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March 21 2007

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Can Vicks VapoRub Treat Toenail Fungus?

In its continuing effort to debunk urban legends, Snopes.com took on the many uses of Vicks VapoRub, including rubbing it on the soles of feet to prevent a child's excessive nighttime coughing as well as using it to treat toenail and fingernail fungus.

They did find a news item from the head of the National Research Council Canada praising the virtues of VapoRub as a cough suppressant for children. But Snopes was more skeptical about the use of VapoRub to treat toenail and fingernail fungus, even though several syndicated health care writers advocate it.

Their only source "debunking" the fungus fix, however, was highly dubious: An automated phone message to VapoRub questions did not recommend it for the purpose.

Snopes.com March 20, 2007


Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Hundreds of people wrote to me to confirm that VapoRub really works on toenail fungus after I posted a very popular video about this very same topic late last year. My experience tells me that when so many people anecdotally confirm something, it is likely true.

Toenail fungus can be a vexing problem that can last for years with no obvious solution, so if it does work it would be a boon for many people. Conventional medical anti-fungal treatments can cost thousands of dollars and result in dangerous side effects.

One way to reduce your risk of fungal infections -- cut down on sugar, which helps fungus to grow. Spending some regular time in the ocean or another body of salt water can also help, if you have access to one.

There are a number of good posts below that expand on different options you can use for this problem, which is GREAT!! That is the purpose of Vital Votes: to allow you to post YOUR solutions and vote on others.

Come on, join the fun and give us your two cents, and please be sure and vote for others while you are at it.

In any case, I'm certainly glad Vicks works as a cough suppressant for children, as an alternative to their taking an over-the-counter suppressant that can potentially kill them.

Related Articles:

Got Fungus in Your Eyes?

Fungus Could Save Millions of Deaths From Malaria

Fungus May be Causing Your Sinus Infections -- Here?s What Can Help





 
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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
I'm actually waiting for Proctor and Gamble to add Olestra and high-fructose corn syrup so I can ingest it to work on the fungus from the inside out!

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proatc
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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
No doubt your wish will be fulfilled SOON...with Vick's VapoRub-A-Dubba (TM)  (Patent Pending), that not only now has HFCS (to stiffen those cardio vascular veins with triglycerides) but a healthy dosage of Viagra (in a joint venture with Pfizer), PLUS K-Y Jelly, for a topically applied sku, featuring EXTRA lubricity.

Hey, you think I'm being sarcastic?  Think again.

This sku will of course have an additional launch, 6 months after VapoRub-A-Dubba goes national, which will have GLOW IN THE DARK phosphorescence in it...so you can see what you are doing in the dark... 

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Bryan - oz4caster
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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
Russ, I'm R O F L M A O !
That's a good one.  I'm sure they'd do it in a flash.
Don't give'm any ideas : )

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
proatc - Your post gave me a chuckle!  Thanks!  : )

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
I have always had dandruff problems ever since I was a child so having flaking skin was always just a part of my life.  I would just use dandruff shampoos, etc.  When I was 17 I went on Accutane for a bout of 4 months to get rid of my acne and some kind of skin infection that plagued my nose.  Originally I had been prescribed a steroid cream for whatever was on my face, it had been diagnosed as psoriasis, dermatitis, excezma... Just about EVERY skin condition you have ever heard.  Luckily I didn't have any o f the horrible side effects you hear about and my scalp and skin were amazingly clear, I  mean it looked picture perfect under the tiniest of scrutiny, for about 4 years.  After that I would get a small blemish every once in a while but nothing major.
 
When I was 21 I had my 2 big toes smashed while working in a greenhouse (humid, wet, etc.) and they discolored.  I kept the job for a few days after that even though my toes were hurting.

I was at home cutting my toenails and i clipped a little bit near the right side of the toe.  Much to my surprise a geyser of orange fluid shot about 5 feet straight up into the air.  I pushed down and realized that 90% of my toenail was separated and there was already fungus attacking my toes!

I lost both toenails and the nails grew back rigid, lumpy, not very smooth and not at an equal rate.  Since then, this was about 5 years ago, I had a slight yellow discoloration just on my big toes but it never looked like fungus but there was a thickening at the edges and usually a lot of smelly buildup that I would clean out.

