How to Get Rid of Warts Naturally

Have you ever had a wart somewhere
on your body or do you have one right
now? In healthy individuals, about 20
percent of warts clear up within three
months, and 60 percent resolve within
two years. This means that treatment
is not always needed, but it’s often
desired since warts can be painful,
irritating and embarrassing. (1 ) The
good news is that there are many
treatment options available these days,
both conventional and alternative, so if
you’re wondering how to get rid of
warts, wonder no more.
One of the best ways to prevent and
heal warts is by focusing on immune
system boosters like vitamin C and
zinc-rich foods and beverages loaded
with probiotics, like kefir. Whether you
have warts on your hands, warts on
your feet or warts somewhere else on
your body, there are ways to rid them
naturally. Let’s look at how to get rid
of warts and keep them away.
What Are Warts?
A wart is a small, hard, benign growth
on the skin, caused by a virus, and in
order to target the exact course of
action for how to get rid of warts, it
helps to determine exactly what type of
warts you have.
Types of Warts
Common warts (Verruca vulgaris )
are most often seen on the hands
and present as skin-colored
papules with a rough surface. They
represent 70 percent of non-
genital cutaneous warts. (2 )
Flat warts (V erruca plana) are most
often seen on the backs of the
hands and on the legs. They
appear as smooth, flat-topped,
yellow-brown papules.
Intermediate warts are a
combination of common and flat
warts.
Subungual and periungual warts
appear under and around the
fingernails or toenails.
Plantar warts (Verruca plantaris )
occur on the soles of the feet and
look like very thick callouses.
Mosaic warts are a plaque of
closely grouped plantar warts.
Genital warts are soft growths that
appear on the genitals. They’re a
sexually transmitted infection
caused by specific strains of the
human papillomavirus (HPV).
Root Causes
What causes warts? The root cause of
any and every wart is HPV, of which
there are more than 100 types. Warts
are caused by direct contact with HPV,
which is contagious and makes skin
grow faster than usual. HPV can infect
the skin via areas of minimal trauma
like cuts or abrasions. (3 )
Risk Factors
Wart risk factors include use of
communal showers, occupational
handling of meat, and having a
suppressed immune system due to
either immunosuppressant drugs or
illness like HIV/AIDS. In people with
good immune systems, warts are
generally harmless and resolve on their
own within months or one to two years
as a result of natural immunity.
Conventional Treatment
Methods for How to Get Rid
of Warts
The options for how to get rid of warts
with conventional treatment are all
similar unless you’re dealing with
genital warts, which has several
treatment options that are unique to
that specific wart type.
Common Treatment of Non-Genital
Warts
1. Salicylic Acid/Topical Treatment
Topical, prescription-strength wart
medications containing salicylic acid
work by removing layers of the wart a
little bit at a time. The salicylic
medication is applied regularly. Studies
show that salicylic acid is more
effective when combined with freezing
treatment (cryotherapy) so your doctor
might recommend cryotherapy as well.
2. Cryotherapy
This treatment can be painful and can
take weeks. It destroys the wart by
freezing it with liquid nitrogen.
Cryotherapy causes a blister to form
around the wart. When the blister peels
off, all or part of the wart peels off.
Cryotherapy may require repeat
treatments every few weeks until the
wart disappears in order to be
effective. This treatment is said to
work better if you follow it with a
salicylic acid treatment after the area
heals.
Other acids: Your doctor might opt to
shave the surface of the wart and
apply bichloracetic acid or
trichloroacetic. You’ll need to go back
for repeat treatments every week or so.
Common side effects include burning
and stinging. Between visits, you may
be instructed to use a salicylic acid
topically as well.
3. Immune Therapy
Medications or solutions are used to
stimulate your own immune system to
fight viral warts. Your doctor might
inject your warts with a foreign
substance (antigen) or topically
apply the antigen.
4. Minor Surgery
The wart or warts are cut away using
an electric needle. Since this procedure
can be painful, the skin is numbed
first. Surgery can causes scarring and
isn’t typically used to treat plantar
warts.
5. Laser Treatment
Laser surgery uses an intense beam of
light, or laser, to burn and destroy the
wart tissue. The evidence for the
effectiveness of laser treatment is
limited. It can also cause pain and
scarring.

Common Treatment of Genital Warts
(4 )
1. Topical Medications
There are few topical options that can
be applied directly to genital warts,
including imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara),
podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox).
