Alternative Treatment For Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

Abstract

In today’s world, almost all of us are coming across a lot of skin infections which can be bacterial or fungal or mixed. These skin infections no doubt make your life miserable. Twenty four hours of itching and what you can do is nothing. You went to a doctor, they will give you some antifungal medication and ointment in a week or so. Everything will be fine but after sometime something happens and this cycle becomes never ending. This article is also about one such infection and it is commonly called Tinea pedis or athlete’s foot. In the article we will discuss tinea pedis, its causes and symptoms along with its ayurvedic correlation and how it can be managed with Ayurvedic herbs.

ATHLETES FOOT

Introduction

Tinea pedis or athlete’s foot is one of the fungal infections which usually begins between the toes. It has been present in humans for centuries and yet this condition surprisingly was not described until 1888. It was described by Pellizzari and the first report of tinea pedis was in 1908. It was believed to be a very rare condition which is being caused by the same organism that is responsible for causing tinea capitis. The common causing agent of this condition is Trichophyton rubrum. Initially the condition was endemic to a small region of southeast Asia and parts of Africa and Australia alone. At that time, it was not known in other parts of the world.

Causes of Tinea Pedis or Athlete’s Foot

Tinea pedis affects 30%-40% of the population. The causative agent for this condition is Trichophyton rubrum. This is a fungus that grows in warm, moist environments. Moreover, one can catch fungus by touching surfaces that are contaminated by the fungus. In addition, it can also spread from using the belongings of an infected person.

Symptoms of Tinea Pedis or Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot tends to affect both feet. The most common signs for this fungal infection infection are following:

Scaly, cracked and peeling skin between the toes
Itching in the feet right after taking the shoes off.
Inflammation of the skin which might appear reddish, purplish and even greyish. The discoloration can depend on your skin colour
Stinging or burning in the affected area
Blisters can also form at the same site
In some cases dry and scaly skin on the bottom of the foot can extend up the sides.

Risk Factors For Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

Who Wear enclosed footwear often
Who Sweat excessively
Who shares Their belongings like shoes, rugs, clothes, socks with a person who is already suffering from this condition
Who walk barefoot in public areas like locker rooms, saunas, communal baths, showers etc.

Complications of Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

Athlete’s foot infection tends to spread to other warm areas of the body. It can spread to private parts as well. Through towles it can spread to hands also. The condition can attract other bacterial infections as well.

Prevention of Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

There are certain tips using which one can avoid the fungal infections like athlete’s foot or tinea pedis:

Wear sandals during summers so that your feet can get some air
Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes and pat dry as well.
Change the socks on regular basis
Use a different pair of shoes each day
While living with others be aware of the risk factors

Diagnosing Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

The diagnosis can be done just by looking at the infection site. In some of the cases it might look like dry skin or even dermatitis. For confirmation, scraping of the area is done and a sample is sent to the lab for testing.

Treatment of Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

There are certain anti fungal powders or ointments given to the patients. In extreme cases oral medication can also be given. Sometimes patients respond very well to self care and need no treatment. In most of the cases, the infection might reappear, so self care is equally important with certain medication. The symptoms like itching and inflammation can be very well managed with the allopathic medication.

Ayurvedic Aspect of Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis

In ayurveda, all of the diseases or infections related to skin are kept in the category of kushta. Kustha is divided into two types: Mahakushta and kshudra kushta. Mahakushta is divided into seven subtypes and Kshudra kushta is divided into eleven subtypes. Out of these eleven subtypes of Kshudra kushta, one is dadru kushta and it is a direct correlation for tinea pedis.

Dadru has predominance of pitta and kapha according to many Ayurveda acharyas but specifically sushruta has mentioned that dadru has predominance of kapha dosha. That explains why it only happens in the moist areas of the body. Moist area simply means excess of kapha dosha and kapha dosha is responsible for athlete’s foot also.

Specific Symptoms of Dadru

Kandu (itching)
Utsanna mandala (Elevated and round lesions)
Raaga (Erythema)
Pidikas (eruptions)

In dadru basically, the rakta dushti is present and this dushti can be due to pitta and kapha or can be exclusively due to kapha.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Dadru (Tinea Pedis or Athlete’s Foot)

The treatment in this case is divided into three parts:

Shodhan karma: It is really important in skin disorders as shodhana karma helps in excreting out the doshas from the body. Virechan gives really nice results in this case along with raktamokshan. Virechan is purgative therapy and raktamokshan is blood letting.
Shaman karma: It includes prescription of certain formulations which can help in pacification of dosha and also excrete out dosha present in the deeper dhatus that are bodily tissues.
Local application: Tropical application of lepa prepared from the very impressive herbs can help in reducing itching, redness and other symptoms at a faster rate and improves the rate of healing as well.

Ayurvedic herbs make sure that recurrence of the condition is prevented. They help you by boosting your metabolism, removing toxins from the body and also by improving the defence mechanism of your deha.

But the herbs will only show their magic if one can eliminate the causative factors resulting in the aggravation of dosha in the body. Because if the continued practice of nidana is done then the chances for the recurrence of this condition increases. The alterations to diet and lifestyle must be done, if you want a permanent relief from your condition. The alterations are not boundaries but are certain tricks and tactics to keep yourself healthy and disease free.

