There are a number of natural home remedies to cure yeast infections if you prefer to take care of a yeast infection without an over-the-counter product or medication from a doctor. Yeast infections are common and can be irritating if they last more than a few days. A yeast infection is normally caused by a fungus in the vagina called Candida albicans. Yeast infections can be triggered by pregnancy, diabetes, birth control pills, steroids and antibiotics. Symptoms of yeast infections can include itching and burning around the vagina, white vaginal discharge, pain during sexual intercourse and burning when urinating. Natural remedies and home remedies are popular ways to cure yeast infections.
The first natural cure that is popular for curing yeast infections is probiotics, which are live microbial organisms. This type of bacteria helps clean the digestive tract and vagina and rid the area of Candida albicans, the cause of yeast infections. Probiotic supplements can be taken orally or as vaginal suppositories. Probiotics are also found in yogurt, so you can purchase plain, unsweetened yogurt to help cure your yeast infection. Make sure that the yogurt is plain and unsweetened however, because sugar will only make the yeast infection worse. You can eat the yogurt, or rub a small amount on the vagina and let sit for about 5-10 minutes before wiping off.
Another popular natural cure for yeast infections is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is known to kill off bacteria and fight infection, exactly what you want if you are treating a yeast infection. If you can stand the taste, you can take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar on its own daily, or you can mix it with a juice that will mask its flavor. You can also add a small amount of apple cider vinegar to your bath water and soak in the bath water to get some immediate relief from the itching.
Garlic is often said to be effective in killing yeast in the body because it naturally attacks yeast. To get relief from yeast infections and kill yeast, you can insert one garlic tab or garlic clove into the vagina every few hours and allow it to work to kill the yeast for a few minutes before removing the tab or clove. You can also take garlic supplements orally, or you can use a garlic press to smash a clove of garlic and add the smashed garlic to a small amount of water to create a garlic shot.
Other popular home remedies to cure yeast infections naturally include making sure to drink enough water, taking oil of oregano supplements, boric acid suppositories and tea tree oil. Before trying any new substance or putting anything directly on your vagina to treat a yeast infection, you may want to consult a doctor, or at minimum proceed with extreme caution. The vagina is very delicate and sensitive to change, so start small with any topical treatment and if no adverse reaction happens, try normal dosing.
Although natural remedies have been proven to work for many people, there are still risks associated with self-treating a yeast infection. If methods are done incorrectly, they could actually end up making the yeast infection worse. You should seek professional medical help if you’ve already tried to treat yourself and the yeast infection and symptoms persist or get worse. You should also see a doctor if there is any suspicion that the symptoms of the yeast infection could potentially be the symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease. Sometimes the symptoms of each can be confused. Doctors should also be contacted if discharge becomes bloody or there is an increase difficulty in urinating.