The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (43 page)

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What are Yellow Toenails?

Toenails usually turn yellow due to the presence of yeast infection beneath the nails. Toenails are susceptible to this condition because of the warm, dark and moist environment created by factors wearing uncomfortable shoes, not maintaining proper hygiene etc.

Yellow Toenails are generally not very harmful but they are ugly to look at and hence can become a cause embarrassment in social settings. Although this is a benign condition still, it should be cured effectively before the infection spreads further on the nail, even up to its root.

The condition can be healed naturally at home with the help of several home remedies for Yellow Toenails natural treatment.

The home treatment should also be complemented with adequate hygiene and steps like avoiding nail polish, drying the feet thoroughly after bathing, changing the socks frequently and wearing comfortable shoes that provide adequate ventilation to facilitate the process of healing and avoid Yellow Toenails from getting worse.

Causes of Yellow Toenails

Apart from fungal infections, Yellow Toenails can also be caused by other conditions such as Yellow Nail Syndrome. This rare disorder is mostly associated with systematic diseases like lymphedema and compromised respiration.

As for infection, factors like wearing dirty socks over and over again, prolonged use of closed-toed shoes, excessive sweating in the toes and not maintain adequate hygiene tend to create a dark, warm and damp environment in the foot area, thereby facilitating microbial growth.

Toenails can also become turn yellow because of wearing nail polish on the nails for a long time, thereby leaving no scope for the nails to breathe. Psoriasis, Diabetes, Liver Problems and certain other diseases increase the risk of developing this condition.

Symptoms of Yellow Toenails

The condition usually affects only a single nail, except in case of Yellow Nail Syndrome that may affect all the nails. Plus, only a particular area of the affected toenail becomes yellowish or brownish in color, not the whole nail.

Additionally, Yellow Toenail may also lead to other symptoms like unpleasant odor, cracked and brittle toenails with uneven edges. Yellow Toenails ultimately become thick, dull and lusterless. In severe cases, the underlying infection, if not healed in time, can also cause pain.

Natural Home Remedies for Yellow Toenails

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Soaking the toenails in some water mixed with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice is one of the simplest natural home remedies for Yellow Toenails as it helps to remove yellow stains from the nails. Directly rubbing lemon slices is also beneficial in this regard.

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Take about three tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Mix them to form a paste and then apply this paste on the toenails.  Finally, wash the feet after 10 minutes and dry them thoroughly to remove the yellow discoloration naturally at home. A mixture of baking soda and lemon juice can also be used in the same way.

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Combination of tea tree oil and lavender oil, or tea tree oil and olive oil make for excellent Yellow Toenails home remedies. You can use either of these natural remedies for a few weeks to get rid of this problem.

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Another Yellow Toenails home remedy with essential oils is to regularly apply a mixture of one teaspoon of olive oil and two drops of oregano essential oil. Do not follow this therapy for more than three weeks.

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Soaking the feet in a bucket of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of crushed juniper berries serves as a good natural cure for Yellow Toenails.

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Soaking the nails in a mixture of warm water and apple cider vinegar (taken in equal quantities) is one of the most popular home remedies for Yellow Toenails caused by fungal infection in the nails.

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Use this solution for about 15-20 minutes three times in a day to reduce the infection as well as discoloration of toenails. Dry the feet completely after soaking in this solution.

Diet for Yellow Toenails

When dealing with Yellow Toenails caused by infections, it is recommended to include more probiotics like yogurt in the diet. The well balanced diet should also constitute a judicious mix fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains containing essential vitamins and nutrients like that help improve immunity against infections.

Diet for reducing Yellow Toenails caused by specific diseases like liver problems should be aimed at healing those diseases.

Besides, consumption of ginger tea and other beneficial herbal teas also helps to cure fungal infections causing discoloration of nails, thereby serving as one of the most valuable dietary measures as well as natural home remedies for Yellow Toenails home treatment.

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Absinthe
has long been used by herbalists to
eliminate worms, improve appetite
, and as an aid for
improving gallbladder, liver, gastric and vascular disorders
, as well as
migraine headaches
.  Applied topically, it aids in healing wounds, skin ulcers, blemishes and insect bites. Long used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages (absinthe), it is a
digestive, improves the appetite, and relieves many digestive disturbances.

Plant Description
:

Absinthe is native to Europe, Siberia, and North Africa and has been naturalized in North America. In England, the plant grows in many places and appears to thrive near the sea.
 

It is a perennial root, which arises to a height of two to three feet with leafy, flowering stems. The leaves and flowers are extremely bitter, with the characteristic odor of thujone, and the whitish plant is closely covered with fine, silky hairs. The plants are harvested in July and August, and only the leaves and tops are used.

History:

The genus,
Artemisia
, is derived from Artemis, the Greek name for Diana, who is said to have found the plants and delivered their powers to Chiron, the centaur, and the ancient Greeks claimed that the plant counteracted the poisons of hemlock and toadstools.

One of its common names, wormwood, is derived from the Anglo Saxon
wermode
or
wermut,
meaning preserver of the mind, since the herb was thought to enhance mental functions and which also accounts for its use in treating nervous temperament and melancholia. 

