Skin
Fungal Infection
Infections caused by fungi growing in moist, warm areas of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes — including athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, candida, and nail fungus.
📝 Summary
In short: Infections caused by fungi growing in moist, warm areas of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes — including athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, candida, and nail fungus.
Common causes: Fungi thrive in moist, warm environments; Skin folds and crevices where skin touches skin; Shared towels, brushes, clothing, or shoes.
First thing to try: TeaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → tree oil: apply several times a day to affected area, either full strength or diluted in vegetable oil; proven in research studies to outperform antifungal drugs against candida
See a doctor if: If fever develops alongside a fungal infection, suggesting secondary bacterial infection.
🌿 Overview
Fungal infections thrive in moist, hot skin crevices and on surfaces of the colon, vagina, and throat. Common types include athlete's foot (between toes), ringworm/tinea (skin and scalp), jock itch (groin), candida (throat and vagina), and nail fungus. Powerful antifungal herbs are available and studies show them to be more effective than pharmaceutical antifungals with fewer side effects.
Common signs
- Moist, possibly itchy, red patches on the skin, mucous membranes, or under the nails
- Between the toes: athlete's foot
- Scalp or skin: ringworm (circular patches)
- Groin: jock itch
- Throat or vagina: candida/thrush
- Nails: thickened, discolored, brittle nails
- Signs of secondary bacterial infection: increased redness and swelling, fever
🔎 Why it happens
Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.
- Fungi thrive in moist, warm environments
- Skin folds and crevices where skin touches skin
- Shared towels, brushes, clothing, or shoes
- Wet, unventilated shoes and feet
- Weakened immune system, antibiotic use (disturbs gut flora, enabling candida)
- High-sugar diet (feeds yeast)
✅ What to do
Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.
- TeaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → tree oil: apply several times a day to affected area, either full strength or diluted in vegetable oil; proven in research studies to outperform antifungal drugs against candida
- Wild oregano oil — most resistant forms of fungal infection can generally be eliminated by it
- Goldenseal (berberine): destroys fungi; apply topically or take internally for 1 week, then switch to another antifungal herbA plant, or part of one, used for flavor, food, or gentle health support. More →
- Pau d'arco: contains three antifungal compounds (lapachol, beta-lapachone, xyloidine); drink 3 cups daily
- Raw garlic: liquefy in blender and apply on cloth to infected area 3 times daily; or eat raw daily
- Licorice root: 5–7 tsp. powdered root simmered in 1 cup boiling water for 20 minutes; apply liquid on cloth 1–3 times daily
- Lemongrass teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →: drink 1–4 cups daily; apply spent tea bags to affected area
- Chamomile: powerful fungicide used widely in Europe against candida; apply strong teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → directly to area
- Avoid soap on the infected area
- Eat a nourishing raw-food diet; avoid sugar, meat, dairy, alcohol, fried, and processed foods
⭐ Community-ranked natural supports
Vote ▲ on everything that helped you, and ▼ on anything you tried that didn't — the ranking updates live. Tap 💬 to share what worked, so others can find it faster.
Crowd feedback, not medical advice — in this preview your vote is saved on your device. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit).
📊 Compare these remedies side by side
Our editor score weighs sources, safety, simplicity, cost, and lifestyle fit. Source endorsements tally how many books and studies reference each remedy. A higher number isn't a promise — it's just a starting point.
| Remedy | Type | Editor score | Source endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic | Food | 85 | 244 |
| Tea Tree Oil | Herb | 67 | 126 |
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Favor these
- Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts
- Raw food diet during active infection
- Raw garlic (strongly antifungal)
- Pau d'arco tea (3 cups daily)
Go easy on
- Sugar and refined carbohydrates — feeds fungi
- Meat and dairy products
- Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine
- Processed and fried foods
- Greasy foods
Keep skin clean and dry. Don't share combs, brushes, hats, towels, clothes, or shoes. Change socks when feet become sweaty; prefer sandals. Disinfect shower stalls and tubs frequently.
⚖️ Good to know
- Do NOT swallow tea tree oil — it can be fatal; use only topically
- Do NOT swallow turmeric oil or apply undiluted essential oils to broken skin without testing first
- If infection worsens (increased redness, fever), a secondary bacterial infection may be developing — see a doctor
- Chamomile can cause allergic reaction in those allergic to ragweed
🩺 When to see a doctor
- If fever develops alongside a fungal infection, suggesting secondary bacterial infection.
- If nail fungus is severe or not responding to topical treatment.
💚 Was this page helpful?
A quick tap helps us improve these guides. Saved on your device in this preview.