Thrush Home Remedies

What is thrush? Thrush is a fungus infection, which can affect anyone –male or female, young or old. However, thrush occurs more commonly in breastfeeding mothers and their infants. It is caused by a type of yeast called Candida Albicans, which normally exists mainly in our mouths and intestines, and also in our genital areas.

The candida yeast is kept in check by healthy intestinal flora in our body, but if there is an imbalance in this gut flora, the candida yeast population may grow out of control, leading to an outbreak of thrush in the mouth. In more severe cases, it also spreads to the genital areas, and it can cause diaper rash in babies.

Signs and Symptoms of Thrush

In adults, thrush appears as a thick white coating on the tongue. Your mouth may feel sore, and if you try to scrape off the coating, it may cause bleeding. In babies, thrush may show up as a white coating on the tongue, or also as milky, whitish patches or spots inside the lips, cheeks, or gums. Your baby may feel cranky and irritable, especially during feeding because the affected skin may be sore and itchy.

Home remedies for thrush natural cures: Thrush can cause a lot of discomfort and so it is better to treat it as soon as possible. Thrush home remedies are quite effective to control the spread of the infection.

Pure coconut oil is quite effective in curing thrush. Fresh, virgin coconut oil has potent anti-fungal properties and fatty acids such as caprylic acid which fight candida yeast. You can apply the oil to the affected areas of the body. In case your baby is breastfeeding, it would also be good to apply some coconut oil to your nipples, in order to protect them from the fungus. Apply the oil after breastfeeding and take care to wash it off with warm water before your baby’s next feed. However, make sure not to use refined or hydrogenated coconut oil as these are not as effective in curing thrush.

Tea tree oil, oregano oil and clove oil are other effective remedies for skin ailments because of their anti-fungal properties. However, it would be best to mix them in a little carrier oil. Carrier oils such as olive oil or coconut oil are stable oils and therefore can be used to dilute the potent compounds in other oils. You can apply the blend of oils topically to your mouth, while breastfeeding mothers can apply some on their nipples to prevent cross-infection to their babies. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar has the same effect. Before using any of these thrush home remedies, it is imperative that you consult your doctor.

Diet for Thrush: A healthy diet goes a long way in maintaining the balance of the gut flora and preventing thrush. Include yogurt and garlic in your diet, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.