Monday, February 1, 2010

Tinea cruris/Jock itch/Ring worm natural remedy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmmgb0zXvAk

I go through the products and procedure fairly quickly on Youtube, so here's the breakdown of the daily routine that worked for me:

(1) In the shower, wash the infected area last. Use soap known for its anti-fungal properties (I used both Tea Tree Oil and Coal Tar from my local health food store). Do not scrub hard, just lightly rub soap into a lather on your hands and gently wash area with bare hands. Wash hands well with same soap and rinse off bar.

(2) Dry yourself off with a fresh towel each time (you can go back to your normal towel swapping schedule after a week or so), while trying to avoid contact with infected area. I also added a few drops of tea tree and myrrh oils (as well as a touch of jasmine oil to mellow it out a little) to my laundry to make sure the fungus didn't spread.

(3) Pat infected area dry with some tissues. Then blow dry.

(4) Mix some anti fungal ointment together in your hand and apply to infected area. I found it best, especially in the beginning when itchiness was a problem, to start with a pre-made cream that has eucalyptus, as the eucalyptus "cools" and numbs the skin. A lot of these creams already have the eucalyptus as well as some anti-fungal oils in them, like the "Dream Cream" I used. For extra anti-fungal potency, you can add in any of the oils off this link, most of which your local health food store should stock. In addition to those, Oil of Oregano and Bee Propolis are all-around anti-everythings (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, etc... even anti-viral supposedly), so I took a few drops of Bee Propolis tincture in the morning and used a Bee Propolis creme topically (mixed alternatively with Oil of Oregano and Myrrh and Cedarwood) when the Dream Cream ran out. Also, Oil of Oregano spruces up a lot a dishes! Try it with eggs sometime (just a drop or two), or any soup. Lastly, a word of caution: essential oils come in tiny bottles with tiny droppers for a reason... they are potent! Use sparingly! (and dilute with pre-made creams like I mentioned above)

(5) Get healthy! I know this is a rather nebulous statement, but appropriate nonetheless. Drink plenty of water, and focus on foods that your digestive system can process easily (delay your indulgence in a cheeseburger and poutine). I took a psyllium fiber supplement to help "get things going".

(6) Keep the area dry! This is the greatest inconvenience of all. Spread those legs and try to get airflow, somehow, someway, down there! If you can get away with having a fan blow at your crotch, more power to you. If it gets itchy during the day (as it most likely will for the first week), pat off the moisture with tissues again and apply some more ointment. You might even have to do this 3 or 4 times a day for the first few days. It sucks, yes, but it's better than the alternative.

Good luck!

3 comments:

  1. Good article, I like the concept of using natural remedies whenever they can work. I have never heard of the method described here but I have had personal experience successfully treating my tinea cruris with vinegar. Here is the page: Treat Tinea Cruris With Vinegar

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  2. You are miles away from curing your problem.

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