Yeast Infection Home Remedies

A yeast infection is a common bacterial infection caused by Candida albicans – a fungus that occurs naturally on our skin. As long as the amount of fungus present on the skin does not get a chance to increase, the person remains free of this yeast infection, however, when it starts to increase, the person gets an infection. Yeast infections generally affect women but it can infect men too. Infections can develop under the breast, nail beds but more commonly in the vagina, under the arms and between the toes.

The following yeast infection home remedies have been found beneficial:

• Yeast Infection Tea tree oil: Combine 2 teaspoons of this with 2 teaspoons of isopropyl alcohol. Add ten drops of water to this mixture. Use this once a day and rinse the affected area. For a vaginal infection, pour a few drops of undiluted tea tree oil onto a tampon and insert it into the vagina. Do this twice a day for a few days to get relief.

• Yogurt for Yeast Infection: Yogurt is another excellent home remedy for yeast infection. Apply yogurt on the affected area for at least an hour and then wash it off. Do this twice or thrice a day. Eating yogurt helps too. Regular douching with yogurt is good too. Or take a tablespoon of yogurt and insert it into the vagina. Do this at night before going to sleep.

• Mix the extracts of olive leaf and grapefruit in a glass of water. This is a good tonic to cure a yeast infection.

• Eliminate sugar and sugary foods. Sugar helps yeast infections to thrive.

• Gentian violet is a traditional remedy for yeast infections. Swab the affected area with this once or twice a day.

• Use organic honey. Do not use this inside the vagina as it contains sugar, but it can be applied to other affected areas. Leave it on for half an hour and then wash off with warm water. Dry the area thoroughly afterwards.

• Garlic for Yeast Infection: Garlic is one of the best remedies for yeast infection. Peel a pod of garlic and place it on the affected area. For a vaginal yeast infection, peel a clove, wrap it in gauze and insert it into the vagina. Repeat this every three to four hours. Alternatively, wrap a few pods of garlic in cheesecloth and insert it. You can also apply garlic paste.

• Dabbing apple cider vinegar on the affected parts has been known to help.

• Fill a bathtub with warm water and mix 1 cup of vinegar in it. Soak in this for 20 minutes.

• Drink two glasses of buttermilk a day – one in the afternoon and one at night.

Consult a doctor if the symptoms persist.