Tag Archive for: natural remedy

Ringworm Day 1

Ringworm Day 1

Ringworm is a common fungal skin infection caused by tinea corporis.  Don’t be fooled by the name, it is not caused by a worm.  The fungus produces a scaly, circular, itchy rash on the skin, scalp, groin or feet.  There can be hair loss and blistering as well.  Tinea is spread through contact and is more likely to infect skin that is moist and has a defect.  Although it can be a nuisance, the infection is not dangerous.

Many natural remedies are known to treat ringworm.  Here I share a photo documented success story after trying a variety of remedies.  To get straight to the point, raw garlic was the hands down winner.  In the end, I used it as part of a 3 remedy combination.

The first remedy I tried was lavender essential oil.  I always have a high quality Swiss pharmacy brand available to use on cuts and nicks.  For the ringworm, I applied it neat (undiluted) directly on the skin.  The picture above was taken immediately after an application.  This treatment was used twice daily for a week, and did clearly have a drying effect on the rash.  See the picture below taken about a week into the lavender treatment.

Day 6 Lavender Oil

Day 6 Lavender Oil

However, I was unhappy with the speed of healing and so decided to add garlic.  I choose this remedy next because I had it readily available and it is often mentioned as an effective agent.

Garlic

Garlic

I used the most potent garlic I could find.  It was locally grown and organic.  I knew from cooking with it, that it was much stronger than typical store bought garlic.  For each preparation, I sliced a fresh piece.  I made sure to place the newly cut side, with oils leaking, directly on to the rash.  I then covered it with a band-aid to hold it securely in place.  I left the garlic preparation on for 2 hours, once a day.

Garlic Ringworm Remedy

Garlic Ringworm Remedy

Garlic Ringworm Remedy Bandaged

Garlic Ringworm Remedy Bandaged

Immediately after removing the garlic I could see that the ringworm was unhappy.  The rash became bright red, and the oil had a moisturizing effect.

Ringworm After Garlic Remedy

Ringworm After Garlic Remedy

Seeing this, I was encouraged that the garlic would work.  Of the 3 component treatment, it was clear to me the garlic was the key ingredient.  The first step was always the 2 hour garlic application.  After removing it, I wiped the rash with a tissue moistened with apple cider vinegar.  This helped take away some of that garlic smell, and it is also popular remedy for ringworm.  Lastly I applied a small amount of lavender oil to help dry the rash and leave it with a pleasant smell.

Ringworm after garlic, apple cide vinegar and lavender

Ringworm After Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar And Lavender Oil – 3 Component Treatment

The photo below was taken 2 days after starting the garlic remedy and 9 days all together.  There is already some clearing in skin!

Day 3 Garlic Remedy, Day 9 Total

Day 3 Garlic Remedy, Day 9 Total

After only 1 week it looked like the rash was on its way out.  At this point I had to travel and stopped the garlic treatment, falsely thinking it was days away from healing.  It turns out fungal skin infections are stubborn and require more persistence in treatment.

1 Week Garlic Remedy, 2 Weeks Total

1 Week Garlic Remedy, 2 Weeks Total

As shown below, there was more infection deeper in the skin that started to surface in the form of pustules.

3 Weeks Garlic Remedy, 1 Month Total

3 Weeks Garlic Remedy, 1 Month Total

I restarted the garlic remedy, after having taken a week off.  During the next couple weeks the skin produced more blisters and cleared more daily.   It also went through phases of scaling, as seen below.

1 Month Garlic Remedy

1 Month Garlic Remedy

Again I naively took a break in the garlic applications.  But soon it was clear, there was still more ringworm in the deeper layers of the skin.  The skin started to thicken and redden in some places.

Almost 6 Weeks Garlic Remedy

Almost 6 Weeks Garlic Remedy

Once again, I restarted the daily garlic applications, this time with determination to continue until the skin appeared totally normal.

6 Weeks Garlic Remedy

6 Weeks Garlic Remedy

The rash went through many phases of looking better, then looking worse.  I kept the garlic going.

Over 6 Weeks Garlic Remedy

Over 6 Weeks Garlic Remedy

I understand that pharmaceutical antifungals work much faster.  However, I am a lover of natural remedies and always prefer the gentler approach even if it means waiting longer.

