Garlic is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal remedy for yeast infections. There is a wealth of information on garlic's healing powers. People have been using garlic for centuries to beat yeast overgrowth. Yeast overgrowth can occur in or outside of the body. The belly button may develop a yeast infection, or yeast overgrowth may occur in the vagina. No matter where the yeast overgrowth occurs, garlic can help clear up the infection.
Step 1
Eat one crushed garlic clove a day. James Balch and Mark Stengler, authors of "Prescription for Drug Alternatives: All-Natural Options for Better Health without the Side Effects," recommends crushing the garlic clove to activate the antibacterial and antifungal properties in garlic. You can also add garlic powder and garlic salt to your foods to aid in clearing up your yeast infection.
Step 2
Peel the skin off one garlic clove and discard. Be careful not to get the garlic oil on cuts or open wounds. According to Herbs2000.com, a website dedicated to herbs and folk medicine, the oil dispersed from a garlic clove may cause symptoms of burning to people who have sensitive skin.
Step 3
Crush a clove of garlic and place it in the center of a square piece of cotton gauze. Alternatively, you may use the whole garlic clove without crushing or opening the clove if you have sensitive skin.
Step 4
Fold the gauze in half and twist both ends to close the gauze. This will give a tail-end look to the gauze's ends.
Step 5
Place the cotton gauze on or inside of the area affected. Using first-aid tape, attach the gauze ends to the wound and leave on for up to five hours. If you have a vaginal yeast infection, insert one twisted end into the vagina, as you would a tampon. The other twisted end of the gauze will aid in taking the suppository out. Because this suppository serves like a tampon -- it doesn't remain inside and dissolve on its own like other types of suppositories -- change the dressing more frequently. MayoClinic,com recommends removing tampons every four hours to prevent toxic shock syndrome.
Tips and Warnings
- To make it easier to insert the vaginal suppository, dip the cotton gauze into olive oil or castor oil. Don't crush garlic ahead of time to save for future dressings. According to allicin.com, the amount of allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, decreased to undetectable amounts in one to six days.
- Talk to your doctor about recurrent yeast infections. It could be a sign of a serious medical condition.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton gauze
- First-aid tape
- Castor oil (optional)
- Olive oil (optional)
References
- "Prescription for Drug Alternatives: All-Natural Options for Better Health without the Side Effects"; James Balch and Mark Stengler; 2008
- Herbs2000.com: Yeast Infection
- MayoClinic.com: Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Allicin.com: Allicin Defined
