To quickly cure a nail plate from a fungal infection, it is recommended to perform complex treatment, which consists of performing external therapeutic procedures and taking pills. Instead of standard pharmacy ointments, you can use natural ingredients that are absolutely safe and have antiseptic properties.
One of these components is celandine. The herb is often used to disinfect nails, which helps to quickly restore surface microflora. Plus, there are several ways to use it.
Description
A herbaceous perennial plant reaching a height of 1 m. It blooms throughout the warm season from May to August. Bright yellow flowers with round petals and clearly visible stamens. The fruits of celandine are small pods that form in place of flowers. Inside are black seeds that resemble poppy seeds. These components attract ants, which spread the grains to nearby areas and help the spread of celandine.
Inside the stems and leaves there is a poisonous juice of bright orange color. Due to its poisonous properties, the plant is used to combat harmful insects in gardens and vegetable plots. Medicine was attracted by other properties of the juice, the mention of which was found in 372 BC.
Europe is considered its homeland, but celandine has spread throughout the world. Absolutely unpretentious to the soil. Grows in meadows, summer cottages, fields, forest edges.
Measures to prevent nail fungus
You can protect yourself from fungus by simply following the rules of hygiene and timely preventive measures.
- In all public places (beaches, showers, locker rooms, swimming pools, spas, etc.) we wear easy-to-clean slippers. Don't go barefoot where there is a risk of getting an infection!
- We don’t wear other people’s shoes (including slippers when visiting – it’s better to wear socks).
- We do not use other people's towels or manicure accessories.
- When getting out of the bathroom, we place our feet not on the common (and often wet, not the first freshness) rug, but on our own towel (allocate it in advance for such purposes).
- We regularly examine your feet and nails for signs of fungus. At the slightest symptoms (cracks/itching between the fingers, change in nail color, etc.), we take action. That is, we purchase ointments, special/varnishes, etc.
- We try not to use tight, narrow shoes, or shoes made of low-quality materials.
- We regularly treat the inside of our shoes with antiseptics.
- To prevent our feet from sweating, we use deodorants, talcum powder, etc.
- We use only cotton socks. If it is necessary to use tights/stockings (products made of nylon and other synthetic fabrics) at home, be sure to remove them, steam the legs, and treat them.
- In hot weather, we wear open shoes for ventilation and free air exchange. Sweaty feet are a breeding ground for bacteria.
- We do not try on shoes in stores without socks/footprints - on bare feet.
Properties, composition
Celandine is widely used in medicine to treat skin diseases and poorly healing wounds. The healing properties are due to the presence of a huge amount of acids, alkaloids, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils. The plant is a natural antibiotic that destroys pathogenic microorganisms of various kinds.
Properties:
- anti-inflammatory;
- wound healing;
- drying;
- antibacterial;
- pain reliever;
- antifungal.
The effect on the skin is observed after the first time. When used systemically, celandine cures intractable diseases, including mycosis.
The effectiveness of the drug for onychomycosis
This plant is used to eliminate any skin diseases - as even its name indicates. It does not get rid of mycosis as quickly as medications for external use, but such treatment will be much cheaper and safer.
The natural composition of celandine has a complex therapeutic effect against nail fungus on the hands and feet, based on the following effects:
- Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Achieved thanks to phytoncides.
- Anesthetic and antipruritic. Creates a specific component chelidonin.
- Regenerating and wound healing. Provide essential oils, vitamin A and organic acids that are part of the herbal product.
Thanks to the listed characteristics, celandine is recognized in alternative medicine as a method for combating nail fungus.
Disputes continue about how best to use the plant - some argue that it should be used in combination - both internally and externally, but experts believe that such an approach can cause harm to the body. Chelidonin is an anesthetic substance in the composition of the product that provokes poisoning, so it is advisable not to take risks, but to use it only on areas of the body affected by a fungal infection.
Action
Products based on celandine, or plant juice in its pure form, provide an excellent therapeutic effect in the treatment of mycosis of the feet. The active components quickly penetrate the affected tissues, stop the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, dry wounds, relieve inflammation, and promote rapid tissue regeneration.
As for nail mycosis, the effect depends on the correct preparatory procedures. The dense structure of the nail plate does not allow the active substances to penetrate into the tissues where fungal spores are localized. To eliminate the obstacle, it is necessary to carry out a simple preparatory procedure - steam the skin and nails in a bath, remove as much damaged areas as possible, and sand the top layer. In this case, the layer of keratinized cells is eliminated, and the active components are absorbed by the tissues.
Reviews
To find out whether fungus can be cured with celandine, it is recommended that you first familiarize yourself with the experiences of other people who managed to defeat the disease with this remedy. Reviews consider the use of celandine for nail fungus to be the most effective remedy for the treatment of onychomycosis. Reviews recommend applying celandine against fungus to the nail, but not rinsing it off, although this method of using the product is unsafe.
