Toenail Fungus Treatment Using the Beer Soak
The basic premise behind this odd sounding natural toenail fungus treatment is to soften nails with beer, create an acidic environment with vinegar which is beneficial to good bacteria and deadly to fungus and then penetrate nails with specific beneficial bacteria to help kill and prevent further recurrences.
For those in a hurry, please download the Beer Soak Instructions, save it to your computer and print them out. You'll find them very useful.
Essential Ingredients:
Natural Toenail Fungus Treatment Procedure:
What to look for:
As fungus gets killed by this natural toenail fungus treatment, you will notice new nail growth from the nail base coming in clear. This is a good sign. Some people see clearing at the base within one week and some people see clearing at the base in one month. It all depends on how fast your nails grow and how often you soak them.
Make sure you do this toenail fungus treatment daily. Make it a routine. Watch some TV, read a book or wash the dishes for 30 minutes.
If you know your nails grow slowly, then consider MSM or Silicea 6x cell salts as they have shown to increase nail growth.
This anti-fungal protocol is an excellent way to help prevent liver damage via Lamisil.
I estimated the total cost of this procedure to be about $200.00 That is very inexpensive compared to Lamisil - and much healthier to your liver.
Even if you drink a couple Guiness Stout while you do the soak - it may still be safer than Lamisil on your liver. :)
I have had over 42,000 people read this information and a decent percentage email me. It is great to hear that this treatment is working well.
I had one elderly woman with longterm fungal toenails report excellent results.
She also had an unexpected benefit: her plantar warts fell out from the bottom of her feet allowing her to walk comfortably for the first time in years.
Give it a shot - it is safe, effective, inexpensive. Yes it takes some work, but popping a liver toxic Lamisil pill for 3 months daily also takes work - especially repairing the damaged liver. You only get one liver.
An immunology professor, Dr Sheryl Berman, PhD, did a study on about 35 different acidophilus companies and found that only one had the actual amount of live bacteria it claimed in the container - some of the companies stated 1 billion live bacteria per capsule and contained...none. The sachets that I provide claim 125 billion per sachet and at manufacturing have 170 billion.
Choosing a different dark beer that is less expensive may hinder your success. I have not had reports of other effective dark beers so I am not sure. You can give it a shot but you are only saving a few bucks while investing 30 days of soaking. That is pennies per day extra. Worth the risk? If you have time, it would be good to know if the others worked...if they do, let me know :)
You may find the Acidophilus Sachets here - along with the MSM and Silicea cell salt.
Should you have questions, please comment. I'm here to answer them and help your nails recover!
Enjoy healthy nails once again! It's summer - put on those sandals!Dr Ben, ND
Testimonials and Questions: Look here
Please note: Fungus is due to either a weak immune system, trauma to the nail area, high refined carbohydrate diet or recent or long term use of antibiotics.
That said, taking one sachet in a glass of water before dinner for 14 days helps restore healthy gut bacteria which likely has a direct impact on proper immune function, may help combat fungus internally and externally longterm and reduce refined carbohydrate and sugar cravings as the 'bad' bacteria which do crave sugar will be wiped out by the beneficial bacteria. So taking the sachets internally for one week, soaking for a few months, changing your diet, building your immune system and not bashing your nails will likely improve your fungus situation.
A mild headache may occur while taking the sachets internally. Taking vitamin C usually helps. The headache is usually due to the 'die-off' reaction from unhealthy bacteria being killed by the healthy probiotic found in the sachets.
Technorati: nail fungus, nail fungus treatment, natural toenail fungus remedy, toenail fungus treatment, toenail fungus, fingernail fungusLabels: nail fungus, natural fungus treatment, natural treatment, treat nail fungus
posted by Benjamin @ 10:19 AM
73 comments
links to this post
73 Comments:
hey ben my names franklin and i just wanted to say thanx for the remedy. i've had athlete's foot for as long as i can remember and toenail fungus for about 6 years i think im lucky i still have my nails, period. my only question is: what do you mean when you say sachet? is there anyway u can send me some sort of link or anything at all to show me? again i really apritiate this i just starting using this tonight i swear people kept looking at me like i had 8 heads when i said i wasn't making a bonb ha!
~franklin~
hi, i'm leslie. i just wanted to say thanks for the remedy. I'll have to wait a year til i can actually buy the beer, =P but I can't wait to try it! I'm willing to try anything, i've had my fungus for 7 years and i am so sick of it. my mom took that medicine for a while and it did nothing, besides being a money drain. oh and franklin, here's your answer to what a sachet is.
Sachet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A sachet is a small disposable bag, often used to contain single-use quantities of consumer goods, such as ketchup or shampoo.
A sachet can also be a fabric bag containing pot pourri.
In culinary terms, a sachet is a small bag made of cheesecloth, containing various herbs and spices (typically bay leaf, thyme, parsley stems, and black peppercorns) used to infuse flavor into stocks.
thanks alot!
~leslie
I'm starting the treatement today and I wanted to know if the solution should be refrigerated at night or left at room temperature. Thanks.
