Guest guest Posted February 9, 2003 Report Share Posted February 9, 2003 Group, The following is an excerpt from a newsletter from Nutrition and Healing, Dr. . Hope it helps. Carol/Piney Health e-Tips January 30, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear reader, Years ago, my mother took me along to visit , one of her high school friends. When we arrived, told us that she had to soak her feet before we all settled in for a chat. The reason, she explained, was that she'd just had all of her toenails removed due to a serious fungus problem. I remember being horrified. Come to think of it, it's not any more pleasant to think about today. But pleasant or not, toenail fungus is a serious and common problem afflicting more than 12 million Americans. Technically, toenail fungus is called Trichophyton. It's very difficult to cure, and it generally occurs when the nail is damaged or is continuously exposed to a warm moist environment. (Other risk factors include poor circulation, and diabetes.) If you're not sure about the health of your toenails, keep in mind that toenail fungus is an itch-free and pain-free condition, unless the nail has become infected. Now, take a close look at your feet; the following are some symptoms to watch for: * a small separation between the end of the nail and the nail bed * soft yellow material gradually building up in this separation * a nail or nails that become thick and yellow * white spots or streaks on the nail * the entire nail separates; resulting in partially destroyed, yellow nail The mainstream medical treatment for toenail fungus is limited to three different prescription medications: 1) Griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grisactin) - taken for 6 months and costs about $350; it's only about 40% effective 2) Terbinafine (Lamisil) - taken for 3 months and costs $500; it's up to 70% effective 3) Itraconazole (Sporanox) - taken for 3 months and costs $400; also about 70% effective And watch out, because the medications all on their own carry some pretty serious side effects including headaches, rash, nausea, vomiting or upset stomach upset, and possibly liver damage or blood disorders. If you do take these medications you'll need to have regular liver-function tests to be safe. And, although they do work in many cases, it can still take eight to ten months, or even longer. (Treatment is so lengthy because toenails only grow 1-3 mm per month.) If these medications don't work, doctors usually resort to the kind of surgery my mother's friend had: toenail removal. The good news is that Dr. has filled me in on several safe, natural anti-fungals available to treat toenail fungus that don't carry the negative side effects - and will let you keep your toenails. The hard part is getting them beneath the toenail(s) in a sufficient concentration to do the job. Fortunately, this can be done (also safely) by applying DMSO, a natural solvent available at nearly any natural food store. DMSO carries the natural anti-fungal solutions right through the nail where they can start to work against the fungus. Oregano oil appears to be the most effective anti-fungal, but it's not usually found at natural-food stores (although any store can order it). The oregano oil is rubbed on each nail and the adjacent tissue. Then, apply DMSO to the same areas immediately afterward. Applying these products twice a day (and, yes, giving it eight to 10 months as well) will usually eliminate the fungus. Keep in mind that oregano oil is very strong. Occasionally, someone who tries it finds that their skin gets red and irritated. Should this happen, the oregano oil can be diluted with olive oil to reduce its potency. If oregano oil doesn't seem to help, you can also try tea- tree oil. Many individuals with sensitive skin prefer to start with tea-tree oil and avoid the chance of skin irritation which can be caused by oregano oil. Tea-tree oil is rarely irritating, but it, too, imparts a distinctive aroma to socks. As with oregano oil, the tea-tree oil is rubbed onto the nail(s) and the adjacent skin, then DMSO is rubbed into the same areas immediately afterward. The last anti-fungal on today's list is SSKI, which you might recognize. This is an amazingly versatile solution made from combining potassium and iodide. Dr. has written about it many times in Nutrition & Healing - most recently in the November 2002 issue. SSKI usually requires a prescription. It's theoretically possible for SSKI as applied to toenails to inhibit thyroid function (although Dr. assures me that in his 30 years of practice he's never seen it happen). But to be on the safe side, it's still wisest to have your thyroid function checked periodically while using SSKI, and of course to be working with a physician skilled and knowledgeable in natural and nutritional medicine. Like oregano and tea-tree oils, SSKI needs to be immediately followed with DMSO, and applied twice daily for those eight to 10 months. SSKI doesn't have an odor, but as anyone who's used it knows, it can stain light-colored fabric (as well as the skin and nail to which it's applied) orangey brown. The stain on skin or nails goes away; the stain on fabric may not, so don't plan on wearing your favorite socks when you're using it. The natural toenail fungus options may not work any quicker than the patent medicines. But the fact remains that they're a whole lot safer, and certainly worth a try. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ --------------- It's not easy to clear up toenail fungus. Many folks, who've tried the prescriptions, have had them fail, and then have to wait months and months before trying them again (because of their negative side effects). Other people decide to just live with the problem, despite their unsightly toes. But you shouldn't limit your options. The all-natural, safe treatments mentioned above are very effective. With time and patience, you really can have feet that you're happy to show off again. Yours in good health, Ross Managing Editor Nutrition & Healing --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2003 Report Share Posted February 9, 2003 Thanks Carol for the natural remedy suggestions, they certainly sound a lot safer than conventional treatments. As it is, after years of trying to rid my big toenail of this unsightly but harmless fungus, I have taken to painting my toenails with a couple of coats of pretty 'Peach Sorbet' nail varnish. It hides it perfectly....so perfectly that my ex boyfriend didn't even notice when he engaged in a little toe sucking.YUCK!! I didn't have the nerve to tell him....LOL Lindy > Group, The following is an excerpt from a newsletter from Nutrition and Healing, Dr. . > > Hope it helps. > Carol/Piney > > Health e-Tips > > January 30, 2003 > > ************************************************************** > > Dear reader, > > Years ago, my mother took me along to visit , one of her > high school friends. When we arrived, told us that she > had to