It's common for people to recommend vinegar and tea tree footbaths for toenail fungus. Having been at the receiving end of plenty of such advice, I know that only too well. And I don't want to discount all of it outright, so before I tell you why tea tree oil and vinegar do not work as remedies for toenail fungus, I feel I should tell you exactly what they are supposed to do, starting with...
Can Tea tree oil really treat toenail fungus?
You'll find plenty of stories about why tea tree oil is one of those fool-proof toenail fungus treatments. It is a highly popular natural remedy for nail fungus, particularly among those who wish to avoid prescription medications for their possible side effects.
Bottled tea tree oil used to treat toe nail fungus comes from the Australian tea tree, whose Latin name is melaleuca alternifolia. It has long been discussed as a possible source of antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral remedies, and there is some evidence to suggest that it may indeed possess certain properties that make it a suitable treatment for toenail fungus. Yet, there is nothing yet to suggest that tea tree oil will become a scientifically and medically accepted prescription medication anytime soon.
But how exactly does tea tree oil work as a nail fungus remedy? Well, if it has been especially prepared as a remedy for toe nail fungus, tea tree oil will likely be only one of the ingredients in the potion, being blended with other essential oils that are also supposed to treat toenail fungus. Among other oils/liniments used to supplement tea tree oil are dimethylsulfoxide, Vaseline, Vicks Vaporub, and iodine. However, no scientific research has, till date, proven their special powers as remedies for toenail fungus.
Because tea tree oil possesses anti-fungal and antiseptic properties, it is believed that you will obtain satisfactory results by directly applying it to the affected area. It is also supposed to be effective in treating other fungal infections like dandruff and ring worm but personally speaking, I have seen little evidence of tea tree oil's ability to treat toenail fungus.
Is vinegar the toenail fungus remedy it is claimed to be?
And now, what of vinegar? Well, the supposed efficacy of vinegar is essentially based on its acidic properties, which hampers the growth of toenail fungus. Therefore, the idea is that if you apply vinegar daily, you will eventually restrict the growth of the fungus to the point where it will vanish and leave you with clean, freshly grown toenails.
Apparently, ordinary white vinegar will do the trick if you take a footbath in it for long enough - about a year - but you have to keep at it every day, for 30 minutes at least each day. You may also directly apply the vinegar twice or thrice a day or wear a vinegar-soaked bandage. Some folks also recommend apple cider vinegar as a remedy for toenail fungus, to be taken internally. The popular dosage is two tablespoons thrice daily, but remember, this is acetic acid we are talking about, so it may damage your tooth enamel if you don't rinse your mouth after taking it.
Luckily, powerful solutions do exist.
I have searched all over the place and I finally found a solution that does the job. The solution ZetaClear not only did it clear up my toenail infections, it did it in very little time. Over about 2 weeks of applying the solution, I noticed a drastic reduction of my toe nail fungus. The best part about this solution as you can apply it to individual nails instead of having to waste a lot of time soaking your feet in the footbaths like Listerine and vinegar. Check out my resource box below for more information on this awesome treatment.
