Homeopathy for warts and verrucae
Updated: Sep 1
Warts and verrucae can be stubborn and bothersome, especially when they keep returning or cause discomfort when walking or using your hands.
In this article, I’ll look at what warts and verrucae are, how they can spread, ways to help prevent them, and how homeopathy approaches these symptoms from an individual perspective.
You’ll also find some commonly used homeopathic remedies, together with general information about conventional treatment options and when it may be appropriate to seek professional advice.
Warts and verrucas can be stubborn and bothersome, even after multiple removal attempts. Depending on their placement, they may cause pain and disrupt your daily routine. This blog will present homoeopathic remedies for warts and verrucas.
Warts are caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). When HPV infects the skin cells, it causes them to grow rapidly, creating the small, rough bumps that we recognise as warts.
"Verrucae" is the plural form of "verruca," a medical term for warts. It’s often used to refer specifically to plantar warts (verrucae plantaris), which are warts that appear on the soles of the feet. Plantar warts can be particularly painful because they are subject to pressure from standing and walking, which may cause them to grow inward and develop a hard, thick layer of skin (a callus) over them.
Here’s how they typically develop and spread:
#1 - How Do Warts and Verrucae Develop and Spread?
1. Direct Contact with HPV
Skin-to-Skin Contact:
Warts can spread through direct contact with the skin of an infected person. For example, shaking hands with someone who has a wart on their hand might transfer the virus.
Self-Transmission:
If you have a wart and touch or pick at it, you can spread the virus to other parts of your own body. For example, shaving over a wart can spread HPV to other areas.
2. Indirect Contact with Infected Surfaces
HPV can survive on surfaces, especially in warm and moist environments. You can catch the virus by touching surfaces contaminated by HPV, like:
Public Showers:
Walking barefoot in warm, moist environments like communal showers, gyms, or locker rooms can expose your feet to the virus, leading to pick-up HPV.
Shared items:
Sharing towels, socks, razors or shoes with someone who has warts or verrucas increases your chances of catching the virus.
3. Small Cuts or Damaged Skin
HPV tends to infect skin more easily if it enters through a small cut, scratch, or damaged area of skin. Areas with frequent friction, like hands, feet, or fingers, are especially vulnerable. For instance, people who bite their nails or pick at hangnails might notice warts appearing around their fingers or nails because damaged skin offers an entry point for the virus.
4. Weakened Immune System
Immune System Factors:
Not everyone exposed to HPV will develop a verruca. A person's immune system plays a big role in determining whether or not an infection leads to HPV. People with weakened immune systems, such as those with immune disorders, on immunosuppressive drugs, or with chronic illnesses, are more prone to warts because their bodies have a harder time fighting off HPV.
Children and Teens:
Verrucae are more common in young people because their immune systems are still developing, which may make it harder for them to resist HPV infections.
Why Some People Get Warts and Others Don’t
Not everyone exposed to HPV will develop warts. The likelihood depends on individual immune responses, the specific strain of HPV, and factors like skin condition and hygiene practices.
#2 - Tips for prevention
Warts Can Spread More Easily on Damp or Damaged Skin
Warts can spread more easily when the skin is damp or damaged. In communal showers, locker rooms and poolside areas, wearing flip-flops or shower shoes can help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Keeping your feet clean and dry, changing damp socks regularly and taking care of damaged skin can also help reduce the risk of spreading warts.
Preventing HPV and Warts
Avoid touching or picking at warts to prevent them from spreading. This can spread the virus to other parts of the body or other people.
Wear flip-flops or shower shoes in communal showers and pools to reduce exposure.
Don’t share personal items like towels, socks, shoes, foot care items or razors, especially with someone who has HPV.
Keep hands clean, and cover any cuts with a bandage to reduce risk.
Keep Feet Clean and Dry: Regularly wash and thoroughly dry your feet, and change socks if they get sweaty.
#3 - General treatments
Treatment options are similar to those for other warts and include:
Over-the-counter salicylic Acid: Helps dissolve the wart tissue over time.
Cryotherapy: Freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen.
Laser Therapy: Sometimes used for stubborn cases.
Duct Tape Method: Sometimes effective for plantar warts.
Pumice Stone or Emery Board: Used to file down the wart carefully after soaking to reduce thickness.
#4 - Commonly Used Homeopathic Remedies for Warts and Verrucae
Homeopathy takes an individual approach, looking not only at the wart itself but also at the person as a whole. In homeopathic practice, the choice of remedy is based on the individual pattern of symptoms rather than simply on the appearance or location of the wart.
Note: If you're self-prescribing, these are general suggestions — but for persistent or recurring cases, a personalised consultation is highly recommended.
The following are some remedies traditionally used in homeopathic practice for different wart presentations.
Thuja
Traditionally considered for certain types of warts, particularly large, seedy or pedunculated warts that may ooze or bleed easily. Commonly found on the face, lips, nose, hands, and genitals.
Causticum
Many warts can appear as large, seedy, jagged growths that easily ulcerate on the fingertips, nose, eyelids, and eyebrows.
Antimonium Crudum
Hardened warts or growths, with a texture resembling horn.
Smooth warts on the hands, fingers, soles of the feet, and eyelids.
Nitric Acid
Widespread warts that are sensitive and may cause splinter-like pains or be painless. The warts are large, jagged, and may bleed when touched or washed. They can appear on the face, lips, hands, inside the nose, fingers, genitals, and anus.
Arg Nit
Warts are commonly found on mucous membranes, such as in the larynx, mouth, palate, and throat, as well as on the fingers.
These growths can appear as warty granulations.
Calc Carb
Multiple warts, particularly those on the face and hands
Dulcamara
Flat warts are large, smooth growths that can appear on the face and the palms of the hands.
Curious how to choose the right potency and dosage?
Click the button below to learn more about potency and dosage in homeopathy.
#5 - Traditional Herbal Use
Thuja tincture or cream
Thuja has traditionally been used in herbal medicine as a topical preparation for warts and other skin growths. Tinctures or creams may be applied externally.
This is different from taking a homeopathic remedy internally. If using a topical preparation, follow the product instructions.
#5 - When Should You Seek Professional Advice?
Most warts are harmless and may disappear on their own, but some can be persistent, painful or difficult to distinguish from other skin conditions.
If a wart is changing, bleeding, becoming painful, spreading significantly, or you are unsure whether a skin growth is actually a wart, it is important to seek appropriate medical advice.
For those who are interested in homeopathy, a qualified homeopath can also take an individualised look at the symptoms and overall health picture.
Interested in Individualised Homeopathic Support?
Homeopathy takes an individual approach, considering not only the wart itself but also the pattern of symptoms and your overall health and wellbeing.
If you would like to learn more about how homeopaths approach acute and chronic conditions, you may also find this article helpful:
If you are new to homeopathy and would like to know what to expect from a consultation, you can read more here:
If you would like to discuss your individual situation, I offer personalised homeopathic consultations for a range of health concerns, including skin symptoms.
Love and gratitude
Hiroko
Reference :
Murphy. R.(2006) Nature's Materia Medica. Third edition. Lotus Health Institute. Virginia. USA
Morrison. R. (1993) Desktop Guide To Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Hahnemann Clinic Publishing. California. The USA.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). (2023). Overview: Warts. InformedHealth.org. NCBI Bookshelf. Updated January 11, 2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279586/
Hershoff, A. & Rotelli, A. (2001). Herbal Remedies: A Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies. Avery.
