I'm curious about snakeroot (Ageratina pichinchensis) for nail fungus. There's this study that shows similar effectiveness with Ciclopirox. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2008-1081338 but I don't see many people using it. I've always stayed away from white snake root (Ageratina altissima), which I think is the native species here. OMG I just read that Abe Lincoln's mom died of "milk sickness" from a cow that ingested white snake root. Anyway, my thinking is to do something like oregano / oregon grape root / usnea internally and then a salve or drops that include maybe Oregon grape root, black walnut, tea tree, oregano, cedar.... So, 1. what's the deal with snakeroot and 2. what do you use for nail fungus? Thanks!

I have never used Ageratina for fungal infections but the study used a highly refined standardized extract, so I would not expect the crude herb to similarly effective. Nothing you taker orally will do anything, so you can skip the Usnea, Oregano, etc. Topically I use a combination of EO of Tea tree, Lavender and Oregano, it works occasionally, but it is more a fungalstatic than true antifungal preparation. Once the fungus is under toenail, I have not seen anything really work well that include pharmaceutical medicines. Here is a study you might find interesting on the topic. An Open Study to Evaluate Effectiveness and Tolerability of a Nail Oil Composed of Vitamin E and Essential Oils in Mild to Moderate Distal Subungual Onychomycosis