Applying duct tape (duct tape). In 2002, a clinical study of 61 children with common warts concluded that duct tape treats warts more effectively than liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). Treatment consisted of keeping the wart constantly covered with a small piece of duct tape and replacing it as needed. The wart was left uncovered overnight at the end of each week. Eight weeks after starting treatments, 85% of warts treated with duct tape were gone, compared to 60% for those treated with liquid nitrogen^3,4. The study’s authors speculated that the irritation caused by the duct tape could trigger the immune system to attack the virus.

Since the publication of this study, the Mayo Clinic in the United States recommends this treatment for common and plantar warts.⁵, as well as the D^r Andrew Weil⁶. Adhesive tape has the advantage of being inexpensive, painless, and having no side effects.

However, the publication of 2 studies in 2006 and 2007 cast doubt on the effectiveness of duct tape^7,21,27. This time, the effectiveness of duct tape was compared with that of a placebo (another type of tape, non-adhesive) in 193 patients (103 children and 90 adults, respectively) with common warts. At the end of the study, the researchers observed no significant difference between the 2 groups. Methodological differences could explain these contradictory results, including the fact that the adhesive tape used was not the same in all the studies.

For now, the evidence for the effectiveness of duct tape therefore remains uncertain.

Important. It is not recommended to try this treatment on warts located on the face, near a nail, in the genital area or in the anal area. Warts of this type were excluded from the 2 studies.

 Hypnothérapie. Some studies^8,9 and several clinical observations^10,11,28 indicate that direct suggestion, conventionally used in hypnotherapy (for example, the therapist suggests to his patient that his wart disappears), would make it possible to treat common and plantar warts. According to a review article on the treatment of common warts published in 1992, this simple technique would be effective in 27 to 55% of cases. Almost without exception, prepubertal children responded positively. This was not the case for the adults, who however responded well to individual hypnoanalysis sessions. Of 41 adults treated, 33 saw their wart disappear, 2 gave up before the end of the study and 6 did not get a cure.¹². Hypnosis Could Boost Immune System, But More Studies Are Needed To Confirm Its Possible Effectiveness²⁵.

 Hot water. A simple immersion of the wart in hot water (45 ° C to 48 ° C) could help remove warts on the hands or feet, as reported by small studies carried out in the 1990s.²⁵. In 2010, a randomized trial carried out on 54 people with plantar warts showed that hyperthermia (water at 44 ° C, 30 minutes a day for 3 consecutive days, then 2 additional days 2 weeks later) had made it possible to cure 53% of patients, versus 11% cure in the placebo group²⁹.

 Garlic extracts. Garlic has antiviral properties and may be effective against some warts²⁵. Applying thin slices of fresh garlic to the wart is a traditional treatment.¹⁴. In 2005, a controlled trial involving 23 people evaluated the effectiveness of a liquid garlic extract, applied twice a day to warts. After 2 to 1 weeks, all warts (located mainly on the hands) were gone, with no recurrence after 2 months³⁰.

 Aromatherapy. Aromatherapist Dominique Baudoux suggests the following recipe¹⁵ :

– mix 1 drop of essential oil (EO) of Chinese cinnamon, 1 drop of EO of mountain savory, 1 drop of tangerine zest oil and 2 drops of lemon zest oil;

– put 1 drop of the mixture on the wart, morning and evening, for 8 weeks or until the wart has disappeared.

Also consult our Aromatherapy file.

 Homeopathy. Although the scientific evidence (3 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies^16-18 ) have not given any conclusive results about homeopathy in the treatment of common and plantar warts, this approach deserves to be tried, according to Dr.^r Paul Lépine, employee of PasseportSanté.net. Especially since homeopathy is devoid of toxicity: a therapeutic trial is therefore not risky. To know which product to use, it is important to consult a homeopath, as the treatment varies depending on the physical, mental and emotional symptoms of the patient.

 Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to Pierre Sterckx, a Belgian doctor duly trained in this medical approach, Traditional Chinese Medicine considers that psychological factors have an important influence on the appearance of warts. Indeed, Chinese medicine considers that in addition to an external factor, warts often have an internal component. The viral aspect is represented by the attack of the external heat which is tied to the skin, he explains. The psychological aspect is related to the fire of the Liver which ignites with anger and which finally dries up the Blood, so that dry knots are created in the skin.

According to Pierre Sterckx, if the number of warts is limited, external treatment is sufficient. If the disease becomes chronic with frequent recurrences and above all produces numerous skin lesions affecting large areas of the body, internal treatment is required.

 Dietary modifications. People with warts that worsen or multiply may benefit from a diet based on organic foods, which helps strengthen the immune system.¹⁹.

 visualization. Akin to hypnosis, visualization – or mental imagery – could prove useful. This is the preferred approach of D^r Andrew Weil to treat a wart²⁰. In this case, visualization is to imagine that the wart is getting smaller. All you need to do is spend a few minutes in your day creating these healing images. Children would be particularly good at visualizing the disappearance of warts. As an example, the D^r Weil suggests asking the child to imagine a white light enveloping the wart, for a few minutes at bedtime and upon waking up. If needed, help can be sought from a therapist who uses visualization. He recommends trying this method before resorting to other medical treatments.

 Phytotherapy. In the past, various plants with corrosive properties have been used as a topical treatment against warts, especially the aerial parts of celandine (Chelidonium majus), birch bark (Betula sp.) and willow (Salix sp.), rhizomes of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and cedarwood essential oil (Thuya occidentalis)^13,14.