many beneficial 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 to people with serious diseases of the heart and vascular, nervous and respiratory systems.
Do not apply the oil to places where there are cracks in the nails, open wounds, abrasions, etc.
To determine whether you are allergic to celandine, you should apply a little product based on it to the area at the base of the brush from the inside. If redness, irritation or other unhealthy symptoms appear on the skin within half an hour of using the medicine, the medicine is not suitable for treatment.
Attention!In the complex treatment of onychomycosis, doctors recommend the use of medications. One of the most effective is mountain 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 promptly to the fungal affected areas.
General rules of treatment
How to treat nail fungus with celandine-based products? In order for the therapy to give a positive result faster, it is necessary to prepare the legs for the treatment procedures. This will require a number of specific actions:
- Cook your feet well in a hot soda solution.
- Then treat the foot with a pumice stone and cut off the overgrown nail.
- If the nail plate is affected, it is necessary to carefully pass it with a nail file.
- Then disinfect the treated area with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.
- Subsequently, a product based on celandine is applied and a transparent film is placed on top.
Then the compress is 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 plant and pour it with a glass of unrefined vegetable oil so that it covers the plant by 1-2 cm, the mixture must be placed in a water bath for three hours. Then the medicine is filtered several times. The finished product is stored in a cool, dark place.
The second method of making butter is slightly different. To do this, the dried herb is carefully rubbed between hands or chopped with a knife. The resulting powder is poured with olive, almond and vegetable oil without additives 1-2 cm above the vegetable raw material.
Cover the container with the mixture with a lid and store it in a dark place for 1 month. Shake the medicine periodically. The oil is subsequently filtered several times and used according to the instructions.
An infusion is prepared from a dry or fresh plant. A glass jar (3 liters) is filled to the brim with dried herb of celandine. There the alcohol is poured (to the brim). Cover the container with a lid and leave in a dark place for 15 days.
Prevention
Preventive measures, first of all, should be aimed at strengthening immune functions. Furthermore, it is recommended to wear only shoes of adequate quality. In bathrooms, saunas, swimming pools and public showers it is necessary to have spare shoes.