12 Natural Ways to Give Athlete’s Foot the Boot (Love #10!)

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If you have ever had or currently have Athlete’s Foot, you are already well aware of the itching, burning, scaling and flaking you have to endure every day. Athlete’s Foot is caused by one of a number of fungi that all have pretty long, difficult-to-pronounce names..

Not sure if you have Athlete’s Foot? Common signs include:

Burning, stinging or itching on the soles of the feet and/or between the toes
Tiny blisters on the feet that itch like crazy
A softening of the skin between the toes which sometimes appears to be white in color
Scaly or flaky-looking skin on the soles of your feet
Crusting on the skin of your feet
Very red, sore feet, mostly involving the soles and between the toes
Thick black or brown toenails

Although the main cause of Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection, you can encourage the infection by frequently wearing damp socks or tight shoes, and by sharing shoes, towels or socks with infected people. Humid, wet conditions, and direct skin to skin contact with someone who has this fungal infection are also ways to spread Athlete’s Foot.

There are plenty of over-the-counter, chemical-filled products that claim to fix your problem. Most of them are expensive and while they do work, keep in mind that everything you put on your skin is absorbed directly into your blood stream. You probably don’t want to have numerous toxic ingredients coursing through your body.

This is why we have compiled a list of 12 natural home remedies that are non-toxic and still work like magic. Keep reading so you don’t have to deal with those itchy, peeling toes any longer!

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1. Ginger

Most people think of ginger as being a natural anti-nausea herb, which it is, but ginger is also antifungal and antibacterial. Make your own strong ginger tea by slicing up a two-inch piece of fresh, organic ginger root and adding it to one cup of boiling water. Allow this to sit for 20 minutes, then strain. When it has cooled, apply this tea to your feet and between your toes using either a cotton ball or a clean washcloth. Do this daily until your symptoms diminish.

2. Mustard Oil

You might think that mustard is only for hot dogs or hamburgers, but here we are talking about mustard oil — not that yellow stuff you put on your food. Mustard oil will kill foot fungus really quickly. It might burn a bit, but not as much as the burning of Athlete’s Foot! Apply some pure mustard oil directly to your feet, or you can soak your feet in mustard powder and water.

3. Neem Oil

This oil comes to us from India and is non-toxic oil to humans, but is deadly to bugs and fungus. Apply this oil to your clean, dry feet using a cotton ball. Allow it to dry, and don’t wash it off. Repeat daily until your symptoms improve.

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4. Tea Tree Oil

This oil is well-known for curing all types of skin problems, including Athlete’s Foot. You can mix a few drops of tea tree oil with some olive oil and rub it on the soles of your feet and between your toes. Olive oil will help your skin better absorb the tea tree oil. An alternative method is to mix aloe vera gel with tea tree oil and apply this to your feet.

5. Lavender Oil

In addition to its divine fragrance, lavender essential oil has powerful antifungal compounds. Simply mix a few drops of lavender oil with a good quality carrier oil such as olive oil or jojoba oil. Apply this mixture to your feet every night before bed.

6. Lemon

Lemon will help kill mild Athlete’s Foot and the odor that comes with it. Juice one organic lemon and add the juice to two ounces of clean water. Use a cotton ball or clean cloth and apply the juice to your feet. Do this about 20 minutes before you get in the shower and then rinse off. Read more about unbelievable lemon juice uses.

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7. Cinnamon

Cinnamon will kill most cases of Athlete’s Foot within a few days. Make a really strong cinnamon tea by adding eight cinnamon sticks to four cups of boiling water. Allow the cinnamon to simmer for about 45 minutes. Strain the sticks, and when the water has cooled a bit, soak your feet for 20 to 30 minutes. Dry your feet well afterwards. Repeat this daily until your problem clears up.

8. Amazing Foot Soak Solution

Make your own fungus-killing foot soak by mixing half a cup of raw, organic apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of Himalayan salt. Put these ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the salt is dissolved. Spray on your feet (don’t forget to get between your toes!) after every shower. Allow this mixture to dry on your feet and don’t rinse it off. You can even spray this mixture inside your shoes to kill any fungus that might be clinging there.

9. Oregano

Yes, the same spice that makes lasagna taste so good is also a powerful antifungal agent in disguise! Make your own fungus-fighting tea by mixing four ounces (about half a cup) of oregano leaves and just enough hot water to completely cover your feet. Soak your feet in this oregano tea two or three times each day. Make a fresh mixture each day so you don’t re-infect your feet. Repeat this daily until you see an improvement.

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10. Vodka

Isn’t this cool? Who would have thought?! Mix one cup of vodka with three teaspoons of powdered cloves. Shake and store in a jar. Apply this to your feet with a cotton ball and allow it to dry. Apply daily until your feet are fungus-free once more.

11. Coconut Oil

This is an amazing oil when it comes to healing just about any skin problem. Coconut oil has natural antifungal and antibacterial compounds that will have your feet feeling soft and fungus-free in no time at all. Apply some coconut oil to your feet and between your toes after every shower.

12. Colloidal Silver

Since nothing can live in the presence of silver, it only makes sense that spraying some of this age-old remedy on your feet will kill the fungus quickly. Add some colloidal silver to a spray bottle (if you don’t already have some in a spray bottle!) and spray your feet every night just before bed time. Wash and dry your feet as you normally would the next morning.

Extra Tips:

Wear leather shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
Wear cotton socks.
Change your socks every single day.
Wash and dry your feet thoroughly.
Never put on wet or soiled socks.
Do not share towels or socks with infected persons.
Wear shower shoes or flip flops in public showers such as at the gym.
If your feet sweat a great deal during the day, try putting some baking soda on your feet and inside your shoes to help keep them dry.

Although prevention is the best medicine, things do happen. At the first sign of Athlete’s Foot, be sure to take care of the problem right away.

References:

Onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Sciencedaily.com

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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