Yeast Infection Solutions

An antifungal drug is a medication used to treat fungal infections.  In most cases of natural cures for yeast infections, antifungal medications are used in conjunction with prebiotics and a diet plan occasionally referred to as an antifungal diet. It is generally thought that the antifungal diet will help create a less inviting environment for candida to flourish, the antifungal drug or treatment will then kill off the weakened fungus and the probiotics will help to replenish the naturally occurring bacteria in the body, bacteria that help the body to keep candida in balance.

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There are a number of antifungal drugs readily available to treat yeast infections.  From the limited amount of scientific resources that have been devoted to the study of antifungal treatments the indication is that a lot of the natural products seem to be as effective as many of these anti-fungal drugs.

So what are some of these naturally occurring antifungal’s?

Undecylenic Acid

Undecenoic Acid is an organic unsaturated fatty acid derived from natural castor been oil. A natural fungicide, undecylenic is FDA approved in over-the-counter medications for skin disorders or problems. It is the active ingredient in medications for skin infections, and relieves itching, burning, and irritation. Today it is less popular as an antifungal solution because of the development of newer drugs but it is still available from health food sources.

Caprylic Acids

Caprylic acid is an anti-fungal that exhibits high fungicidal activity against yeasts, especially Candida. The anti-fungal effect of caprylic acid has been demonstrated in clinical trials. It is not exactly understood how caprylic acid works to defeat the fungus but the generally accepted idea is that caprylic acid dissolves the cell membrane of the yeast leading to the destruction of the entire cell.  It is also found to be extremely effective against intramucosal Candida.

Berberine

Berberine is extracted from the root, bark and stem of the barberry herb.  It is also found in related plants—goldthread, Oregon grape root and goldenseal.  As a natural cure for yeast infections it has shown some promise as an antifungal. It is thought that berberine can effectively prevent candida from producing an enzyme called lipase which candida use to help them to colonize.

Oregano

Oregano vulgare which is different from the herb commonly used in cooking has traditionally been used for holistic medicine.  Modern studies have suggested that it has some antifungal properties.   It can be purchased as either a liquid or as capsules/tablets and has been linked with boosting the immune system as well as helping to defeat yeast infections.

Garlic

Garlic has a history of being used for medicinal purposes dating back 3000 years. Today it is available in many different forms at health food stores.  These include powder, capsules, liquid extract and tablets. When using garlic as an antifungal in natural cures for yeast infection the most potent form of garlic is when it is fresh in its raw form.  Another benefit of using garlic as an antifungal is that garlic’s natural composition makes it unlikely that candida fungus will become resistant to its antifungal properties.  This is beneficial as many of the other sources of antifungal, both natural and synthetic, tend to loose their effectiveness as they are used more often.

Plant Tannins

Tannins have been found in plants as well as the bark of trees.  It is credited with giving the redwood trees resistance to fungus.

Black Walnut is probably the most common source of natural tannins for use against yeast infections. This antifungal will kill parasites, yeast and fungus. It alters the pH of your intestine, making it more acidic killing yeasts that prefer an alkaline environment.

Tannins in the form of black walnut is available in most health food stores.

Antifungals are successful in controlling yeast infections but they are not the only treatment needed to naturally cure yeast infections. To truly cure yeast infections the body has to be able to find the natural balance between the candida fungus and naturally occurring bacteria in the body.  Antifungals can aid in killing off an overgrowth of candida but probiotics are helpful in restoring the body’s natural balance and proper diet can help to maintain that balance.

To learn more about controlling and curing yeast infections naturally read Linda Allen’s book ‘Yeast Infection No More’. Linda Allen is a medical researcher, health consultant and certified nutritionist. Her book outlines how to defeat yeast infections naturally.

Check out these additional pages:

Natural Cures for Yeast Infections: Probiotic Treatments

Natural Cures for Yeast Infections: Diet