Herbal Formulations for Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)

Planet Ayurveda is an Ayurvedic manufacturing company, which prepares effective Ayurvedic products. The products are totally vegetarian and do not contain any kind of additives, adulterants, dyes, preservatives, flavour enhancers and other chemicals. The products are prepared using effective Ayurvedic herbs which are effective in managing many conditions efficiently. The products by Planet Ayurveda in this condition can be of great help and help in giving fruitful results. They enhance the body’s immunity and they work as an immune modulator also. The diseases related to skin like the fungal infection in Athlete’s foot can also be very well managed using Ayurvedic formulation. This simply means that they have a great effect on the immune system and can help in preventing such external infections as well. Formulations offered by Planet Ayurveda in Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis) are as follows:

Gandhak Rasayan
Curcumin Capsule
Neem Capsule
Kaishore Guggul
Nirgundi Oil
Recumin Gel

Product’s Description

1. Gandhak Rasayan

Gandhak rasayan is a classical formulation and is known for its effects on skin conditions. It is a potent formulation which is prepared using shuddha gandhak (purified sulphur). Gandhak is very popular in Ayurvedic texts for maintaining healthy skin and also prevents harmful effects of accumulated toxins under the skin or in the circulatory system. The formulation is also known for its helpful effect in maintaining good health of the digestive system as well as has very fantastic results in keeping skin healthy, lustrous and clean. Gandhak which is the only ingredient of gandhak rasayan is the purified form of sulphur which increases the aura of the skin and improves the immune system as well. It works really well for fungal and bacterial infections. Gandhak rasayan has an effect as a natural steroid.

Dosage:- Two tablets twice daily after meals.

2. Curcumin Capsules

Curcumin capsules are prepared from a chemical constituent called curcumin. Curcumin is the active constituent of haridra (Curcuma longa) and is one of the most effective chemical constituents of this herb. The extract of the chemical constituent of haridra is totally standardised. These capsules are helpful in preventing or managing any kind of infection. Curcumin also has other properties and is really helpful in dealing with the various types of swelling related to muscles, lungs and various other organs including skin. It also has a very good effect as an antioxidant and bears pain reducing properties. Curcumin also acts as an immune system mediator. In this case it works by pacification of kapha dosha and purification of blood as well.

Dosage:- One capsule twice a day after meals with lukewarm water.

3. Neem Capsule

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a very effective herb which can be used for blood purification and also has a detoxification effect on the digestive system. The capsules are prepared using potent and standardised extract of neem which is very effective in treating and relieving swelling and damage to skin cells due to fungal invasion. Moreover, it is used in treatment of intestinal worms, loss of appetite, skin ulcers, heart and blood vessel related disorders. In tinea pedis, neem capsules have a great result in pacification of pitta and kapha dosha and purifies blood as well. It is a great formulation for internal shodhan.

Dosage:- One capsule twice a day after meals.

4. Kaishore Guggul

Kaishore guggul is a classical formulation prepared using effective herbs. As the name suggest it has the guggul (Commiphora mukul), Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Vidang (Embelia ribes), Nisoth (Operculina Turpethum), Triphala, trikatu and some other herbs as its ingredients. This formulation possesses antihistamine, analgesic, anti inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It is also a blood purifier and helps in detoxification of blood by pacification of pitta and kapha dosha. Kaishore guggul is known to have a soothing effect in almost all skin related disorders. The formulation helps in cleansing the cells from the metabolic toxins and also enhances the working of the immune system.

Dosage:- Two tablets twice daily after meals with normal water.

5. Nirgundi Oil

Nirgundi oil is a classical preparation that has rea;ly great and effective results as a healing agent. The oil is applied locally and has ingredients like Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) and Kalihari (Gloriosa superba) along with base of tila oil (Sesamum indicum). The leaves and stem of nirgundi plant is generally used in preparation of nirgundi oil Nirgundi is known for its several benefits as per Ayurveda. Nirgundi is also called sarva roga nivarini which means it is a remedy for all types of diseases especially disease related skin or twak. The nirgundi oil is really effective as an analgesic, helps in reducing itching and redness in Tinea pedis.

6. Recumin Gel

Recumin gel is a formulation which is a combination of many ingredients like haridra (Curcuma longa), tila (Sesamum indicum), jeevanti (Leptadenia reticulata), guggul (Commiphora mukul), Neem (Azadirachta indica), coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) and many others. These herbs give a very great result in subsiding the itching and redness which is really common in this condition. Moreover, its application also reduces the localised moisture and sweating due to the presence of neem as neem has drying properties. Recumin gel helps in maintaining a very great and healthy skin along with rejuvenating it due to the presence of jeevanti.

How to use Nirgundi oil & Recumin gel?

Take equal quantities of both nirgundi oil and recumin gel. Now, mix them finely and apply over the affected area at least twice daily. One should always wash and pat dry their feet before applying the mixture.

Conclusion

Athlete’s foot is a condition that has very rare cases but in certain parts of the world the condition is very common and is recurrent as well. From protecting yourself from certain conditions, it is very important to take good care of yourself. The Ayurvedic herbs help in the pacification of the major cause for this condition and that is kapha as well as pitta dosha. It also helps in purification of blood. The formulations prepared by Planet Ayurveda do not have any type of additives, fillers, dyes, or preservatives in it. The products are totally natural and do not have any side effects. They have a very good role in this condition. In case of any query kindly visit www.planetayurveda.com

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