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Antifungal Treatments

Fungal infections can occur on a person's genitalia, breast, mouth, throat, feet or even on the bottoms of infants. It can cause pain and itching and make a person very uncomfortable. Relief from these infections can come in various forms. Some people choose to control it through a special diet, supplements or homeopathic methods. Still others choose to take medications that can be prescribed by a physician or bought over the counter.

  1. Nystatin

    • Nystatin is one of the oldest medications that has been used to treat yeast infections. It has been proven to be both safe and effective, causing only minimal side effects, such as rashes or digestive upset. According to the Environmental Illness Resource, Nystatin comes in a liquid, powder or tablet form. However, it is known to have a very bad taste when taken orally. Because of its ease of use and low cost it is commonly a first choice of both physicians and patients.

    Amphotercin B

    • There have been rumors that amphotercin B can be very toxic and dangerous to take. However, according to the Environmental Illness Resource, it is actually quite safe and effective in treating fungal infections. This drug is also more effective than Nystatin and is commonly used when Nystatin fails. The one drawback of this drug is the cost, which is a great deal more than Nystatin.

    Diflucan

    • Diflucan comes from a class of drugs called the azoles. Unlike amphotercin or Nystatin it is absorbed into the intestine and is known to be more effective for some yeast infections. This medication can be taken orally in a single dose, and many people prefer it for that reason. However, the Mayo Clinic reports that for more serious cases of fungal infection, it can be given intravenously or in multiple oral forms. However, in comparison to other medications the cost of Diflucan is much higher.

    Garlic

    • Many people use garlic as an antifungal treatment. According to the Environmental Illness Resource, garlic has been known to have sulphuric compounds that are very effective on fungal infections. In fact, some research shows that garlic is as effective as Nystatin in treating these types of infections. Eating garlic with your meals is not the only way to ingest it. For those who do not want to reek of garlic, there are odorless capsules that can be obtained from local health food stores. There are also forms of garlic in liquid and tablet form.

    Caprylic Acid

    • Caprylic acid is a formal name for fatty acids. Fatty acids are naturally found in the human body. Other natural sources include palm and coconut oils. It can also be obtained from your local natural foods and vitamin store in a pill form. The cost is relatively low. A dose of about 3,600 mg a day should be enough to treat and heal the fungal infection.

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