athlete's foot

Healing Wonders of Herbs

Guide to the Effective Use of Medicinal Plants

By Herminia de Guzman-Ladion,
R.N., A.R.P.T., P.T.R.P.

athlete's foot

    Athlete's foot (alipunga or dermatophytosis) is an eruption
    on the skin characterized by the formation of itchy small vesicles with
    cracking and scaling on the hands and feet, especially between the toes.

Preventive Measures

    1. Keep feet and toes always clean and dry.
    2. Always wear clean and dry socks and shoes.
    3. Don't wear others' slippers, sneakers, socks
       and shoes, Don't let others wear your footwear.
    4. Don't go barefoot in the bathroom. Wear your
        own rubber slippers in public bathrooms,
        swimming pools and riverbeds.
    5. If your feet are infected, put your slippers and shoes
        under the sun for one hour every day for one week when not in use.

Water Treatments Using Herbal Decoctions

    1. Makabuhay vine hot foot bath
        * Chop a one-foot long portion of the vice and boil in
          5 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
        - Soak the infected foot in the hot decoction for 15 minutes
           or as can be tolerated. While foot is soaked, rub between the
           toes with cotton applicators, removing the dead skin and pricking
           the vesicles. soak for 10 more minutes after the removal of the
          dead skin. soak foot 2 times a day for severe infections; otherwise,
          soak once a day only. Please see page 47 for hot foot bath procedure.
   
    Precautions: Athlete's foot is very contagious. It can infect the fingers
                 and the other foot. The towel used for drying the feet and
                 toes should not be used to dry other parts of the body.
                 Use cotton applicators to remove dead skin.
                 Wash very well the basin used for soaking.

    2. Akapulko leaves
        *Crush young leaves and extract juice.
        - Apply the juice directly between the toes and the otlher
          aggected areas after the hot foot bath in the Makabuhay decoction.

    3. Kamantigui flowers poultice
        * Chop flowers.
        - Apply as poultice on infected part after hot foot
          bath in the Makabuhay decoction

    4. Balanoy leaves
        * Chop leaves and extract juice.
        - Apply the juice directly on the affected part after
          hot foot bath in the Makabuhay decoction.

    5. Kanya Pistula (Golden Showers) leaves
        * Crush young leaves and extract juice.
        - Apply on the affected part after hot bath in the Makabuhay decoction.

    6. Rabanus tubers
        * Chop tubers and extract juice.
        - Apply juice on the affected parts, 2 times a day.

    7. Bawang (for itchiness)
        * Peel one clove and chop.
        - Rub on the itchy areas, 2 times a day.