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Several months ago we heard from a reader that soaking her feet in vinegar and Listerine cleaned up her toenail fungus:
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"When I read your article about soaking the toes in vinegar and Listerine every day, I figured I had little to lose. I started soaking twice a day and I still am. It's been three months and all my nails have cleared up except for the big toes. Even they have nearly grown out and are looking pink and healthy. I can't thank you enough."
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Since then we have heard from others that this inexpensive home remedy has been helpful. Of course readers want to know what the "right" formula is and how long they must soak their tootsies. The answer is, there is no answer. Some people use a half and half dilution. Others dilute the vinegar (2 parts water to 1 part vinegar) first. There is no science here, so experimentation is not only permitted, it is encouraged.
Here is the most recent story from Andrea:
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Hi! Just wanted to let you all know that I have been doing the vinegar since January and my toenail is almost cured!
I don't soak my foot anymore because I got sick of sitting around and my husband was sick of the terrible smell. So I put some vinegar in a little spray bottle that I would take with me everywhere I go. I spray my toenail every time I remember, at least 4 times a day. I realized about a month ago that my toenail was much better. I was doing the spraying thing just as a routine, with little hope... thinking about doing the pills (a friend told me it worked for her, but I was scared about any side effects).
So now I will keep spraying my toenail and will do more foot treatments like I used to do. My toenail is growing and the bad part is almost gone!! :)))
April 6, 2010
Andrea
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Can you do this with nail polish on????
I have been rubbing Vicks into my toenail every night and this has cured it.
Thank you for the tip with the spray bottle. Great idea :)
My husband used regular cornmeal as a soak for his fingernail fungus. Cover bottom of container with corn meal; add enough WARM water to cover fingers/toes and let soak 30 minutes. Put the affected appendage in the mixture and soak for 1 hour. repeat once/week. It worked for him in a couple of months! A friend of mine, a podiatrist, told me of a young (twenties) man who had such a bad case of toenail fungus for years, that he just finally asked the doctor to surgically remove all his toenails! The nail beds have calloused over and he is very satisfied with the results.
Maybe he should have tried vinegar first.
Each morning, I take about a third of a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in three ounces of water for the cure of my toe fungus.
Does it HAVE to be Listerine? or any mouthwash will do?
Also, there was so many "recipes" which one is the best? (Got confusing
there). maybe even the spray bottle is better?????
I've successfully used the following formula for a stubborn big toe fungal problem at the advise of a homeopathic provider:
A few dabs of Tea Tree Oil on a q-tip followed by a dab of hydrogen peroxide on a small cotton swab.
What about putting your toes back into the same old shoes? Won't that start the problem all over again?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: IT MIGHT WELL. IT MAKES SENSE TO DISINFECT THE SHOES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. SOME PEOPLE STUFF SHOES WITH PAPER TOWELS MOISTENED WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL AND LEAVE THEM OVERNIGHT OR FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
Hi,
I have a Ph.D. in mycology and probably picked up my toenail fungus from my former frequent visits to the tropics. I heard one of your shows in which a physician noted that Listerine was used to eliminate the fungus.
Since I understand fungi pretty well, I used a less expensive Listerine-equivalent and soaked just my infected toes for 10 minutes once a day. I did this for only 3 weeks but within a month my toe nail gradually grew out healthy. I have again started this procedure for a different toe nail which is more severely affected and will probably try to do this daily for 6 weeks.
I can't believe my regular general practitioner wanted to suggest that pill with the dangerous side effects but I know he doesn't understand fungi and I do.
I spray cider vinegar/water in shower over most of my body before soaping up.
How about soaking a cotton pad in the vinegar/listerine solution and putting it on the
big toe, then wrapping it up with plastic wrap or a baggy and rubber band to hold it for
an hour or less. Seems this would stay on better than a spray.
This solution should also work inside a shoe, i.e. a paper towel soaked in the solution
and left in shoe till dry.
I know my guy would not sit and soak his toes for an hour/day, better use cotton pad.
Can you ever use same listerine/vinegar solution more than 1 time before discarding?
I started a week ago and have been using it multiple times.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SUCCESS WITH THIS TECHNIQUE
Two weeks ago I read on your comment page that vinegar and Listerine was good for an infected toenail on the big toe. I tried it and it seems to be working very well. Since tried this, I have no pain in my big toe and it really seems to help quite a bit. Thanks for the advice.
