Holistic Ways to Fight Candida

Candida naturally occurs in the body. It can be found in the mouth, digestive tract, the vagina, or skin folds. According to Native Remedies, candida isn't harmful when it exists within the body's "systemic balance." But when candida begins multiplying out of control, it begins to infect more than it's designated areas causing uncomfortable and painful symptoms. Candida's balance can be restored naturally through diet and even aromatherapy.

Diet

• Adopting a healthy diet can help improve the immune system and restore nutritional balance that alleviates the overgrowth of yeast. Curing Everyday Ailments the Natural Way suggests you start managing candida by limiting your intake of processed food, refined sugar and carbohydrate.

  Instead, eat two crushed or finely chopped cloves of raw garlic three times a day. You can even add the garlic to a salad or soup if you don't want to chew it raw. According to Colon Health Advice, garlic contains allicin that is an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral compound. Eating yogurt with live cultures each day can also help balance candida.

  Eat more complex Vitamin B foods such as green leafy vegetables, brown rice, oily fish, shellfish, eggs, whole grain flour, chicken, lamb, onion, garlic, peas and beans. These foods also contain iron, zinc, selenium and other vitamins and minerals the body needs to properly function and fight infection.

  Fruits, cheeses, brown rice and baked potatoes support candida infection. If eaten, these foods should be consumed in small amounts. Drink more water, herbal teas and fresh vegetable juice. Drink less milk and wine. Make a commitment to drink no more than three caffeinated drinks a day.

Aromatherapy

• Certain essential oils possess anti-fungal and immunity properties to fight infections and diseases. Those essential oils include tea tree oil and lavender oil.

  Colon Health Advice suggests using tea tree oil as douche by mixing 3 drops of tea tree oil with water. If you take baths, add 6 drops of tea tree oil and 2 drops of sweet thyme oil to your bath. Curing Everyday Ailments the Natural Way proposes applying 2 drops of tea tree oil to a "slightly dampened tampon." Leave the tampon in the vagina for three to four hours.

  Lavender has an inviting aroma with the power to resist disease and infection. The Herbs Place has a remedy for candida that involves three essential oils and use of either a carrier oil or massage oil. Place 30 drops of lavender oil, 15 drops of myrrh oil, and 8 drops of tea tree oil into an essential oil bottle. Fill the bottle with any carrier oil such as jojoba oil and apply it lightly to the infected area.