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Essential Oils for Yeast Infection

Natural Herb Essential Oils for Yeast Infections

 

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Having a well stocked collection of various botanical essential oils is a key way to treat a yeast infection on the epidermis.  Some essential oils can be harsh; so make sure you use a gentle, safe concentration when using them intravaginally.
Having a well stocked collection of various botanical essential oils is a key way to treat a yeast infection on the epidermis. Some essential oils can be harsh; so make sure you use a gentle, safe concentration when using them intravaginally.

Have you been recently introduced to the world of essential oils; or are you a veteran practitioner and have been around the block when it comes to using natural oils? If you are curious about whether or not you can use an essential oil, to stymie and heal a yeast infection, the answer is “of course!” There are several different types of oils you can employ to fight off nearly any kind of yeast infection. Most of the antifungal oils will be discussed here; so if you want, you can can take some time to get informed on these oils. Feel free to consult the sources at the end of an article for further learning. It won’t take long before you know enough to start using essential oils to remedy this ubiquitous problem!

About Essential Oils

Essential oil production methods can affect the chemical properties of the oil; making it better or worse for treating a yeast infection.
Essential oil production methods can affect the chemical properties of the oil; making it better or worse for treating a yeast infection.

Whenever you look for which oils you want to purchase; beforehand, you may have to do some research on the particular essential oils you are considering. Thyme oil, made from Thymus vulgaris, is one example of how a plant can produce different types of oil. Thymus vulgaris can produce a wide array of chemotypes (a difference in chemical properties of a particular plant; minor genetic and epigenetic differences, that can have little or no effect on morphology, can result in a plant that produces different chemicals) depending upon the altitude, climate, and various conditions of the plant’s growth. If thyme was harvested in mid summer to early fall, the oil can contain a higher percentage of carvacrol (carvacrol content in thyme oil can cause the oil to be more caustic, and irritating to the skin). Using low pressures and temperatures in the distillation, is also essential for maintaining thyme oil’s purity and therapeutic value.

Some essential oils are manufactured with the sole purpose of getting as much oil from the plant as quickly as possible; in the pecuniary interests of the producer, of course. Some essential oils that have had chemical solvents, high pressures, high temperatures, or other rapid processing techniques employed on them, can be much lower in quality. Such low quality oils will probably smell just as good, and appear fine to the consumer; but cost the manufacturer less money to produce. Low quality oils can lack the chemical constituents that produce the actual therapeutic effects desired; making them undesirable to use medicinally.

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How Essential Oils Work

Essential oils are lipid-soluble (able to be dissolved in fatty acids) and can penetrate the walls of cells—even cells that have become damaged and hardened due to lack of oxygen. According to the Reference Guide for Essential Oils (Abundant Health, 1998), essential oils are absorbed into the body and can affect every cell in the body in about 20 minutes after they are applied. The essential oils are then metabolized by the body just like other nutrients; making them quite safe to utilize.

As you will see in the articles about the individual oils, many essential oils have some degree of antifungal, antibacterial, or antiviral efficacy. Therefore, you can use them to treat infections and in cleaning supplies for their antiseptic capabilities. Air diffusers can also be used to circulate essential oil vapors in the air; cleansing and purifying the air in your house. Air diffusion like this, is a great idea in colder climates to keep the air free from microscopic pathogens. As you may know, there is a wide array of uses for essential oils! And, you can certainly use an essential oil or two to treat a vaginal yeast infection!

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How to Use Your Essential Oils

High quality, therapeutic grade organic essential oil are often all you need. It is probably not necessary to ensure such oils are organic; as they will probably work as well as good, non-organic oils.
High quality, therapeutic grade organic essential oil are often all you need. It is probably not necessary to ensure such oils are organic; as they will probably work as well as good, non-organic oils.

You will likely need to dilute the oils you end up using, in a carrier oil or other substance. One great idea for using essential oils, is to put them in a carrier oil that has anti-fungal action. One oil, that can stop Candida, is coconut oil. Coconut oil is comprised of several fatty acids that can inhibit Candida. Aside from oil, honey makes another great substance you can use topically to treat Candida by itself. Yes, externally, honey can stop yeast from growing. So, if you mix some powerful essential oils into honey, you will have an even better natural remedy on your hands. One caveat with honey: don’t eat honey in an attempt to reduce a gut yeast infection. Honey only works when it is not diluted much; and, in your stomach it will be mixing with liquids you drink, and other gastric fluids, and become a food for Candida—no longer being of therapeutic value. For more information about honey or coconut oil, consider checking out the in-depth sections on Candida Hub that cover the information regarding these natural remedies:

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Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil

Pictured here are lemongrass wrapped in a banana leaf.  Lemongrass has the scientific name of Cymbopogon citratus. And, it can be used to fight yeast infections.
Pictured here are lemongrass wrapped in a banana leaf. Lemongrass has the scientific name of Cymbopogon citratus. And, it can be used to fight yeast infections.