Yes, I wanted to also know about the basin. Do you leave it out for the 3 days without a cover? Does it smell? More info on that would be helpful :).
one can leave the solution out at room temperature. room temperature for some may be 100 degrees though and that will not work.
so if the room is around 60-70 degrees F maximum, leaving the solution out for 3 days will be fine.
if hotter, then put the solution in the fridge. bummer there though is the solution is chilly on the feet.
if you add warm water to it, it dilutes the mixture thereby making it less effective.
the solution has a vinegar smell to it. you may want to put it outside in the garage or your bathroom or somewhere where you dont have to be around the odor if that bothers you. or you can get a lid for the box you're using.
the best thing to use is something very shallow and long enough for your feet. like a plastic shoe box would be perfect.
The last few months I have begun recommending people to try and not just treat the symptom of the nail fungus - rather treat the cause of the nail fungus also.
Nail fungus may be caused by a diet high in sugars, simple carbs like white bread, potatoes, etc. It also may be caused by a weak immune system - so restore your immune function by exercise, multivitamin and eating/sleeping well. Also may be caused by imbalanced intestinal gut bacteria which can be partly improved by taking high dose acidophilus which means taking one of the sachets in a small glass of water before dinner - do this for 14 days and your gut bacteria should be much improved.
Also make sure to spray your shoes with diluted bleach solution - 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Also bleach your socks and make sure they are very breathable like 100% cotton. Also get leather soles on your shoes as they breath better than rubber bottoms. Also disinfect your nail clippers with the same bleach solution between nails so you dont pass the fungus from one nail to the other.
Best
Ben
if youre pregnant, too young to buy beer, or do not want beer in your home, i've had people report nail fungus clearing using only the white vinegar and the acidophilus sachets.
that is a bonus.
the beer simply makes the nail become softer so you're likely to see more rapid clearing of the infected nail as the vinegar can penetrate better.
remember, if your nails grow slowly or you want the treatment to go faster, consider taking the msm powder and silicea 6x cell salts. these both nourish nail and skin. nourished nails will grow faster.
ben
Ben,
Once the nail starts growing out is it important to continue to soak nail until it has completely grown out? Does this mean the fungus is gone from under the nail even though the top part is still yellow?
Also my Dr. was impressed with my nail & would like info. Would you e-mail me your official web site? I found you thru a link & didn't mark it.
I'll pass it on to her for other patients with toe nail fungus!
CC
hi cc -
it is recommended that you keep soaking as the yellow end may have fungus under it and then reinfect the nail.
you can try stopping the soak and seeing if your nail is still growing out - if so - awesome. if not, then you should soak some more.
dont forget to bleach your shoes with 1 part bleach and 10 parts water - spray them. also your nail clippers!
my official site is www.healthegoods.com and www.seekinghealth.com
thanks for telling others! :) it is amazing how this soak works so well..it still amazes me!
best
ben
I have tried your remedy for two weeks now and it seems to be working. I was wondering if I should continue to add tea tree oil in the mornings to my nail or if that would kill the acidophillus. When filing the nail, do you file down the top surface or the tip. Thank you for your help.
Thanks for the "recipe"! I'm going to give it a shot during the month of June. I tried to treat my nails by soaking my toes in white vinigar last summer. My skin began to blister after a week or so (due to acidic component of vinegar), so I stopped. Should I be concerned about this with your treatment? Is aloe or vitamin D enough to counter this effect?! Cheers.
Filing the nail:
basically file the tip of the nail and the top. Be careful though not to reinfect the nail. Spray the file with diluted bleach in order to kill the fungus on the file.
Tea Tree Oil:
Applying tea tree oil may kill the acidophilus. That is a good point. It may also not. The bacteria will be reintroduced again when you soak. But you need to be careful with that as the tea tree oil that is on your nail may get into the solution and kill the acidophilus.
Whatever you choose to do with that, let me know. We're always refining it to improve the results.
Pointers:
If any of you all find something that may improve the Beer Soak, let me know. The main goal here is to effectively treat toenail fungus naturally without any medications.
White Vinegar:
White vinegar straight I can see causing blisters. However, you are also adding dark beer and the acidophilus to the mix. This dilutes the acidity. We have not had any complaints about the white vinegar burning in the Beer Soak and neither has the doctor who told me about it.
Aloe is a good idea to help soothe the skin. Vitamin D and vitamin E also. Calendula tea may help also.
Ben, I am planning to try your remedy; however, I am a bit worried that my toenails have gotten too far out of hand. They are black and brittle (somewhat hollow); though they are still growing. All of my toenails are infected, though some are much worse than others. Will this treatment help a situation like mine? - Thanks, T in TN
hey T -
we have had people with thick yellow nails pull through. it took one woman about 6 months of soaking daily to do so.
Increasing circulation to feet may be beneficial for people with nail problems. This can be done by dipping feet or hands in hot water for 3 minutes followed by quite cold for 30 seconds and doing this three times.
Doing the soak daily is key with bad nails.
