Athlete's Foot Causes & Treatments

[Guest guest]

Athlete's Foot Causes & Treatments

_http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/treat4.php_

(http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/treat4.php)

© Copyright Bee Wilder

What is Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin of the feet, which can also

involve reactions by the feet and skin to toxins produced by candida/fungus

overgrowth mainly found in the digestive tract.

Such problems with the feet are often found to contain a combination of

fungi and bacteria. Athlete's foot causes scaling and sogginess of the skin,

mostly of the web spaces between the toes.

Athlete's Foot Symptoms & Signs

* Red and/or pale skin.

* Mild to intense itchiness, mostly in between the toes.

* Burning and inflammation.

* Cracked or blistered skin.

* Skin patches and scaling of the skin.

* Skin fissures (small cracks).

* Toenails may become affected as athlete's foot progresses causing

thick yellowish nails that are malformed, thickened and crumbly, called

onychomycosis.

* Fingernails can also become affected just like toenails.

Fungus on the feet can also develop into calluses, corns, warts, and horny

growths, or keratotic tissue (hardened horny growths or build-up), mostly

around the borders of the heels. Active growth of the fungus is also supported

by

nutrients contained in such horny growths.

Causes of Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot is caused by a depressed immune system and/or a lack of

adequate blood circulation to the extremities and inadequate oxygen in the

blood.

This primarily occurs in diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease, but

it also occurs in many other disease conditions, including candida and candida

related diseases)

Athlete's foot is usually accompanied by candida overgrowth in other areas

of the body, mainly in the intestinal tract. Like other evidence of candida

overgrowth in the body, i.e. thrush, vaginal yeast, jock itch, etc. it is a

definite sign of more serious problems caused by a weakened immune system.

Ordinarily healthy skin secretes acid on its surface. This acid layer is

necessary for the health and integrity of the skin, which also acts as a

protective barrier.

However through malnutrition, constant showers and bathing, soaps that

remove the acid layer, toxins, poor blood circulation, low oxygen levels in the

blood, etc. the health of the skin is compromised leaving it more vulnerable to

fungal overgrowth.

Athlete's foot, like other fungal infections of the skin and organs, can be

treated directly. Even though direct treatment will provide some measure of

comfort and relief of the symptoms it will not be totally eradicated until the

immune system is functioning normally.

This is only accomplished by the entire Candida Program, including diet,

supplements, antifungals and probiotics. True healing only occurs with proper

nutrition and elimination of toxins. Fungal infections of the feet are

particularly difficult to eradicate because fungi love moisture and warmth,

making

feet a perfect climate for their growth.

Athlete's Foot Treatments

1. Wear 100% cotton socks, changing them often. Do not wear synthetic

materials of any kind, including pantyhose, knee-highs, or socks made of

synthetic and cotton blends.

 

2. Walk in bare feet as often as possible, particularly inside your own

home. This allows your feet to keep dry and breath.

 

3. Footwear should only be worn if necessary, and it must be made of

natural materials, such as leather or cloth, which allow your feet to breath,

and do not allow as much moisture to accumulate. Changing to different shoes

everyday also helps. Shoes should be dried well before wearing them again. A

hair dryer can be used to speed up the process.

 

4. Dust closed-in shoes with a light layer of baking soda to absorb any

excess moisture before putting them on. Baking soda can be put into a large

glass jar with holes in the top, like those used for dispensing parmesan

cheese or red pepper flakes.

 

5. Do not shower or bath too frequently since it removes the healthy

acid layer of the skin. When you do take a shower or bath, avoid scrubbing your

feet with soap. Just allow the water to clean them.

 

This will allow the skin of your feet to build up a healthy natural acid

surface. If you do wash your feet with soap follow it with an apple cider

vinegar or lemon juice and water mixture (mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider

vinegar

or the juice of 1/2 lemon into 2 cups of warm water). Pat dry with paper

towels, but do not rinse it off. Any smell dissipates quickly.

 

6. Wash your feet and dry them well. Fungi from athlete's foot will

live in a warm, moist environment. If you keep your feet dry, they will have a

hard time enjoying you. Application of a talc powder can help keep your feet

dry over the course of the day.

 

7. Do not tamper with your feet too much. By that I mean, do not use a

nail file, rasp, loofah or pumice stone to remove dead skin, calluses or

corns. This damages the skin and encourages more fungal growth.

 

Instead, after taking an epsom salt bath, when your feet are clean and soft,

use a natural bristle brush and a dry wash cloth (alternate using them), and

rub your feet well, rolling off any dead skin that is ready to be removed.

 

8. Soak your feet twice a day in an antifungal solution. The best

solution to use is garlic with lemon tea because it also leaves an acid layer

on

your feet. Pat them dry with a paper towel and then apply antifungals.

 

9. Rub antifungal solutions well into all areas of the feet that are

affected (use 1 tablespoon of coconut oil with 5 drops or more of one of one of

these oils - or use a combination): 1) tea tree oil, 2) oil of oregano, 3)

garlic oil, and 4) clove oil.

You make these mixtures ahead of time. There is no need to refrigerate them.

Multiply the amount of coconut oil as well as the number of drops

accordingly.

Alternatively, raw crushed garlic can be rubbed into all affected areas.

Antifungals can be applied 2-3 times a day.

Wash your hands well after applying antifungals so you will not accidentally

touch them to your eyes. If you happen to get garlic or other antifungal

solutions in your eyes, rinse them well with 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed

into 1 cup of sterile or distilled water. It is wise to mix up this solution

ahead of time just in case. It keeps well in your cupboard.

Apply antifungals before bedtime, allowing 20 minutes for the solution to

soak in well before retiring. That's a good time to watch your last TV show of

the evening with your treated bare feet propped up.

If you wish you can wrap up your feet with gauze or clean white cloth so it

will not stain bedclothes and sheets, and to avoid having the solution rub

off. Oil solutions do not encourage fungal growth like moisture.

References

* _Fungal Skin Infections_

(http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/fungal_skin_infections.html)

* _Athlete's Foot_ (http://www.raysahelian.com/athletesfoot.html)

* Trowbridge, John Parks, M.D., The Yeast Syndrome, New York, New

York, Bantam Books, 1986, p. 312-313.