MAILBAG: Home Remedies from Fungus to Kidney Infection

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted May 9, 2023

“My neighbor has a chronic kidney infection, and now her liver is becoming painful. She also has signs of toenail fungus which I feel might underlie it all. Are there any natural treatments she can try? Thanks.”

– Margaret, Dayton, OH

Hi Margaret,

Let’s start with the toenail fungus.

It probably is not associated with a kidney infection. Although kidney infections and toenail fungus ARE often signs of diabetes.

Fungus thrives when three conditions are met:

1. warmth
2. moisture
3. food

Fungus feeds off of sugar. So you can’t do much about that except work to keep your blood sugar in check.

But you CAN fight back against the moisture problem. Keep the area dry by not wearing shoes whenever possible. And dust your feet with cornstarch to help fight off moisture when needed.

Many folks successfully keep toenail fungus (and foot odor) at bay with home remedies like soaking their feet in vinegar or mouthwash.

Vinegar has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. And the menthol and thymol found in some mouthwashes, such as Listerine, also have antifungal properties.

Folks who swear by the vinegar soak suggest using two parts vinegar to two parts water. Start off by soaking your feet for 10 to 15 minutes daily.

If you tolerate the vinegar well, you can gradually increase the soak time. For the mouthwash soak, you can dilute it with water or vinegar for a double fungal-fighting whammy.

Similar to prescription remedies, at-home soaks can take a few weeks to months to see toenail fungus symptoms improve. And if you have diabetes, you should always check with your doctor BEFORE starting foot soaking.

As far as fighting chronic kidney infections goes, first work on keeping blood sugar as low as possible. Then make sure to drink enough water and urinate frequently.

After urinating, always wipe from front to back. Many women do the opposite, which risks bringing bacteria from the anus into the vagina and urethra.

Several supplements may be able to help with kidney infection symptoms as well:

• Vitamin C: Try taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C a day. Many studies show this cuts down bacterial counts in the kidneys and bladder.
• D-mannose: D-mannose is a naturally occurring simple sugar that can help block bacteria from attaching to the bladder and kidney walks. It’s also the active ingredient in cranberry juice, so either drink unsweetened cranberry juice or try a D-mannose supplement.
• Goldenseal: The herb goldenseal can help fight bacterial infections in the kidneys.

Check with your doctor before trying any new supplement to be sure it doesn’t interfere with your current treatment plan.

P.S. Around 15 percent of Americans are battling kidney disease. That’s DOUBLE the number of folks diagnosed with heart disease. But recent research published in the British Medical Journal revealed an easy (and delicious) dinner table trick for dialing down your risk.

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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