One customer I remember is over 70 years old and she had horrific curling nails - she sent photos- Ill have to scan them in. She did the soak for months and was very pleased. She also said her plantar warts came off with the treatment which is a side bonus ;)
In health,
Ben
Hi Ben,
I put in another order for the sachets, received them, and I'll give it another try.
Can you please tell me if it would be okay to heat the soak up in the microwave? It sure woud make it easier to get in to it.
Thanks.
Jessica
Jessica -
It would be better to microwave some water and put that into the solution. It will dilute it a bit but it still should be fine - boil a cup of water and add that to the mix - that should bring the temperature up a bit. If 1 c isnt enough, give 2 cups a shot.
Do not microwave the solution though - you'll kill the acidophilis.
Best
Ben
This post has been removed by the author.
Good idea. Thanks!
Jessica
This is a brainstorm idea that I want to find out if it is still effective. The idea is to wrap the toes thoroughtly with paper towelling, then soak the paper and toes with the solution. After that, I would then wear plastic slip on sandals (used for this purpose only). This method would allow me to walk around and do other things during that half an hour. What do you think? Thanks!
Im always open for suggestions - give it a shot - you may want to go back and 'dunk' after about 10 minutes just to get the paper soaked again.
Let me know how it goes!
Best
Ben
I started using your product about a month ago. I've always had problems with my feet since I was a child, stubbing my foot, and of coarse to lazy to change socks and always never wanting to get rid of my "favorite" tennis shoes.
Well after trying your product, its is amazing. I saw results (no lie) in less then two days. Just curious how it might work and not asking the wife if it was a hair brain idea, I bought into this. I waited a day or two and thought am I seeing things is this really working? I took my shoes and socks off and was just lounging around when the wife came in and saw my feet. She freaked out at how well this stuff works. Now she has made me do it twice a day which with everyone's schedule is a bit hard, but the results after one month has been fantastic. You have a customer for life. :)
Marc
Thanks Marc ;)
That is what we like to hear!
Keep it up - don't lag. Don't forget to spray your shoes with diluted bleach and bleach your socks. Mix 1 part bleach to 5 parts water and spray your shoes - let dry out. Spray daily for a week or so to kill the critters in there.Wear cotton socks, go with breathable shoes when you can.
Limit your intake of sugary foods, refined carbs like white potatoes, pasta etc. Fungus feeds on this stuff.
Boost your immune system by decreasing stress and taking a good multivitamin, sleeping well and drinking healthy amounts of pure water!
Please tell your friends and neighbors about this treatment - the more people's livers we can keep healthy, the better!
In health,
Ben
Dear Ben,
I have had severe toenail fungus (from the pictures I have seen on the web, I would rate mine an 8 or 9 on the thickness and ugly scale, although there is no skin involvement and the discoloration only runs to dark yellow, not black) for several years and have had my two big nails removed several times each (not
permanently) in order to use topical solutions.
I am not interested in taking Lamisil (which my doctor
pushes, just as he dismisses natural remedies), partly
because of the possible side effects and partly because I do not believe in standard drugs to begin
with.
Although I have tried (separate) applications of Penlac, vinegar, and tea tree oil in the past, I have never been fully committed because I have a wacky schedule and have missed treatments, which I know may negate all previous efforts--and have seen no
improvement at all.
However, I am truly sick of hiding
my feet 12 months a year (the summer approaching has again brought these feelings to the forefront, although I realize I won't see any improvement until
next summer) and want to commit.
Today I found a posting by you and ended up ordering Acidophilus
sachets in order to do the beer/vinegar baths.
Here is my question: Would it be more effective for me to have
the two toenails removed again before I start the baths? Wouldn't that allow the elements of the bath to work more efficiently? It seems obvious to me but in all the chats and postings I have read on line, no one really talks about this as a first step.
Are people just afraid to have the nails removed because it is
rather unsavory? It is inconvenient and a bit painful, but I would gladly do it again if it meant more
success with the baths. I would like to hear your thoughts on this and I really appreciate your time.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Best,
Karen
Hi Karen-
Removing the nails may be a good idea. Then doing the soak - you wouldn't have to do the soak as long - which is a bonus.
Remember to address your diet though as well - limit refined carbohydrates, address possible internal yeast infections, boost your immune system.
The fact that you've had fungus before, treated it and it came back suggests that you have an internal problem that needs addressing -
Remember, toenail fungus is only a symptom of an underlying cause - what is causing the nail fungus??? That is what really needs to be asked.
Taking 1 sachet of acidophilus before dinner for 14 days may considerably assist your gut in removing the yeast and improving your immune system. If you get lots of gas, bloating and headaches, that is likely the candida/yeast dying from the acidophilus overcrowding them.
Do you have sugar cravings? Do you get vaginal yeast infections? Do you have history of antibiotic use? Do you have gas after starchy, sugary meals? Do you have brain fog? Hard to concentrate? These all are questions that may relate to a yeast overgrowth in your digestive tract.
As you address the potential internal problem, soaking your feet in the solution after getting the nails removed may do the trick ;) for good!
Best
Ben
Echoing many others, I was excited to find this remedy. Before stumbling across this site, I had already been filing my nails down for years to keep them manageable. So, after just a week, I basically whittled my nails down to nothing. So, since I'm essentially down to the skin, I stopped filing for a couple of days. Now it appears that the fungus-ridden nails are just thickening up again. Should I just keep filing them back down until a good, healthy nail starts coming in? How far should I file? Until there's absolutely nothing but skin?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
J
Well I've been using your rememdy since February and I am wearing sandals today. I have tried (in this order), whie vinegar soak, Lamisil and Penlac. Nothing worked. I finally had surgical removal of the two large toe nails because the fungus was so severe.
Once the nail grew back, the fungus reappeared, even with additional Penlac treatment.
This solution works and I have the pictures to prove it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
awesome ;)
be great if you could email me the photos - customer@healthegoods.com
ensure that you wear all cotton socks, breathable shoes, keep your immune system strong, and your stress low as all that will help prevent fungus from returning.
also if you take antibiotics again in the future, make sure you take the sachets again internally - one sachet at night before dinner - to replenish your healthy gut bacteria.
best to you and congrats!
in health,
ben
Hello Ben
Please excuse this email if it is a duplicate. I could not tell if the first email was sent. I have a pretty bad fungus on both of my big toes. It has spread to my other toes but not nearly as bad. I have been doing your soak two times a day for 12 days. As a matter of fact I soak as I write to you. I noticed a difference in the way my feet looked right away. They skin around my toes and feet looked healthier and I could see a difference in the coloring of my smaller toes and my left big toe. I am wondering about by my smaller toenails getting really thin. Is this a part of the proccess? I started drinking the acidophilus two days ago. It makes my behind itch at night. Is that strange? Is there anything I can do about the itching? I figure I am pretty toxic becauase I have been on meds for bi-polar disorder for about 15 years.
I am so thankful to find your treatment. I have been searching for a natural remedy for years. I took lamasil but it did not work for me. One of my doctors would not prescribe it for me because she said it was too toxic. So I thank you for this alternative. I tell everybody about it.
Michelle
Michelle -
The smaller nails thinning is normal. The soak is designed to thin the nails. It may be actually making your other nails more healthy as fungus causes nails to become thick.
RE: itching behind is an actual medical assessment called 'pruritis ani'
It may be a sign of yeast overgrowth in the intestine or a sign that there are some parasites around your anus.
You may notice the itchiness goes down after you do about 14 nights of the sachets internally. Such a high potency seriously limits the growth of intestinal yeast and it may be getting pushed out literally as the good bacteria take hold. It may be a good sign.
If the itchiness continues for more than 2 weeks or you find it getting worse or needing medical attention, then go see your physician.
You may want to avoid eating wheat for 2-3 weeks and see how you feel.
Wheat can cause pruritis ani in many individuals as it is a common food intolerance.
Dairy is another big one.
Keep me posted.
Best
Ben
Dear Ben,
I've had nail fungus on my toes for about a year now. A few years ago, I was on sporanox to treat nail fungus and my nails grew out successfully. Needless to say the fungus came back and now that I hear about the dangerous side effects these medications have, I decided to try your beer soak. I was seeing very good results up until I ran out of the acidophilus sachets. I ordered more sachets and I didn't soak my feet for about a week. The fungus on the nails seemed to have creeped back. Any suggestions? I'm also using an urea cream, should I continue using it? Thank you!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth -
Sounds like you have a recurring fungal issue that is likely stemming from the inside of your body - not just the outside.
It is best to support your immune system, digestive system and at the same time battle the nail fungus.
Taking the sachets internally is key for someone with recurring fungus.
Docs usually recommend taking one full sachet in a 1/2 cup of water before meals. Stir well as it will clump. It tastes really nice so dont worry about taste. Do this for 14 nights. This means 2 containers should take care of the imbalanced gut flora for most people. You may notice more gas and bloating, an itchy anus and some brain fog. This is normal as the yeast is getting overwhelmed by the healthy gut bacteria. These symptoms will typically go away by the end of the 2 weeks.
Keep soaking until your nails grow out healthy - not just for one month.
Also boost your immune system. Go exercise, get into a nice hot sauna if you can and take an excellent multivitmain/multimineral.
You'll beat it!
Best
Ben
Thank you so much for the motivation, I will surely conitinue soaking. I am currently taking the diet pill Alli, would it be safe for me to take the sachets together with Alli, since these diet pills works through the digestive system. Thank you so much!!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth -
I read about how Alli works. It sounds risky to me:
"It works by inhibiting an enzyme in the pancreas that is responsible for breaking down triglycerides in the intestine. Without the enzyme, fats are prevented from becoming absorbable and may then be excreted undigested."
Messing with enzymes naturally secreted by the body is not a good idea. It can shut down your pancreas if used for long term. If your pancreas shuts down, then you'll not be able to absorb nutrients. You may already be deficient in certain nutrients.
Weight loss is best achieved by proper diet, exercise and proper supplementation.
The sachets work on a different pathway than Alli so you should be able to take it with Alli. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
There are no triglycerides in the sachets - there are simply healthy bacteria.
