Here it is! Our mega list of home treatment remedies for thrush! We’ve compiled a MASSIVE 33 different natural ways that you can help cure vaginal thrush today!
But first! What exactly is vaginal thrush and what causes it?
The discomfort, irritation and itchiness caused by vaginal thrush can ruin your day, that important meeting or even your hot date. It gets so uncomfortable, can be annoying and super embarrassing.
Vaginal thrush is a yeast infection that occurs when there is an overgrowth of a fungus known as Candida Albicans in the vagina. While some amount of the fungus normally lives on the skin and the vagina without causing any harm, certain conditions disrupt the normal balance of microorganisms in the vagina leading to the overgrowth of the fungus that leads to the yeast infection.
Vaginal thrush is a common infection and women have a yeast infection at one point in their life (so don’t worry, you’re not alone!). The typical symptoms of vaginal thrush include an abnormal white or creamy vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese, with an unpleasant fishy smell and often accompanied by itchiness, redness and soreness around the vagina. Patients may also complain of a burning sensation during urination and pain during sexual intercourse.
So…What causes vaginal thrush?
The vagina has harmless bacteria that defend it from infections from harmful microorganisms. So, what is thrush caused from if a healthy vajayjay normally has some fungus?
How do you get thrush?
Thrush develops due to disruption of the normal balance of microorganisms in the vagina. Some of the triggers include excessive use of antibiotics and oral contraceptives. Also, if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system or if you’re pregnant you’re more likely to get a yeast infection. Also, certain conditions like warmth and moisture make the vagina prone to a yeast infection. Let’s understand some of the causes of thrush.
Your Thrush Crusade isn’t helped by a weak immune system
People with a healthy immune system can fight infections, and often a yeast infection would go away on its own. But if you have a low immune system it denies your body the ability to prevent the overgrowth of candida. Diseases such HIV/AIDS that weaken the immune system make you more susceptible to yeast infections. When the immune system is impaired it cannot contain the natural defense against the fungus and it grows out of proportion.
Medications can also play a factor in developing thrush
Certain medications are immune suppressive that is they destroy the normal function of the immune system and makes the body weak fight infection. Antibiotics, birth control pills affect the immune system and their prolonged use cause yeast infections. They disturb the healthy balance of microorganisms in the vagina.
Antibiotics kill both the good and the bad bacteria in the body and allow candida to grow rapidly. Taking antibiotics for another infection paves the way for thrush because it also gets rid of the good bacteria which keep Candida in check.
Pregnancy can cause thrush
Pregnancy is a trigger factor for vaginal thrush. During pregnancy hormones cause the increase of glycogen in the vagina. Since glycogen is a form of sugar, it feeds the yeast and makes the candida thrive and causes thrush.
Diabetes is a driver in onset of thrush
People with untreated and uncontrolled diabetes have excess sugar in their blood. Sugar is a fuel that makes yeast multiply so fast. Thrush thrives in an environment of high sugar making it easy for yeast to survive.
A side effect of Cancer can be thrush
Thrush is a known complication of cancer. Cancer patients have a higher risk of candida infection owing to the nature of the disease and the treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy that weaken their immune system. This allows the candida to grow and multiply throughout the body.
How do you prevent vaginal thrush naturally?
A natural yeast infection in your hoo-ha can be uncomfortable and painful and can also be kind of gross (it’s natural, sure, but that doesn’t mean it ain’t gross!).
Do you reach out for antifungal creams and tablets every time you get thrush? Well, antifungal medication can cause adverse side effects such as shortness of breath, fever, nausea and changes in the heartbeat. What’s worse there are strains of candida that are resistant to medication and over time, the fungus becomes resistant to medicines.
Moreover, an abnormal PH caused by thrush makes you more susceptible to other problems such as infertility, sexually transmitted disease and pelvic inflammatory disease. Therefore, you need fast and efficient treatment to cure thrush pain and restore the normal balance of the microbial flora and the PH to prevent worsening of the condition.
Are you looking for a natural cure for yeast infection?
Luckily there are safe and natural thrush treatments that curb candida overgrowth. Rather than just treat the symptoms of vaginal thrush, these thrush natural remedies eliminate the root cause of the infection and restore the natural balance of microorganisms to prevent recurrence of infections.
More so they have antifungal properties that curb new infections. They restore the natural pH of the body and boost the growth of healthy bacteria that keep the harmful microbes such as Candida in check to avoid overgrowth. Thus, they strengthen the immune system. They include essential oils, fermented foods, and probiotics that can prevent thrush for good.
33 natural ways to combat and treat thrush – the EPIC LIST starts here!
-
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can prevent and cure yeast infections naturally. You can use essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, myrrh, and thyme to combat thrush. These oils have antifungal properties and can remove vaginal irritation. Use one or two drops of the essential oil in your bath water. If you feel irritation, itching or redness, stop using the oil immediately.
