| Kill Foot Fungus Naturally Doherty, Bridget Runner's World September 1, 1999 We've heard lots of people talking about tea tree oil these days. So when a podiatrist we know told us recently that he sells it in his office as a natural cure for athlete's foot and black toenails, we decided to look into its healing benefits. A natural antiseptic, tea tree oil can be used to treat several problems, including cuts, acne and canker sores. Best of all for runners, it kills foot fungus, says herbal expert William J. Keller, Ph.D., chair of the department of pharmaceutical sciences at Samford University School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, Ala. If you're thinking of buying a vial of it the next time you're at a health-food or vitamin store, follow these pointers: * Some products combine the oil with drying agents, such as baking soda, for an extra punch against athlete's foot. To figure out if a diluted tea tree product contains enough of the pure oil, sniff it. If you can't smell the strong medicinal odor, don't buy it. Also, read the list of active ingredients. A good product contains 5 to 7 percent of the active ingredient cineole and 30 percent or more of terpinen-4-ol. * If your oil is full strength, it may overly dry your skin. Start applying it straight from the vial. But if your skin starts flaking off, dilute by mixing one part tea tree oil with five to 10 parts vegetable or olive oil, says Keller. * Apply the oil three times a day. Continue applying it for a week after athlete's foot disappears. * Some of you may be allergic to tea tree oil, so only dab a little bit on a small patch of skin the first time you use it. |
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