Plant Oils | The Organic Foot

5 Reasons to Treat Toenail Fungus with Essential Oils

Five reasons to treat toenail fungus with essential oils

Treat Toenail Fungus with Essential Oils

Natural: Essential oils are aromatic compounds from plants. They are plant protectors extracted through cold press and steam distillation. Their properties guard against infectious invaders and insects. They are not seen as foreign to us and are absorbed quickly into our cells without needing to attach to a receptor. This bioavailability means fast action! Pure therapeutic grade essential oils can be used topically, aromatically, and internally.
Safety: Antifungal medications have side effects. Some are more significant than others. One of the most powerful benefits of using essential oils is how safe they have proven to be. When used correctly, essential oils are a great way to treat toenail fungus and support our health in many ways. They are 50-70 times more potent than herbs, so less is more when using them. One to two drops topically is all you need, and a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil should be used.
Antifungal properties: Some of the most effective are Tea Tree, Oregano, Arborvitae, Cinnamon, and Cedarwood. Diluting these oils with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil is essential. Apply these oils topically – combine two to a roller ball bottle or start with one. Soaking your feet with Epsom salt and tea tree is beneficial and feels terrific.
Cost-effective: The cost of one drop of essential oil is minimal. You are way ahead of the game compared to a synthetic drug counterpart. Be forewarned if your essential oil is low cost; it is probably not pure, will not yield the desired effects, and can be harmful. They should be free of pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, and contaminants.
Additional health benefits: Whatever essential oil you choose, you will receive the many health benefits that the plant provides—for instance, Cinnamon is an antioxidant and helps regulate blood sugar. Lavender is great for skin rashes but also very calming. Essential oils have multiple chemical constituents, each delivering its benefits.

*TIPs: File the top of the toenail down for better penetration of the oil and be sure to treat your shoes as well!

Five Pillars of Foot Health Create Overall Wellbeing

The Organic Foot – Five Pillars

The foot is a conduit of overall wellbeing. Focus on the foot in these areas improves foot health, reduces pain, and positively impacts us from toe to head. Here is a closer look.

1. Strengthening

Strengthening your feet reduces pain and improves your balance and flexibility. It also reduces your chance of foot pathologies such as bunions and hammertoes. There are 29 muscles in the human foot. Strengthening them supports proper alignment creating a solid foundation. If you’re a runner, walker, or athlete, you’ll get enhanced speed and performance from strong feet. There are several ways to make your foot muscles stronger. Some of them only take a few minutes a day.

Walking Barefoot: When walking barefoot, you’re allowing the foot to move in all three planes of motion and engage all of its musculatures. Walking in the sand is a great workout.
Heel and toe raise: Try them with the feet parallel, with heels touching and toes apart and with toes together. Hold onto a piece of furniture if necessary.
Resistance bands: Use resistance bands to exercise your feet. Place each foot on the resistance band with some tension from a seated position on the floor—point and flex and repeat.

2. Alignment

Most foot problems arise from improper foot alignment—the arch height decreases when this happens. The foot begins to compensate, and the joints take the toll—especially the great toe joint. Bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, and plantar fasciitis can result from this. Knee hip and back problems can also occur as a result of malalignment. Stress is reduced in our knees, hips, and back when our foundation is aligned. Foot alignment is essential at any time, but it’s vital when you’re walking or exercising. At the Organic Foot, we focus on the alignment of the feet.

Two ways to improve your alignment

Strengthening the foot (see above)
Custom insoles (orthotics). A mold is taken of the foot while held in proper alignment. A custom insole is made from the mold to fit your shoes of choice, making every pair custom!

3. Earthing

We spend most of our lives disconnected from the earth’s surface. Earthing, also known as grounding, is the practice of connecting physically with the earth’s electrons through walking barefoot outside, spending time outdoors, working with dirt, and otherwise reclaiming that connection. These electrons dispel free radicals reducing inflammation. A 2012 research study concluded that earthing had potential as a global modality of significant clinical importance.

There are many ways to make this connection, and there are numerous benefits. They include improved sleep, lower inflammation, faster healing, and increased energy levels. The use of earthing/grounding products makes it possible to achieve results from the comfort of your home.

4. Plant Medicine

Let the old become new again! FYI most of our synthetic medications come from compounds in plants. Turning to a safer way to address non-emergent health issues should be our first line of defense. Essential oils are oils extracted from plants. They are the plant’s defense against viruses, bacteria, and fungus and have vital properties to sustain plants’ vitality. When used safely and correctly on us, they can provide many health benefits, locally and systemically (throughout the body). They are beneficial in treating many foot problems, including plantar fasciitis, athlete’s foot infection, and plantar warts. The application of essential oils to the bottom of the feet can enhance overall wellbeing. Combining reflexology and essential oils can maximize the benefits of both.

5. Reflexology

Reflexology is a therapeutic massage that involves placing pressure on specific reflex points corresponding to organs and other body parts. Foot reflexology promotes overall health by reducing stress, enhancing relaxation, and reducing pain in many chronic conditions. Reflexology also incorporates working with energy zones and stimulates the nervous system. This treatment is sure to have you running back for more!

At The Organic Foot, we focus on the foundation of good health. Strong, healthy feet will carry you for a lifetime, and we want to make that possible. Contact us today to get started.

Reference:

Journal of Environmental Medicine: Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons.