Warts are perhaps one of the most common skin diseases. At some point in our lives, we are probably afflicted by it since it is a communicable disease. If one of our family members has warts, there are high chances that we will be contracting the same. There are different types of warts, most of which are bothersome. But they are generally not dangerous. Warts usually appear when there are cuts in the skin, usually minor, and the human papilloma virus (HPV) enters the skin break and causes a small outgrowth, which may be smooth or rough like a cauliflower, with speckles of black dots inside.

Warts commonly appear on the hands and feet. But some warts, those which are sexually transmitted, may be found in genital areas. As mentioned, warts are not bothersome, except for the warts at the bottom of the foot where walking becomes annoying since it feels like one is walking on a small stone.

There are various ways to treat warts. But remember that warts will always go away about 70 percent of the time even without any types of treatment. If one visits the doctor, warts are being treated with liquid nitrogen, enabling the virus to stop its propagation. There are also laser surgery and surgical removal; however these are costly method for a harmless piece of wart. There is however some home treatments being used that have shown to remove the wart easily. For some, they use the adhesive tape method through application of adhesive tape over the wart in order to stop the wart from growing and reproducing due to the airtight environment. Another method is the salicylic acid method, which has proven to be effective to some. But there are natural remedies to remove warts.

Below are seven of the natural ways to treat warts:

1. Garlic

   According to a study published by the International Journal of Dermatology in 2005, the oil extracted from garlic is effective in removing warts from the body. Garlic and its major component allicin, is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. In a recent study, a group was made to apply the oil extract of garlic to their warts, while another group applied the water extract. After several days of application, those who applied the oil extract have total elimination of warts, compared to the other group. Another way to apply garlic is to mash the garlic and apply it directly on the wart, leaving it for 24 hours with a piece of bandage. After a week from the application, the wart will just fall off, leaving a clean skin.

2. Tea Tree Oil

   Another name for tea tree oil is melaleuca oil. Tea tree oil is an extract from the leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia. In some studies, mixing tea tree oil with silver can potentiate the antiseptic effect of the extract. Just like garlic, this extract is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. For many centuries, tea tree oil has been added in many skin care products to help eradicate infectious microorganisms in the body. In the case of warts, which are caused by virus, tea tree oil is effective in removing and killing the virus that caused the disease. There are several ways to apply tea tree oil. The basic is simply to dab the warts with full strength oil and leaving the oil for many hours. Another way is by mixing tea tree oil with aloe vera gel and applying the mixture into the wart, leaving it with a bandage tied around the warts. Whichever procedure will be used, warts will simply separate from the skin after few days.

3. Oregano

   Oregano is widely known as one of the favorite spices in the culinary world. But the oil of wild oregano is effective in treating warts. The oil is actually offensive in many conditions, particularly in infections of bacteria, fungi or virus. Oregano may be used in warts by directly applying a dab of the oil into the wart. The cotton containing oregano is then bandaged with adhesive tape and left for several hours. After several days, the wart will just fall off. The oil of oregano may also be taken orally in drops. The component of the oil can help the immune system eradicate microbial invasion in the body.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

   Apple cider vinegar is acidic. A component in vinegar is effective in removing nasty warts from the body. Just like the other types of remedy, cotton filled with apple cider vinegar is applied generously into the warts and left for hours until the cotton is dry or dirty. The procedure is repeated often until the warts will simply be removed from its attachment to the skin. It is said that the acid content in apple cider vinegar help in erasing the warts from the skin.

5. Banana

   If you have warts and is right now enjoying a banana, you might want to keep the banana peel as a remedy for wart infection. Banana peel is loaded with potassium and is an effective antiviral remedy. There are two ways to use banana peel as wart remover. First, banana peel may be scrubbed onto the wart several times per day for several days. Another way is to cut a small piece of the peel and use it to cover the wart together with adhesive bandage. Tea tree oil may be placed on the wart and covered with banana peel. If without tea tree oil, the banana peel may be applied directly and bandaged for several hours. After a few days, the wart will simply disappear.

6. Vitamin E

   While others take vitamin E orally to help them with their skin conditions, in warts, vitamin E may be applied directly. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant. The human papilloma virus destroys portion of the skin. With vitamin E to fight against the oxidation process caused by the virus, the virus ability to reproduce is disabled. In order to use vitamin E against warts, simply prick the vitamin E capsule and rub into the wart. If vitamin E is applied together with other home remedies, such as garlic, the effect is strengthened, disabling the wart virus to thrive longer.

7. Echinacea

   For the Native Americans, they utilize Echinacea in order to remove their warts. There are two preparations available of Echinacea for wart removal. The first is the Echinacea pill, and the other is the Echinacea ointment. Echinacea pill may be taken up to twice a day. The pill helps in healing some of the skin infections such as wart. The Echinacea ointment is simply applied to the wart. After few days, it is expected that the wart will disappear.

Sources
naturalhomeandgarden.com
bastyrcenter.org
wartsguide.com
earthclinic.com
wartsguide.com