(CONTINUED)

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
Tea Tree Oil is what did the trick for me.  There is a great product at the health food store for just that purpose.  Great stuff.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
 I confirm, tea tree oil works, and every now and then, I put some on my toe-nails as pre-caution.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
Tea-Tree Oil users - Do you use it straight on your toe nails???

Or do you dilute?

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
Even if it works. So what? Just like most of the drugs it will only temporarily mask the problem. Fungal infections are mostly gut related. If you don't want fungus on your body you must clean up your digestive track.

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
My thoughts exactly!  Clean-up your digestive tract, health food stores have many herbal products, but I found one that is very, very gentle and does not cause running to the restroom, etc.  I'm using Colonix and Toxinout right now and it's been almost a month, I'm feeling great and will be doing the entire program which you can find at drnatura.com, rated number one on many natural health sites.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
Gut related?  I've heard of this before but I would be very interested if someone would elaborate on this :)

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
NHL - I would love to hear you comments on the Colonix/Toxinout when you are completely done with the protocol.  I was very close to getting the product, but one of the testimonials  on the site left her email address and a website where you could ask questions.  After looking at the website and actual conversations, it seemed like many people were not having good luck with the product, even after a month.  Maybe they were doing something wrong, I don't know, but for the price of the Colonix, I held off.  I think I may just try the Garden of Life Cleanse that is selling here to see what that does.  At only $20 it's worth a shot.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
ChrisK - Thanks for asking.  Sure I can let you know when I'm done with the 90 days.  A cleanse is something you must really want to do, or you'll have a hard time doing it, though this one is fairly easy compared to another one I did that was too restrictive food wise.  People are people and even when there are instructions they slack-off and get lazy and don't follow directions and don't do the cleanse right - that is why in my opinion they don't get results.  The days I follow it perfectly, I get results the next morning!

Remember a huge percentage of Americans are on some kind of medication right now for all kinds of things, so their meds also stopping-up their digestive track and throwing everything off, and they don't eat right, and also their meds may be effecting them in other ways.  So don't trust people who you don't know anything about their lifestyle or what their on.  I'm on ZERO medications right now and I'm trying to eat more organic veggies, lentils & peas, so it is working GREAT for me!

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Posted On Apr 23, 2008
this post is right on.  start with olive leaf extract (comes in pill form) and virgin coconut oil.  you can ingest the coconut oil as well as rub it on the nails and surrounding skin.  the caprylic oil is in coconut is the antifungal. you can also obtain it in pill form. 

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Posted On Sep 11, 2008
Just a note: not to be petty, but it is "digestive tract", not track
Cheers!

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Posted On Nov 30, 2008
I have been fighting athlete's foot for DECADES. I've tried every OTC medication. When my toenail started separating and the separation went to the root of the nail, I went to see a podiatrist a few months ago. The podiatrist warned me away from internal medications because of the highly possible damage to internal organs. He suggested trying Vicks Vaporub applied externally. I was really suprised because I had never heard of this before. He explained that the ingredients actually penetrate through the skin and through the toenail itself, so he suggested applying it liberaly over the entire surface of the foot. I went through 3 or 4 six-ounce jars of Vicks Vaporub before the separated nail completely grew out so that I could finally cut it off. But that was like passing some tremendous milestone in my life. I wish that I could attach a webcam picture of my feet because my nails are completely clear and clean. I also noticed that it exfoliates dead caloused skin from my feet. This is not a superficial treatment. I doubt that the colon is involved or that colon cleansing is required. I have never done any colon cleansing in my life.

