5 Impressive Home Remedies for Thrush

Can you see white rashes on your tongue? Or are there white lesions on your genital area or other parts of your body. These rashes hint of a yeast infection known as thrush. The condition can be bothersome. Get rid of it by employing some simple home remedies for thrush.

Home Remedies for Thrush

  1. Foods
  2. Herbal
  3. Essential Oils
  4. Natural treatments
  5. Home Remedies

What is Thrush?

Thrush is a yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans that commonly resides on your skin causing no trouble. But certain factors can cause it to multiply resulting in thrush.

Causes

Thrush is a result of weakened immunity or when there is an imbalance in the microbes present in your body. Following factors can contribute to the infection:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Dry Mouth
  • Vaginal yeast infections
  • Drugs like estrogen and steroids that encourage the growth of yeast

What are the signs of thrush?

  • Discomfort while swallowing food
  • Feeling of food getting stuck in your throat
  • Fever

Oral thrush in babies can get transferred to breastfeeding mothers. Signs of thrush in breastfeeding mothers are:

  • Thrush nipples turn red or tender
  • Shiny, taut skin on the areola
  • Discomfort while nursing
  • Stabbing pain in the breast

What does thrush look like?

Thrush appears as white lesions in mouth on the tongue, or inside of the cheeks. While in other areas it causes dry and scaly patches.

How long does thrush last?

The infection clears up in one to two weeks once the treatment starts.

Home Remedies for Thrush Treatment

Thrush is a common yeast infection that can happen in adults as well as infants. Oral thrush in newborns is common while adults may also be prone to vaginal thrush or penis thrush. The condition may be troublesome; however you can get rid of its annoying symptoms by following the home remedies for thrush mentioned below.

CURE 1: Foods

Garlic

Oral thrush is a common condition and getting rid of is easy with garlic, an amazing natural cure for thrush. Consuming garlic strengthens you from within and helps fight the fungal growth.

How to use?

  • Just take a few garlic cloves and chew them
  • Alternatively, you can apply garlic oil too

Benefits of garlic

Garlic is one of the best home remedies for thrush. Its strong antimicrobial properties kill the yeast causing the infection and inhibit its growth. You can use it to get rid of thrush on the tongue or inner cheeks. Chewing it can also help in relieving thrush in the throat.

Precautions

Do not eat more than three garlic cloves in a day.

Foods to eat

The major reason for the development of thrush is a weakened immune system. HIV thrush or thrush due to diabetes or cancer can be prevented by boosting your immunity against foreign bodies. Following are the foods that can strengthen your immune system and can effectively guard you against thrush infection:

  • Dark green leafy vegetables
  • Fresh fruits
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Herbal tea
  • Fish and eggs

Foods to avoid

In order to treat genital thrush or thrush in the mouth, it is essential to restrict the growth of yeast by starving it. Avoid foods that serve as the diet of yeast and favor its growth like:

  • Foods high on sugar
  • Processed foods
  • Foods fermented using yeast
  • Baked products
  • Alcohol

CURE 2: Herbal Treatments

Aloe Vera

Thrush in adults can occur in the folds of skin. It can happen in the genital area, armpits, on the breast, etc. Thrush in men may occur on the penis while women commonly suffer from vaginal infection. The discomfort caused due to the growth of candida can be easily treated by using aloe vera.

How to use?

  • Cut an aloe vera leaf
  • Scoop out the fresh gel from the leaf
  • Apply the gel on the affected area
  • Let it dry
  • Repeat the process twice or thrice a day to get rid of the infection

Benefits of Aloe Vera

The clear aloe vera gel is an effective natural remedy for brown thrush in your groin. The soothing properties of it, calm the irritated and inflamed skin due to the growth of the yeast. Further, the antiseptic properties of it, aid in fighting off the fungus and restrict its growth, thus curing the infection. Aloe vera is undoubtedly one of the best home remedies for thrush in adults.

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Precautions

Use freshly extracted aloe vera gel rather than the gels available commercially.

CURE 3: Essential Oils

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an effective natural treatment for thrush.

How to use?

  • Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil
  • Apply the blend on the infected area
  • Repeat this two to three times a day to get rid of the infection quickly

Benefits of tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is one of the best home remedies for thrush. It is because tea tree oil has potent antibacterial and antifungal properties that kill the fungi causing the infection. Further, its anti-inflammatory effect soothes the inflamed skin.

Precautions

Tea tree oil is quite potent; hence you must dilute it with a carrier oil.

CURE 4: Home Remedies

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains potent properties that make it one of the most effective home remedies for thrush.

How to use?

  • Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water
  • Swish your mouth with this solution for at least 15 seconds
  • And then spit it out
  • You can do this several times in a day

Benefits of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains antimicrobial properties that make it quite effective against thrush. You can use this solution as the mouthwash for thrush and get rid of it quickly. It can also be used for clearing thrush on lips.

Precautions

Using undiluted apple cider vinegar may cause an intense burning sensation. Hence, you must add water to it.

CURE 5: Natural Treatments

Coconut Oil

Application of coconut oil is known to alleviate symptoms of thrush. It is a safe home treatment hence can be used for treating the diaper rash thrush as well.

How to use?

  • Dip a cotton ball in coconut oil
  • Dab it on the affected area
  • Do it several times in a day
  • Alternatively, for oral thrush
  • Add a few teaspoons of coconut oil in warm water
  • Gargle with this mixture two to three times in a day

Benefits of coconut oil

Thrush in infants can also occur in the form of a diaper rash. You can treat it effectively by using coconut oil. It is one of the most effective home remedies for thrush in babies. Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that prevent the build-up of fungus in the region and alleviate the symptoms of thrush.

Precautions

People with sensitive skin may have a coconut oil allergy. Hence, do a skin patch test before using it. If rubbing the oil on the healthy skin causes inflammation or redness, then immediately wash off the area.

Newborn thrush vs. milk tongue

The deposition of a creamy white layer on the tongue of your baby might be due to overgrowth of yeast candida albicans. However, as your baby is on milk feed, it is also common for him to develop a milk tongue. While both the conditions may look similar, it is easy to differentiate between them. Take a clean cloth and wipe the tongue of your baby gently. If the white layer does not come off easily, then it might be that your baby is suffering from oral thrush. A diaper rash may also accompany the oral thrush in your baby. The baby might transfer the thrush to the nipples of his nursing mother.

How to prevent thrush?

Some simple lifestyle changes can help you prevent thrush. Here are a few tips that can reduce your risk to the condition.

  • Practice good oral hygiene
  • See your dentist at regular intervals
  • When taking antibiotics, increase your intake of probiotics to maintain the natural balance of microbes
  • Limit your intake of processed sugars
  • Quit smoking
  • Avoid drinking

Bottom Line

So, these were some of the effective home remedies for thrush. Employ them and see significant reduction in the symptoms of thrush. If left untreated, the yeast infection can create much trouble for you; hence it becomes necessary to cure it on the very first sign of its appearance. The natural remedies mentioned above fight off the fungi that cause the infection and help you get rid of it. Further, these are much cheaper than other conventional treatments and do not harm you in any manner.