Garlic for yeast infection: does it work?

Using garlic for yeast infection is what many women resort to when they no longer can bear the itching and soreness down there.

But, does it work? Is it safe to insert garlic down there? And how long does it take for yeast infection to clear up? Such are the questions that linger in the head of many women when it comes to try garlic for yeast infection.

This article will try to answer these questions, and show you the right way to cure your yeast infection for good.

I know how it feels to suffer from yeast infection; I know how it feels to be racked with the itching and irritation, let alone the pain and burning when peeing, this constant torture is able to turn ones’ live upside down.

I have had my fair share of the pain myself for two long dreadful years. I was plagued by a myriad of symptoms, including but not limited to: chronic fatigue, weight gain, lack of sleep and sensitivity to chemicals you name it. They had practically ruined my life.

Guaranteed, vaginal itching will not kill you, but surely enough it can ruin your day, week or month. It is really sad when yeast infection suffers are marginalized, like “oh, it is just a yeast infection” when in reality this health problem can consume a lot of people’s lives.

Speaking from personal experience, I suffered a lot from the swelling, itching, and burning of my labia. To someone who had never suffered with debilitating and chronic yeast infection, it is really hard to explain how awful the experience is. To spend long nights awake because of the soreness, and itching, and never have the opportunity to really sleep soundly; well, it is really an awful feeling I would not wish on my worst enemy.

The sad truth is that thousands and thousands of women suffer of pain like this night and day. For them, there is no escaping it; they are always haunted by the idea that suffering from yeast infection is going to be a part of their lives.

I was one of these unlucky women for many years, wondering why my yeast infection won’t go away.

In an attempt to find relief to the itching and soreness, I tried everything I can get my hands on.

I have tired many topical treatments including Monistat cream to alleviate the pain down there. Truth is it worked the first time, but it was a temporary relief. If I stopped using the creams, the pain returned. At first I thought I have finally found the miracle cure to this nightmare; however things wore off, and I ended up dealing with an even worse infection.

Later on doing my own research on the subject, I learned that topical creams cannot treat the root cause of yeast infection; all they can do is hide the symptoms for a short period of time.

Truth is you cannot cure yeast infection for good, by concentrating on soothing the external symptoms, such as the itching, burning, and soreness. The true and lasting relief can only be achieved by tackling the root cause of the problem.

Educating yourself about yeast infection, how it happens, what causes it, and most importantly how to treat it the right way, is the sure way to the real and lasting relief.

Ignoring this fact, and continuing to use topical creams, you are going to spend the rest of your life looking for what, at best, will be a short term relief.

Understanding yeast infection is the key to lasting relief:

In a healthy vagina, there is always a careful balance between yeast and bacteria, but when this balance is disturbed; your vagina makes more of a harmful type of yeast called Candida albicans, which causes the yeast infection.

Candida albicans is a type of fungi that lives in the intestinal tracts inside your stomach. Yeasts cohabitate in a careful balance with over four hundreds healthy intestinal bacteria.

These bacteria play an important role in producing vitamin B12, short-chin fatty acids, vitamin K, thiamin, and biotin. In addition to that, these good bacteria hold back the yeast that lives in our intestinal track from growing out of balance.

What causes yeast overgrowth?

There are few things that cause the infection. However, if you can pinpoint what triggers them, you have won half the battle.

Here are the most important risk factors that may cause the infection:

Antibiotics: they generally come on top of the list of factors that trigger the yeast infection, that’s because they can reduce the good bacteria (the probiotics) in your vagina, thus letting the bad bacteria spread.

If you take an antibiotic for bronchitis, UTI, strep throat or any other sickness, this will disturb your inner balance, and throw your personal ecosystem out of whack.

In case you are taking an antibiotic for any ailment, primary care provider Dr. Kathryn A. Boling, endorses taking a probiotic supplement at the same time as the antibiotic.

She recommends taking probiotics with lactobacillus, since that is the dominant bacteria that inhibit a healthy vagina.

You can even go all natural and get these good bacteria from foods instead of pills, just opt for Yogurt that contains live active culture.

Diabetes: Since yeast feeds on sugar, then having high blood sugar can cause yeast to overgrow, thus creating the ideal conditions for the yeast infection to happen.

A study conducted in 2013 on women with type 1 diabetes, concluded that there is a strong link between vaginal yeast infections and high blood sugar.

Switching to lower sugar diet may help you keep your blood sugar in normal range, and thus lowering your risk of infection.

Too wet or Too Tight underwear:  Yeast thrives in warm and damp places, and tight clothes prevent the air from reaching the vagina area, which creates a moist, warm environment that causes yeast to overgrow.

That’s why it is important to opt for breathable clothes that let any sweat you get evaporate quickly. Avoid wearing nylon underwear, and opt instead for cotton underwear, because the latter helps to keep your vagina dry.

Also, it is a good idea to go commando, once or twice a week, while you sleep, doing so helps the vagina to air itself out naturally.

Now, that you have a good grasp of what yeast infection is and what causes it in the first place, it is time to move on to the treatment part, and discover if using garlic for yeast infection is the best option.

The theory behind using garlic for yeast infection:

Many studies conducted on garlic concluded that it contains antifungal properties. When crushed or cut garlic releases its major biologically antifungal component called allicin. Some of the breakdown products of allicin showed an ability to penetrate the yeast cells, and subsequently kill it.

How to use garlic for yeast infection:

What you will need:

• A clean bowl.
• A little amount of apple cider vinegar for sterilization purpose.
• A needle.
• A string of 8 inch.

Instructions:

• Pour in the apple cider vinegar into the bowl.
• Soak the needle and string with apple cider vinegar for 3 minutes.
• Then, remove them from the bowl, and tie a knot at one end of the string, then wash it with clean water.
• Take 1 glove of garlic, peel it thoroughly, wash it, and then sew the string through it, that way it will be easy to retrieve it later.
• Insert the garlic in your vagina like you would do with a tampon.
• Leave it there for 8 to 12 hours.

Some voices oppose the use of garlic for yeast infection; even though they know about its antifungal properties discovered in laboratories, so what’s wrong here? Why would they object using a natural and safe remedy? If you just investigate a little further you will find that those who are against this approach work as consultants for pharmaceutical companies that promote antifungal cream.

It’s no wonder then that they would devalue the use of natural remedies, such as the use of garlic for yeast infection, and instead endorse the use of their brand.

The objections they advance against the use of garlic are weak, and sometimes make no sense. They say that’s difficult to remove the clove of garlic after use, however, with the method detailed above you will have no problem getting rid of it.

At bedtime insert the garlic into your vagina as you would do with a tampon, and in the morning just pull thread and throw the clove of garlic in the toilet. It is as simple as that.

One other objection they advance is that garlic may cause a burning sensation when inserted down there. Oh, come on, isn’t your vagina already inflamed? Aren’t the labia already itching? So wouldn’t you put up with a little tingling that signals that the garlic has started its job, until you get the relief you crave, which sometimes happen in less than an hour.

Remember that yeast infection can only be treated for good when you address its root cause; your intestinal flora imbalance. Even Though, you may experience a soothing relief from using garlic, you won’t be saved from another flare-up.

If you have finished for good with temporary solution, that work only to hide the symptoms for a short period of time, and if you want a safe, natural approach, that is capable of giving you the keys to a true and lasting relief from yeast infections, then watch this free presentation where Linda Allen, medical researcher, nutritionist and former yeast infection suffer reveals how to treat your Candida yeast infection permanently … and regain your wellbeing, without drugs, and without any side effects.

Want to read more?

Yogurt for yeast infection: does it work?

Boric acid for yeast infection: does it work?