Herbal Fungus Cure

Fungus lives naturally inside the human body, and when the natural flora in our bodies become unbalanced, fungal infections can occur in a variety of ways. Women get fungal infections in the form of vaginal yeast infections, athletic people may find themselves with fungal infections in the form of athlete's foot, and babies often get fungal infections in the form of thrush in or around their mouths.

Types of Fungus

• There are several excellent herbal remedies for fungus infections, but you need to take a specific approach depending on the type of infection you have. Yogurt is the most gentle cure for young babies or women with vaginal infections, for example, but several herbal options are available for treating fungal infection on the feet or toenails.

Garlic

• Garlic contains natural antibiotic and antifungal properties in the oil it produces when it's crushed. The medicine in this oil, known as allicin, kills the bacteria that produce infections and kills fungus growth as well. Garlic is so potent that it's been used in war battlefields to dress wounds for centuries.

  To treat fungus with garlic, clean the area completely and pat dry. If you're treating feet and toenails, be sure to remove any dead skin, dirt or other debris from under and around the toenails while cleaning. Cut open a raw garlic clove, and then rub the juicy part of the clove on the infected area. Repeat this process twice a day until the fungus is fully gone.

Tea Tree Oil

• Tea tree oil is another popular herbal remedy for many types of fungal infections, because it's a strong natural antiseptic. This means it cleans and sterilizes the area it's applied to, and it kills bacteria that cause fungus to grow.

  To treat fungus infections with tea tree oil, clean the infected area fully and pat dry. As previously noted, be sure to remove any dead skin or debris from around toenails. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a cottonball, and then wipe down all infected areas and allow them to dry. Repeat this process twice each day until the infection is cleared up.

  Tea tree oil is extremely strong smelling and can be difficult for some people to tolerate. It's also very potent, so be careful not to apply it to any areas of sensitive tissue because it may cause burning sensations or general irritation.

Yogurt

• Though not an herb, one of the widest known and used natural remedies for yeast infections is old fashioned nonsweetened yogurt.

  Yogurt contains friendly flora, or bacteria, known as Lactobacillus acidophilus, and using it helps balance the bacteria levels in your body and resolve yeast infections. You can either eat it or apply it directly to the infected area.

  For babies with oral thrush, for example, rub plain yogurt onto and in their mouth where the thrush resides. Be careful not to use too much on small babies, however, because the thickness of the yogurt could cause them to choke.

  Treat vaginal yeast infections by creating a homemade yogurt douche, or inserting over-the-counter acidophilus suppositories.

  Yeast thrives on sugar, so it's important to use nonsweetened yogurt for whichever treatment method you choose.