Nail fungus may not pose great danger to your health, but it may be indeed bothersome. More often than not, the initial reaction of people who find out that they have nail fungus is to make an appointment with their doctor. There are also others who choose to ignore their ailment and just let it manifest and worsen. Little do they know that the cure for their ailment could be found right in their own homes. Natural remedies and herbal cures are fast increasing in popularity because their ingredients are inexpensive, easy to procure, and simple to make. For the more health-conscious, they pose no side effects having no added chemicals that could be harmful to one's health.

Like other health disorders such as dandruff, acne, and stomach ache, nail fungus has several alternative cures that can be concocted at home. Why pay a lot of money for commercial medication when you can make one just by yourself?

1. Vinegar

Vinegar has been proven to be one of the best cures for nail fungus. A good remedy is a mixture of equal parts of apple cider vinegar and lukewarm water. Soak your feet in a basin filled with the said mixture for 15 to 20 minutes a day. Doing so will expose the fungi thriving in the nails to an acidic environment, which they cannot tolerate. Make sure to dry your feet thoroughly since moisture would only encourage fungal growth.

2. Natural Oils

Natural oils are also a popular form of alternative remedies. The antiseptic and antifungal properties of tea tree oil, combined with the soothing properties of lavender oil, aids in combating nail fungus. Combine equal parts of tea tree and lavender oil. Apply the oil mixture to both the surrounding and affected parts of the nail using a cotton swab. This must be done at least three times a day until the nail fungus is completely gone. Another combination of natural oils that works against nail fungus is a mixture of one teaspoon of olive oil and two drops of oregano oil. Both are natural fungicides which makes them effective against nail fungus. Note, however, tea tree oil and oregano oil may cause some irritation to the skin when used in great amounts. They may bring about a little reddening and peeling of the skin.

3. Mouthwash

Many people who have been affected with nail fungus have testified that mint-flavored mouthwash can be used to treat nail fungus. They claim that the antiseptic property of mouthwash that gets rid of bacteria residing in the mouth also works against fungus thriving on the nails. Soak your feet in undiluted mouthwash for a few minutes a day.

A few weeks of using the aforementioned home remedies should result to some improvement in the condition of your nails. However, discontinuing the treatment before the infection clears would only make matters worse since it could spread on to your other nails. Home remedies won't instantly produce the results that you want. Hence, one must be patient and be religious in applying the treatment to the infected nails.