Homemade Anti-Fungal Salve - For Ringworm, Athlete's Foot & More

Fungal infections can be the peskiest kind of infection to get rid of because once they find a host, they like to stick around for the long haul. Though you can heal fungal infections using salves, creams, and sprays, diet is also a major factor in helping to clear a fungus from your body. A diet high in sugar and yeast will lead to an overgrowth of yeast within the body, causing a fungal infection. Along with a diet change, there are a few other things you can do to get rid of that pesky fungus. My favorite natural treatment is an anti-fungal salve. With a salve, I combine the natural healing properties of herbs, essential oils, carrier oils, and shea butter!

Essential oils with antifungal properties

There are tons of essential oils that, in combination can battle even the toughest of fungal infections. Some are more irritating than others to the skin so please be sure to research which essential oils you are adding to your salve.

• oregano
• thyme
• clove
• lavender
• tea tree
• geranium
• chamomile
• cedarwood
• cinnamon bark
• Frankincense
• lemongrass
• pine
• ravensara
• rosemary

Healing fungal infections with herbs is easy

There are many herbs that are very helpful to healing a fungal infection, but the two that are most notable and usually can be found in the best of herbal anti-fungal salves are chaparral and black walnut. These two are standout herbs in the anti-fungal department but there are plenty more herbs that can be used in your salve to help heal fungal infections:

• Chaparral leaf - Not only is chaparral anti-fungal but it is also antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-parasitic. This herb is jam packed with skin healing properties and packs a powerful punch against fungal infections.
• Black Walnut Hulls - The most commonly used herb in anti-fungal creams and sprays, black walnut hulls are also antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-parasitic. Any really good herbal salve for fungal infections will have black walnut hulls in it.
• Echinacea root -  Not only is this herb a super immune booster, which helps aid the body in ridding infections faster, but this super herb is also anti-fungal!
• Whole cloves - Cloves contain some of the same phenols as Oil of Oregano, which are highly anti-fungal in nature, as well as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. This oil has been prized for centuries for its anti-fungal properties.
• Lavender buds - I really believe that lavender is one of those herbs that is the heal-all end-all "god herbs". This herb is good for so many things, it's not surprising that it is also anti-fungal. What can't lavender do?
• Calendula - One of the best skin healing herbs, calendula is not just great for healing wounds and lacerations but also fungal infections. Calendula is great at reducing inflammation, treating burns, scrapes, eczema, and more!
• Garlic - Not only is garlic one of the most potent natural antibiotics healing anything from ear infections to colds, garlic is also highly anti-fungal. You can throw some garlic into a blender with a little bit of water or oil and rub it onto your feet or infected area. Some people even like to sprinkle garlic powder into their shoes when fighting a foot fungus.

Make an herbal infused oil for maximum healing benefits

Making an herbal infused oil is extremely simple. All that you need is an organic healing carrier oil (olive, coconut, almond, grapeseed, hemp, etc.), the herbs of your choice, a mason jar, and some heat via the oven, sunshine, double boiler, etc. as long as it's very low heat (100-140 degrees F) so that you don't destroy the healing properties within the oil. When you steep the chosen herbs into your oil, you will be transferring those medicinal benefits from the plant into the oil. You can then use that oil in your healing recipes such as salves, massage oils, and even body butter. There are several methods that you can utilize to extract the herbal healing benefits into your oil.

• Solar Infusion - This is one of the best methods to extract the healing benefits that your chosen herbs have. Not only are you charging your oil with naturally healing sun rays but this is the gentlest method of infusion. Some people also like to steep their herbs in the moonlight, this can give it an extra boost as well. To infuse your oil solar style, just fill your jar 1/4-1/2 full of your herbs. You can do a single herb or even a combination depending on what you are planning to use your oil for. Fill the rest of the jar, to the top, with your carrier oil (you can even do a combination of oils if you like. In all of my salves, I steep my herbs in a combination of extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil) and cover with a lid. Set out in the sun or a sunny window and give a good shake to the jar ever day for 2 weeks. Using a cheese cloth lined strainer, strain the oil from your herbs and squeeze out any remaining oil to get the most of the oil as possible.
• Stove Top Infusion - This is a good quick method if you don't have the time to wait 2 weeks for a solar infusion to complete. In a double boiler drop in 1/4 part herbs to 1 part oil and allow to steep over the heat for several hours. I see people saying to leave it overnight, but there is no way to do that with a double boiler. Only do this if you are using a crockpot (which you can also use instead of the stove). Using a cheese cloth lined strainer, strain the oil from your herbs and squeeze out any remaining oil to get the most of the oil as possible.
• Oven Infusion - When I don't have sunshine out here in Texas, this is the method I like to use the most. I find it the easiest to leave it be without having to refill water in the bottom of a double boiler like the stove-top method. Turn your oven on the lowest setting that you can. I like to use a 1/2 gallon mason jar but this can be done in smaller. Fill your jar 1/4-1/2 full of your herbs and cover with oil to the top and cover with a lid. Set the mason jar on its side on a cookie sheet (I use one with a rim so that any oil that might leak out from the lid won't fall onto my oven's heating element) and put in the oven on the middle rack. Every couple of hours pull the jar out of the oven and give 2 or 3 shakes. Leave in the oven for 24-48 hours. Using a cheese cloth lined strainer, strain the oil from your herbs and squeeze out any remaining oil to get the most of the oil as possible.

DIY Anti-Fungal Salve

This salve can easily be made without the essential oils and is still highly effective! If you need to use this on young children for ringworm or nail fungus, substitute 100 drops of Plant Therapy's Wart No More!

8 oz. salve

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles
• 1/4 cup unrefined shea butter
• 1/2 cup chaparral leaf/black walnut hull infused olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. tea tree essential oil
• 1/2 tsp. lavender essential oil
• 20 drops Thyme essential oil

DIRECTIONS

1. In a double boiler (or makeshift one) combine beeswax, shea butter, and herbal infused oil. Melt ingredients.
2. Once ingredients are completely melted, remove from the heat.
3. Mix in your essential oils and pour into containers to cool. Once cool, store in a dark cool area for maximum shelf life.

TO USE

Apply to the clean, dry affected area two times a day until the infection is completely gone. Fungal infections can be very difficult to get rid of, persistence and a healthy diet are the keys.

Other natural treatments to help heal foot fungus

• Combine one part raw apple cider vinegar and four parts water, then soak your feet for soothing relief.
• A combination of dead sea salts and Epsom salts in a foot soak can be very beneficial to helping heal athlete's foot.
• A foot powder can be made by combining 4 parts arrowroot powder, 1 part finely ground chaparral leaf, and 1 part finely ground black walnut hulls. Apply to clean dry feet or shoes for all day healing.
• Always keep affected areas clean and dry, moisture is the leading cause of bacterial and fungal growth.