This is likely more info than you asked for but I wanted to inform you ;)
In health,
Ben
Ben, this all sounds wonderful but what if your are not only gluten sensitive but dairy sensitive as well? I know the beer has grain and am concerned about that. What is the base of the acidophilus? I may get rid of my feet problems but then have a whole host of other problems to deal with .... thanks. Michelle.
Ben-
I just found your remedy yesterday and immediately went out and bought the materials. This is the only fungus killing method I have ever found that sounds like it ACTUALLY works! I am extremely excited to begin the treatment!! I do have one question.... I bought a liquid acidophilus (the brand is Continental) because I couldn't find the sachets at my health food store. It says it has like 7 billion organism per tablespoon. But I just dont know if it will be as effective in this liquid form.
What do you think?
-Chloe
Chloe -
The sachets are not found in any health store as they are a physician-only product.
The liquid acidophilus may or may not work. As stated in the article, most bacteria-containing products do not have what the labels state. This was researched by one of my former professors. She looked at 40 some acidophilus products and only 1 contained what the label stated - all the other products had no viable bacteria to very little.
This is why I carry the sachets and this is why the doctor who told me about this treatment suggested his patients to only use the sachets.
If you find no improvement within 2 weeks, you may want to go to www.healthegoods.com and get the sachets.
The soak does work! Key: stay on it - daily.
In health,
Ben
I am happy to find your site. I am treating my toenail fungus with diflucan. It is a slow process because I keep eating carbs.I need to know if this soak heals infection around the toes. It is very painful and I refuse antibiotics which will defeat the purpose. Thanks Vickie
Vickie -
Eating carbs is fine as long as they are whole grains and not sugars, crap breads, and so on.
The cause of toenail fungus on your end sounds like it hasn't been addressed and may need to be looked at by a naturopathic physician.
Yeast in the digestive tract is a pretty common cause, along with a weak immune system or/and deficient digestive enzymes.
An infection around the toes:
that could be anything and if the physician recommended antibiotics, then you need to seriously consider that.
The soak may or may not cure the infection. I cannot say. Sorry.
The soak is mainly designed to treat nail fungus, athletes foot or stinky feet in general.
Best
Ben
Thank you for your quick reply and input!
I will try the liquid, but will probably be ordering some sachets soon regardless.
Thanks again
Chloe
ben ive tried maluca oil ive tried leucatin ive tried tea tree oil, and now iordered the sachets. wish me luck. could it be that its something other than a fungas? also do i need a liter of beer and aliter of vinegar or just enough to cover my toes in the basin? tim
Hi,
I started the soak but am on antibiotics right now for a sinus infection....do you think the Augmentin will negate the purpose of it; I'm only on the stuff for another week. thx.
Take the antibiotics away from the acidophilus by a few hours at least. If that is a pain, begin taking the acidophilus once you are done with the augmentin.
Doing it this way will ensure proper restoration of gut bacteria and limit the overgrowth of bad bacteria.
All doctors should hand out acidophilus and antibiotics at the same time...they do in many parts of Europe.
Sinus infections can be severely reduced by getting an air filter, using a neti pot and avoiding food intolerances - common ones: dairy, wheat.
Best
Ben
Hi Ben,
I am on my 3rd day of soaking. I think I alreay see that the nail is more white! Should I not rinse my feet after soaking and after filing the nails?
The nail on my big toe has the fungus - the nail has begun to seperate from the toe. Should I only file that nail? Or should I file all of the nails?
I am soaking both feet, since the nails on my other big toe have a yellow tint.
Thanks so much for this natural treatment. I saw a podiatrist regarding the nail and he just pushed Lamisil or removing the nail.
Thanks!
After filing the nail, you should rinse it in the beer soak solution.
You should also have some diluted bleach to drop the file and nail clippers into once you're done with them - to prevent fungal spread to the other nails.
If your nail is lifting from the nail bed, clip it back with your nail clippers as much as you can. This will get the beer soak solution right onto the fungus under the nail and really kill the punks.
Remember - soak the clippers in bleach after you cut EACH nail so you dont spread the fungus.
Just file the infected nails - no need to file the others.
The podiatrist was not taught any other treatments. It is not their fault. The standard medical education is to blame. Standard medical education = diagnose and give medications or surgery. At times, they get into lifestyle and diet but not nearly enough. Standard medicine does not educate MD's in nutrition well at all. ND's study nutrition for 2 years and loads of lifestyle interventions..and drugs.
Glad to see you're seeing improvement. Cool to see such a simple treatment work so well :)
In health,
Dr Ben, ND
Ben - I just saw my doctor today, who confirmed that I have a toenail fungus. It is very early and I want to arrest it ASAP. I'm a type II diabetic and my brief internet research indicates that this fungus affects diabetics disproportionately (although my doctor thinks there is no strong correlation). My question...will this remedy work for diabetics with poor circulation in their feet? I've been using an Anodyne therapy home unit for about 3 months and my feet feel much better....I'm really surprised that I now have this fungus despite the consistent use of Anodyne therapy. My doctor prescribed Lamisil, of course. Advice? Mary
Ben,
Thanks for your response to my question about rinsing after filing the nails.
