60 WDDTY | ISSUE 01 | AUG/SEP 2019 FACEBOOK.COM/WDDTYAUNZ
FAMILY HEALTHWDDTY offers practical, natural solutions to your most pressing health problems
THE NATURAL MEDICINE CASEBOOK
Fighting
athlete’s
foot
naturally
I suffer from athlete’s foot,
probably because I do a lot of
running, especially trail running
where my feet can get wet and
sweaty for long periods. Can you
suggest any natural remedies?
T.G., via emailAthlete’s foot, or ‘tinea pedis’
as it’s medically known, is a
contagious fungal infection
of the foot that causes nasty
symptoms like scaling, flaking
and itching between the toes.
The culprit? Fungi called
‘dermatophytes.’ These mold-like
organisms thrive in warm, moist
environments such as inside your
running socks, and when they
invade the superficial layer of the
skin, they cause skin cells to over-
reproduce, resulting in thickened
scaly skin. As the fungi spread, so
does the infection.
The conventional answer
to athlete’s foot is usually
antifungal creams, sprays or
tablets, but many of these are
linked to unpleasant side-
effects such as skin irritation,
gastrointestinal problems and
even liver damage.^1
Happily, in many cases,
natural remedies can work just
as well as—if not better than—
drugs at fighting the fungi that
cause athlete’s foot. Here are the
best ones to try.ESSENTIAL OILS
Tea tree oil, a potent natural antifungal, is a
simple and effective athlete’s foot remedy—a
good one to try first. In one trial, a 50 percent
tea tree oil solution cured nearly two-thirds
of patients after a month; less than a third were
cured in the placebo group.^2 Other antifungal
essential oils include oregano, thyme, cinnamon
bark, lemongrass, clove and lavender.^3What to do:
•As some people are sensitive to certain essential
oils, always do a skin-patch test before using any oil
for the first time.
•Add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice to
a carrier oil like olive oil or unrefined coconut oil and
apply to the affected area twice a day.
•You could also pour the mixture onto a cotton ball and
tape it to your foot overnight.
•Alternatively, add a few drops of different essential
oils to a hot foot bath with some added salt (which can
enhance fungicidal activity) and soak your feet in it for
20 minutes a day.
•Ideally, continue the treatment for two to three
months, even if you notice improvement sooner, to
ensure the fungus doesn’t return.