Let's talk about the 6 Best Essential Oils For Toenail Fungus!
If you're struggling with this issue, you might be able to treat it at home.
That's because here are plenty of essential oils that act as reliable antifungals.
But let's get more specific:
- Which ones are best for this purpose?
- How should you use them?
- Is there a product that combines all of them for enhanced results?
Let's take the questions one by one and find out what is best for your onychomycosis.
Note: This article is based on my research on these 6 essential oils.
Essential Oils For Toenail Fungus (In A Nutshell)
There are indeed a couple of essential oils that combat fungus.
As such, if you want to alleviate the symptoms in a natural way…
I provided a list of the 6 best essential oils for toenail fungus:
- Lavender Oil
- Organic Flaxseed Oil
- Almond Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Aloe Vera Oil
What they all have in common is that they provide an antifungal action.
This means that they inhibit the growth of fungus.
However, be aware that most of these were not tested on a fungal infection in the human body.
Rather, the clinical studies were conducted on fungal strains in labs.
Because of that, you shouldn't have high expectations from them.
In other words, essential oils are not powerful enough to cure toenail fungus on their own.
Still – they are great for complementing an actual antifungal treatment!
Let's see how you should go about using them safely:
- Make sure to dilute the essential oil with carrier oil before applying it to your skin.
- Every 1-2 drops of essential oil require around 12 drops of carrier oil.
- Make sure you never swallow essential oil.
It would be ideal to also do a patch test before applying it to your affected toenail, though.
Otherwise, it might irritate your skin.
However, please know that if you want to get rid of fungus for good…
Using a proper anti-fungal treatment is optimal.
In fact, there is a ready-made product that contains all the essential oils mentioned here!
Not to mention that it also contains other fungal inhibiting agents.
If you didn't know, I'm talking about Kerassentials.
The ingredients are 100% natural.
Not to mention that it reunites all the best essential oils for toenail fungus!
Due to this, I am sure it will give amazing results in your case.
1. Lavender Oil
Surely you have heard of this beautiful plant before.
After all, it's quite popular for its pleasant scent and eye-catching color.
Not only is this plant very nice to have around, but its medicinal benefits are also very handy!
Yes, even for issues such as toenail fungus.
Let's see how Lavender Oil can be of help in this regard:
- anti-inflammatory action
- antibacterial properties
- boosts the wound-healing process [1]
As you can see, it inhibits the growth of bacteria, as well as fungus.
Not to mention that it also prevents irritation, which is very good for onychomycosis.
After all, lots of anti-fungal treatments can leave the skin around your infection feeling dry.
Well, Lavender Oil shouldn't do that!
It also helps with the healing process, so if your nail got damaged by the mycosis…
This essential oil will help with that as well.
Now – how do you go about using Lavender Oil for your onychomycosis?
Well, it's best that you apply it topically.
You should have a bit of patience, as there are some instructions as to how to use it safely.
Allow me to guide you:
- Mix 1-2 drops of Lavender Oil with around 12 drops of carrier oil.
- Do a patch test on your forearm and watch for any reactions.
- If nothing out of the ordinary happens, you are free to use this on your affected toenail.
Let's address the question you may have: what is a carrier oil?
Simply put, it's an oil that helps your body absorb an essential oil as safely as possible [2].
Why do you need this? Well, because essential oils are quite potent when used on their own.
In fact, they can even irritate your skin if you don't dilute them.
So make sure you dilute Lavender Oil if you want to use it most efficiently.
Moreover, you should never ingest an essential oil – it's toxic for internal use [3].
Speaking of diluting, here are some options for carrier oils:
- sweet almond oil
- argan oil
- Jojoba oil
- coconut oil
- olive oil
- grape seed oil
You can use whichever one you prefer.
As you can see, using Lavender Oil responsibly does not take that much effort.
In this way, you can care for your infection from the comfort of your home.
Quite easy, isn't it?
2. Organic Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed Oil is yet another one of those goodies you have likely seen around.
Since it's on this list, you bet it's also helpful for your situation!
But how can this essential oil help with your toenail fungus?
For starters, flaxseed contains DL-alpha-tocopherol.
This is one of the chemical compounds that comprise vitamin E.
If you didn't know, research implies that this has antifungal properties [4].
On top of this, flax is also a rather powerful antioxidant.
This means that it prevents cell damage, which is certainly helpful in the case of mycosis.
Of course, this all sounds great for toenail fungus.
But flaxseed is also known for other helpful properties:
- provides hydration
- prevents skin irritation and roughness
- minimizes itching, swelling, and redness
So, not only is this essential oil actively combating fungi…
But it also confers nourishment so that your nail & skin can recover safely.
Now that we got that out of the way, how does one use Flaxseed Oil appropriately?
Well, it's not as complicated as using Lavender Oil, that's for sure!
All you have to do is… apply a few drops of Flaxseed Oil to your affected toenail.
Yes, that's about it. No diluting is required.
If you're looking for an oil that is more straightforward…
You will likely prefer this one.
3. Almond Oil
Most people would agree that almonds make for a fairly tasty snack.
Well, they're great for more than that, I'll have you know!
You guessed it – Almond Oil is also a great ally when combating fungus.
But let's get more specific, shall we?:
- highly nourishing
- antioxidant action
- antibacterial effect
Of course, it's quite important that you don't forget to hydrate the area around your infection.
In fact, Almond Oil is very emollient, so it's perfect for that.
Not to mention that it also protects your cells from damage.
Last but not least, it can also inhibit fungal activity, which is exactly what you need.
As to how you should be using it, there's not much to mention.
