Several home remedies are available for treating yeast infections. The best yeast infection home remedy is one that works as an antifungal agent. These include probiotics, vinegar, and tea tree oil.
Priobiotics, live microbial organisms, are naturally present in the digestive tract as well as the vagina. Lactobacillus is the probiotic that can help treat and stop the growth of yeast infections. These are available as oral supplements and vaginal suppositories. Eating lots of yogurt and dipping a tampon coated with yogurt into the vagina twice daily have both been shown to help treat yeast infections as well.
A known antifungal agent, tea tree oil can be used as a yeast infection home remedy. Place a few drops of diluted oil on a tampon and insert into the vagina twice daily until symptoms are gone. Tea tree oil should be used with caution. Full strength oil can harm the vaginal area; for this reason, tea tree oil should always be diluted before being applied to the body.
Vinegar can be an effective treatment for yeast infections. Both antifungal and antibacterial, vinegar can be added to a warm bath to treat yeast infections. After soaking for twenty minutes, the vagina should be thoroughly dried. Though any vinegar should work, apple cider vinegar often produces the best results.
Other yeast infection home remedies known to be effective include buttermilk, garlic, and honey. Drinking two glasses of buttermilk a day can help treat infections. A paste made from garlic pods and applied around the vagina can treat yeast infections. A garlic clove can also be inserted into the vagina twice daily, though ingesting garlic supplements or fresh crushed garlic may also be effective.
Honey poured over the affected areas can also help. Though very sticky, if applied and left for twenty minutes twice a day the treatment may eliminate yeast infections. A warm bath, after which the vaginal area is thoroughly dried, should follow this treatment.
Though any yeast infection home remedy may be effective, it is advisable to consult with a gynecologist if a yeast infection develops. There are also many methods available to prevent a yeast infection. Wearing loose-fitting clothing, keeping the vaginal area clean and dry, cleaning the vagina after sexual intercourse, wiping front to back after using the toilet, and avoiding perfumes, sprays or perfumed products in the genital area can all help.