In 1577, in
July's Husbandry,
Tusser advised people to lay its flowers among "stuffs and furs" to keep away moths and insects, and in 1772, Dr. John Hill made an infusion for treating indigestion. With the exception of rue, wormwood is the bitterest herb known, but it is wholesome and was very much in demand by brewers for use, instead of hops.

The major constituent of Absinthe is a volatile oil, dark green or blue in color, with a strong odor and bitter taste. The essential oil in Absinthe was an ingredient in the alcoholic aperitif also called absinthe, which was first created by Henri Pernod in 1797. Today's successors to absinthe - anisette and vermouth - do not contain thujone. Absinthe oil contains thujone (absinthol or tenacetone), thujyl alcohol (both free and combined with acetic, isovalerianic, succine and malic acids), cadinene, phellandrene and pinene.

The herb also contains the bitter glucoside, absinthin, and other salts.  Other phytochemical and nutrient contents include beta-carotene, chamazulene, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, salicylic acid, tannins, vanillic acid and vitamin C.

Medical Uses:

Absinthe has been used as a powerful tool to fight worm (notably pinworm and roundworm) and other parasitic infestations in humans and animals.  It has long been used as an anthelmintic that expels intestinal worms.

Used as a bitter, Absinthe aids in secretions of the gallbladder and liver and is an old and trusted remedy for bilious and liver troubles, jaundice and gallbladder ailments.

Absinthe is a nervine tonic that nourishes the nervous system and, thus, eases stress and nervous disorders. The herb calms and soothes the nerves and reduces tension and anxiety.

Traditional herbalists claim that Absinthe is a febrifuge and lowers intermittent fevers and fights infection.

Because Absinthe increases stomach acidity, it aids in the whole digestive process, particularly when there is a deficiency of gastric juice.  It has been used to help alleviate gastritis, stomachache, bloating and flatulence. Moreover, as a bitter, aromatic herb, Absinthe is also said to improve a meager appetite.

Absinthe is a uterine stimulant and is said to help control irregular menstrual cycles (and thus, should not be used by pregnant women).

Well known for its commercial use in the preparation of liquors, notably absinthe and vermouth, Absinthe has also been used medicinally as a mild sedative. This bitterest of herbs includes a narcotic analgesic that affects the portion of the brain dealing with pain. If not used habitually, the herb's absinthum has been known to stimulate the cerebral hemispheres and act as a direct stimulant on the
cortex cerebri,
aiding in the relief of migraine headaches, nervous diseases, in addition to soothing nervous temperament.

Applied topically, the oil extracted from Absinthe acts as an anti-inflammatory that is used as a liniment to relieve pain and sore muscles. It is useful for healing wounds, skin ulcers, blemishes and insect bites.

Absinthe may also be used as an insect repellent when sprayed on organic gardens or when prepared as a sachet to keep moths from clothing.

Dosages:

Take one (1) capsule, two (2) to three (3) times each day for two weeks. Then discontinue use for at least two weeks before resuming another 2-3 week regimen.

Precautions:
Absinthe is a uterine stimulant and should not be used during pregnancy, as it can cause spontaneous abortion. Nursing mothers should not use Absinthe. Do not overuse; it may be habit forming with long-term use, and prolonged use may cause nausea, vertigo and insomnia. Do not exceed recommended dosage (many times the recommended amount). Absinthe should never be given to children.

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Acacia Bark
is an ancient treatment used mainly for digestive disorders and diarrhea.  It is an astringent that is rich in tannic acid, and recent research has discovered that an extract from this highly astringent herb may block the body's pain triggers.

Plant Description:

A native of Australia, where there are more than seven hundred species, Acacia Bark has been prized for its commercial value, as well as its medicinal applications. Also known as Wattle Bark and Black Wattle, it is collected from wild or cultivated trees that are seven years or older.  For medicinal purposes, the bark must be allowed to mature for a year, and it is often substituted in medical applications for Oak Bark.  Although they are different in appearance, both have an astringent taste.

History:

Acacia Bark is hard and woody with a rusty, brown color, and because it contained large amounts of tannin and gallic acid, its powerful astringency made it the backbone of the Australian and New Zealand tanning industry. The timber itself was used commercially, and the bark, also known as Babul, became a mainstay in the area's tanning and dyeing industries. That same astringency has special use when employed medicinally.

Medical Uses:

When used mainly in the form of a decoction, Acacia Bark is well known for its treatment of diarrhea and digestive ailments, and the decoction is also used as an astringent, mouthwash and lotion. Acacia Bark has also been used in the treatment of dysentery.

Acacia (or Indian Gum Arabic) is commonly used in maintaining dental hygiene. The fresh twigs have long been used for the protection of gums and teeth, and recent studies indicated that Acacia was found to inhibit the growth of germs in the oral cavity. The herb is useful as an external application for mouth ulcers. Further, extract of Indian gum Arabic tree has been found to reduce gingival (gum) inflammation occurring as a consequence of plaque reduction.

In India, Acacia Bark has long been administered for its astringent properties, and there are current reports that, in combination with other herbs and barks, traditional Indian healers use it in the treatment of leprosy in rural areas. The healers also claim that it aids in the treatment of stomachache.