I have used white vinegar and Listerine every morning, soaking for a 10 seconds and then putting my socks on. My toenails went from fungal yellow to white and the improvement has been more than cosmetic - they're looking healthier and the thickening is not nearly as pronounced. Thank you, People's Pharmacy!! Tom
I just read about the women having problems with a high sex drive. I've been lucky to have been married to a man who's drive was as strong as mine. We've had 40 great years. About 3 years ago, he started having problems that affected us. We worked through it, but I hadn't changed and this was causing me real concern. Then two years ago I had my ovaries removed -- I'd had a partial hysterectomy at 43 and I hadn't noticed any difference in my sex drive. Yet, now after about 3 months, things changed, I no longer have that same drive, yet when we are intimate, I still enjoy it. But it's no longer that "have to have it 4-5 days a week" feeling!! I don't know if this is unusual or if it's because I'm 63, but whatever it is, it works for us. Nina
Does the listerine have to be the yellow, or will any variety work? Should special steps be taken with washing socks? I've probably been perpetuating the problem for months! UGH!
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY REPONSE: BLUE OR GREEN LISTERINE MAY COLOR YOUR FEET. IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO WASH THE SOCKS IN EXTRA-HOT WATER TO KILL FUNGAL SPORES.
People's Pharmacy, I have been trying to get answers on how to wash my laundry to prevent cross infection. Can the laundry detergent not kill the fungus? How hot is extra hot water? Thanks.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: USING THE HOT RATHER THAN WARM SETTING ON THE WASHER SHOULD DO IT. YOU MIGHT CONSIDER ADDING A BIT OF BLEACH TO THE DETERGENT.
Does the vinegar have to be white or can it be apple cider vinegar for it to work with the Listerine?
I'm going to try the vinegar spray as it seems more convenient. Also in a April 23, 07 column you mentioned using cayenne in a drink such as tomato juice or other juice. How would using a small amount of applesauce instead? I'm desperate and need to try something for my hands. Love your columns in the LA Times just not enough questions that are answered.
I used Listerine on a wart that developed on my hand. I soaked a cotton ball in Listerine and lightly applied it to the wart once a day. The wart shrunk and then was gone with no scarring in about two weeks. It worked for me. My husband was amazed, me too,
I went to a podiatrist for toe-nail fungus. She prescribed a very expensive ($235 for 90 gm.) cream which I have been applying daily for at least 5 months without any sign of improvement. She did say it would take about a year to eliminate: I guess I may as well continue as the tube is still about 75% full. I wonder if putting on socks after applying the cream reduces the efficacy of the treatment.
Where does one find this Tea Tree Oil to purchase for nail fungus?
My wife had horrible toe nail fungus. Some of her nails were nearly 1/4" thick or about to fall off. She simply soaked her toes in white vinegar whenever she was sitting down, reading a book, etc. She did this religiously for a few months. Today her toenails are perfect, not a sign of fungus.
how long did she soak them?
I used peppermint oil on my toenail fungus and it worked. Used it for several weeks at night before bed. I used a dropper. Thought that might be good for the vinegar and Listerine too.
The drugstore
After spending $1,000 for laser treatment of toenail fungus with no improvement whatsoever, today I started the vinegar/Listerine treatment noted in Reader's Digest this month and credited to you. I can't wait to see if this works. As I understand it, the solution does not have to be changed every day. Is that correct?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: THAT IS CORRECT.
Yes, you can wear polish. I have been treating once a day for about four weeks. I spray my toenails every morning with vinegar after I shower (pat dry toes first), and have been wearing polish the entire time. I took my polish off today, and the vertical cream-colored fungus line that used to be there is gone. I am going to continue treatment just to make sure that it goes away completely. So far, so good!
I cannot find the recipe and I am in the middle of treatment for my husband.. I know it is Listerine and white vinegar, but I need the proportions... please e mail them to me!
Genny
The corners of my mouth split. The left side is worst than the right side. I have taken Vitamin C and orange juice to clear it up. Nothing has helped and it is getting painful and worse. Also I have used vaseline, & medicated ornament. Does anyone know of anything that will help?
Possible causes include 1.) Moisture collecting at corners of the mouth caused by poor fitting dentures. This leads to skin breakdown. The broken skin gets infected with bacteria or fungus. 2.) Allergy to something like toothpaste or lipstick
3.) Vitamin B12 or B9 deficiency. Some people cannot absorb vitamin B12 through the gut, so even if you are taking an oral Vitamin B12 supplement you could still be deficient. A couple of people in my family must have vitamin B12 injections because they cannot absorb it through the gut. It's not that uncommon. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to see if you are deficient.
I'm using the vinegar and Listerine concoction. I've also mixed tea tree oil, garlic and myrrh. Let the oil sit for a few days and dab on affected area nightly.