Herbal Cure for Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the yeast organism known as candida albicans. Yeast infections cause vaginal itching and burning, along with a thick, white, foul-smelling discharge. Yeast infections are fairly commonplace, and respond well to treatment with either over-the-counter remedies or natural alternatives.

Considerations

• While there are several herbs that can help fight off and prevent yeast infections, it is a good idea to determine exactly what you have prior to self-medicating. If you think you have a yeast infection, it is best to check with your doctor for medication recommendations. At that point you can discuss with your doctor if an herbal treatment plan is a good option, or if it can augment conventional medical therapy.

Antibacterial garlic

• Garlic is very popular when used as an antibiotic for treating bacterial infections of all kinds. It has the ability to inhibit the growth of fungi and works well in treating vaginal yeast infections along with thrush, a common yeast infection in the mouth. A recommended oral dose of garlic to treat yeast infections is consuming about one dozen chopped cloves of garlic two to three times a day. If the thought of taking that much raw garlic is unbearable, it might be advisable to combine it with other bacteria fighting ingredients like onions, sage and thyme. If you are combating recurring yeast infections, you can make an effective soup with a few potent antibacterial ingredients. Combine four cups of water with two finely chopped onions and four minced cloves of garlic. You will want to bring this mixture to a boil, then allow to simmer for about 20 minutes. Sprinkle in some thyme, sage, ground cloves and a dash of salt and pepper. This is a soup that can be consumed on a regular basis, and will provide strong infection-fighting properties.

Tinctures or Teas

• The herb echinacea has strong immune stimulating actions which can be helpful in fighting off yeast infections. Echinacea encourages immunity by raising levels of white blood cells. White blood cells are the body's first line of defense against any kind of infection. Echinacea enables the white blood cells to destroy yeast organisms. Look for echinacea tinctures or teas in your local health food store. A quality echinacea tincture will cause a slight tingly feeling on your tongue. Take one half a teaspoon of the tincture in one half a cup of water up to four times a day for two weeks. Echinacea teas are also available--follow dosing instructions carefully. Because echinacea tends to become less effective the longer you use it, discontinue use after two weeks. If you continue to experience symptoms, contact your physician.