Before paying a visit to the doctor’s office, many people decide to treat their toenail fungus by themselves. Several home remedies are often mentioned as a possible treatment – tea tree oil, vinegar, and Listerine, to name a few. Recently, however, it has been implied that eucalyptus oil may be added to this group of home remedies.
So, can you use eucalyptus oil for toenail fungus?
Eucalyptus Oil Effectiveness
A study by the Charles Sturt University in Albury, Australia found that eucalyptus oil could be an effective antifungal treatment for onychomycosis, especially if it’s applied during the early stages of the infection. The study included 22 people between the ages of 40 and 84 and showed that those with superficial onychomycosis had an 86% withdrawal of infection.
Although this might be a small study, many previous studies have explored the antibacterial qualities of eucalyptus oils and reached similar conclusions.
How Should You Use It?
If you want to use eucalyptus oil for toenail fungus, you can do it in two ways:
- Topically: Soak a cotton ball with eucalyptus oil and swab the infected nails. Make sure to allow the oil to get underneath the nail.
- Foot Soak: Alternatively, you can put a few drops of the oil in warm water and combine with Epsom salts to create a solution. Mix it until the salt dissolves and keep your feet in the solution for 15 minutes.
As diluting the oil may reduce its antifungal qualities, we recommend going for the first option. Whichever one you choose, make sure to repeat the process two to three times a day.
Final Word
There may not be much evidence supporting the use of eucalyptus oil for toenail fungus, but eucalyptus has some well-known antibacterial properties which make it an interesting candidate for treating yeast infections. If you find some of the more conventional remedies lacking, it might be worth giving eucalyptus oil a shot.
