Can soaking feet in mugwort leaves cure athlete's foot?

Written by Xia Min
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Mugwort leaves, as is widely known, are a type of Chinese herbal medicine. They predominantly exhibit a warming quality and are mainly used for foot soaks to treat ailments caused by cold-dampness and wind-cold, as well as conditions related to cold. In typical cases, athlete's foot, which is a fungal infection caused by fungi leading to inflammation, should be treated with antifungal medications, not by soaking in mugwort leaves. It's only effective for treating symptoms caused by cold conditions and wind-cold dampness, not athlete's foot. Therefore, it is recommended to choose antifungal medications for the treatment of athlete's foot. (Be sure to follow a doctor's guidance regarding specific medications.)

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Is there a relationship between tinea cruris and athlete's foot?

Jock itch and athlete's foot are both caused by fungal infections, and the fungi in these two areas are essentially the same. Most cases of jock itch are related to athlete's foot. Some people have athlete's foot and are careless in their daily lives, washing their socks together with their underwear, which can lead to cross-infection and the transfer of athlete's foot to form jock itch. Others may not have athlete's foot but develop jock itch due to poor hygiene habits, such as frequent visits to public baths for swimming or working in humid and hot environments, and bathing infrequently. Keeping small animals and not cleaning the fungi or molds from the animals in a timely manner can also lead to jock itch. Therefore, there is a certain relationship between these two conditions, but the correlation is not absolute. Once discovered, proper treatment in the early stages can cure it in a very short time.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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How to stop itching from athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a disease caused by fungal infection, which is contagious and recurrent. The main symptoms usually are blisters and sores appearing on the soles of the feet or between the toes, and the condition is quite itchy. Most people tend to scratch the blisters until they break open, leading to infection. Once occurrence is observed, it is essential to apply an official antifungal cream, which can help relieve the itchiness. If the itching is severe in a short period, hot water can be used to scald the affected area, but after scalding, it is still necessary to continue applying the cream. After recovery, it is important to regulate one's diet and lifestyle habits, avoid public baths and swimming, and refrain from consuming spicy and stimulating foods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xia Min
Traditional Chinese Medicine
48sec home-news-image

Can soaking feet in mugwort leaves cure athlete's foot?

Mugwort leaves, as is widely known, are a type of Chinese herbal medicine. They predominantly exhibit a warming quality and are mainly used for foot soaks to treat ailments caused by cold-dampness and wind-cold, as well as conditions related to cold. In typical cases, athlete's foot, which is a fungal infection caused by fungi leading to inflammation, should be treated with antifungal medications, not by soaking in mugwort leaves. It's only effective for treating symptoms caused by cold conditions and wind-cold dampness, not athlete's foot. Therefore, it is recommended to choose antifungal medications for the treatment of athlete's foot. (Be sure to follow a doctor's guidance regarding specific medications.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
48sec home-news-image

The causes of athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection, and while the cause of the disease is clear, the specific process of infection is complex. Casual habits such as wearing flip-flops recklessly, sharing foot basins at home with others who have athlete’s foot, soaking in public baths, swimming, or having pets at home, as pets often harbor fungi, can all potentially lead to the disease. Once the disease occurs, it is imperative to treat it early. Long-term use of antifungal creams, applied for at least one to two months continuously, is necessary to completely kill the deep-seated fungi and prevent recurrence of the condition. After recovery, it is also important to maintain proper dietary and lifestyle habits, avoid wearing flip-flops recklessly, and stay away from public baths and swimming pools.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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What is the difference between athlete's foot and tinea pedis?

Athlete's foot and tinea pedis are two names for the same disease, referring to a contagious disease caused by fungal infections. It often manifests as blisters or peeling skin on the soles of the feet or between the toes, with severe itching. If symptoms are severe, cracking or bleeding may occur. It is advisable to treat this disease as soon as it appears, using antifungal creams for a longer course of treatment to fully eradicate the infection. After recovery, it is important to prevent recurrence by avoiding public baths and swimming pools, sun-disinfecting worn socks and shoes, and treating other infected family members simultaneously.