Podophyllin is a plant-based resin that
destroys genital wart tissue. Your
doctor must apply this solution.
Podofilox contains the same active
compound but can be safely applied by
you at home. Trichloroacetic acid
is chemical treatment that burns off
genital warts that must always be
applied by a doctor.
Over-the-counter wart removers are not
recommended for use on the moist
tissues of the genital area. Using these
removers for genital warts can cause
even more irritation and pain.
2. Surgical Removal
If you opt for surgical removal of
genital warts, there are several ways
the warts may be removed. If you’re
pregnant and your baby may be
exposed during delivery, then surgical
removal might be a must. Two
common options are cryotherapy,
which is freezing the warts with liquid
nitrogen, or surgical excision, where a
doctor actually cuts off the warts.
Other surgical methods include
electrocautery, an electrical current
burns off warts, or laser treatments,
where an intense beam of light is
employed to remove the wart.
Some Inherent Problems with
Conventional Treatment Methods:
With freezing or cryotherapy, you
likely need repeated treatments.
The main side effects include pain
and swelling.
If you opt for electrocautery, you
may experience pain and swelling
afterward.
For surgical excision, you receive
some type of anesthesia so the
procedure isn’t intolerable, but you
may have pain after surgery.
Laser treatments are pricey and
typically only used for very
pervasive and treatment-
resistant warts. Side effects can
include permanent scarring as well
as pain.
Some of the topical options for
genital warts can also cause skin
irritation, blisters, body aches or
pain, cough, rashes, and fatigue.
How to Get Rid of Warts
Naturally
I’m happy to say that you have a lot of
options when it comes to how to get
rid of warts naturally. Here are some of
the best ways to to stop warts in their
tracks without a trip to the doctor.
Natural Wart Removal Methods
Smoke the wart away: I know it sounds
really weird, but an old, indigenous
Chinese remedy treats plantar warts in
a “smoke box” filled with smoke from
burnt leaves of the Populus euphratica
tree, which is a type of poplar tree. It’s
actually been shown to be as effective
as conventional medical therapy. It’s
most commonly used for plantar warts
but can also be a good option for
warts on hands.
How to create a smoke box for wart
treatment:
Find or purchase Populus
euphratica leaves and dry them
out.
Light them on fire in a controlled
environment outdoors and let
them burn for a few minutes.
Cover them so the lack of oxygen
snuffs out the flames.
Carefully place your hands feet
about six inches over the
smoldering leaves and let the
smoke infuse the bottom of your
foot where the wart is for at least
15 minutes.
Be very careful not to burn or
blister the soles of your feet by
making sure the flames are
extinguished and you don’t get too
close to the embers.
The reason this is an option for how
to get rid of warts is because
the burning leaves create smoke filled
with antiviral compounds know as
salicylates. A study published in the
International Journal of Dermatology had
60 wart patients randomly treated with
either leaves of Populous euphratica tree
or conventional cryotherapy.
They followed up for 22 weeks and
found that “the smoke of burnt leaves
of the Populus euphratica tree can be
equally effective for treatment of hand
and foot warts as cryotherapy.”
Furthermore, the recurrence rate for the
tree leaf- treated group was 4.2
percent, while it was 32.2 percent for
patients treated with cryotherapy. ( 5 )
Duct tape has actually been shown in
research to be more effective than
freezing or cryotherapy. In one
study, 85 percent of the duct tape
patients were wart-free, compared with
60 percent of the cryotherapy group.
The majority of warts treated with duct
tape were gone within 28 days.
Meanwhile, the majority of
cryotherapy-treated warts needed two
treatments, spaced at least two weeks
apart. Researchers say the duct-tape
therapy might work by stimulating the
patient’s immune system.
Additionally, children find the duct tape
method less frightening. One doctor
has said, “The use of duct tape
appears promising as a safe and
nonthreatening treatment for
children.” (6 )
To use duct tape, cover the wart with
silver duct tape for six days, soaking
the wart in water, gently removing dead
tissue, and then leaving the wart
exposed for about 12 hours. You
repeat the process until the wart is
gone. ( 7 )
Banana peels and garlic aren’t just for
natural pimple and bug bite treatment
— they can also work on warts.
Specifically, these two food items have
been shown to be successful at
treating plantar, flat and common
warts.
