Peppermint oil is a staple in almost every medicine cabinet.
Packed with powerful healing compounds, peppermint essential oil has plenty of uses. The oil certainly works more than just a refreshing mouthwash.
It can treat a wide range of skin issues and digestive problems and soothe overworked muscles.
Instead of reaching out for a pill, a few drops of peppermint essential oil can be more beneficial than you think.
This is because the essential oil contains crucial compounds like Menthol and Menthone that instantly rejuvenate the body and prevent the harmful growth of bacteria and fungus.
Peppermint oil can tackle various diseases and ailments at the same time, which is why it’s truly a versatile oil.
One such problem that peppermint oil can effectively treat is a toenail fungus.
As an infection that can damage your nails, nail beds, and the surrounding skin, a toenail fungus can be extremely worrying.
It may start off as white or brown spots on the nails and may even seem harmless.
However, if you don’t treat the underlying cause of the yeast overgrowth, you could end up losing healthy toenail and fingernails permanently.
Luckily, using peppermint oil in time can save you from further pain. Here we discuss why peppermint essential oil is a highly prized natural treatment for toenail fungus.
Why You Should Use Peppermint Oil For Toenail Fungus
If you’re battling a toenail fungus, you’d know how painful, uncomfortable, and sometimes, unsightly the condition can be.
Fungus infections can be nasty as they seep through the nail cracks and inhabit the damp places around the corners of your toenail.
It can actually be quite hard to get rid of the fungus unless you have a potent anti-fungal, antiseptic, and anti-bacterial treatment –like peppermint oil – to help you.
Let’s delve in and explore some laudable qualities of peppermint essential oil.
History Of Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint, also known as Mentha Piperita is a wonderful herb that’s cultivated all around the world, especially the USA, Japan, and Great Britain.
It has fragrant and glossy leaves that are dark green in color. The leaves possess powerful healing compounds that can be used for a number of ailments.
Peppermint essential oil carries the essence of the herb, which is why it’s one of the most versatile oils – only second to Lavender essential oil.
With countless anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal uses, both the plant and the oil have been cherished by Japanese and Chinese folk medicine.
In fact, the herb has been used since 1500 BC as herbal medicine and culinary tastemaker. It was even famous during the time of ancient Egypt.
Peppermint was also greatly prized in Greek mythology where it was referred by the story of “Mentha” that turned into the sweet-smelling herb.
Peppermint has certainly been around since time immemorial, which is a huge testament to its powerful medicinal properties to treat skin conditions like toenail fungus.
Benefits Of Peppermint Oil For Toenail Fungus
1. Antifungal Properties
Peppermint oil can be known for being anti-bacterial but in the case of candida overgrowth, the oil offers a wide range of anti-fungal properties.
Treating the affected toenail with peppermint oil can help kill the fungus and prevent the nail from being damaged completely.
Numerous studies show that peppermint essential oil can inhibit fungal activities and can effectively kill several Candida species.
The oil can work on different areas of the body, especially the toenail to finish off the yeast or at least reduce its growth and spread.
In another study, three different rooms were used to test the efficacy of essential oils to kill fungus growth.
One of these oils was peppermint essential oil that was misted in a broiler house to see how far it could destroy fungi counts.
The results showed that peppermint essential oils had powerful effects on fungal growth. The oil had reduced the fungi counts in the broiler house significantly.
It took two weeks to see the true anti-fungal power of the oil where it showed remarkable results.
Even while these are isolated studies, the evidence is clear: peppermint essential oil is an impressive anti-fungal treatment for toenail fungus.
When used regularly, it can destroy yeast infections and prevent the nail from further damage.
2. Anti-Bacterial Properties
Peppermint essential oil has a chockfull of anti-bacterial benefits that effectively destroy bacteria.
A toenail fungus can weaken the nail structure and make it brittle. The nail easily cracks and breaks, making it vulnerable to bacteria.
There’s always a chance of unwanted bacteria contaminating the skin around your toenail. Luckily, peppermint essential oil can fight this problem too.
In addition to killing the fungal infection, it also works to eliminate any harmful bacteria that could worsen the fungus overgrowth.
According to this study, peppermint essential oil has decent anti-bacterial effects against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
It also has strong fungicidal properties, allowing it to put a strong defense against both fungus and bacteria that could worsen your toenail fungus.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Peppermint oil is naturally cooling and has some numbing effects. This makes the oil a wonderful treatment for pain or inflammation related to the toenail fungus.
If the affected toenail hurts or is particularly red, you can treat it with peppermint oil to soothe the inflammation.
How To Use Peppermint Oil For Toenail Fungus
There are many ways to incorporate this oil for toenail fungus treatment.
The best way, however, is to take a few drops on a cotton swab and apply it directly over the affected toenail.
If you think the essential oil is too harsh for your skin, you can always dilute it with a little bit of coconut oil.
Massage the oil blend around the toenail as well as surrounding fingernails to ensure the fungus doesn’t spread.
Do this morning and night for at least a few weeks until you see improvements. Soon enough, your nail will become healthy and regain its natural color!
Peppermint essential oil is a wonderful remedy for toenail fungus.
Its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties are backed by science, which is a testament to why this is the best treatment for your toenail fungus.
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