Irina, 34 years old It took me exactly one month to treat with celandine. Then the nails are peeled off, but without fungus. I added a decoction of celandine to the baths, applied oil to my nails, lubricated them with juice, and the result was not long in coming.
Olga, 24 years old Celandine oil was recommended to me at the pharmacy. I used it daily for two weeks. I stopped applying the oil when I noticed that the fungus was receding, but two months later it came back again. Don't repeat my mistakes - continue treatment for a few more weeks after the nail grows back.
Alla, 29 years old My great-grandmother recommended celandine oil to me. This is an excellent remedy for treating fungus. I was very pleased - no side effects, and my nails are healthy again.
Contraindications
External use of the product does not affect the general well-being of a person, since the active components do not penetrate into the general bloodstream and are concentrated in the affected tissues. The only contraindication to the use of the product is individual intolerance to the components.
It is necessary to check for allergies before actively using the drug based on celandine. A small amount of the product is applied to the elbow bend. Observe the condition of the skin and your own sensations for 30 minutes. If you have any alarming symptoms - itching, burning, redness, swelling, rash, you should stop using it.
Taking celandine internally has age restrictions - up to 7 years; it cannot be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, epilepsy, or nervous disorders.
Precautionary measures
If you are individually intolerant to celandine, you should immediately stop using it.
If you want to treat a hated fungus with celandine, you should first familiarize yourself with the precautions. Neglecting them can have very disastrous consequences for the patient, since improper use of this plant and other aggressive products leads to injury to healthy tissue.
Before starting a treatment course, you should check for any contraindications to the use of celandine oil. This method is not suitable for patients in the following cases:
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- For mental nervous diseases that occur in the acute stage;
- In case of individual intolerance to this plant;
- If you are taking certain medications.
It is very important to make sure that celandine oil is compatible with medications that were prescribed by your doctor for the treatment of onychomycosis.
Before using celandine oil, you should definitely consult a doctor for those patients who are forced to take medications to regulate blood sugar levels, including sulfonamides.
It is highly not recommended to combine the external use of celandine oil with topical agents that have the same effect.
Improper use of a folk remedy can lead to an overdose and the development of side effects. In this case, the patient will be troubled by conditions such as general weakness, nausea and chemical burns on the skin.
Methods of treatment with celandine
For the treatment of mycosis of the feet and toenails, external use of celandine-based products is recommended. To prepare effective drugs, use a fresh plant, a dry one, or buy ready-made pharmaceutical drugs.
Juice
The fastest way to obtain the drug. If celandine grows near your house, you can carry out the procedure using a fresh potion each time. They pick off a small twig. Preparatory procedures are carried out with steaming the skin and nail plate in a bath. They break the stem, yellow juice will immediately appear, they should treat the affected areas. The procedure should be carried out daily, at least twice a day.
Tincture
Alcohol tincture can be bought at a pharmacy, its cost is about 30 rubles. Or prepare the product yourself.
- Fresh plants are used as raw materials. Work should be carried out with rubber gloves for several reasons - the juice is poisonous and remains on the surface of the skin as dark spots that are difficult to erase. The plant must be passed through a meat grinder. Strain the juice through gauze folded in several layers. The cake is thrown away, the juice is mixed with medical alcohol in equal proportions. Infuse in a closed glass container in a dark place for 24 hours.
- The process of preparing an effective product can be significantly simplified if you use ready-made oil instead of fresh raw materials. Add 20 drops to 250 ml of alcohol.
The tincture is used to treat the affected areas of the epidermis and nails. Use cotton swabs and a brush. The procedure should be carried out twice a day. The duration of therapy is about 14 days.
Oil
The cost of the drug in the pharmacy is about 60 rubles. If celandine grows in your summer cottage, near your house, you can prepare an effective medicine yourself.
A fresh plant is placed tightly in a jar with a capacity of no more than 500 ml and used together with stems, leaves, and flowers. Pour in olive oil. The layer of oil on top should be about 1 cm. Cover with a cloth and place in a dark place, away from sunlight. Infuses for 10 days. You can shake the jar periodically. The product must be filtered and the same amount of olive oil added. Mix well and can be used for its intended purpose.
Soak a cotton swab with oil and apply it to the damaged areas overnight and for 20 minutes during the day. Place cling film on top and secure with adhesive tape.
Celandine oil is included in many folk recipes for treating fungus.
Decoction, infusion
The remedy is prepared by pouring boiled water over a dry, fresh potion. The resulting preparations are used for healing baths, lotions, and compresses.
- 5 tbsp. spoons of dry grass are poured into 1 liter of boiled water. Leave in a closed container for about 20 minutes. Pour into a basin, lower the legs, carry out the procedure for at least 15 minutes.
- Fresh grass is placed in a 0.5 liter jar and filled with boiled water. Cover with a lid and leave for 5 days. Pass through gauze. The product is used for compresses, rubbing, and added to olive oil.
