Q. Some time ago a podiatrist wrote to complain about home remedies for nail fungus. My husband has toenail fungus and our podiatrist prescribed a 30-day supply of Lamisil pills. They cost hundreds of dollars. The medication has to be taken for three months, totaling over a thousand dollars for a full course. Even a generic would have been pricey.
There were no guarantees it would cure the fungus. My husband would also need liver function tests every month to make sure the drug was not causing damage. I don’t know who could spend that kind of money for a drug with serious side effects. I’d rather try an affordable home remedy. Any suggestions?
A. Nail fungus is not a life-threatening condition, so there should be no harm in trying inexpensive home remedies to see if they will help. Readers have reported success with Vicks VapoRub, Listerine and vinegar soaks, tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide and cornmeal. We have collected their recommendations and many other affordable solutions for common problems in our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick and Handy Home Remedies, available online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