Before covering the wart with either a
banana peel or garlic patch, you can
maximize results by first placing two
to four drops of thuja tincture or tea
tree essential oil on the wart. Then
either cut a piece of banana peel, place
it over the wart and tape it in place
OR cover the wart and surrounding
skin with a thin layer of olive oil and
apply a thin slice of fresh garlic and
tape in place. Whichever one you
choose, do it right before you go to
bed. (8 )
This banana or garlic patch may need
to be repeated nightly for up to three
weeks. As the wart begins to die, they
will turn black.
In one study of 40 people, hypnosis
resolved more warts than either topical
salicylic acid or a placebo. Completely
non-invasive, hypnosis can be
especially helpful for children who have
warts. (9 ) If you want to give it a try,
you can learn how to perform self
hypnosis, which may provide an
unconventional method for how to get
rid of warts.
Topical and Essential Oil
Remedies
Silver nitrate is available as a solution
or ointment you apply to the wart.
Silver nitrate sticks are also an option.
One study showed that when
35 patients were treated with a silver
nitrate stick, 24 of the patients were
either completely healed (15) or
partially healed. (10 )
Zinc is also available as an ointment
you apply to the wart. A typical zinc
ointment appropriate for warts
typically contains 20 percent zinc oxide
and is applied to the skin twice daily
for three months. Another topical
option is distilled water containing 5
percent to 10 percent zinc sulfate
applied three times daily for four
weeks. (11 )
The above topical options are for non-
genital warts. For external genital
warts, you can paint the warts with
liquid vitamin A or beta-carotene once
or twice daily. For best results, also
add three to four drops each of thuja,
echinacea and lomatium tinctures.
Don’t use for internal genital warts,
and absolutely do not use genital
treatments of any kind without first
consulting your doctor if you’re
pregnant.
Essentials oils can also be used to
naturally treat warts. Some of the most
popular choices for fighting warts
include tea tree, oregano, lemon, thyme
and eucalyptus. (12 ) For plantar warts,
make a blend of one drop each
oregano and frankincense with a bit of
coconut oil. Apply this mix topically
two to three times per day directly on
the wart and surrounding area for two
to four weeks or until the wart is gone.
Continue application after the wart is
gone for one week to avoid recurrence.
For genital warts, use frankincense oil
with tea tree (melaleuca) oil and apply
in the same manner. Continue to use
the oil treatment even after warts are
gone to make sure they don’t come
back. Use a clean Q-tip to apply oils
each time to prevent spreading. ( 13 )
Supplements and Other Internal
Options
Zinc can really help with warts since
many wart sufferers actually have zinc
deficiency . The oral form may be
particularly effective in wart sufferers
who have a zinc deficiency. For viral
warts, the recommended dosage is 10
milligrams of zinc sulfate per kilogram
by mouth daily (up to 600 milligrams
total daily) for two to six months.
Homeopathic treatment is
an alternative medicinal practice that
uses the smallest possible amount of
an active ingredient in order to help
treat a disease, even if this same
ingredient can contribute to an illness
in the first place. There are about 25
possible medicines for warts in
homeopathy. The choice of medicine
depends on your symptoms as well as
the location of the wart(s). Some
common homeopathic medicines for
warts include: silica, thuja occidentalis,
causticum, calcarea carbonica, nitric
acid, lycopodium clavatum, and
antimonium crud.
Antiviral herbs like elderberry,
astragalus root and echinacea can
help your body to fight off the virus
that’s at the root of your wart
dilemma. Antiviral herbs can actually
inhibit the development of viruses.
They also boost the immune system,
which allows the body to attack viral
pathogens. This can be even better
than attacking specific pathogens,
which antiviral drugs are designed to
do, because pathogens mutate over
time and become less susceptible to
treatment.
Some top supplement options for
fighting warts:
Olive leaf extract (500 milligrams
twice daily) is a natural antiviral
and antimicrobial.
Garlic (one drop twice daily) has
antiviral properties.
Echinacea (300 milligrams twice
daily) can help boost immune
function and fight viruses.
Selenium (200 micrograms daily)
— a deficiency in selenium can
cause viruses to replicate.

Immune-Boosting Food and
Drinks
Anything that improves the immune
system helps your body get rid
of warts since they’re viral
infections. There are also nutritional
deficiencies, like low zinc levels, that
can increase wart risk. (14 )
Here are some of the best foods to
consume if you’re wondering how to
get rid of warts of all kinds through
diet:
Vitamin C foods – Add foods rich in
vitamin C, including plenty of
citrus fruits, bell peppers and
strawberries, to your diet to help
boost the immune system.
