Written by Jessica Patella, ND. The participating elderly with Athletes Foot found that a warm green tea solution foot bath for 15 minutes per day improved their overall skin symptoms of Athlete’s Foot compared to placebo.
Tinea pedis, also known as Athlete’s Foot, is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet, usually found between the toes (1,2). Athlete’s Foot is typically treated with topical ointments in the United States(1). A common folk remedy for Athlete’s Foot in Japan is applying green tea leaves directly to the affected area of skin (1). Recent research found that soaking feet in a warm green tea bath was more effective than a warm water bath for improving symptoms of Athlete’s Foot (1).
The research included 94 elderly participants who had been diagnosed with Athlete’s Foot. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. The green tea group received a daily foot bath with a solution of warm water and green tea extract (0.1% green tea polyphenol solution: 89.5% catechins), while the placebo group received a daily foot bath with water only (1).
The foot baths were given once daily. Before each foot bath, the feet were cleaned with mild soap and rinsed with warm water. The feet were then immersed up to the ankles in the warm foot bath for 15 minutes. After the foot bath, the feet were towel dried but were not washed. This was done deliberately, so beneficial properties of the green tea solution was not washed off the participants’ feet in the green tea group (1).
After 12-weeks of treatment, the overall assessment of the skin symptoms (redness, skin peeling, softening of the tissue) were significantly better in the green tea group compared to the placebo group (p=0.010) (1). Skin symptoms were ranked by the same physician at baseline and at week 12 (1).
Significant changes were not observed between the two groups in regards to microscopic assessment, (p = 1.000 ) reoccurrence, (p = 0.172 ) or size of the affected area (0.638) (1).
There were no adverse skin reactions reported in the green tea group, therefore the researchers felt a higher concentration green tea foot bath might enhance the effectiveness and still be safe (1). Future research with more participants could help determine if a more concentrated solution of green tea would show better results, or results more quickly (1).
In conclusion, the warm green tea solution foot bath for 15 minutes per day improved the overall skin symptoms of Athlete’s Foot compared to placebo (1). This was the first randomized, placebo controlled study reviewing the effects of green tea foot baths on Athlete’s Foot (1).
Source: Davis, J. Mark, et al. “Quercetin reduces susceptibility to influenza infection following stressful exercise.” American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 295.2 (2008): R505-R509.
© 2008 the American Physiological Society
Posted May 16, 2013.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Ikeda S, et al. Effects of a foot bath containing green tea polyphenols on interdigital tinea pedis. doi:10.1016/j.foot.2013.01.001.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Athlete’s Foot (tinea pedis).