Another question: after I file, then rinse with the beer soak, should I wait a certain amount of time before washing my feet with soap and water? Would the soap and water cancel out the good that I have done with the soak? I only ask since the vinegar smell is not so pleasant!
Thanks!
I am not sure how to answer that. I would think since you've soaked for 20-30 minutes, that you should be able to wash with soap/water afterwards.
The vinegar smell is not that pleasant. You could also soak right before bed and then have the smell disappear by morning.
Best
Dr Ben
To answer the question posed by the individual with diabetes:
Diabetics are indeed more susceptible to fungal infections - by far. The trick is to keep a handle on the blood sugars.
If you can keep your blood sugars stable in the proper range, then the chance of fungus enjoying their internal environment is lessened.
It is highly established that diabetics may have weaker immune systems, slower to heal, poorer circulation and more fungal infections.
First step in fighting the nail fungus:
Improve diet, lifestyle and reduce stress and control blood sugars with medications if necessary.
Second step:
The beer soak combined with the Anodyne therapy may be useful for you. I have not heard of that particular therapy before but it may do some good given that it is infrared. My concern though is it is infrared LED and I am not sure if it is proven to go to 5cm - it may as I didnt read it entirely.
The Beer Soak is a safe alternative to Lamisil. You may want to give it a shot - many many others have with success.
In health,
Dr Ben
Hi Ben I've been reading all the postings here to my roommate. We both suffer from toenail fungus only on our big toes and on both feet. We are anxious to try this remedy. We have a couple of questions for you though: Can we share the same soak solution? Will polish on the toes cause the solution not to work? Niether of us wants anyone to see our ugly toes but if we have to avoid sandals for the length of the treatment then we will. We don't want to work against the process.
Thanks
Lisa
Hey Lisa -
You both should be able to use the same solution. It is antifungal after all so it should be fine. I've had other folks do it as well with success.
Toenail polish:
Some people told me the beer soak still worked with nail polish on. I can see it slowing down the treatment but still working.
The fungus is under the nail anyhow so the nail polish isnt really a problem - it is what is under the nail that is the problem.
Give it a shot - if you see new healthy nail growth at the base of your nail about 2 weeks into the soak, then you know it is ok. If you do not, then you may want to remove the nail polish and give it another go.
You can always soak without the polish and put a band-aide on your nails when you are done - like a Harry Potter one or Batman ;)
Best,
Dr Ben
Hello! I've been doing the beer soak VERY irregularly, mostly because the solution, although at room temperature, is so very cold on the tootsies. But the other day, I had a 'duh' moment and came up with a solution that doesn't require diluting the beer soak.
I keep my beer solution in a jug (an empty vinegar jug) so that I can cover it and keep the smell at bay. Then, about 20 minutes before I'm ready to soak my feet, I fill the sink with hot water. Not scalding, rather about the same as bathwater. Then I sit the jug of beer stuff in the water and leave it while I get set up, get a cup of tea, whatever. After 15 or 20 minutes, I pour the jug's contents into my foot soaking tub. It's not very warm, but certainly closer to body temperature than room temperature.
Please let me know if this is a bad idea! But, since I read that diluting it might affect overall results, this seemed like a better solution.
Kate
Hi Ben -
I just found your link and am excited about starting the treatment as I am a firm believer in natural remedies. One thing no one mentioned is the danger of nail salons. Most of them are very unsanitary. I read that the only way to clean the spa tubs is with vinegar while they are running. I don't think any salons do this. I'm sure that's where I picked up my fungus. There are some tools they use (electric "sander" for one) that are used on may folks with no cleaning in between. I love pedicures, but don't know where to go. Anyone found a sanitary one in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Thanks,
M
Hi Ben
I'm trying the foot soak now. In an effort accelerate results, I also ordered the MSM for my slower growing nails. Will there be any counter-reactions for me to consume both the MSM (1 scoop) and sachet of acidophilus in a 1/cup water and 1/2 orange juice? The MSM is not very pleasant tasting.
Thanks,
Sydney
I always thought my fungus toenail was a result of unsanitary conditions in a non-western country that I grew up in. But you say it's from too much white rice and potatoes? Should I change to brown rice and wheat pasta?
Boosting your immune system can be done with taking Vitamin B complex, right?
I've have athlete's foot for over 50 years on only one foot, the other was soft as a baby until 2 years ago when I soaked it in a Chinese medicine for curing athlete's foot. I made the mistake of putting in my good foot, which then got infected,.. but never got infected being in the bath water together, etc.
I plan to use your method soon, after my polish wears off. Where do I get the acidophilus to put into the sachet?
Dr. Ben,
Greetings! I am very interested in doing this treatment. However, I am currently using Naftin HCI 1% for over 2 months with little results. My question is if using both treatments will be okay or it has to be one or the other? Thank you in advace for your time and advise.
Laura,
Seattle, WA
Hi there Laura -
Naftin HCl is for skin fungus - read this link:
http://www.drugs.com/pro/naftin.html
It will not work for nail fungus.
