What kills yeast infections permanently

11 Home Remedies for Vaginal Yeast Infections

1. Greek yogurt

Probiotics can be effective against Candida albicans and yogurt can be considered a probiotic because it contains live bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. These bacteria help promote a healthy environment in your vagina, and they can help address an overgrowth caused by an imbalance.

In a 2015 study, a vaginal cream mixture of plain yogurt and bee honey was found to improve symptoms of vaginal yeast infections.

A 2017 study suggests that eating yogurt helps expand your gut microbiome, which can help reduce yeast in your body. If you dont like yogurt, you can take a probiotic supplement or try other probiotic foods.

When it comes to using yogurt for a yeast infection, opt for plain Greek yogurt.

Warning: The yogurt shouldnt contain any added sugar, flavoring, or fruit. Added sugar can fuel the growth of the Candida fungus.

To reap the benefits, try:

• eating the yogurt
• applying it to your vulva
• inserting it vaginally using a clean tampon applicator or your fingers

2. Boric acid

Boric acid is a powerful antiseptic, and some people claim it can help clear up yeast infections resistant to other remedies.

Boric acid vaginal suppositories may be used in combination with medications to treat vaginal infections.

However, boric acid is toxic in large amounts. It can lead to:

• kidney damage
• acute circulatory system failure
• death if you absorb too much

Warning: Avoid using boric acid on broken skin, and never take it orally.

If youre pregnant, dont use boric acid in any form. You may also want to consider another remedy if you have sensitive skin.

Discontinue use if you notice any discomfort.

3. Oil of oregano

Oil of oregano (the extract) and oregano essential oils come from the same plant but are different in application. Oil of oregano is also not the same as common oregano or Origanum marjoram, which youll usually find in your grocery stores spice section.

To ease a yeast infection, you could search for oregano oil extract drawn from wild oregano or Origanum vulgare.

A 2017 study suggests oregano essential oil may prove effective for altering the growth of Candida albicans.

To use, mix three to five drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil, such as olive or sweet almond oil. Then, apply it to your skin by massaging or inhaling it using a diffuser. Dont apply this essential oil near your vagina.

Warning: Never ingest essentialoils. Essential oils are meant to be inhaled as part of aromatherapy or diluted with massage oil to use during massage. Theyre also not meant to be used internally external use only!

4. Probiotic suppositories and supplements

Probiotics can help restore the bacteria-yeast balance throughout your body.

Taking oral probiotics that contain strains of the Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria can offer a number of health benefits, including helping bring your digestive tract and vaginal flora back into alignment.

Oral supplements can take several days to a few weeks to reach full effect, so some people use probiotics as vaginal suppositories to get results more quickly.

Evidence suggests probiotic suppositories can also help treat bacterial vaginosis (BV).

5. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a fatty oil derived from the flesh of the coconut. The oil has many health benefits, including antifungal properties.

Research suggests coconut oil is effective against C. Albicans, making this home remedy one of the few with supportive evidence behind it.

To treat a vaginal yeast infection using coconut oil, be sure to buy pure, organic coconut oil. You could apply the oil directly to the affected area.

6. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil used to help:

• kill fungi
• bacteria
• viruses

In fact, research supports tea tree oils antifungal properties.

Research from 2016 suggests a combination of probiotics and vaginal suppositories containing tea tree oil may help treat vaginal infections.

More recent lab findings continue to support the antimicrobial activities of tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil is an incredibly powerful essential oil. So, youll always want to make sure you dilute it with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, if its going to touch your skin undiluted tea tree oil should never touch your skin. And just as a reminder, essential oils should never be used internally!

If you can, opt to purchase prepared tea tree vaginal suppositories this is the safest option.

Warning: Only use tea tree oil occasionally, and never swallow it. If you have sensitive skin, youll generally want to avoid using tea tree oil. Discontinue use if you experience any discomfort or irritation after using it.

7. Apple cider vinegar

One popular yeast infection remedy is an apple cider vinegar bath.

Vinegar has many medicinal uses, some more supported by research than others.

But when you add a half cup of apple cider vinegar to a lukewarm bathtub and soak for 20 minutes, the acidic component of the vinegar may help eliminate any harmful microorganisms, including yeast.

An apple cider vinegar bath is not the same as douching, which was designed to flush out all bacteria (but it actually eliminates good and bad) from your vagina. Douching leaves you more prone to a recurrence of the yeast infection, so avoid douching with apple cider vinegar or any other substance.

Youll want to dilute vinegar in water before it touches your skin. In addition, you could also try adding apple cider vinegar to your diet.

8. Garlic

Evidence suggests garlic may also help kill Candida, though some strains may prove more effective than others.

While more studies are needed, research from 2019 examined the effect of using a garlic solution on sores of the mouth and found it could effectively help curb the growth of Candida. That said, garlic was less effective than nystatin (Nystop), an antifungal medication.

If you want to try garlic to treat a yeast infection, its best to simply add more garlic to your diet.

Warning: Some websites recommend inserting garlic into your vagina, but we do not recommend this approach. Thats because the active compounds in garlic can cause burns and pain when applied to your skin or mucosa. Mucosa, or mucous membrane, is the type of moist tissue that lines your mouth and yes the walls of your vagina.

9. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that can kill bacteria and yeast. Lactobacillus bacteria in your vagina produce hydrogen peroxide as part of natural biological activity.

Some people swear by using hydrogen peroxide topically when they get a yeast infection.

Adding it to a bath or diluting it in water before applying it to your skin may help with yeast growing on the genitals. You can dilute by combining equal amounts of water and hydrogen peroxide.

Just keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide may not work on every species of yeast, and no strong research supports the use of hydrogen peroxide to treat vaginal infections.

