Toenail fungus gives a person not only unpleasant sensations in the form of unbearable itching, burning, swelling, but also aesthetic discomfort. Onychomycosis should be treated without fail, because it can be transmitted to another person and has the ability to progress.
In addition, if neglected, 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 drugs, but also with traditional methods.
One of the most effective ways is to use celandine oil. This medicine is absolutely safe and is considered very effective. Next, we will learn how to use celandine oil for nail fungus and other products based on it.
Causes
The fungus develops in an environment that is suitable for it - rooms with high humidity. Therefore, it is easy to assume that the main reasons for the development of infection are visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths, public showers without changing clothes.
In addition, wet, low-quality or tight shoes can become a source of onychomycosis. It is also worth saying that there is a high risk of fungal infection in people with diabetes, vascular diseases of the lower extremities and eczema of the legs.
Regular use of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, 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, so it is quite easy to recognize. Main:
- crumbling of the nail, its hardening, discoloration, appearance of spots and streaks;
- unbearable itching, redness of the skin around the plaque, swelling of the specified area, peeling;
- separation of plaque from the nail bed.
The fungus also manifests as darkening and clouding of the nail surface.
Effectiveness of celandine treatment
In the initial stage, celandine for toenail fungus can be used as the only remedy. However, in advanced cases, they will not handle themselves. 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 infection, calms the inflammatory process and prevents the return 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 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 corrosive and should be used with great care.
Description of the substance, its properties
Celandine is one of those plants that has been used for a long time in the treatment of various dermatological diseases. It contains various components, thanks to which the inflammatory process is quickly suppressed, relieves even the strongest itching, etc.
For example, plant juice is often used to cauterize wounds. This plant is characterized by both antifungal and disinfecting effects. However, celandine juice is too harsh on the skin and can cause burns and peeling. Therefore, it is more recommended to use it for nail fungus.
Celandine oil is more gentle. Commonly used for:
- herpes;
- mycosis;
- psoriasis;
- seborrhea;
- papillomas;
- onychomycosis;
- variegated lichens;
- warts
The naturalness and safety of this product enable its use in dermatological diseases in children. Soothes the skin, relieves itching, removes swelling.
Advantages and disadvantages
The benefits of celandine are as follows:
- Budget.
- Natural and safe compared to synthetic antifungal agents.
- Availability.
Disadvantages include:
- As an independent drug, celandine is not used in the treatment of onychomycosis in advanced cases.
- The sap of the plant has staining 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 a pharmacy or prepared by yourself. Here are the main ways to prepare and use the herb for nail fungus.
Juice
You can make celandine juice yourself. To do this, the fresh plant must be crushed and squeezed using cheesecloth and juice. Apply with a cotton ball to a previously cleaned and dried nail 1-2 times a day. The course of therapy is 1-3 months.
Infusions
They are used in their pure form, in the form of applications, bags or as an addition to hot water foot baths. All methods can be grouped: first take a bath, then apply compresses, then make lotions. The course of treatment does not last longer than 21 days.
Decoction
A few 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 on low heat for 20 minutes.
Then the medicine is filtered and added to a bowl of hot water. The nail and skin steaming procedure is carried out for 10 minutes a day for 1 month.
Oil
There are several ways to treat nail fungus with celandine: add the oil to foot baths, 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. The resulting medicine is then used to treat the areas affected by the fungus. There is no need to rinse the product.
Baths
To prepare a foot bath, add to a basin of warm water (1 liter):
- 200 ml of alcohol tincture;
- 4 tbsp. l. Celandine oil;
- decoction of the plant (1: 1 with water).
Everything is mixed well. It is necessary to keep the feet in the solution until the water cools down. The procedure is carried out daily. A solution based on oil, infusion or decoction of celandine effectively relieves itching and stops the inflammatory process.
Celandine oil mixed with baking soda is considered an effective treatment. Before using the medicine, feet should be scalded in a soda solution (1 tablespoon per 3 liters of hot water). You have to hold your feet until the water gets warm.
Then the affected 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 cure 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 well steamed before use.
Nail fungus treatment 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 thoroughly mixed and applied once a day to areas affected by fungal spores.
This mixture softens the nail and disinfects it. For these purposes, mixing oil with vinegar (3%) is also recommended. On 2 tbsp. l. 2-3 drops of oil are needed. The product is applied directly to the affected area or as a poultice at night. Duration of treatment - 2 weeks.
The use of compresses with celandine oil is considered an effective treatment. Nails should be scalded, 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
Despite the fact that celandine has many useful properties, there are contraindications for 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 and vascular, nervous and respiratory systems.
Do not apply the oil to places where there are cracks in the nails, open wounds, scratches, etc.
To determine if you are allergic to celandine, you should apply a small amount of celandine-based product to the area at the base of the brush on the inside. If redness, irritation or other unhealthy symptoms appear on the skin within half an hour after using the medicine, the medicine is not suitable for treatment.
Attention!In the complex treatment of onychomycosis, doctors recommend the use of drugs. One of the most effective is mountain celandine balm. It contains not only celandine, but also other medicinal plants.
The product is considered quite aggressive and can cause side effects if used improperly. It should be applied immediately to the areas affected by the fungus.
General rules of treatment
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 treatments. This will require a series of specific actions:
- Soak your feet well in a solution of hot soda.
- Then treat the foot with pumice stone and cut off the ingrown toenail.
- If the nail plate is affected, you must carefully file it through with a nail file.
- Then disinfect the treated area with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.
- Then a product based on celandine is applied and a transparent film is placed on top.
Then the dressing 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, it is necessary to take a bunch of dry plant and pour a glass of unrefined vegetable oil over it so that it covers the plant by 1-2 cm. The mixture must be placed in a water bath for three hours. Then the drug is filtered several times. The finished product is stored in a cool and dark place.
Another way of preparing butter is a little different. To do this, dry grass is carefully rubbed into the hands or cut with a knife. The resulting powder is poured over 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 put it in a dark place for 1 month. Shake the medicine occasionally. The oil is then filtered several times and used as directed.
The infusion is prepared from a dry or fresh plant. A glass jar (3 liters) is filled to the top with dried celandine plant. Alcohol is poured there (up to the top). Cover the container with a lid and leave it in a dark place for 15 days.
Prevention
Preventive measures, above all, should be aimed at strengthening immune functions. In addition, we recommend that you only wear appropriate quality footwear. In bathrooms, saunas, swimming pools and public showers, you must have spare shoes.