Tinea Fungus & Ringworm

According to The American Medical Association Family Medical Guide, ringworm is not a worm at all. It's a fungus called Tinea that infects the skin and causes scaly, round, itchy patches. It usually affects the scalp, trunk, or feet.

When ringworm affects the scalp, bald patches develop. The skin on these patches flakes and itches. Ringworm on the trunk starts as a small, round, red patch that is scaly and itchy. The patch gradually grows bigger until it is about 1 inch across. As it gets bigger, the central area heals, and leaves a red ring on the skin. After a week or two, other patches may appear nearby.

Ringworm is infectious and can be caught from a dog or cat with a similar condition. It is generally not a serious condition, but it can be unsightly.

For all forms of ringworm the doctor usually prescribes a fungicide ointment to be applied to the affected area. If the ringworm is on the scalp, or if the fungus is present on the trunk and is very severe, a syrup containing a strong antifungal agent may also be prescribed.

A child with ringworm should stay away from school until he or she has been treated. Get rid of any combs, brushes or hats the child has used.

Alternative Treatments

Alternative treatments from Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide compiled by The Burton Goldberg Group refers to ringworm as an infection caused by fungi which invade "dead" tissues (from skin, hair, nails, groin, feet, and trunk).

Diet Considerations

Diet Considerations according to Leon Chaitow, N.D., D.O., involves a low-sugar diet, supplementation with garlic and probiotic substances such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bifidobacterial for several months.

Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional Therapy would include Vitamin A (orally and topically), Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Citrus seed extract, Vitamin E (orally and topically), Evening primrose oil, and Bee Pollen.

Self-Care

Self-Care includes fasting, reflexology, aromatherapy using rosemary, tea tree, lavender, geranium, peppermint and thyme; herbs need to be applied as a paste made by mixing equal parts of myrrh powder and goldenseal powder mixed with a little water. Homeopathy is beneficial using Sepia, Arsen alb., and Graphites. Juice therapy using strawberry and fresh date juice is recommended. Local applications of tea tree, thuja, or thyme oils may be effective in naturopathic medicine. Dr. Chaitow suggests that a thin slice of garlic bandaged directly over the skin lesion and left for several days has a powerful antifungal effect, and has been shown in clinical practice often to be more effective than orthodox skin creams. Apply a poultice of strong goldenseal root tea to area. Dry and dust with goldenseal root powder. Recipes for Success which is an alternative Nature's Sunshine card file with alternative treatments suggests black walnut and golden seal/parthenium extracts and tea tree oil applied externally 3 times daily. Because this is related to Candida Albicans, the Candida Diet would also be useful.

(If you decide to use vinegar to help clear this fungus, be sure to use raw apple cider vinegar as other vinegars have ingredients in them that are toxic.)

Q: Tell me about your Athlete's Foot condition James.

A: I have been suffering from Athlete's Foot on and off since 82. I had it briefly before that in high school but was suffering from it by 74. I picked up Athlete's Foot in 82 in a shower.

Q: What types of treatments have you tried over the years?

A: I used a cream called Tenactin in the beginning. It would take away the symptoms for the time being and then it would reappear. At that time it was a superficial infection and affected the bottom of my feet and in-between all my toes. About 91-92 it became worse and progressed into what I consider a secondary infection. It no longer affected my toes but it was deeply seeded in the soles of my feet. I again used Tenactin until it cleared up the symptoms. I stopped using the Tenactin and would be reinfected within 2 months. In 93-94 I began using Nature's Sunshine's Tea Tree Oil every day in the morning again until the symptoms would go away. This still did not "cure" the infection.

Q: What are you doing now for the Athlete's Foot and how did you find out about the treatment?

A: One weekend I visited my Great Aunt. She noticed I have a problem with one of my fingernails. She informed me that her family had used vinegar for a multitude of ailments including fungus. Not long after began to soak my foot for about 1 hour 3-5 nights per week while watching television. Within a 2-week period the Athlete's Foot was gone. All symptoms are now gone including itching and I don't have any sensations of itching which would commonly occur before a reinfection. It's now been about 1 month and there's no sign of symptoms.

Q: I notice you have a problem with one of your fingernails. What it?

A: In 85 I was employed as a pizza dough roller. I noticed my fingernail started to turn white. At first I thought it was from an impact to the nail. Then the nail completely discolored and fell off. I then suspected I banged it but wasn't aware that I had. After several cycles of the nail growing out and falling off I knew it was something else. I was in college at the time and my nail was diagnosed by a health center physician as caused by the Tinea Fungus. This is the same fungus that causes Jock Itch, Ringworm, and Athlete's Foot. Because I wasn't aware of any treatment, I didn't do anything to my fingernail. In 94 my brother informed me of a study that the University of San Francisco was conducting. They were testing people for an oral drug to fight the Fungus. I went in for testing and they did a culture. The first culture was negative. They did a 2nd culture. It was also negative. I found out that my nail has Candida which is a yeast instead of a fungus.

Q: What types of treatments have you tried over the years?

A: In 91 I began using an over-the-counter liquid on my nail. The typical treatment was to cut away the dead part of the nail and apply the liquid every morning. I used the liquid until 93 with no success. In 93 I began to use Nature's Sunshine's Tea Tree Oil daily and in 95 I added Grapefruit Seed Extract. My fingernail would get better and then worse again. This treatment did not "cure" my fingernail either.

Q: What are you doing now?

A: I am soaking my finger in vinegar. Because the nail is infected, I understand it is more difficult to get rid of. There's a treatment where modern medicine drills holes in the nail and treats the holes with medication. I didn't want to do that.

Q: What are the red splotches on your chest?

A: The ringworm started in 86. The same college physician diagnosed it.

Q: What types of treatments have you tried for the ringworm?

A: I was given some anti-fungal creams to use. I used them for several months until I ran out. The creams helped but the ringworm didn't go completely away. After that I did nothing until 94 when I began to use Nature's Sunshine's Pau d'Arco Cream. I'm still using the cream. It has helped but has never gotten rid of the ringworm. The ringworm seems to be more pronounced when I'm perspiring and when I get out of the shower.

Q: Do you have any other treatments in mind?

A: I'm going to try the vinegar on it also. I know a woman who had a spot of ringworm and she dabbed vinegar every morning on the spot. Now the ringworm is gone.

Q: Any other comments?

A: It's been suggested to take herbs for the Candida and Tinea. I've never done that religiously. It's my understanding that this has never been systemic. I've been muscle tested and have been told that by several people. I'm hoping the vinegar will have the same effect on my fingernail and ringworm that it's had on my athlete's foot. That would be great!

Please send E-mail to: iridology@netzero.net if you have any questions.