A decoction of celandine differs from an infusion in the duration of preparation. In the first case, it is allowed to use the product after 30 minutes, in the second - after 5 days.
Compresses, baths
The procedures help soften rough areas of skin and deformed nail plates. Add a decoction of celandine to the bath, a few tablespoons of tincture, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of butter.
Compresses allow you to extend the exposure time of the active components. It is very convenient to do them before bed. Fold gauze in several layers, soak it in celandine oil, decoction, or apply a product prepared according to folk recipes. Procedures must be carried out daily, at least 2 times a day.
Super celandine as an alternative to warthog oil
Among the pharmaceutical antifungal agents there is the drug Superchistotel. In terms of its properties and fungicidal effect, the substance is equivalent to real celandine, only it does not cause changes in the skin and does not have toxic components.
Read: Treatment of nail fungus with vinegar: the best recipes
The pharmaceutical preparation does not contain warthog extract. It contains sodium chloride, hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate. The cosmetic substance restores the skin well, eliminates corns, cracks and peeling. Supercleaner is mainly used for papillomas and warts, but it is also effective in fighting fungus.
Important!
The use of Superclean must be agreed with the attending physician, since the drug has some contraindications (pregnancy, lactation, skin injuries).
Price – 40–50 rub. for 3.6 ml. You can buy the product at a pharmacy or order it online.
Effective recipes
The effect of celandine is enhanced when combined with other active substances.
Celandine with soda
Pour 1 liter of warm water into the bath. Add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of baking soda, the same amount of sea salt. Lower your legs for 30 minutes. The ingredients perfectly soften the skin and nail plate, and promote the exfoliation of dead areas. After completing the procedure, wipe your feet, polish your nails, apply celandine oil or apply a compress from a tincture or decoction. The procedure must be performed daily for 2 weeks.
Celandine, hydrogen peroxide
Make a bath from a decoction of medicinal herbs. Remove damaged areas of the epidermis and nail as much as possible. Treat with hydrogen peroxide and apply celandine oil. Peroxide promotes better penetration of active components into the deep layers and prevents the spread of infection.
Celandine with iodine
There are several variations on how to use these 2 active components. Iodine enhances the therapeutic properties of the herb, additionally strengthens the nail plate, and promotes the growth of a full-fledged new nail.
- Make a paste from dry or fresh herbs, add a few drops of iodine. Apply to gauze and apply a compress to the affected area.
- Make a bath using a decoction of celandine. Apply iodine with a brush to the nail plate.
- Add a few drops of iodine to celandine oil, soak cotton wool, and apply as a compress overnight.
- Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda, salt, and 10 drops of iodine to 1 liter of warm water. Place your feet in a healing bath for 20 minutes. Upon completion, treat with celandine oil.
The duration of the course is at least 2 weeks. The procedure must be repeated twice a day.
Lemon with celandine
Squeeze lemon juice, mix with celandine oil, apply to the affected nail. Lemon softens the top layer, allowing the active components to be absorbed into the localization of fungal spores.
Instead of lemon, you can use table vinegar or apple cider vinegar. They wipe the nail, after a few minutes they polish the nail, apply celandine oil, make compresses and lotions.
Symptoms of infection
Changed nail color
It is significant that the ideal environment for the development of fungus is high humidity. This explains the fact that people with very sweaty feet are more likely than others to suffer from nail fungus.
The main symptoms of a fungal infection include:
- obvious change in nail color;
- lack of shine characteristic of a healthy nail;
- increased fragility;
- frequent delamination;
- increasing roughness and rigidity of the nail plate;
- the appearance of reliefs, holes, signs of deformation on the surface of the nail.
For the long time required to get rid of the fungus, you can use celandine oil. However, in order for the treatment to give a good result, it is necessary to accurately determine the presence of the fungus, otherwise after some time the treatment will have to start again.
Side effects
External use products do not have a negative impact on the functioning of internal organs and systems. With prolonged use of celandine-based products, an allergic reaction on the skin may occur. Itching, burning, redness intensify, and peeling of the epidermis is observed. The situation does not require emergency measures; it is enough to simply stop therapy.
In extreme cases, an overdose is manifested by attacks of suffocation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and decreased blood pressure.
The effectiveness of celandine depends on the degree of damage to the nail plate. Excellent results are achieved when using any herbal-based product at the initial stage of the disease. Additionally, it is necessary to make every effort to strengthen the immune system and adhere to a diet. In difficult situations, it is necessary to take antifungal drugs orally. Treatment of mycosis should be comprehensive.
Advantages and disadvantages
Celandine products are completely natural
Like any product, nail oil has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include:
- availability of funds;
- low price when purchased at a pharmacy;
- complete naturalness of the product;
- safety for health (in the absence of contraindications).
The disadvantages inherent in a product containing celandine juice include:
- dyeing the nail and skin in the areas of treatment orange;
- insufficient effectiveness when used without auxiliary means.