2 Months Into Remedy

2 Months Into Remedy

The entire treatment took about 2 months.  I suspect it would have been faster if I had diligently used the garlic from day one through to completion.  There were about 3 weeks total that it went untreated.  The apple cider vinegar and lavender oil accompanied the garlic preparation well, but if I had only one of the remedies to choose, it would be the fresh garlic.  When I first discovered the rash, it was disheartening and I had some doubts that it would heal.  I’m happy to report that, garlic, an herb accessible to almost all people, will fully heal a ringworm skin infection if applied correctly.

Fully Healed Ringworm With Garlic Remedy

Fully Healed Ringworm With Garlic Remedy

Clove Tincture

Clove Tincture

Clove tincture has multiple therapeutic purposes.  I take it along with black walnut hull tincture and wormwood tincture as an antiparasitic.  In this article, I share how to make your own clove tincture by hand.

Basic Recipe

Mix ground cloves with 80-100 proof alcohol.  Let the mix sit for 6 weeks, strain and reserve the alcohol.

In Depth Tutorial

Getting Fresh Organic Cloves

The quality of dried cloves can vary.  After sampling 3 different organic clove brands, I choose Organic World Spice Market.  The aroma of these cloves hit my face when I smelled them.  They really stood out compared to other brands I tried.

Grinding the Cloves

To ensure freshness, I purchased whole cloves and then ground them the day I made the tincture.  If you do the same, make sure you clean your coffee grinder well before you use it again.

Grinding Whole Cloves

Grinding Whole Cloves

Basic Recipe Plus

I used 2.5 tbl of ground cloves for every 2 oz of alcohol.  For this particular batch, 8 oz of whole cloves ground down to 32 tbl, which calls for 26 oz of alcohol.  The whole concoction fit perfectly into a 1 quart glass jar.  If using a metal lid be sure to put a piece of plastic wrap down first.  Store the tincture in a cool, dry place for 6 weeks.

Ground Cloves in Alcohol

Ground Cloves in Alcohol

Finished Product

Next strain the mix through a coffee filter and bottle it.  Take 20 drops three times a day for 2 weeks, along with the black walnut hull tincture and clove tincture.  On the mornings you take the 3 tinctures, take the clove tincture first, about 20 minutes before the other two.  The amount of tincture for a 2 week treatment fits perfectly into a 2 ounce remedy bottle.  Store in a cool, dry place.

Wormwood Tincture

Wormwood Tincture

Wormwood, when taken along with cloves and black walnut hull, is an excellent antiparasitic remedy.  Dr. Hulda Clark advocated this triad of herbs.  Although she suggested taking the wormwood in a dried capsule form, I love to use herbs in tincture form.  If made from fresh herb, I feel more of the essence is retained in a tincture then a dried preparation.  You may wish to make your own tincture so that you know it is fresh and organic.  If done right, it will be higher quality than any store bought version.

Basic Recipe

Soak wormwood leaves and flowers in 80 – 100 proof alcohol, being sure all the herb parts are covered.  After 6 weeks strain the organic matter from the alcohol and bottle your tincture.

In Depth Tutorial

Getting Wormwood

I choose to grow wormwood in my organic herb garden.  I was lucky to find someone locally who gave me a starter plant.  My second choice would have been to cultivate the plant from seed.  I love Annie’s Heirloom Seeds.  As a last resort I would have used a good quality organic dried wormwood for the tincture.

Basic Recipe Plus

Fresh Wormwood

Fresh Wormwood

One freezer bag of loosely packed wormwood, once chopped, fit nicely into a 1/2 quart glass jar and required about 16 oz alcohol. It is important that all the herb is submerged.  If you have a metal lid, place a plastic wrap on the glass jar first.

Fresh Wormwood Soaking

Fresh Wormwood Soaking

Finished Product

Let the mix sit for 6 weeks, then strain it, reserving the alcohol and discarding the wormwood plant matter.  Store in a glass jar, in a cool and dry place.  Take 20 drops three times daily for 2 weeks, along with clove tincture and black walnut hull tincture.  A 2 ounce remedy bottle is exactly the right size to hold this 2 week regimen.