-
Grapefruit seed extract
Extract from grapefruit seed is a natural cure for yeast infection because of its antimicrobial properties. You can take grape fruit seed extract every day to curb candida. It is safe for breastfeeding mothers.
-
Avoid scented soap
The vagina has its own cleansing mechanism. Therefore, you don’t need to use soap to clean it inside. It’s best to avoid using soap to wash the vagina. Just use plain warm water to wash the vagina. Scented soaps can alter the normal vaginal PH and cause and worsen yeast infections. Limit using scented soaps and bubble baths as they interfere with the normal PH balance of the vagina and support thrush. Also, wash your underwear with mild soap to avoid irritation to the vagina.
-
Avoid douching
Douching increase the risk for yeast infections. It promotes the overgrowth of candida since it removes the healthy bacteria from the vagina. Furthermore, douching can spread the infection to the cervix and the uterus thus further aggravating the situation.
-
Use lubricants during sex
Did you know that friction during sex can promote candida overgrowth? I bet you didn’t. You may get too dry during sex due to a hormonal problem or an issue with your vulva. As a result, you get sore and cause damage to your vaginal walls, paving a way for yeast infections. Using lubricants during sex may alleviate this issue. Check in with your doctor so that the underlying problem can be identified and dealt with appropriately.
Also be sure to check out our recommendations on which sexual lubricants can help combat thrush!
-
Wear cotton underwear
Yeast thrives in a moist environment. During the day you sweat a lot. The pubic area is often moist especially if you wear tight trousers. This is where cotton undies come in. It may be cliché, but it’s true that cotton pants absorb moisture and keep the vagina dry. Avoid tight pants made from synthetic materials such as nylon which trap moisture and don’t absorb sweat and can aggravate an existing yeast infection by providing an ideal environment for yeast to multiply. Wear loose clothes that allow for breathing.
**LOOKING FOR THE BEST UNDERWEAR TO WEAR? Read our best underwear top 5 list here!**
-
Cranberry juice
Natural cranberry juice with no added sugar is another effective natural remedy for thrush. Since it is strongly acidic, it creates an acidic environment that inhibits the overgrowth of candida. It also relieves pain and itchiness associated with thrush. Furthermore, it contains vitamin C that promotes a stronger immune system. Drink a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice regularly for maximum benefits.
-
Boric acid
Boric acid is a powerful antifungal agent that restores the normal PH of the vagina. Since the vaginal environment is acidic, it is not conducive for the growth of fungi. However when the PH balance is interfered with candida multiplies. Taking boric acid supplements restores the acidity of the vagina. It is safe compared to oral antifungal medications since it solves the root cause of the problems rather than the symptoms. It is recommended for diabetic patients and is effective for recurrent vaginal thrush. However, do not use the capsules if you’re pregnant.
-
Pau D’arco tea
Pau D’arco tea has antifungal properties that kill candida in the vagina. To prepare the tea, put two cups of the bark into four cups of boiling water and cover it for about 20 minutes. Let it cool then strain and drink a little at a time throughout the day.
-
Milk thistle
Milk thistle supplements are another natural remedy for thrush. They help to detoxify the body by helping the liver to clear away residues of medications such as antibiotics, steroids and birth control pills, heavy metals and toxins from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. All these toxins contribute to a weakened immune system. Once they are cleared, the body is able to recover and the immune system is strengthened.
-
Caprylic acid
Caprylic acid is another natural and potent antifungal agent. It kills the yeast cells by penetrating their cell membranes and causes them to die. They also speed up the healing from the candida infection.
-
Olive leaf extract
Olive leaf is sufficient to kill microorganisms that cause thrush because of its antifungal properties. Moreover, it contains oleuropein which boosts your immunity. You can make the olive leaf into a tea. Put 1 or 2 teaspoons of olive leaf extract in a glass of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Then, strain and drink it.
-
Myrrh oil
Myrrh oil is another essential oil that has antifungal properties and is effective against candida. Myrrh stimulates the immune response and reduces inflammation caused by yeast infections.
-
Clove oil
Clove oil is an essential oil that has strong antifungal properties and is effective against thrush. In a study that sought to compare its mechanism of action, the findings concluded that clove oil was more effective than the over the counter antifungal medication called nystatin.
-
Vitamin C
Vitamin C builds a healthy immune system and helps your body to fight infections fast. It stimulates the adrenal glands to restore the immune system. You can take a vitamin C supplement with 1000 milligrams twice every day. However, fruits such as oranges and lemons are rich in vitamin C and should form a significant part of your diet.
-
Hygiene
Ensure to bath at least once a day to remove dirt and sweat build up from the vagina. When you go to the toilet, ensure that you use a clean tissue and wipe yourself from the front to the back to prevent passing bacteria from the anus to the vagina.