It is also not advised to use it long term so please wash your hands well and make sure your skin is free of the antifungal cream as well.
The Beer Soak method will be way more effective.
On the webpage where one buys the Sachets, I now have posted the Beer Soak Instructions - download it. It is very handy.
It is also here:
http://www.healthegoods.com/Acidophilus Beer Soak Instructions by Dr Ben.doc
Happy Holidays to ya!
In health,
Dr Ben
Hey Ben! I've been soaking religiously now for over 1 month. Once a day, sometimes twice. I had 2 discolored toenails and 5 others with suspicious little flecks of brown on them. Saw a podiatrist today, who thinks your method is definately working! I'm anxious to see how they grow in, now that I've filed down below most of the marks. I can see clean nail growing!!! I'll let you know how it goes.
Accordionlady
Fantastic! :)
That is great to hear.
Make sure you are improving your diet, spraying your shoes, getting better socks which are breathable and improving your immune system at the same time - this way you are really treating the causes of nail fungus!
In health,
Dr Ben
Hi Dr Ben!
This sounds fabulous,but I have a problem I haven't seen addressed. I was using Naftin for my big toe which had skin cracking around it. But you say it doesn't work on nail fungus? I've used Diflucan and Lamisil, too. The Lamisil seemed to have worked, but my fingernails now have a fungus. The nails began lifting off the nail bed and cracking. I snipped parts of the nails off so they wouldn't catch on clothing and towels, etc and now I have no nail on one finger. There is a thin nail layer on the bed and the new nail is slowing coming in from under the cuticle.
My question is if I use the Beer Bath, will the softening you mentioned soften the new nail coming in and won't that defeat the purpose and actually remove the nail?
I'm taking my multivitamin and Nail-RX, but this particular nail just isn't growing very fast. If I go out in public, I have to stick a press-on nail on it!
Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm buying your sachets asap! Thanks!
Gigi
Gigi -
Sounds like the nail has been killed by the fungus already and whatever you put on it has killed the fungus for the time being.
The fungus, as you have seen, will indeed come right back.
Why?
Because you have likely not treated your digestive function, changed your diet, improved your immune system, reduced stress, or taken the right nutrients for nail growth.
You should consider the BeerSoak but you wont have to do it for very long. I would think one month would be sufficient.
It will not harm the new nail growth at all - simply dont file the new nails as they grow in.
You should SERIOUSLY consider taking 1 full acidophilus sachet right before dinner in a small 1/2 cup of water (dont worry - it tastes like peach). Do this for 14 days.
You likely will get gas, bloating, stomach upset and headaches as the bad bacteria get wiped out by the good billions of bacteria found in the acidophilus sachets.
To counter that reaction, drink plenty of water, eat steamed veggies like they are going out of style, take vitamin C and avoid sugars seriously - make a point of it.
For nutrients - get some biotin - good stuff and MSM. MSM does not taste good but it is very effective at healthy nail and hair growth - not to mention detoxification, muscle health, reducing pains and others.
Also get some cell salts - ive been doing research on them and have found that silica cell salts, calc phos, and kali sulph are quite good for nail issues. You can find these and other items at my store, www.HealthEGoods.com
Make sure you download my instructions which are found near the top of this mile long blog post :)
Treat the cause of the problem Gigi - not just the fungus.
And since you have taken lamisil and other drugs, you should seriously consider some liver support supplements. We have a few to choose from - a chinese herbal form called Liver Chi, an ayurvedic herbal form called Livit 2 and a USA nutrient/herbal formula called Bio-Liv
All are good - it is your choice which you prefer. Make sure you take liver support nutrients before meals otherwise you will get nauseated.
Hope that helps you.
In health,
Dr Ben
Thanks, Dr Ben. My biggest problem is the constant craving for sugar. I know this is the worst thing for fungus and yeast infections. I'm hoping all these things you mention will help that so I can clear my whole system. Even my physician and dermatologist are baffled about the nail problem, so I will follow your advice and let you know the results. Thanks so much for a blog where people actually get real solutions and answers to their problems!
Gigi
I'm eager to try this beer solution and am thrilled it doesn't have the terrible side effects as the drugs the doctors prescribe. My only concern is the sachet that you reccomend drinking before dinner..I am breastfeeding a 3 month old baby and was wandering if this could be at all risky for his health. You did mention some slight side affects to the drink. I would love to start this treatment as soon as possible, I've been coping with this ugly toe long enough!
By the way, can yougive me more info about what might have started this problem in the first place. I try and eat healthy and take good care of myself. I hope this works for me.
~dsg~
Hi there -
The sachets are completely safe for you and your little one.
What I recommend doing is starting with 1/2 sachet in a bit of water, drinking it before dinner and seeing how much gas you get.
If you get gas, your baby typically gets gas if you are breastfeeding.
So instead of 'blasting' away at the yeast internally with the sachets, do it a bit more gently - consider 1/2 sachet for 14-28 days instead of 1 full sachet for 14 days.
Vitamin C, steamed vegetables, whole grain breads (limit wheat) are all excellent in helping bind the gas from the dying yeast.
