Foot fungus.

Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 14:00:36 -0700
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Kristin Ruffalo <krcardiff.SLCTNET.COM>
Subject: foot fungus

I am looking for some help on healing my boyfriend's foot fungus. I don't think it is athlete's foot, in that it hasn't affected his nails at all and it looks different than what I have seen as Athlete's foot. His feet are constantly very wet and smelly. When his feet are dry the fungus is very red and itchy. When they are wet the bottom of his foot looks like a sponge, with large craters. We have tried different foot baths consisting of vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil. I also rub tea tree oil on his feet almost every night. I have made him a foot powder out of tea tree, sage and baking powder, which helps with the smell. I am thinking that he needs to take something internal to cure this fungus. Any ideas would certainly be appreciated?

From: Robert Seidel <RSYES.AOL.COM>

Could be reinfection from fungus in the shoes. Best to get a spray and do the shoes as well as the feet.

From: Mary Ann Gareis <mgareis.WARRIOR.MGC.PEACHNET.EDU>

My dad used to have a pretty horrific case of foot fungus. He and the doctors tried all the usual array of creams, powders, and cleansing regimens only to find out that the problem was a sensitivity to the dye in his socks and to some extent in shoe leather. It took awhile to clear up, but as long as he sticks to white cotton socks he's OK. He takes off his shoes when he gets home now and thoroughly washes and dries his feet. He hasn't had a flare up in years. He has also had to learn that it is Ok to go barefoot now and again just to let your feet ( and shoes) air out. Certainly the white athletic socks look a little odd with his Sunday suit, but they beats an itchy, nasty fungus.

From: Marie McKinsey <MaMck.WLN.COM>

Having struggled through the recovery from a long-standing systemic Candida infection, here's some of what I learned, which may be of help. Pau d'arco or taheebo tea is a good systemic anti-fungal. It can cause side-effects for Candida sufferers (and possibly others) in that as it kills the yeast cells they release toxins that give you mild flu-like symptoms. This is not debilitating and passes in a few days. (It is actually a good sign - the bug population is being reduced!) This tea is available at most health food stores. A company called Traditional Medicinals sells it (along with several other good-tasting and effective herbal teas). If you don't find their teas where you shop, let me know and I'll post their address.

Diet can have a dramatic effect on parasitic infections, as well. Fungi feed on sugar. Eliminate sugar from your diet and you starve them. It's hard to do because there's sugar in so many things, as you'll discover reading the labels on prepared foods. Eliminating sugar also means cutting out fruit, including juices, which many people find objectionable. But if you can at least reduce the amount of sugar you consume by half, you will have done your body a big favor.

Fungi also feed on the products of fermentation. It's a good idea, therefore, to avoid beer and wine. It's also a good idea to pay attention to the way you combine the foods you eat. Foods that inhibit the digestion of each other, such as proteins and starches, stay in your stomach a long time, often long enough to start fermenting. Fruit does not combine well with any other type of food, so if you really can't give it up, eat it on an empty stomach and wait at least a half hour before eating anything else. There are several good books available on food combining.

During the time I suffered with Candida, I had what seemed to be an incurable case of athlete's foot as well as fungus under my nails (along with many other problems). External remedies were useless. It has taken a long time (over a year) but I'm finally clear of these symptoms.

Good luck! This stuff is no fun! -- Marie