Could a Treatment for Candida Yeast Infections Be Lurking in Your Spice Cabinet?

If you've experienced a yeast infection, you know how annoying they can be! Yeast infections are caused by a common fungus called Candida albicans which is normally present in the vagina. Usually, Candida peacefully coexists with a variety of good bacteria in the vaginal area and doesn't cause any significant symptoms or problems. Sometimes certain medical conditions and other factors such as antibiotic, steroid, or use of the birth control pill can cause the Candida fungus to overgrow in the vaginal region and overpower the ability of the friendly bacteria to keep it in check. That's when the characteristic symptoms of a yeast infection appear including itching, burning, redness, vaginal discharge, and irritation. Not a pleasant situation! The good news is there may be an effective, natural remedy for yeast infections hiding right in your kitchen cabinet.

Recently a study was carried out at Georgetown University where mice were infected with Candida fungus and then given oil of oregano for a period of eight days. To the surprise of the researchers, the mice given the eight day trial of oregano had growth of the candida fungus completely stopped by the oil. In fact, oregano oil was as effective as the antifungal medication, Amphotericin B, in protecting the mice from a systemic yeast infection.

It appears that the active ingredient in the oregano oil responsible for eradicating the yeast is carvacrol. The researchers found that giving the oregano oil as a whole was more effective than giving the isolated carvacrol component alone, suggesting there may be other factors in the oregano oil that are working in conjunction to wipe out the Candida fungus. This led the researchers to conclude that oregano oil can be instrumental in preventing and treating yeast infections if consumed on a daily basis. Although these results are preliminary, the results appear to be promising and may provide women with a natural remedy for yeast infections.

While it may be too early to recommend oil of oregano as a cure for yeast infections, oil of oregano seems to have minimal risk for side effects. In fact, the oil has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties which is a positive for maintaining generalized health and preventing disease. Plus, oil of oregano is inexpensive and readily available making it the ideal treatment if further studies support its effectiveness.

Who would have thought the natural remedy for yeast infections may lie in your next bite of pizza?