Itchy, irritated feet? Crusty blisters? Chronic inflammation between your toes or around your nails? You might be experiencing athlete’s foot, especially if you recently visited a gym, public swimming pool, public shower and other common areas where athlete’s foot runs rampant.
The bad news: If you don’t treat your athlete’s foot, it can get worse and even lead to toenail infections and losing your toenails.
The good news: There’s a plethora of natural plants and herbs that have proven anti-fungal properties and can help you eliminate your athlete’s foot naturally with no prescription drugs required.
1. Lemongrass Extract
Commonly used in Thai cuisine, lemongrass also works for skin treatments. You’ll find the citrusy scent refreshing and soothing, and you’ll love that it can naturally kill the fungus that causes athlete’s foot while preventing the fungus from spreading to other parts of your body.
“The conventional treatment of fungal disease is limited, and part of the reason is due to the limited spectrum of the currently antifungal drugs,” reports one study. The researchers say essential oils could be the answer to this problem, and that “the evaluation of the biological activities of essential oils of some medicinal plants have revealed that some of them exhibited antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal properties.”
Lemongrass oil extract is one such example. If you want to use it to manage your athlete’s foot, mix one drop of oil with 3-5 drops of coconut oil or olive oil. Rub it onto your affected toes or feet twice a day.
2. Licorice Extract
According to a study published in the Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B medical journal, numerous studies have found that licorice’s 300 different plant compounds help reduce inflammation (a common complaint in people with athlete’s foot) and also kills bacteria, viruses, fungus and microbes.
To use this Chinese herb, mix 8 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water and simmer until it forms a paste. Let it cool to room temperature, then massage it onto your feet once in the morning and once in the evening before bed. Let your skin soak in the properties of the licorice paste for at least 10 minutes, then wash off and pat dry thoroughly.