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Posted On Nov 30, 2008
I have been fighting athlete's foot for DECADES. I've tried every OTC medication. When my toenail started separating and the separation went to the root of the nail, I went to see a podiatrist a few months ago. The podiatrist warned me away from internal medications because of the highly possible damage to internal organs. He suggested trying Vicks Vaporub applied externally. I was really suprised because I had never heard of this before. He explained that the ingredients actually penetrate through the skin and through the toenail itself, so he suggested applying it liberaly over the entire surface of the foot. I went through 3 or 4 six-ounce jars of Vicks Vaporub before the separated nail completely grew out so that I could finally cut it off. But that was like passing some tremendous milestone in my life. I wish that I could attach a webcam picture of my feet because my nails are completely clear and clean. I also noticed that it exfoliates dead caloused skin from my feet. This is not a superficial treatment. I doubt that the colon is involved or that colon cleansing is required. I have never done any colon cleansing in my life. I also doubt that diet has any major contribution to treating this infectious disease. Its like saying that you can cure small pox or chicken pox through colon cleansing and diet.

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
All kidding aside, has anyone tried applying raw organic honey?  I think it has many healing capacities and works great on cancer sores too.

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
Good post!  I'd like to know more about the healing properties of Raw Organic Honey?

Have you used it on your body?

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Posted On Mar 22, 2007
NaturalHealthLover, Raw organic honey is fantastic when attempting to heal wounds (C-section incisions, bed sores, etc).  It can also be used as a facial scrub with organic extra-virgin olive oil, rinsed off and then followed by pure organic coconut oil as a moisturizer. I have also used it to heal gum infections, canker sores, etc. It is a miracle food and healing agent.

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Posted On Apr 06, 2007
PepperR23 - Thank you for your reply - great info on how to use organic raw honey.  I will print this out and put it in a folder I'm starting of all the things I'm learning about organic real natural remedies.

I do want to do the facial scrub you described.  Wow! - and heals gum infections, I need that sometimes, because of inflammation.

Does anyone know why gums recede?

Thanks!

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Posted On Apr 06, 2007
Can anyone recommend a good brand of raw organic honey, or do you just use what is locally available to you -- assuming you don't have your own apiary or know someone who does?

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Posted On Apr 10, 2007
One brand of medicinal honey readily available online is pure "Manuka" honey. It is derived from two plants found in Australia (a different strain)and in New Zealand where its healing properties are extensively studied. The results have been phenomonal in hospitals facing closure due to different types of Staph infections & the results have been close to %100 effective. The honey's medicinal properties wont deteriorate with age, it is available in varying strengths, can treat a wide variety of health problems, can be used internally or externally safely for children and adults and is good for general well being
I tried this product on my 14 year old daughter who developed MRSA and had several operations for abcesses which left her bed ridden with home nursing to pack the wounds and intravenously treat her with massive doses of antibiotics. It recurred several times but her kidneys were reacting to the drugs. One of the nurses suggested the honey which I gave her internally and applied to the wounds which was not only successful in healing the new infection but healed the sore quickly reducing scarring on the older and new scar tissue. An amazing product!   

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Posted On Apr 10, 2007
Goldberry, I use the  Garden of Life brand of Raw Organic Honey. It is called Hawaiian Lehua Honey and is found in most Health Food stores or can be ordered on-line at Garden of Life or The Great Physician's Rx website.

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Posted On Mar 27, 2007
i grew up with parents way into health food (the real version, not the version with the freezer section for Quorn). point is, my habits are not perfect, but they're pretty good.  i have toenail fungus that i can keep down, but can't iradicate. i think i got it at the gym.  i heard that there's some new asian strain of fungus that's really hard to kill showing up at gyms... anyone heard of this???

this is what i've tried:

Vicks - tried it. meh. barely better than nothing.

Thymol - you can buy it. meh. no worse than vicks. unimpressed.

White Vinegar
  1 - spray on feet every night before bed.   works better than vicks or thymol.
  2 - soak feet in bucket of it couple times a week for an hour or so.  works reeeeeeeeally well.  

(would like to have tried cider vinegar. didn't. was a lot more expensive)

Hydrogen Peroxide - works as well as white vinegar, with soaking being the better option.

White Vinegar spiked with Hyd. Per. or Baking Soda.
best thing i've tried yet.  pink back in the nail and overall nails looking a WHOLE lot better.

the burning question in my mind:  what the heck is OAT STRAW?

also... have been wondering about a systemic fungal thing since this crud is so hard to kill.  loved above suggestions. THANK YOU!!!