-
Colloidal silver
Colloidal silver has antiviral properties. It’s alkaline nature support and boosts the immune system. Take one or two tablespoons every day to cure candida and prevent regrowth.
-
Starchy vegetables
Vegetables such as yams, peas, beans, carrots and beetroot give the body a natural boost. They help the spleen to clear candida from your body
-
Limit sugar intake/low sugar diet
Yeast feeds on sugar and uses it as a fuel for its growth. Eating highly processed foods laced with added sugars can cause and worsen candida. Avoid sugary foods and drinks such as white bread, biscuits, fizzy drinks, beer. Also, avoid highly processed foods such as ketchup that also contain a lot of sugar.
-
Eat whole foods
Whole grains and whole foods have complex sugars that are not easy to digest. They are also rich in fiber and limit the amount of glucose in the blood. A proper thrush diet should include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat, and legumes. This diet discourages the growth of yeast. By starving yeast of sugar, you curb their overgrowth and keep candida in check.
-
Fermented vegetables
Fermented vegetables promote the formation of good bacteria which strengthen the immune system. They boost the amount of the good bacteria in the body and restore the healthy balance of microorganisms in the body. Thus, they help to prevent the overgrowth of candida. Vegetables such as pickles and sauerkraut can be fermented and eaten regularly.
-
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an effective natural remedy for thrush. It has anti-candida properties and is useful to control vaginal thrush. It has high potent antifungal properties that inhibit the growth of candida. Regular use of cinnamon reduces the recurrence of candida. Put half a teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of boiling water. Let it cool then drink it. To make it tasty, add lemon juice. You can also mix cinnamon and extra virgin olive oil and apply on the sore labia. Leave it for ten minutes then rinse off. You can do this for a few days. However, avoid cinnamon if you are pregnant.
-
Oregano oil
Oregano oil boosts your immune system, kills fungus quickly and prevents the recurrence of candida in the vagina. It has strong antifungal properties and inhibits the growth of yeast. Take five drops of the oil daily for less than or ten days to rip the anti-candida benefits. But don’t exceed two days. Put three drops of oregano oil to a cup of warm water. Drink it twice daily for a few weeks until the symptoms go away.
-
Baking soda
Baking soda is a cheap vaginal thrush treatment. It kills yeast and stops the infection. It contains sodium bicarbonate that is effective to kill Candida albicans. It helps to maintain the normal PH balance in the vagina. Apply a mixture of baking soda with distilled water on the affected area.
-
Saltwater
Salt is an excellent natural remedy for thrush. It creates an environment where fungus cannot grow in. It kills fungi and other harmful bacterial. Mix salt in your bathing water every day until the symptoms go away. Sprinkle the salt water on the vaginal area to relieve itchiness twice a day for one week.
-
Probiotics supplement
Apart from yogurt, you can take a probiotics supplement that contains live acidophilus. They have a higher amount of healthy bacteria compared to yogurt. They help to restore the balance of microbial flora in the gut and the vagina
-
Ginger
Ginger is a natural antifungal agent. It can contribute to fight yeast infections quickly and prevent the spread of the infection. You can chew on fresh ginger on a daily basis. Alternatively, you can crush the ginger and boil it and drink the tea two to three times a day for about a week.
-
Water
Drink plenty of water to help flush out all the toxins and yeast from the body. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to alleviate candida infection.
And now…The Top 5 natural remedies for thrush!
-
Garlic
Garlic is has very potent antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Eating a fresh clove of organic raw garlic every day can help to cure a yeast infection naturally. Garlic kills fungi and harmful bacteria, inhibits the growth of yeast and boosts your immune system. You can also place a clove of garlic inside the vagina at night and remove it in the morning for a few days. It relieves itchiness and irritation caused by thrush. Also add raw garlic to your meals every day to benefit from the antifungal properties.
-
Yoghurt
A healthy vagina has a natural balance of microbes. The friendly bacteria coexist with fungi without causing an infection. However, some conditions such as diabetes and medications like antibiotics interfere with the normal microbial flora. The harmful fungus then grows rapidly out of control leading to an infection.
Yogurt with live lactobacilli culture strengthens your immune system and helps you to fight yeast infections even before they start. They add the friendly bacteria and restore their population in the vagina. They are effective to restore the natural balance of bacteria in the body which helps to kill candida in the body. Thus, they prevent thrush and cure an existing infection.
Yogurt offers a long-term solution because it does not only deal with the symptoms but also the root because that is the imbalance of the vaginal flora. It is recommended to take yogurt regularly especially after a dose of antibiotics. Incorporate yogurt in your daily diet. To treat an infection, drink 2-3 cups of yogurt daily for a few weeks. You may also smear live yogurt that is unsweetened on the external part of the vagina to relieve itchiness and treat the infection.
