Athlete’s Foot Fungus and Essential Oils
Tinea pedis or athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin that infects the feet.
(it is identical to ringworm which infects the skin in the rest of the body). This fungus
thrives in the warm, moist environment to which many feet are subjected.
- The best remedy is to keep feet cool and dry and avoid
wearing tight-fitting shoes or heavy natural (ie. cotton) socks.
- Wear sandals, shoes, and socks woven from a light, breathable fabric.
- Avoid socks and shoes that are now available with an antibacterial
made directly into them as these are not healthy or beneficial.
(see below for a much safer solutions to foot bacteria).
It is especially important to control this fungus infection during showering
or bathing, since the moist, warm environment in bathrooms and showers favor
the growth of the Tinea culture responsible for athlete’s foot, see below.
Young Living antifungal essential oils such as Melaleuca or Melrose can be added
to sea salt or Epsom salts and used in a RainSpa shower head to create a mild,
antifungal shower. Doing this could also provide a cleaning action to your shower stall as well.
Young Living Single Essential Oils:
Melaleuca ericifolia (make sure you choose this species, NOT for internal use),
Cypress,
Lemongrass (always dilute),
Idaho Balsam Fir, Lavender, Peppermint, Thyme, Mountain Savory
Young Living Blends:
Melrose, Thieves, Purification
Recipes to help with Athelete's Foot:
Athlete’s foot blend #1:
- 8 drops Tea Tree (Meleuca)
- 2 drops Lavender
Athlete’s foot blend #2:
- 8 drops Tea Tree (Meleuca)
- 4 drops Peppermint
- 2 drops Mountain Savory
- 1 teaspoon V-6 Massage Oil
Application Methods
- Topical: Apply 5-7 drops to affected areas between toes and around toenails
- Foot Bath: Daily. To make your foot bath, use a total of 6-8 drops of essential oils (above blends, or either Melrose, Thieves, or Purification) to 1/2 cup Epsom Salts or Sea Salt, stir well, add to foot bath water.
- Other Topical Treatments: Thieves Antiseptic Spray, Ortho Ease Massage Oil, Thieves Mouthwash (used on the feet), Peppermint-Cedarwood Bar Soap, Rose Ointment
Keeping Your Shower and Bathroom Free of this Fungus
Clearly, keeping your bathroom surfaces clean go a long way in stopping and preventing this fungus
from lingering and spreading to other family members. A terrific way to get things under control
is to use a total of 25 to 30 drops of any of the above mentioned essential oils in a 14 oz. spray
bottle filled with water.
Keep this spray bottle handy to spritz the tub/shower, floor, and bathmat directly after showering.
This will give the room a nice scent plus it will help destroy the fungus and other unwanted bacteria.
You can even use this spray to spritz inside of shoes.
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