Warning: Its recommended to avoid douching with hydrogen peroxide, never use hydrogen peroxide internally, and avoid using it for an extended period of time.

10. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an immune system booster that also has a role in skin health. A strong immune system allows your body to bring itself back into balance.

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, has antimicrobial components, so some people add it to their diet to treat Candida overgrowth.

You can try increasing your intake of vitamin C to boost your bodys ability to beat the yeast infection.

Warning: Do not apply the acidic vitamin C to the sensitive vaginal tissue.

11. Vitamin E

Some doctors recommend vitamin E for certain types of vaginal inflammation. In fact, lab research suggests vitamin E can help reduce inflammation caused by Candida albicans.

Evidence also suggests vitamin E suppositories may help address atrophic vaginitis (aka, vaginal atrophy), which is the thinning of the vaginal walls caused by a lack of estrogen. Atrophic vaginitis causes changes to the vaginas acidic environment, increasing the risk for bacterial and yeast infections.

You can also purchase vitamin E suppositories intended for vaginal use, or apply vitamin E oil to your vulva or vagina. Vitamin E may help soothe:

• itching
• burning
• inflammation

If vitamin E doesnt seem to help, a good next step involves asking a healthcare professional for more guidance.

6 Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth (Plus How to Get Rid of It)

Candida can cause a range of signs and symptoms, depending on which part of the body it affects.

Mouth symptoms with oral thrush

Candidiasis that develops in the mouth or throat is called thrush.

Its most common in newborns, older adults, and people with a weakened immune system (8).

Individuals with poor oral hygiene or removable dentures are also at an increased risk (9).

People with oral thrush typically develop white, bumpy patches on their tongue, inner cheeks, gums, tonsils, or throat (10).

The lesions can be painful and may bleed slightly when scraped.

Oral thrush is also often associated with redness or soreness of the tongue and mouth (10).

In severe cases, it can spread to the esophagus and cause pain or difficulty swallowing.

summary

When there is too much Candida in the mouth, it can cause white, bumpy lesions, redness, and pain in the mouth and throat. This is also known as oral thrush.

2. Tiredness and fatigue

One of the most common symptoms associated with Candida is fatigue.

While theres no evidence that Candida causes fatigue, there are a couple of ways in which it could contribute to it.

First, candidiasis is often accompanied by nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6, essential fatty acids, and magnesium (11).

In particular, magnesium deficiency has been known to cause fatigue (12).

Second, Candida infections commonly occur when the immune system is weakened.

A low-functioning immune system in itself may leave you feeling tired and fatigued.

One older study from 1995 suggests that prolonged candidiasis of the gut may even be a potential cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. However, more research is needed (13).

summary

Candidiasis is most common in individuals with a weakened immune system and may be accompanied by various nutritional deficiencies. This can leave you feeling tired and fatigued.

3. Recurring genital or urinary tract infections

Candida is found in the vaginal tracts of about 20% of females (14).

An overgrowth of Candida can lead to candidiasis of the vagina, also known as a yeast infection.

It is estimated that 1.4 million people visit a doctor for a vaginal yeast infection each year in the United States (14).

Males can also get genital yeast infections, but its much less common (15).

Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis include redness, swelling, itching, painful intercourse, and a thick, white discharge from the vagina (16).

Although not common, Candida can also cause a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Candida-related urinary tract infections are most common in older adults and hospitalized or immune-compromised individuals (17).

Symptoms of a UTI include a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, cloudy, dark, or strange-smelling urine, and pain or pressure in your lower abdomen (18).

That being said, other bacteria like E. coli are more likely to cause UTIs (18).

However, if you experience recurring infections and believe they are a result of Candida overgrowth, you can talk to a doctor about having your urine tested to find out.

summary

Candida can cause genital and urinary tract infections, both of which can lead to pain and discomfort.

4. Digestive issues

The health of your digestive system relies heavily on a good balance between the good and bad bacteria that live in your gut.

The good bacteria that normally reside in your gut are important for digestion, as they help process starches, fibers, and some sugars.

When the bacteria in your gut become imbalanced, you can experience digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, cramps, and bloating (19).

Recent studies indicate that an overgrowth of Candida is associated with several diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease (20, 21).

summary

Having small amounts of Candida in your gut is normal. However, if it starts to overproduce, it may cause various gut-related symptoms.

5. Skin and nail symptoms

Just like in your gut, there are bacteria on your skin that prevent Candida from growing uncontrollably.

All bacteria thrive in different conditions, including varying temperature, moisture, or acidity levels.

For this reason, a change in the environment on your skin can allow Candida to overproduce (22).

For example, antibacterial cosmetics, soaps, and moisturizers can often alter skin conditions (23).

While skin candidiasis can affect any part of the body, areas that are warm and moist, such as the armpits and groin, are particularly prone to infection (24).

Itching and a visible rash are the two most common symptoms of skin fungal infections.

While not life-threatening, skin fungal infections can cause several unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms.

summary

An overgrowth of Candida on the skin can cause symptoms like itching and a visible rash.

6. Joint pain

If a Candida infection enters your bloodstream and travels through your body, it can infect the joints and cause arthritis (25).

This typically only happens after surgery or when an overgrowth of Candida is left untreated for an extended period of time.

Candida arthritis is associated with pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints and often affects the hips and knees.

Candida can also cause bone infections, or osteomyelitis, which can cause pain and tenderness in the infected area (26).

While bone and joint infections are not very common, they can be challenging to treat and often require medications prescribed by a doctor (27).

summary

If an overgrowth of Candida is left untreated, it can enter your bloodstream and travel throughout your entire body. When this happens, Candida can infect bones and joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.