Candida, or Candida albicans, is a fungus that normally lives in balance with the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. If that balance is disrupted through illness, antibiotics or an impaired immune system, Candida can cause painful and recurring vaginal and oral yeast infections. Conventional treatment may involve antifungal agents like fluconazole or clotrimazole, but Candida is becoming resistant to these drugs. Herbal teas, tinctures and ointments may help cure Candida infections. Consult your health care provider before starting any alternative or herbal treatment.
Rosemary
Rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis, is an aromatic culinary and medicinal herb native to the Mediterranean. Traditional healers use the leaves to treat stomach cramps, poor digestion, pain, parasites, and bacterial and fungal infections. Rosemary leaves are rich in essential oil, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid and phenols. A study published in "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine" tested the herb against 13 bacterial strains and eight fungal strains, including a drug-resistant form of Candida albicans. The study found that rosemary was active against all pathogenic fungi, but was most effective against the drug-resistant strain of C. albicans, and the active ingredient was the essential oil found in the leaves. You can drink rosemary leaf tea or use it as a douche for yeast infections. Do not ingest pure rosemary oil or use rosemary if you are pregnant or epileptic.
Desert Date
Desert date, or Balanites aegyptiaca, is a tall, thorny date tree from Africa and South Asia. Local healers use the fruit rind to treat skin diseases, the bark for malaria, the fruit extract for diabetes, and the stem and bark for candida infections, especially among AIDS patients whose weakened immune systems leave them vulnerable to yeast infections. A study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" tested an extract of the fruit oil on bacteria and fungi. The study found that the oil had significant action against Candida and was more effective than nystatin, a conventional antifungal drug. This study supports the traditional use of desert date oil for yeast infections. Date oil is edible, but consult your health care practitioner for instructions about dosage.
Cloves
The clove tree, or Syzygium aromaticum, is an aromatic evergreen that produces an edible flower bud known as clove. The essential oil from the buds is a folk remedy for toothache, ulcers, cancer, mouth and throat infections, rheumatism and indigestion. The main constituent is a terpenoid called eugenol, which has antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. A study in the "Journal of Medical Microbiology" tested clove oil against fungal strains isolated from patients with recurrent cases of oral Candida infections. The study found that clove oil penetrated fungal cell walls, killing or preventing their growth. It was effective against C. albicans and three species of Candida that were resistant to fluconazole, a conventional antifungal drug. Clove oil may cause allergies in some people, and should be taken internally in small doses, well diluted. Consult your health care practitioner for dosage instructions.
References
- "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine": Potential of rosemary oil to be used in drug-resistant infections.
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology": Phytochemical investigation and medicinal evaluation of fixed oil of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits (Balantiaceae).
- "Journal of Medical Microbiology": Antifungal activity of the clove essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species.
Member Comments