Natural Treatment of Warts
what causes warts
Warts are harmless growths on the skin caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
Warts are contagious and can go away on their own, but it can take weeks, months, or years.
Conventional treatments include chemical peels, surgery, freezing, and laser surgery, but these treatments can be expensive and cause skin irritation, scarring and the wart to regrow.
types of warts
why natural methods work
Natural remedies to get rid of warts include using foods and plants that have either antiviral or acidic properties or enzymes that inhibit the HPV virus and help remove layers of infected skin.
natural treatments
Apple Cider Vinegar: thought to work like salicylic acid (a common wart treatment that peels away infected skin), eventually removing the wart. Vinegar also has natural antimicrobial properties that may help fight HPV. To try it, mix 2-parts apple cider vinegar and 1-part water. Soak a cotton ball with this mixture. Place it on the wart, and cover it with a bandage. Leave it on for three to four hours.
Garlic: Allicin, a key component of garlic, has antimicrobial effects and is often studied for its antiviral and immunomodulating properties. To treat warts with garlic, crush up one clove and mix it with water. Apply to the wart and cover with a bandage. Repeat daily for three to four weeks. You can also apply garlic juice on the wart.
Vitamin C has immune-boosting properties and is essential for wound healing and healthy skin tissue. An older natural history study from 2003 (PMC14624376) suggests that higher amounts of Vitamin C consumption are inversely associated with persistent HPV infection. To try Vitamin C as a topical treatment for warts, crush up a vitamin C tablet and mix it with water. Apply the paste to the wart, cover with a bandage, and leave overnight. Repeat daily.
essential oils
wart protocol
Here's the Wart Protocol I've recommended with great success over the years:
Use undiluted (after a patch test) doTERRA oregano oil directly on the wart. Make sure you apply it carefully ONLY on the wart and not on heathy skin.
Cover with a bandaid.
Repeat 2 x a day for 14 days and wart should drop off the skin. You can also use this method with a veruca but it will take longer.
Hope this helps!
additional note
There’s also some evidence on micronutrients and foods to eat to help eradicate HPV, but the studies are all in the context of cervical cancer and all require further research. That said, all the recommendations were for a wide range of antioxidants found in fruit and veggies! So if you want to help your kiddo kick the HPV virus, focus on a fiber packed colourful diet and you’re on the right track (as this is also immune supportive and gut microbiome supportive!).
