Overview

Oleander is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for athlete's foot. Karavira is Ayurveda's poison-as-medicine: Nerium oleander, all parts cardiotoxic from oleandrin. Root paste treats Kushtha, ringworm, and stubborn ulcers, externally only.

How Oleander Helps with Athlete's Foot

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Oleander has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing athlete's foot:

Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent)
Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Tikshna (sharp)

Other Herbs for Athlete's Foot

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Agarwood Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.

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Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Syn. A. vera Tourn. ex Linn.)

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Aragvadha Cassia fistula

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Bhringaraj Eclipta alba Hassk.

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Cassia Tora Cassia tora Linn

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Daruharidra Berberis aristata/chitria

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Durva Grass Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.

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Garlic Allium sativum Linn

See all herbs for athlete's foot on the Athlete's Foot page.

▶ Classical Text References (1 sources)

The Upavisha (sub-poisons/secondary toxic substances) are: Arka (Calotropis procera), Snuhi (Euphorbia neriifolia), Dhatura (Datura metel), Langali (Gloriosa superba), and Karavira (Nerium oleander).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

A paste of Triphala, Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides, wild Himalayan cherry), Ushira (vetiver), Samanga (Manjishtha, Rubia cordifolia), Karavira (Nerium oleander), Nala Mula (root of Arundo donax/giant reed), and Ananta (Sariva/Hemidesmus indicus) -- this paste destroys Kapha-type Visarpa.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

The astringent Triphala and Manjishtha dry the oozing, Padmaka and vetiver are cooling yet drying, and Karavira (oleander) is a potent anti-inflammatory applied externally.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Another Darana paste: Chirabilva (Holoptelea integrifolia), Agnika (Plumbago/Chitraka), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), Hayamaraka (Nerium oleander), and the excrement of pigeons, herons, and vultures -- this paste causes bursting (Darana) of abscesses.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

For Upadamsha (venereal sores/genital ulcers): the root of Karavira (Nerium oleander), ground with water and applied as paste -- even incurable (Asadhya) genital pain/ulcers subside by this application.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)