Ayurvedic Remedies To Manage Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis
ABSTRACT
Athlete’s foot is another name for Tinea pedis, which is a highly contagious fungal infection affecting the feet’s skin. The infection can further spread to the hands and toenails. Tinea pedis usually affects athletes and hence is known as athlete’s foot. In this article we have discussed all about the infection in detail and its Ayurvedic management and treatment.
INTRODUCTION TO ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Athlete’s foot infection begins between the toes, affecting the upper layer of the skin. This fungal infection tends to start when the favorable conditions of the skin like moist, sweaty, irritated and warm are present, making it easier for the fungi to grow. Trichophyton is the fungus which is responsible for Tinea pedis or athlete’s foot which is commonly found in clothing or on floors. It is also termed as ringworm of the foot. Usually athlete’s required the prolonged use of tight fitting shoes which remain sweaty and confined as per the requirement of their practices and events. This fungal infection makes the skin red, itchy, burning and stinging. In some people flakes may also come out from the skin. There are also certain other people who can get affected by Athlete’s foot infection like people with low immunity and diabetes.
AYURVEDIC ASPECT OF ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
As per the Ayurvedic aspect, Athlete’s foot is caused due to the predominant vitiation of rakta and kapha. This vitiation leads to inflammation and hence the mentioned signs and symptoms appear. Therefore certain measures are required to be taken in order to fix the imbalance of these doshas. Along with medication Vaman panchkarma may also be useful.
CAUSES OF ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Fungus named Trichophyton i.e. a dermatophyte is the causative agent of athlete’s foot or tinea pedis. It is the type of fungi which remains on skin without causing any harm to the body unless the favorable conditions are there. When the skin is clean and dry their multiplication remains limited, hence no infection but as soon as the skin is sweaty, damp and warm they start to reproduce rapidly and hence causing the infection and signs and symptoms. As athletes are required to wear tight shoes, this causes sweating and also the fingers are tightly closed together, giving fungus an ideal environment to thrive.
Tinea pedis infection is contagious which means it can be passed from one to another. This happens when there is direct skin to skin contact with the infected person or indirect contact when a non infected person uses the clothing, bed sheets, shoes, socks and towels of the infected one.
RISK FACTORS FOR ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Certain people are at high risk of getting Athlete’s foot like
- People who often visit places like public showers, locker rooms and swimming pools barefoot
- People who tend to wear tightly closed shoes
- People whose feet remain sweaty or wet for a long time
- People who are in contact with the infected person and whose their belongings like towels or clothes
- People having injury on foot or nail
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Signs and symptoms can appear on both or one’s feet. The marked symptoms are
- Redness, itching and burning of skin on toes
- Reddish small blisters between the toes or on soles
- Dryness of skin for a long time
- Raw skin on feet
- Toenails become discolored, crumbly and thick
- Crackling of skin from soles and feet
DIAGNOSIS OF ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Usually the presence of marked and peculiar symptoms are the basis of diagnosis of Athlete’s foot. However, ruling out of other similar conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis or other skin infection by your doctor is necessary. A laboratory test called skin lesion potassium hydroxide can help in the final diagnosis.
TREATMENT FOR ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Usually most of the cases are mild and the patient does not require any treatment for it. However the conservative treatment given for athlete’s foot includes antifungal medicines which may be either in the form of tablets, liquids, creams or sprays. The topical applications used in such cases include clotrimazole, ketoconazole, econazole and terbinafine. However there are many side effects of such drugs like it affects the liver, cannot be taken by pregnant ladies (some antifungal drugs) and also the recurrence of infection even after these medications is high.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
As per the Ayurveda, Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is caused due to the vitiation of Kapha and rakta doshas, hence the main aim of treatment is to restore the balance of these doshas in the body. Ayurvedic treatment aims to restore the health of the person, not to just suppress the signs and symptoms. Specific herbal formulations are used to treat the infection from the root cause. However along with it certain other methods can be used to amplify the effects of medicines and accelerate the healing like maintaining hygiene is of utmost importance. One suffering from athlete’s foot should wash feet in a mild solution of soda and boric acid, i.e. Tankan bhasma. Also soaking feet in baking soda, i.e. swarjikaa-kshaara for sometime can be helpful in maintaining the pH of feet that prevents too much sweating and keep them dry.
HERBAL REMEDIES BY PLANET AYURVEDA FOR ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS)
Planet Ayurveda is one of the big names in the field of herbal pharmaceutical companies located in India. Medicines and products manufactured here are not only used in India but in various other countries around the globe. All the medicines produced are free of chemicals, preservatives, additives, dye, fillers and yeast. These herbal products are purely vegetarian and prepared using natural herbs and compounds of high quality. All these medicines and products are prepared under the strict supervision of experienced MD Ayurveda doctors and using authentic Ayurvedic principles.
Planet Ayurveda offers a combination of herbal medicines that help in balancing the tridosha in the body and treating the infection completely.
Product List
All the medicines mentioned below are selected as per the herbs used in them which consist of natural properties to fight the infection and restore healthy skin. These herbal remedies work together synergistically to annihilate the disease.
- Gandhak rasayan
- Curcumin capsule
- Neem capsule
- Kaishore guggul
- Nirgundi oil
- Recumin gel
Product Description
1. Gandhak Rasayan
This remedy is known widely for its amazing therapeutic effects on skin that has been used since ages to treat various types of skin ailments. Gandhak rasayan is prepared from purified sulfur (Shuddha gandhak). It is the nourishing herbal remedy which cleanses the body inside out and makes the body free from all types of toxins.
Dosage- Take 2 tablets twice daily after meals with plain water
2. Curcumin Capsule
These are the single herb capsules prepared from standardized extract of Haridra (Curcuma longa). Curcumin capsules fights off the fungus in athlete’s foot and clears the infection. Curcumin capsules possess antifungal as well as antibacterial properties.
Dosage- Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water
3. Neem Capsule
As the name suggests these herbal capsules are prepared using standardized extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica). Neem capsules consist of antifungal, anti inflammatory, antiulcer, antiviral and antioxidant properties and all of them are vital for clearing the athlete’s foot infection. It relieves redness, itching and inflamed skin.
Dosage- Take 1 capsule twice daily after meals with plain water.
4. Kaishore Guggul
Vidanga (Embelia ribes), Black pepper (Piper nigrum), Long pepper (Piper longum), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Indian jalap (Ipomoea turpetheum), Guggul (Commiphora mukul), and Red physic nut (Baliospermum montanum), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale) are used in Kaishore guggul. These polyherbal tablets eliminate the toxins from the body and purify the blood which eventually relieves the infection.
Dosage- Take 2 tablets twice daily after meals with plain water
5. Nirgundi oil
This therapeutic herbal oil is prepared from Nirgundi (Vitex negundo). Nirgundi oil consist of healing, antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties which eases redness, burning, itching and clears the infection.
6. Recumin gel
Recumin gel is produced using different amazing herbs like neem (Azadirachta indica), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Sesame (Sesamum indicum), guggul (Commiphora mukul) etc. It relieves the dryness and flaking of skin, promotes healing of wounds and restores the skin’s normal texture.
Direction- Mix nirgundi oil and recumin gel and apply topically on the affected area, twice a day.
Contact my assistant to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or call at +91-172-5214040 Or Check Website – www.PlanetAyurveda.com
CONCLUSION
Athlete’s foot or Tinea pedis can be easy to treat in early stages as compared to later stages, hence one should not ignore the initial signs and symptoms and must consult the nearby doctor to start the treatment early. All the herbal remedies mentioned above can remarkably make the difference and control the infection gently.