------------------------------

Aside & Unrelated:

i'm new to Dr. Mercola's newsletter, but i'm so in love with this guy!!  it's an EXCELLENT newsletter... we get whitaker, williamns, life extension, and some misc. ones... but i LOVE dr. mercola!!!  

god bless you and your work sir!!!  thanks for all the fabulous information...!!!  

:)

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Posted On Feb 10, 2008
Loveskilts...thanks for your info on Wh vinegar spiked w/ peroxide and baking soda...I will try.   Oat straw  is just what it says: the straw (or the bottom part of the oat plant)

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Posted On Jun 24, 2008
White vinegar is a wonderful substance.  One cup in the washing machine rinse cycle will remove all traces of detergent while making it smell clean and soft. 

White vinegar is also very good to restore the skin to a normal PH.  This is probably why it may be effective on toenail fungus.  I also use one half white vinegar and one half isopropyl alcohol in my ears to avoid infections and constant itching and scaling.  It works where doctor prescribed antibiotic does not! 

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
 Toe Nail fungus is a sign of a systemic/chronic fungal infection. This can be alleviated in many ways:
1. 2 month herbal protocol of Cancid Forte (orhtomolecular), ADP (biotics) and SF722 (thorne). I add in oregano essential oils as well.

2. Six month Kaufmann fungal diet. This includes food elimination.

3. Acupuncture works great for fungus and there are certain empirical points that are known to assist in the erradication process.

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Posted On Mar 21, 2007
Josh we are dealing with a public who believes this VapoRub stuff works, & will rush out & get it, as opposed to doing the correct things you suggest.

Remember also, Vicks is owned by Proctor & Gamble, one of the more brilliant marketing companies on the planet, though sometimes, or many times, EVIL, with products like FAILED anal leakage hydrolyzed mineral oil, OLESTRA (Olean Brand).

Personally, I never heard of this home remedy, but no doubt the P&G/Vicks folks started the rumor, or had some independent contractors start it for them.

Let's take a look at the chemistry of why the VapoRub toe treatment MAY work.

It has:

Camphor at 4.8% by total weight (claimed as a cough suppressant & also a topical analgesic)

Eucalyptus Oil at 1.2% by total weight (claimed as a cough suppressant)

Menthol at 2.6% by total weight (claimed as a cough suppressant & topical analgesic)

EXCIPIENTS (bulking ingredients) for the remaining 91.40% include: cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, mineral petroleum jelly (P&G is one of the largest producers of mineral oil & why they tried to hoist Olestra off on the public, along with glycerin/glycerol, from their lard rendering & tallow soap holdings, as a byproduct), thymol, & turpentine oil.

Based on this information, I think it fair to say the mineral petroleum oil, thymol, & turpentine, might be killing more than the fungus, including human tissue, it is applied to. 

However, since this falls under COSMETIC law, & is topical, FDA, will do little to enforce any harmful side effects, that may be known, since it is not technically ingested (irrespective of EPA toxicology).

If occasionally topically used, the residual toxicity may be mild enough not to create long term harm in exposure, beyond killing the fungus, or slowing it down.

However, your 3 healthy protocols sound SAFER.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
I have candida, and toenail fungus is definetly a symptom.  The only thing to really consider is that I like many have had this underlying condition for a while and may have experienced a couple of symptoms here and there, without really understanding the source.  I'm glad now that I understand what's going on with my body so that I can get to the source of the problem instead of treating symptoms that persist, but I must say that VapoRub does work. 

I also think that there's no harm in treating symptoms that can become worse (die off), while you're handling the underlying problem.  I've currently been using a natural "cream" that contains a little boric acid to keep detox rashes at bay, VapoRub for my toenails and Apple Cider Vinegar for my dandruff.  It knocks out a good deal of the discomfort I'm experiencing with my treatment while my body tries to heal itself.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
vinegar works too. I also used ozonated olive oil on my mothers' toenail fungus along with tea tree oil.

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Posted On Apr 05, 2007
Oregano oil is fantastic for fungal infection. Use a drop on the sole of each foot before bed. This helped me overcome a systemic infection that strict diet alone barely held at bay.

For nail fungus, you can use it directly on the nails.

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