13 Essential Oils for Athlete’s Foot That Actually Work

essential oil for athletes food

If you have ever experienced the itching burning or unpleasant odor of athlete’s foot then you know how it can drive you crazy until you come up with a solution. Fortunately, you don’t have to purchase over-the-counter sprays and powders with who knows what chemicals in them, but can make use of nature’s essential oils to get rid of it. The 12 essential oils for athlete’s foot that actually work can clear up your athlete’s foot and prevent it from spreading.

Important: Basic Tips for Using Essential Oils

When it comes to the use of essential oils, there are some basic principles you need to understand. Essential oils are often used in an aromatic diffuser, but can also be added to an oil such as coconut, almond, olive or jojoba, which are used as carrier oils for massage and other skin applications. These carrier oils help to dilute the essential oils, which can cause irritation to your skin if used in high concentrations.

For the most part, unless specifically directed and the essential oils used are considered “food” oils, essential oils are not to be consumed orally. Additionally, be cautious when using essential oils around sensitive areas, like your eyes, inside your nose and ear canal. Essential oils will relieve inflammation, itching and burning, kill the fungus which causes athlete’s foot and help to regenerate the damaged skin tissue.

1. Tea Tree Oil

Starting off our list of essential oils for athlete’s foot is one of the most powerful essential oils; tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is both antibacterial and antifungal, but it is also very effective at helping to soothe itching and burning as well.

What to do:

  • Add 2 tsp of tea tree oil to 1 quart of warm water in a clean foot tub.
  • Soak the affected foot for 20 to 30 minutes 3 times a day.
  • For a foot rub, mix 2 ½ Tbsp of water in ½ cup of powdered arrowroot. Blend in about 40 drops of tea tree oil and mix into a thick paste.
  • Rub the paste over the affected areas before putting on your socks a couple times per day.

eucalyptus essential oil

2. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is most commonly associated with bringing sinus and respiratory relief, but it also works well as one of the essential oils for athlete’s foot. Furthermore, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties to help get rid of athlete’s foot and it also has a soothing effect.

What to do:

  • Add 2 tsp of eucalyptus oil in 2 cups of water.
  • Put this into a spray bottle and spray your feet with it several times per day.

3. Lavender Oil

Lavender is another remedy among the essential oils for athlete’s foot which you need to try. Besides improving the odor of your nasty feet, this oil has anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibacterial and regenerative properties to heal damaged skin tissue.

What to do:

  • Before bedtime, add a few drops of lavender oil to 1 Tbsp of carrier oil.
  • Rub the oil solution over your feet.
  • Put on your socks and go to bed.
  • Repeat this nightly until the condition improves.

4. Peppermint Oil

Another common essential oil that isn’t usually associated with the condition of your feet is peppermint oil, but it is among the potent essential oils for athlete’s foot. Peppermint stimulates blood circulation to the affected area to promote healing. It also helps to eliminate inflammation and has a soothing, cooling effect on your feet.

What to do:

  • Blend together 1 cup of rolled oats, ¼ cup of sea salt and 1 tsp of peppermint oil.
  • Use this as a scrub on your feet a couple times a day until the condition improves.

5. Lemongrass Oil

An invigorating oil on our list of essential oils for athlete’s foot is lemongrass oil. Lemongrass oil is loaded with antiseptic and astringent properties to help promote the healing of fungus damaged tissue as well as bring relief to itching and burning symptoms. Lemongrass is also a natural deodorizer.

What to do:

  • Add 3 to 4 drops of lemongrass oil to 1 tsp of the carrier oil of your choice.
  • Massage the oil solution into the affected areas and rinse or leave it on overnight covering your feet with socks.
  • You can repeat this a couple times a day if not using it overnight.

6. Thyme Oil

Though thyme is typically associated with Mediterranean style cooking, it is a viable addition to our list of essential oils for athlete’s foot. Thyme also has antiseptic and disinfecting properties which help to get rid of the cause or your condition.

