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Vitamin C Cures for Candida

Around 75% of women will suffer from yeast infections in their lifetime. This uncomfortable condition can have a number of unpleasant symptoms, including burning, itching, soreness, discharge, and pain during sex or urination.

Yeast infections, as well as a few other less common infections, are caused by a condition known as candidiasis, which is an infection due to an overgrowth of the naturally occurring fungus candida. Fortunately, many treatments are available.

  1. What Is Candida?

    • Candida is a fungus that exists in everyone, in the mouth and stomach, and in the vagina in women. When candida overgrows, however, the result is a candidiasis infection. Causes of this overgrowth may include taking a prescription antibiotic, being overweight, being pregnant, having a bacterial infection, or a weakened immune system.

      As well as afflicting women in the form of yeast infections, candidiasis is especially dangerous for patients with HIV/AIDS or other conditions that leave the immune system chronically weak. In such cases, it can present in the form of white patches in the mouth or throat, cracks at the corner of the mouth, or skin rashes or blisters in the groin and between fingers and toes.

    Candidiasis Treatments

    • Many antifungal medications exist to help kill some of the excess candida that leads to these conditions. These medications include oral rinses and tablets, vaginal treatments, and creams for rashes. Many such treatments are over the counter, and can be found at any pharmacy. There is also a prescription pill, fluconazole, that your doctor may prescribe. Treatment can last anywhere from three days to two weeks, and it's important to follow a course of treatment all the way through.

      In severe cases with patients who have compromised immune systems, for whom the infection could be deadly, doctors may prescribe an IV drip of amphotericin B.

    Vitamin C for Candida

    • There is a good deal of evidence suggesting that vitamin C supports immune health. To that end, if taking vitamin C can help strengthen the immune system, it may help prevent the possibility of candidiasis. But there is no evidence suggesting that vitamin C alone might be a cure for candidiasis, or is a substitute for antifungal medication.

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