Lemongrass Oil for Nail Fungus

In recent years, essential oils from a number of plants have been investigated for their antiseptic qualities - lemongrass oil for nail fungus is one natural remedy that shows considerable promise. Lemongrass oil is the oil extracted from the lemongrass plant, Cymbopogon citrates, the same plant that is often used to impart a lemony flavor to many traditional Asian dishes. The medicinal qualities of lemongrass are not so well known to most of us as the culinary uses but, in fact, this plant has been used for centuries to treat certain ailments: infectious diseases and fevers, as an antiseptic, and as an insect repellent among other things. Today's refined methods for extracting the concentrated oil of lemongrass have made it popular as an ingredient in many different products.

The main therapeutic substance in oil of lemongrass is citral, and producers of natural antifungals include citral for nail fungus in their essential oil blends. Citral is also the component that gives the essence its lemony smell. Like other aromatic herbs such as oregano, thyme, and eucalyptus, lemongrass seems to have a natural ability to fight off organisms that cause infections and diseases - the herbal knowledge of traditional healers is now being confirmed by scientific study. Lemongrass has antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that make lemongrass oil for nail fungus an obvious choice.

Lemongrass oil should not be applied to the skin as a concentrated oil because it causes a skin reaction in some people. Thus pure lemongrass oil for nail fungus should be avoided. The oil is often blended with other essential oils such as cedarwood, basil, jasmine, and tea tree oil. Such blends provide some citral for nail fungus treatment without the danger of causing a skin reaction. Even so, it's best to apply preparations for nail fungus only to the nail and avoid skin contact, because nail preparations typically contain higher concentrations of antifungal ingredients than skin preparations do. Other preparations containing oil of lemongrass are specifically blended and marketed for fungal infections involving the skin.

One of the better blends containing citral for nail fungus is one that includes both lemongrass oil and tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is now enjoying widespread use as an antifungal agent for nail fungus infections, and there is considerable scientific evidence as well as anecdotal evidence that it is quite effective. Products such as lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, and various essential oil blends are favored by people who don't want to use prescription drugs, which are not only expensive but also associated with harmful side effects and health risks. It's a good idea, however, to have a nail fungus infection confirmed by a trained medical professional, even if you do favor natural remedies over pharmaceuticals.

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Lemongrass Oil for Nail Fungus, at Nail Fungus Treatment, a blog dedicated to the treatment of fingernail and toenail fungus.

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