Athlete’s foot is a common problem for those who are in frequent contact with water and also a common phenomenon in rainy season. The fungus causing athlete’s foot prevails in water especially in the public showers and swimming pools. The fungus spreads through socks, shoes and wet floors. There are a lot of natural ways/remedies to treat athlete’s foot. Here are some of them:
GARLIC
Garlic is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which makes it a great ingredient for treating athlete’s foot.
Remedy 1: Chop raw garlic and put it on the feet in the affected areas. Keep the garlic on the feet for one hour and then wash it off.
Remedy 2: Make garlic paste and mix it with little olive oil. Apply this mixture on the affected area and keep it that way for 15 minutes. Wash off.
SALT
Salt is a very common remedy for athlete’s foot. It effectively kills the fungus causing athlete’s foot.
Remedy: Pour a quart of lukewarm water in a tub and add six teaspoons of salt to it. Soak your feet in the solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a towel to dry your feet thoroughly and then dab some baking soda or dusting anti-fungal powder between your toes to keep it moisture free.
TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree is a great anti-fungal agent and is used for a number of fungal skin infections. Take a footbath by mixing tea tree oil to the bathwater but make sure the oil is organic.
Remedy: Add forty drops of tea tree oil to a tub full of water. Soak the feet in footbath water for ten minutes. Dry the feet properly and apply a little tea tree oil on the feet on the affected areas.
CORNSTARCH
Cornstarch is great in absorbing moisture which makes is a perfect treatment for athlete’s foot.
Remedy: Bake ½ cup cornstarch for only a few minutes, or until it takes on a light brownish colour. Always keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn. Rub the cornstarch onto your feet and toes and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Finally brush it off with a clean towel.
COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil has anti-fungal properties that can effectively treat athlete’s feet. Swab it liberally on clean dry feet with a cotton ball twice daily. Do this until you see the condition improved.
YOGHURT
Yoghurt contains active bacterial cultures that treat athlete’s foot. The live acidophilus bacteria present in plain yogurt helps keep fungal and bacterial infections in check. Avoid flavoured ones though!
Remedy: Apply the yogurt on the affected area and allow it to dry on its own, then rinse it off with lukewarm water and thoroughly pat dry the area. Follow this remedy twice daily for several weeks or until the condition is treated successfully.
CINNAMON
Cinnamon due to its antifungal and antiperspirant properties is a great remedy for athlete’s foot.
Remedy: Take 8 to 10 cinnamon sticks and break them into small pieces. Add the pieces to four cups of boiling water and simmer the solution for five minutes on low heat. Let it steep for 45 minutes and soak your feet in the solution for at least half an hour. Then thoroughly pat dry your feet and use a dusting anti-fungal powder or cornstarch over it.