-
Coconut oil
You have probably heard about the antimicrobial benefits of coconut oil. It contains lauric acid that kills the fungus albicans from the body. A recent study showed that the oil is effective against multiple strains of Candida. You can drink the oil to get the benefits. It detoxifies your body and clears yeast and relieves the irritation caused by the yeast infection. Drink 2-3 teaspoons of virgin coconut oil to cure thrush. You can apply coconut oil directly to the external part of the vagina a few times a day for a few weeks.
-
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a popular antifungal natural thrush treatment. It has potent antifungal properties that kill yeast and control the growth of yeast and provides quick recovery. You can apply diluted tea tree oil inside the vagina using an applicator. It can be added to bath water to cure vaginal thrush.
-
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar also has antifungal properties. It is a natural disinfectant and can help to clear a yeast infection. Vinegar contains enzymes that can control the growth of candida. It boosts the immune system and helps you put up strong defense against candida.
Vinegar helps to restore the normal PH of the vagina which is acidic. The acidic environment kills fungi and relieves itching and gets rid of the infection. If your PH is abnormal, you can add vinegar to your bath. You may put tampons soaked in vinegar inside the vagina to relieve the infection, however it could be irritating.
Don’t think the natural remedies are working? Want to go for the one-two punch knockout?!
Supporting your natural remedies for vaginal thrush with over the counter medicine can give you a great boost in your battle against your thrush condition.
Here are the TOP 5 over the counter thrush remedies to help you get the job done!
We compiled a list of the top five reviewed products on amazon to help you make an informed decision about how to go about your vaginal thrush treatment.
5. H-D Feminine Health Support, Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories
PH-D feminine support promotes a healthy PH balance in the vagina. Normally your vajayjay is acidic. That environment keeps it healthy and prohibits the growth of harmful fungi. When the normal pH is interfered with due to illness or diet, it paves way for infections.
PH-D feminine health support contains boric acid that acts to restore the normal PH level and curbs vaginal thrush. Whether you have vaginal itch, discharge or bad odor, this product can fix it.
To use it, insert one suppository inside your vagina at bedtime for 6-14 days depending on the doctor’s prescription. It will get rid of itchiness and prevent recurrence of yeast infection.
4. Good Sense Miconazole 7day cream
Good Sense is an effective antifungal cream that contains Miconazole Nitrate as the active ingredient. It is an effective cure for vaginal yeast infections.
It kills the yeast and relieves itching, irritation and bad odor.Good Sense is recommended to be used for seven days and comes with disposable applicators.
Apply the cream for seven days with a clean applicator at bedtime.
3. VH Essentials Prebiotic Vaginal Suppositories
VH essential prebiotics supports the natural balance of microbial flora in the vagina. It offers a long lasting solution to vaginal thrush by dealing with the root problem of vaginal thrush, which is overgrowth of candida.
It restores the amount of good bacteria that keep the harmful fungi in check. It also wades off bad odor itchiness and infections, thus makes the vajayjay clean, fresh and healthy.
Prebiotics need not to be refrigerated unlike probiotics, thus can be used anywhere without the fear that they would go bad.
2. Balance Complex – All-Natural Complete Female Wellness Supplement
Balance Complex restores the normal PH balance in your hooo-ha.
That uncomfortable itchiness, fish smell and awful discharge is caused by an off balance in the pH of your hoo-ha.
The imbalance is caused by antibiotics, douching and use of spermicides. Off balance PH creates an environment where yeast quickly multiplies, leading to candida. That’s where Balance Complex comes in.
It restores the normal acidic environment in the vajayjay that prevents growth of candida. It supports growth of healthy bacteria which thrives in an acidic environment.
By maintaining the normal vaginal acidity, it gives a long term solution to vaginal thrush. It gives relief from vaginal itchiness, discharge and prevents overgrowth of yeast. It also eliminates awful vaginal odor.
For best results take 2 capsules every day.
1. Monistat Vaginal Antifungal Medication 1- day, 0.16-Ounce Prefilled Applicator
Monistat is a one day antifungal medication that cures vaginal yeast infections. It comes with a prefilled applicator that is easy to use. The single dose is a simple therapy that is ideal for women with a busy lifestyle.
Monistat contains Tioconazole and is perfect for women who are sensitive to miconazole. It is also simple to use. Use the prefilled applicator and insert it into the vagina at bedtime. Empty the entire content inside the vagina then throw away the applicator. This is a one-dose treatment but for effective relief use it for about seven days until the symptoms go away. However, do not use if you don’t have a doctors diagnosis.
There you have it! 33 simple ways to cure yeast infection naturally.
Now go out there and take the thrush crusade on knowing you have a huge array of natural remedies in your arsenal!