Toenail fungus cure?

HabaneroBeets · Sep 17, 2017

All right, I'm gonna throw this out there and see if anyone has had any succcess treating toenail fungus with capsaicin. I've had a couple of nails that have been infected for 25 years or so, and I've tried lots. I still put tea tree oil on daily, but it rarely does anything. Thyme oil seems to really burn and dry the nail out, but no long-term success. Nonyx worked on one nail once after I really pared it back, but not all of them. Boric acid, DMSO, bleach....nothing quite nails this thing.

Well, I broke a branch off some Chinese 5 Colors, and had a bunch of the purple pods hanging around. They are pretty much worthless at this stage, but they do have quite a bit of heat, so I just randomly bit open a pod and rubbed it all over the infected toes. Burned fierce all day long....I've done it two days in a row, and man do they cause some pain in the nail area. That's got to be good, right?

I'm going to give these a go for a few weeks or so and see what develops...Curious if anyone has ever tried before. Google has basically nothing on this, but capsaicin is a well-known anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent.

spicefreak · Sep 17, 2017

Cinnamon oil (or cinnamon leaf oil if you're a wimp) is a common home remedy and has very similar properties to capsaicin. No luck with it myself, though.

CAPCOM · Sep 17, 2017

spicefreak said:
Cinnamon oil (or cinnamon leaf oil if you're a wimp) is a common home remedy and has very similar properties to capsaicin. No luck with it myself, though.

Well, for that matter then, why not Vanilla extract? Very similar to capsaicin. At least as far as capsaicin receptors are concerned.

stettoman · Sep 17, 2017

I had the doc yank the nail. Would and will do it again and again and again. 100% gone.

spicefreak · Sep 17, 2017

CAPCOM said:
Well, for that matter then, why not Vanilla extract? Very similar to capsaicin. At least as far as capsaicin receptors are concerned.

Is it equally antifungal? Would the cheap vanilla flavouring work or only the fancy stuff that actually contains vanilla?

Muckyai · Sep 17, 2017

Lamisil tablets would run you around $20 a month + doctor visit. Sure seems a lot less painful than Hunan toes.

CAPCOM · Sep 17, 2017

spicefreak said:
Is it equally antifungal? Would the cheap vanilla flavouring work or only the fancy stuff that actually contains vanilla?

It is not the vanilla flavor that is similar to capsaicin but the chemical make up. So only true extract could be considered as a possible cure if at all.

CAPCOM · Sep 17, 2017

Muckyai said:
Lamisil tablets would run you around $20 a month + doctor visit. Sure seems a lot less painful than Hunan toes.

But, like all other FDA approved cures, is it safe.

Oh damn, now I sound like someone drilling on Dustin Hoffmans teeth.

Jase4224 · Sep 17, 2017

Glad there is no pics in this thread lol

MikeUSMC · Sep 17, 2017

Jase4224 said:
Glad there is no pics in this thread lol

Amen

CAPCOM · Sep 17, 2017

stettoman said:
I had the doc yank the nail. Would and will do it again and again and again. 100% gone.

Damn, I think I would rather work it really good with a cheese grater and wrap it with chopped Bhutlah DM in gauze.

Alchymystic · Sep 17, 2017

I have no direct experience in this area, but have you tried using coconut oil? That is the first thing that popped into my head as I know coconut oil has both antifungal and antibacterial properties (as well as being a good moisturizer for any dryness). After a quick Google search, it seems people indeed do use it for such fungal problems and many claim great results or even complete success.

Coconut oil is a mainstay in my diet; I’d certainly give it a try if I ever had a problem like this and desired something completely natural and safe!

Walchit · Sep 17, 2017

What about honey? I thought it was an antifungal, I could be wrong.

Walchit · Sep 17, 2017

Google had some positive search results for honey! I know my friend used the manuka honey to cure a staff infection, I think it's made from bees collecting pollen from a certain type of flower

stettoman · Sep 18, 2017

Jase4224 said:
Glad there is no pics in this thread lol

I have some. Thought better of it.

DontPanic · Sep 18, 2017

I'm curious if you've ever tried Vick's Vapor Rub.

I've run across a few suggestions to try that method, but you never know how well these Internet bromides will work.

HabaneroBeets · Sep 18, 2017

Yes, absolutely have used Vick's. No luck...I tried coconut oil once, but didn't keep up with it...maybe I'll try the coconut oil, always have a bunch of that on hand...

Come on, guys. This is The Hot Pepper forum...I thought somebody would have given these mighty mites a try! Like I said, there was some extreme pain throughout the day, and I have no problem putting up with it if it works. Really felt that the burn had gotten more deeply into the infected area than other treatments. I'm always debriding the nail to get the treatment as deep as possible, but you can at least FEEL the capsaicin. How could any fungus dermatophytes want to stick around in that environment? :fireball:

Again, thanks for all the suggestions.

DontPanic · Sep 18, 2017

I wish capsinoids had enough anti-fungal properties to keep them fresh longer in the refrigerator. Mine get moldy if I don't freeze them.

Hawaiianero · Sep 18, 2017

I'm not completely sold on the anti-fungal properties of peppers. Maybe at high enough levels it could work. Try infusing the coconut oil with capsaicin instead. Heat the oil to about 100 degrees F (too hot and you kill the good stuff) and throw in some chopped up peppers, let it brew for a few hours and strain. If it doesn't work you still have some awesome coconut oil for backrubs. :hell: