Yeast Infection or Thrush
(Candida)

Yeast infection is very annoying and uncomfortable. There are natural home remedies you can use to prevent,  treat and cure this condition.

Introduction

Frequently Asked Questions & Facts

Natural Remedies for Preventing and Curing Yeast Infection

Natural Remedy	What experts say about them
Lactobacillus acidophilus	(What's this?) Also called probiotics, lactobacillus is essential bacteria that help protect against yeast overgrowth in the body. Antibiotic use kills off these bacteria and may cause a person to suffer from yeast infection. Experts suggest using a course of lactobacillus therapy after taking antibiotics. Yogurt is a rich source of lactobacillus and some brands are even marketed as a high-potency probiotic blend. Vaginal suppositories are shown to be effective in curing vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis. Dose: Take 1 to 10 billion live lactobacillus bacteria daily (divided into two to four doses) for 5 to 14 days. For bacterial vaginosis - Use 1 or 2 vaginal tablets once or twice daily for 6 days. Each tablet may contain 10 million to 1 billion live lactobacillus bacteria.
Garlic	Garlic has potent antibacterial and antifungal properties that can be very useful in killing off yeast infections. Dose: Take 200 to 400 mg three times daily. Anecdotal reports suggest that a peeled whole clove of garlic can be wrapped in a gauze and inserted in the vagina to treat this condition. Make sure you do patch test first to see if you develop an allergic reaction as it is a common side effect.
Tea Tree Oil	When applied to the skin, tea tree oil is able to kill off bacterial and fungal infections. A mouthwash formulation was shown to kill off Candida albicans in the mouth in individuals suffering from AIDS. Dose: Apply the oil on the skin. Make sure you do patch test first to see you you develop an allergic reaction as it is a common side effect. A mouthwash of 5% strength (5 mL of tea tree oil in 100 mL of lukewarm water) was used four times daily for thrush. Be careful not to swallow this mixture. Click here to get dosing information for vaginal douche formula.
Oregano	Oregano shows potent activity against parasites and fungus. Studies show that oregano call kill off parasites in the intestine when taken for 6 weeks. Dose: Take 200 to 400 mg enteric-coated capsules two or three times daily. Also, a tea can be made by steeping 1 heaping teaspoon of leaf in a 250 mL of water, boil for 10 minutes, strain and drink. The tea can also be used as a mouthwash or applied to the skin.
Lemon Juice and Lemon Grass	In one small well-designed study involving 90 patients with HIV/AIDS suffering from oral thrush, lemon juice and lemon grass shown to be as effective as gentian violet solution (standard treatment for oral thrush) after 11 days of treatment. Dose: Use lemon juice directly into the mouth or use a lemon grass extract. Use several times daily.
Echinacea	Echinacea stimulates and boost the immune system. It is shown to help fight off viral infection (as in the common cold and the flu). This herb may allow your body to fight off the fungus infection better. One study showed that combining echinacea with standard anti-fungal medications reduces the frequency of the infection. Dose: Take 500 to 1,000 mg three times daily.
Propolis	Propolis has antifungal activities. It has been used on the skin to treat wounds & herpes. As a mouth rinse, it is used to help with healing and treating pain and inflammation. Dose: A 3% ointment formula has been used to treat skin viral infections such as herpes.
Thyme	Thyme and thyme oil have been historically used for its disinfectant and antifungal properties. Today, thyme oil can be found mouthwash and natural toothpaste products. Thyme oil is also found in some natural product drops used to treat fungal and bacterial infections in the ear. Dose: There is limited information on the dose to use. We suggest using 3 to 5 drops in 30 mL of mineral oil to treat fungal ear infections. Higher concentration may be used but always do a patch test first to make sure you don't suffer from excessive skin irritation.
Caprylic acid	Caprylic acid is a type of fatty acid that shows antibacterial and antifungal activities. It is found in foods such as milk and is known to help maintain the bacterial flora in the gut. Dose: The effective dosage is unknown. Experts suggest taking 300 to 1,200 mg daily about 30 minutes before meals.
Cinnamon	One small study showed that taking this herb (as a candy or chewing gum) helped to treat fungus infection in the mouth. Another study also showed that it helped oral fungus infections in patients with HIV/AIDS. Dose: Use lozenges or gum containing cinnamon as often as needed for up to one week.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV)	One report suggested that using an apple cider vinegar bath mixture can treat vaginal yeast infection.
Cinnamon oil	Cinnamon oil possesses antifungal properties. It is historically used on the skin to treat thrush (yeast infection in the mouth). Dose: Mix 30 drops into a 100 mL of lukewarm water. Gargle and swallow (or spit out) up to three times daily.
Catnip	Lab studies show that the essential oil of catnip was able to kill yeast cells. Click here to get the full comprehensive review on catnip.

Vitamins & Minerals for Preventing and Curing Yeast Infection

Natural Remedy	What experts say about them
Boric Acid	(What's this?) A study showed that boric acid vaginal capsules were able to cure 85% of recurring vaginal yeast infection. Dose: Insert one 600 mg boric acid capsules vaginally twice daily for 2 weeks.
Zinc	Helpful Since zinc is known to stimulate the immune system, it may provide some relief from infections with Candida albicans. One small study showed that zinc was able to help fight off  candida even in people who had normal levels of zinc in their system. However, another study could not verify this initial finding. Dose: Take at least the RDA amount daily. Click here to see the U.S. RDA amount to take for the different age groups.
Vitamin C	Helpful Vitamin C is helpful in supporting and enhancing the immune system. Dose: Take 500 to 1,000 mg once to twice daily.
Vitamin A Vitamin E	Helpful Zinc acts to boost the immune system by stimulating the thymus gland (which has some control over the production of germ-fighting white blood cells). It can be combined with vitamin A and vitamin E to enhance the benefit in fighting off fungus infections. Dose: Take 30 mg daily of zinc (which is twice the RDA amount of 15 mg daily).

Frequently Asked Questions & Facts

What are the symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection?

What does thrush looks like?

How do you get yeast infections?

Under normal conditions, these species of yeast are harmless and are actually helpful to have in our intestine. The problem is when they grow out of control. This might happen, for example, when your immune system is compromised or when you are using antibiotics that kill off the normal yeast and bacteria that live in your intestine and other parts of your body.

• poor or weakened immune system (for example: AIDS)
• oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• oral steroid use
• nylon underwear and tights (use cotton instead)
• diabetes
• hormone imbalance
• pregnancy
• chronic dry mouth
• allergies
• poor diet (specially if high in sugar intake)
• alcohol consumption
• stress
• age (infants, children and older people are more likely to get this)
• smoking
• excessive use of mouthwash containing alcohol
• multiple sexual partners
• use of vaginal contraceptive products
• use of feminine hygiene products

How do you treat yeast infections under your breast?

Anytime you have skin touching or folding over skin, it is a breeding ground for fungus because of trapped moisture and heat. You can treat it the same way as with a fungus infection on the skin. While it might be difficult, the area needs to be "aired out". Cotton cloth or baby powder can be used to keep the skin area from touching each other and to absorb moisture.

What diet should I take if I suffer from Candida infections?

Some experts believe that your diet can affect your risk of getting fungus infections. They suggest following a well-balanced diet that is low in sugar, refined foods, fruit juices and diary products and fats. Eat more vegetables and yeast-free whole grains. Garlic should be included to help stop the fungus from growing. Many people call this the candida diet.

Are yeast infections contagious?

Can you get yeast infection in your ear?

Could yeast infection be a sign of pregnancy?

It is known that pregnancy increases the risk of getting yeast infections. However, this is not a reliable indicator of pregnancy. A pregnancy test (a kit which you can buy at any pharmacy) is the best way to find out.

Can men get yeast infections?