Tinea versicolor, also called pityriasis versicolor, is a skin condition. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, the cause of tinea versicolor is a yeast called Malassezia furfur. The yeast infects the topmost layer of the skin and causes discolored patches or scaly skin. This infection is commonly found in young adults. Some plants have natural antifungal properties, and can be used to treat tinea versicolor.
Candle Bush
Senna alata, or Cassia alata, is commonly know as candle bush, as well as Christmas senna, popcorn senna, Christmas candle, ringworm shrub, seven golden candlesticks and candlestick senna. The ForiData website describes it as an evergreen shrub found in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia and America. According to an article published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," the therapeutic efficacy of candle bush leaf extract against tinea versicolor was reported in a 10-year human study. The authors concluded that the leaf extract can be used as an herbal medicine to treat tinea versicolor, and reported no side effects. A study published in the "African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology" examined the effect of Senna alata soap on superficial skin infections. The study found that the soap significantly cleared the lesions on 16 subjects, or 94 percent of the patients tested. Although these results indicate that candle bush may be a promising herb to treat tinea versicolor, the evidence is still preliminary and more studies are necessary to confirm its efficacy.
Gentian Violet
Yeastinfectionadvisor.com recommends the antifungal herb gentian violet for skin yeast infections. The site states that "gentian violet is a natural alternative to Lotrimin and was used extensively before the advent of the azole drugs." The website warns that gentain violet may stain clothes purple.
Aloe Vera
Yeastinfectionadvisor.com recommends aloe vera gel, oregano oil, olive oil and coconut oil for relieving symptoms of skin yeast infections. Other herbs that have been suggested to slow down or halt the growth of fungus. However, no conclusive clinical evidence is available to support the claim. These herbs include goldenseal, myrrh, garlic, oregano and cinnamon. One common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine formulations for tinea versicolor is cnidium seed, or Fructus cnidii, a plant which grows in many areas in China.
References
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Tinea Versicolor
- FloriData: Senna alata
- "The Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; A study on the therapeutic efficacy of Cassia alata, Linn. leaf extract against Pityriasis versicolor; S. Damodaran, S. Venkataraman; March 1994
- "African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology"; Management of superficial fungal infections with Senna alata ("alata") soap: A preliminary report; A.T. Oladele, B.A. Dairo, A.A. Elujoba and A.O. Oyelami; March 2010
- Yeast Infection Advisor: Skin Yeast Infections and How To Treat Them