soak her feet before we all settled in for a chat. The > reason, she explained, was that she'd just had all of her > toenails removed due to a serious fungus problem. I remember > being horrified. Come to think of it, it's not any more > pleasant to think about today. But pleasant or not, toenail > fungus is a serious and common problem afflicting more than > 12 million Americans. Technically, toenail fungus is called > Trichophyton. It's very difficult to cure, and it generally > occurs when the nail is damaged or is continuously exposed to > a warm moist environment. (Other risk factors include poor > circulation, and diabetes.) > > If you're not sure about the health of your toenails, keep in > mind that toenail fungus is an itch-free and pain-free > condition, unless the nail has become infected. Now, take a > close look at your feet; the following are some symptoms to > watch for: > > * a small separation between the end of the nail and the > nail bed > * soft yellow material gradually building up in this > separation > * a nail or nails that become thick and yellow > * white spots or streaks on the nail > * the entire nail separates; resulting in partially > destroyed, yellow nail > > The mainstream medical treatment for toenail fungus is > limited to three different prescription medications: > > 1) Griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grisactin) - taken for 6 months > and costs about $350; it's only about 40% effective > 2) Terbinafine (Lamisil) - taken for 3 months and costs > $500; it's up to 70% effective > 3) Itraconazole (Sporanox) - taken for 3 months and costs > $400; also about 70% effective > > And watch out, because the medications all on their own carry > some pretty serious side effects including headaches, rash, > nausea, vomiting or upset stomach upset, and possibly liver > damage or blood disorders. If you do take these medications > you'll need to have regular liver-function tests to be safe. > And, although they do work in many cases, it can still take > eight to ten months, or even longer. (Treatment is so lengthy > because toenails only grow 1-3 mm per month.) > > If these medications don't work, doctors usually resort to > the kind of surgery my mother's friend had: toenail > removal. > > The good news is that Dr. has filled me in on several > safe, natural anti-fungals available to treat toenail fungus > that don't carry the negative side effects - and will let you > keep your toenails. The hard part is getting them beneath the > toenail(s) in a sufficient concentration to do the job. > Fortunately, this can be done (also safely) by applying DMSO, > a natural solvent available at nearly any natural food store. > DMSO carries the natural anti-fungal solutions right through > the nail where they can start to work against the fungus. > > Oregano oil appears to be the most effective anti-fungal, but > it's not usually found at natural-food stores (although any > store can order it). The oregano oil is rubbed on each nail > and the adjacent tissue. Then, apply DMSO to the same areas > immediately afterward. Applying these products twice a day > (and, yes, giving it eight to 10 months as well) will usually > eliminate the fungus. Keep in mind that oregano oil is very > strong. Occasionally, someone who tries it finds that their > skin gets red and irritated. Should this happen, the oregano > oil can be diluted with olive oil to reduce its potency. > > If oregano oil doesn't seem to help, you can also try tea- > tree oil. Many individuals with sensitive skin prefer to > start with tea-tree oil and avoid the chance of skin > irritation which can be caused by oregano oil. Tea-tree oil > is rarely irritating, but it, too, imparts a distinctive > aroma to socks. As with oregano oil, the tea-tree oil is > rubbed onto the nail(s) and the adjacent skin, then DMSO is > rubbed into the same areas immediately afterward. > > The last anti-fungal on today's list is SSKI, which you might > recognize. This is an amazingly versatile solution made from > combining potassium and iodide. Dr. has written about > it many times in Nutrition & Healing - most recently in the > November 2002 issue. SSKI usually requires a prescription. > It's theoretically possible for SSKI as applied to toenails > to inhibit thyroid function (although Dr. assures me > that in his 30 years of practice he's never seen it happen). > But to be on the safe side, it's still wisest to have your > thyroid function checked periodically while using SSKI, and > of course to be working with a physician skilled and > knowledgeable in natural and nutritional medicine. > > Like oregano and tea-tree oils, SSKI needs to be immediately > followed with DMSO, and applied twice daily for those eight > to 10 months. SSKI doesn't have an odor, but as anyone who's > used it knows, it can stain light-colored fabric (as well as > the skin and nail to which it's applied) orangey brown. The > stain on skin or nails goes away; the stain on fabric may > not, so don't plan on wearing your favorite socks when you're > using it. > > The natural toenail fungus options may not work any quicker > than the patent medicines. But the fact remains that they're > a whole lot safer, and certainly worth a try. > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- > It's not easy to clear up toenail fungus. Many folks, who've > tried the prescriptions, have had them fail, and then have to > wait months and months before trying them again (because of > their negative side effects). Other people decide to just > live with the problem, despite their unsightly toes. But you > shouldn't limit your options. The all-natural, safe > treatments mentioned above are very effective. With time and > patience, you really can have feet that you're happy to show > off again. > > Yours in good health, > Ross > Managing Editor > Nutrition & Healing > ------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 it is also associated with low thyroid function, as low thyroid reduced circulation and lower immune function people with low thyroids are prone to foot fungus and warts. however, this does not help your dilemma right now...you may have to go with prescriptions. I do note that it takes a long time to get rid of nail fungus and we had to treat it every day for weeks. > > GSE, Olive Leaf, Probiotics, OoO and caprylic acid. Rotating. No thrush or > other outward yeasty signs.. but none of the above have done anything to the > toe.. been soaking in GSE, tea tree and using ozonated olive oil and iodine > topically for months. > > > > Unless I am missing something? > > > > From: [mailto: ] > On Behalf Of Darlene McBride > Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 1:12 PM > > Subject: [ ] Re: toenail fungus > > > > > > > > > and I'm sure you know, this is also a big red flag for yeast. Do you have a > good yeast protocol in place also? > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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