Drink plenty of water as well.
The beer soak is fine during breastfeeding. The amount of alcohol in the beer soak is very minimal.
If you are concerned about it, ask your physician.
What causes nail fungus:
weak immune function
weak digestion
trauma to the nail
dietary habits
yeast internally
Those are the main causes.
Hope this helps ya :)
Best
Dr Ben
if bleach kills the fungus in your socks why not use it on your toe to kill it there!
Bleach directly on skin is not a good idea. It is harmful to the skin and to you overall.
In the washing machine, it is still not ideal but it is much less toxic as it is very diluted and rinsed well.
I would not recommend putting bleach in any solution which goes into/onto your body.
Dr Ben
Hi Ben, I am going to try the beer soak but I have a couple questions. Should the acidophillus sachet be stopped after 14 days? If so I am curious as to why.
Also can I use an new emery board file daily and toss after 1 use
instead of soaking a file?
I changed my diet a year ago and it helped my nail fungus but it still needs help!
If this works it will be the answer to my prayer! I will keep you posted.
Thank you
Jen
Hi Jen -
Taking this potent of acidophilus internally for than 14 days is not a good idea. Too much of anything is not good - remember that most things are great in moderation - anything in excess is not.
14 days of taking the intensive sachets is a very safe and typical recommendation by doctors to help replenish proper gut bacteria.
If you feel you want to keep taking bacteria of some sort, I recommend getting a much lower dose of acidophilus.
You can take a 1/4 of a sachet with a bit of water before dinner if you want to keep taking it. But do not take a full sachet after 14 days.
You may use whatever file system you like. I am one to reuse as much as I can due to the environmental impact. Medical waste is huge and our environment suffers. A little file is not going to impact things too much but if a million people reused their files instead of tossing them after one use, that would be a major impact.
I am glad that you noticed dietary changes are helping your nail fungus - it is very true. Keep it up! Limit sugars, food allergens/food sensitivities and simple carbohydrates like bread and potatoes.
Do print out my instructions for the Beer Soak - they have many pointers in there.
The Beer Soak does work! Just be persistent!
In health,
Dr Ben
Hi Ben. I've been using the beer soak for a little over a month and it definitely works
The nails are all growing out with a line of demarcation - the bottom of the nails are clear, and the areas that were thick and yellow are now white.
At first I soaked my feet twice a day but they were a little irritated by the vinegar, so I cut back to once in the evening. thanks so much for this.
starburst
Dear Dr Ben; Thanks for the advice. A point not covered so far here is dental mercury. Dental mercury severely perverts intestinal bacteria. My nail fungus started after having a gold dental bridge repaired with mercury amalgam filling. Life has been hell since. Since having mercury fillings removed, life has improved, but nails still bad. Will try your protocol. Best mercury removal protocol at HugginsAppliedHealing.com . Walter
That is a very valid point Walter. I know Dr Huggins and have heard him speak. He and I have met a few times at medical conventions.
I have some of his works also which I will have on our website, www.HealthEGoods.com
He has some great DVD's and books which I've seen/read.
Mercury and candida are good friends. Part of what happens is mercury depletes the necessary nutrients for proper immune function and this creates one to be susceptible to yeast/candida.
Taking the sachets does help immensely in reducing the candida and at the same time replenishes proper gut flora. Proper gut flora also improves the immune function.
Taking a good multi or immune support nutrient is necessary as is a good diet.
In health,
Dr Ben
Hi Ben
I stumbled across your site when looking for a toenail solution. After reading the comments I cant wait to buy the sachets and start my treatment. My question is my fungus is on both of my second toes. The toe nails are yellow and have become deformed. The nail is thick, pointy and growing to the side. It looks as if my nail bed has sqeezed up into the nail instead of nail bed being flat. Should I see a podiatrist for this or will the beer soaks be enough to straighten the nail bed out too. Thanks so much for your help. I will take before and after pics and make sure you get the results. Thanks TH in maryland
OK, I have been soaking for one month and I took the acidof sachels for 2 weeks. I cant believe the results. My little toe nail has looked like a claw for 30 years and is started to grow out normal. My big toe had it back to the cuticle and it is growing out! I soak twice/day for 30 minutes. At first I thought I couldnt sit there and waste my time, so I had an idea. I went to the local fleet farm and bought a pair of rubber goulashes. I pour the mixture in there and slosh around in them for 30 min. That way I can keep getting work done while soaking. They flop over when not on your feet so you dont have to smell the vinager all day either.
Tried everything before this including Lamisil and it never did the trick.
Thanks Ben!
flip flops here I come!
is it a bad thing to soak too much?? Sometimes I soak when checking email and surfing the net...and before I know it 1-2 hrs has gone by. So is the most one should soak be no more than two periods of 30 minutes a day. Thanks! bob
just wanted to say thanks for the remedy.I have had this fungus for 30 years and have tried everything with little or no results, I started the beer soak about a month ago and I can already tell THIS TOE JUICE WORKS (thats what my kids call it hehe)
Thank You So Much
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