What to do:

  • Before bedtime, add a few drops of thyme oil to 1 tsp of carrier oil.
  • Apply the solution to the affected areas and put on your socks.
  • Leave this on overnight and repeat until the condition improves.

7. Oregano Oil

Among the essential oils for athlete’s foot that are most effective is oregano oil. Though it is associated with Italian style cooking, oregano oil is powerful antifungal agent with antiseptic properties that get rid of the cause of athlete’s foot.

What to do:

  • Oregano oil is one of the few that can be utilized without a carrier oil, but be sure to test your skin’s sensitivity before going crazy with it. If you experience irritation mix 3 to 4 drops in a carrier oil.
  • Spread the oil over the affected area and allow it to sit overnight or just put it on before putting on your socks and shoes.
  • Repeat this several times a day.

8. Myrrh Oil

Myrrh oil is something that most people associate with the three wise men and Christmas, but it is one of the best when it comes to essential oils for athlete’s foot. The plant is loaded with benefits for athlete’s foot because it is antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial and an astringent. Its woody-spice scent also helps get rid of odors associated with the condition.

What to do:

  • Add 2 to 3 drop of myrrh oil to 1 tsp of carrier oil.
  • Massage the solution into the affected area and then apply a warm compress for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Repeat this several times a day until the condition clears.

frankincense

9. Frankincense Oil

Another of essential oils for athlete’s foot which tends to be associated with Christmas is frankincense oil. Frankincense oil has anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects to help relieve your condition as well.

What to do:

  • Add enough water to ¼ cup of Bentonite clay to create a thick paste.
  • Add in 6 to 8 drops of frankincense oil.
  • Apply the clay mixture like a mask over the affected area.
  • Allow it to sit for 30 to 45 minutes before rinsing off.
  • You can repeat this remedy a couple times per day.

10. Lemon Oil

Lemon oil is also among the common essential oils for athlete’s foot. It also helps to promote blood circulation to the affected area, which in turn heals the damaged tissue and gets rid of the fungus.

What to do:

  • Add 8 drops olive oil and 8 drops lemon oil to 1 quart of water in a foot soaking tub.
  • Soak your feet for 25 to 30 minutes in the solution.
  • You can repeat this several times a day until the condition improves.

11. Clove Oil

Also among the powerful ingredients on our list of essential oils for athlete’s foot is clove oil. Like frankincense oil, clove oil has both anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, but it adds an anesthetic effect as well, so it is really good for relieving the pain of burning skin.

What to do:

  • Clove oil can be used as a soak like lemon oil above.
  • Alternatively, you can use clove oil in place of frankincense along with Bentonite clay.
  • Or, clove oil can be used with carrier oil as an overnight solution.

12. Geranium Oil

Another antifungal oil with anti-inflammatory properties, geranium oil helps to soothe as well as heal and is something of a deodorizer too.

What to do:

  • Geranium oil can be used in place of any of the oils in the above treatments.
  • Alternatively, it can be added to a powerful blend of oils with 2 drops geranium, 2 drops lavender, 4 drops thyme and 3 drops of tea tree oils in 1 Tbsp of coconut oil.
  • The mixture can be applied to the affected areas for an overnight solution or a rub treatment several times per day.

13. Castor Oil

Castor oil carries a large number of benefits and can be used in many ways.

This oil is specifically used to ward off mold in foods and food packaging, a task it handles quite well.

Where fungal foot infections like athlete’s foot are concerned, castor oil can help to inhibit the fungus’s growth in much the same way it does in the food industry.

What to do:

  • Rub castor oil onto affected areas using a cotton ball at the beginning and end of the day.
  • You can also combine this oil with others to compound their effects.

Conclusion

When it comes to the use of essential oils for athlete’s foot, you can experience healing properties that have been made use of for thousands of years. Besides being effective at healing the condition, nearly all of these oils help to get rid of the odor which is typically a part of athlete’s foot. Next time this condition strikes, stay away from over-the-counter solutions and look to essential oils to get the safest and most effective healing. If you have questions, comments or additional remedies to add to our list, please leave them in the section below.

Images: depositphotos.com.