Potato Cure for Warts

Warts are small, raised bumps on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus. Especially common among children but not uncommon in adults, warts can be embarrassing, annoying and sometimes painful. A number of natural remedies are said to cure and reduce warts. One of the oldest of these involves the use of a cut potato.

Potato Wart Cure History

The traditional "cure" for warts long ago (and sometimes still used today) was to cut a potato in half, rub one half of the potato on the wart, then bury the other half in the garden. Sometimes a prayer or incantation of some kind was said, and sometimes there were very specific instructions as to when, where, and how deep the potato should be buried. Many people seemed to find that this technique was very effective, but this could be due to the natural acids in potatoes, a positive mental attitude that the cure would work (much like the placebo effect, in which something works simply because a person believes it will), or a combination of the two. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, potatoes have been said to be effective at curing warts by many people through the years.

Rubbing Method

One of the most common contemporary methods of treating warts with potatoes is similar to the older method mentioned above, but it doesn't involve any sort of gardening. Simply cut a potato in half and rub one of the flesh sides against the warts twice a day for two weeks, regularly replacing the potato used for treatment with a new one, daily if possible. After this period of time, some improvement, if not elimination, of warts can usually be seen.

Potato Skin Method

In this method, peel the skin off the potato. Use a slice of the potato skin large enough to cover the affected area. Tape this slice to the warts, the inside toward your skin. Replace the makeshift potato bandage every night before bed.

Some people claim this method works in less than a week--more quickly than the rubbing method-- because potato skin contains more acids than potato flesh. It also helps that it is attached directly to the skin at all times.