Candida albicans is a yeast or fungus that is always present in the intestinal tract, causing infection when it is not kept in check by other organisms. Frequent use of antibiotics may lead to candida overgrowth. Thrush is an oral yeast infection characterized by bad breath, pain and white spots inside the mouth. At-risk populations include newborns, toddlers in day care, denture wearers and those with diabetes or HIV infection. Candida may develop resistance to anti-fungal drugs, but thrush should always be evaluated by a health-care professional before trying natural therapies.
Probiotics
Nutritionist Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," suggests supplemental acidophilus or bifidus to restore the normal balance of flora in the mouth. These friendly bacteria are called probiotics. They have the ability to compete with candida for space and nutrients, which reduces infection. Probiotics are found naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt. Balch says that yeast thrives on sugar, so only plain yogurt varieties should be used therapeutically. In Helsinki, Finland, K. Hatakka and fellow researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to reduce thrush infections in the elderly. Two groups of subjects were given either 50g of cheese with probiotic cultures or plain cheese daily for 16 weeks. The presence of yeast organisms in the mouth decreased 32 percent in the study group while candida was increased in controls. The findings were published in the February 2007 "Journal of Dental Research."
Garlic
Balch says that garlic inhibits the growth of candida. In India's Kasturba Medical College, P. Sabitha and colleagues randomized 56 patients with thrush into two groups. Half of the patients were given clotrimazole, an anti-fungal medication, and half were treated for two weeks with a topical application of garlic paste. Both treatments were found to be equally effective. Each group obtained relief from symptoms. The study was published in the April 2005 issue of "Tropical Doctor."
Tea Tree Oil
According to Medline Plus, there is some evidence that Australian tea tree oil, or Melaleuca alternifolia, might be beneficial for patients with HIV/AIDS whose thrush is not responsive to anti-fungal medications. Swishing and expelling tea tree oil solution for two to four weeks seems to improve symptoms. Tea tree oil is toxic if swallowed. Irritation, burning or swelling may occur in sensitive individuals. Twenty-seven AIDS patients with thrush, resistant to treatment with the anti-fungal medication fluconazole, were the subjects of a study at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. Researchers J. A. Vazquez and A. A. Zawawi treated participants with melaleuca, either with or without alcohol, four times daily for up to four weeks. Both alternative therapies were proven to be effective in 60 percent of the cases. Seven subjects were cured, and eight showed clinical improvement. The study was published in the September-October issue of "HIV Clinical Trials."
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch, CNC, 2004
- Pubmed.gov: Probiotics Reduce the Prevalence of Oral Candida in the Elderly -- A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Pubmed.gov: Efficacy of Garlic Paste in Oral Candidiasis
- Medline Plus: Tea Tree Oil
- Pubmed.gov: Efficacy of Alcohol-Based and Alcohol-Free Melaleuca Oral Solution For the Treatment of Fluconazole-Refractory Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Patients With AIDS