Given that it is not an essential oil, there's no point in diluting it.
As such, you can apply a few drops on the affected nail.
That being said, if you are looking for an oil that provides lots of hydration…
While also treating your fungus, then make sure to give Almond Oil a try!
4. Tea Tree Oil
Out of this entire list, I have a feeling this one is the most popular.
I'm sure you have read about it left and right.
Well, that's because it's well-known for its antifungal properties:
- proven effective against Trichophyton rubrum (a type of fungi that leads to onychomycosis)
- yields better results than a placebo [5]
However, all of this was tested on a fungal strain in the lab.
Therefore, no extensive evidence shows how Tea Tree Oil affects an infection in the human body.
As such, you should definitely not expect otherworldly results from this oil…
Nor from any other essential oil.
At best, they enhance the results of another antifungal treatment you are undertaking.
Just know that they are not potent enough to cure toenail fungus on their own.
Obviously, this goes for tea tree oil as well.
Now – you might be wondering how to go about using this essential oil as safely as possible.
Well, the story is not much different from other options on this list.
As you know, tea tree oil is an essential oil, so make sure to dilute it:
- Mix around 12 drops of carrier oil for every 1-2 drops of tea tree oil.
- Do a patch test on your forearm and wait a couple of hours to see how your skin reacts.
If you don't notice anything strange, you can go ahead and apply this to your mycosis.
That way you avoid causing an inflammatory reaction.
As for carrier oil options, feel free to recheck the above list.
The same carriers can be used regardless of what you are diluting.
See, Tea Tree Oil is quite easy to put to good use!
5. Lemongrass Oil
Yet another plant that makes for a great essential oil for your toenail fungus.
If you're one to love tangy scents, Lemongrass Oil will stand out for you.
But the refreshing smell is not everything this natural remedy has to offer:
- has detoxifying abilities
- a study shows that it has great efficacy against the Candida albicans fungus [6]
Well, it would seem like this is just what you need, right?
Also – have I mentioned that Lemongrass is particularly good at soothing skin irritation? [7]
You simply can't beat an oil that smells good and has antibacterial actions.
When it comes to using it, you likely know what to do by now.
We're talking about essential oil, so you have to follow the usual instructions for diluting it.
Just make sure to do everything accordingly…
Otherwise, you might end up making everything worse with an irritation!
As for the carrier oils, I'm sure you know all about that by now.
In this regard, Lemongrass Oil is no different from using others on this list…
So I trust that you will manage just fine.
6. Aloe Vera Oil
Last but not least, let's end this article with a classic option, shall we?
After all, it's for good reason that Aloe Vera is so popular for its health benefits.
But let's look into how exactly it helps in the case of toenail fungus:
- inhibits the growth of yeast
- provides antibacterial functions
- this is because it works as an antiseptic [8]
As you can see, Aloe Vera is yet another option that is very suitable for your situation.
Not to mention that it's known for its nourishing & hydrating properties.
They will prove very useful in maintaining the skin around your infection in a good state.
Now, let's get to the most important matter – how should you use Aloe Vera Oil?
Well, proceed as you would with any other essential oil.
Yes, that means you are better off diluting it.
By now, you surely know all about this, so I won't bore you with another repetition.
Still – Aloe Vera Oil is quite good for your concerns, so definitely don't overlook it.
Best Product With These Essential Oils
Seeing as the essential oils presented in this article are all suitable for toenail fungus…
Surely combining all of them would give great results.
If only there was a way to reunite all these oils into one product…
Well, I have good news for you!
There is actually a ready-made antifungal product that brings all these oils together.
On this note, have you heard of Kerassentials before?
If not, that's probably because it's a rather new product.
But I assure you it's more than worth checking out.
Full Name: Kerassentials
Best Actual Price: $49 per bottle (for the highest supply)
Cheapest Place To Buy: Its Official Website
Designed For: Effectively treating fungal infections and preventing recurring episodes.
Why do I recommend it?: It is by far the best topical treatment for onychomycosis:
- contains all of the essential oils mentioned above
- very potent formula
- effectively fights fungus infection
- works through a unique mechanism of action
- combats fungal resistance
- destroys fungal buildup
- removes the infection from the root
- does not allow recurring episodes to appear
- hydrates the skin around the infection
- strong yet gentle effect
- 100% natural ingredients
- low risk of side effects
To keep this short, there is nothing better than Kerassentials as far as treating toenail fungus goes.
I have analyzed enough alternatives to know that this is by far the best one, trust me.
It's definitely the most convenient way (and safe) way of using all the essential oils I just mentioned.
That being said, your infection will not bother you for long.
My Verdict
Essential oils are viable remedies for toenail fungus.
However, there are a couple of aspects you should keep in mind:
- the oil has to be an antifungal
- make sure to dilute it (to be safe)
- do a patch test first
- nourishing properties are also preferred
- anti-inflammatory action is a bonus
Obviously, these are all important to pay attention to.
But remember that essential oil is far from able to make miracles.
In fact, you're better off keeping your expectations low.
However, finding a ready-made topical antifungal treatment that brings together all these ingredients…
Makes them much more promising.
This is because they are working together with other antifungal agents.
As such, let me remind you once again of Kerassentials.
I assure you that it's the best way to integrate all these essential oils into one single treatment.
So, what are you waiting for?
There's nothing for you to lose if you go for this product, after all.
Give it a try and watch it take care of your onychomycosis in no time!
1 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-32589447/
2 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/-PMC6348851/
3 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/-7333081/
4 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/-PMC7356105/
5 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/-s11046-013-9622-7
6 – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/-5303933