High-zin foods – Zinc is also
critical for immune function. Eat
foods high in zinc like grass-fed
beef, chickpeas and pumpkin
seeds.
Probiotic foods – Fermented
vegetables like kimchi and live-
cultured yogurt or greek yogurt
made from the milk of cows, goats
or sheep are loaded with the good
bacteria that your body needs to
fight off infections.
Green leafy vegetables – These
potent vegetables provide vitamin
A and minerals to help with
immune function.
High-selenium foods – Selenium is
a vital antioxidant for the immune
system. Brazil nuts are an
excellent source of selenium.
Raw cheese — Goat’s milk, sheep’s
milk and A2 cow’s soft cheeses
are particularly high in probiotics,
including thermophillus, bifudus,
bulgaricus and acidophilus. Always
buy raw and unpasteurized
cheeses if you want to receive any
probiotics.
When it comes to beverages, opt for
these probiotic-rich selections:
Goat’s milk kefir or coconut kefir —
Both are loaded with probiotics,
but the goat’s milk option is even
higher than the dairy-free coconut
kefir. Made by fermenting goat’s
milk or the juice of young coconuts
with kefir grains, either option
provides a great probiotic boost to
your gut.
Kvass — Kvass is a common
fermented beverage in Eastern
Europe since ancient times. It uses
lactobacilli probiotics and is
known for its blood- and liver-
cleansing properties.
Kombucha — Kombucha is an
effervescent fermentation of tea
that is rich in probiotics and B
vitamins.
How to Get Rid of Warts:
Lifestyle Modifications
There are thankfully things you can do
to decrease your risk of getting warts
of any kind. Warts are caused by HPV,
which thrives in warm and humid
areas. Frequently used water-centric
areas like pools and showers are
hotbeds for the spread of warts. This
is why you should always wear some
type of footwear when you use a
public locker room, public showers or
public pool areas.
If someone else has a wart, avoid any
contact with it. If you have a wart,
don’t scratch or pick at it because this
can cause infection and spreading. You
can cover a wart with a bandage if
needed, but don’t leave it on to the
point that you create a moist
environment.
Always make sure to keep your hands
as dry as possible since warts are
harder to control in wet environments.
You should never brush, comb or shave
areas where warts are present because
this can easily cause them to spread.
You should wash your hands
thoroughly after touching any warts.
For the sake of those around you, keep
items like clothing and towels that
may come into contact with warts
away from others in the house. Avoid
re-wearing clothing or socks from the
previous day as well.
To prevent genital warts, some of the
most important precautions you can
take include:
Not having sex
Avoiding sex with anyone who has
visible signs of genital warts
Using condoms during sexual
activity
Having sex only with a partner who
is monogamous
These lifestyle modifications are some
great ideas for how to get rid of warts
and/or prevent getting them in the first
place.
What Not to Do When You Have
Warts
Never try to physically remove a
wart on your own. No matter what
type of wart you have, don’t try to
surgically cut it off yourself. You
might think because you only have
one wart, there is no risk of
spreading, but warts can spread
extremely easy if you’re not
careful. You can actually give
yourself more warts, not to
mention a possible infection or
scarring, if you try to play doctor.
Self-surgery is not how to get rid
of warts.
Don’t scratch or pick at warts.
This can cause bleeding, infection
and spreading.
When using the smoke box
technique, always make sure you
practice general fire safety and
keep your feet or hands at a safe
distance away from the smoke.
Discontinue use of any topical
treatment, like essential oils, if you
witness any negative skin
reactions on healthy skin areas.
With any treatment plan, whether
conventional or natural, always
speak with your doctor first if
you’re pregnant or nursing, or if
you’re treating a child.
Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of
Warts
When it comes to how to get rid of
warts, the most simple and natural
treatment is to be patient and wait it
out. This might sound ridiculous,
but 20 percent of warts clear up within
three months, and 60 percent are gone
within two years.
If that sounds like way too long to wait
or if you have a wart that’s really
interfering with your life, then I natural
remedies are the best way in the quest
for how to get rid of warts.
Whatever you choose, remember that
your immune system is by far No. 1
when it comes to prevention and
treatment of the virus that is at the
root of any and every wart that may
temporarily invade your skin. With a
healthy lifestyle, consistent natural
treatment and some patience, you can
get rid of warts and greatly decrease
the likelihood of their unwanted return.
So if you ever find yourself wondering
how to get rid of warts, remember
these keys to healing.