A well known essential oil, that has been shown to be effective against Candida, is lemongrass essential oil. Lemongrass, also known by its scientific taxonomy ‘Cymbopogon citratus’, is a plant that thrives in tropical climates. This herb is especially popular in Southeast Asia. Some of the chemical constituents of lemongrass include terpenes, alcohols, aldehyde, and ketones. Scientific studies done on lemongrass, indicate that this tropical herb possesses antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemongrass is indeed a potent herbal remedy that could allay many different types of health maladies. For more information about using this herb as an essential oil for yeast infection, the link below will take you to the article on this topic:

Learn more about Lemongrass Essential Oil for Yeast Infection »

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) Essential Oil

Clove oil is another essential oil to add to your arsenal, when you want to terminate yeast. Clove (also known by the scientific taxonomy of Syzygium aromaticum) oil contains eugenol and carvacrol. These two chemical constituents of the herb have been shown to have potential for treating vaginal yeast infections. Consequently, this is one oil to include in your assortment of essential oils.

When clove oil was used in tandem with lemongrass oil, researchers found that these essential oils were able to fight against the biofilm produced by Candida. By effectively fighting biofilm produced by yeast as it grows in the body, problems with drug resistance and recurrent infection could be ameliorated. This finding could make using these oils especially helpful for women who suffer from recurrent yeast infections. Case in point, in a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Volume 140, Issue 2, 27 March 2012, Pages 416–423), researchers found that Candida with preformed biofilm was sometimes 1024 times as resistant to conventional antifungal drugs. As biofilm can lend such powerful resistance to synthetic antifungal drugs, they may be of little to no value in dealing with some cases of Candidiasis. Yet, using natural, medicinal herbal products (like essential oils) can easily get rid of biofilm entrenched Candida.

Learn more about Clove Essential Oil for Candida »

Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Essential Oil

Tea tree oil is a very powerful substance; and. can effectively fight a yeast infection. There is a lot of research that indicates tea tree oil is an effective remedy for Candidiasis. One study, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, found that small concentrations of this oil were able to inhibit several different species of Candida.

One caveat when using tea tree oil: make sure you are careful to not poison yourself. Ingesting even a small amount of tea tree oil can make you sick; a little bit more and you can die. This oil is indeed powerful, but it can be dangerous. Try diluting this oil in other oils when you use it. Fortunately, to kill Candida you do not need much of the oil at all. Research has demonstrated about a 1% concentration of tea tree oil is enough to kill Candida species in vitro (this phrase means "in glass," and is used to denote things done in a laboratory test; these studies usually employ growing Candida on petri dishes). It may also be wise to consult a knowledgeable apothecary or doctor before you start using this essential oil.

Learn more about using Tea Tree Oil for Yeast Infections »

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Essential Oil

Thyme oil has a good amount of the phytochemical thymol in it.  This makes this oil an excellent choice for use when your fighting Candida.
Thyme oil has a good amount of the phytochemical thymol in it. This makes this oil an excellent choice for use when your fighting Candida.

Thyme essential oil has been shown to be perhaps one of the best essential oils to use for getting rid of a yeast infection. It should be included in your array of natural medicines for this ability. One study showed that oil from Thymus vulgaris was the second best inhibitor of Candida albicans; the best oil was oregano oil. Consider this oil if you plan on mixing different essential oils together for a more comprehensive natural cure.

Learn more about Thyme Essential Oil for Candida »

Oregano (Origanum sp.) Essential Oil

Essential oil from the Origanum species (several species of Origanum are sold as oregano), has shown even stronger antifungal efficacy than even thyme oil. This is therefore one of the best essential oils to use for a yeast infection. If you plan on using only one essential oil to treat this infection, oregano oil would be a great choice.

Learn more about Oregano Oil for Yeast Infections »

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Essential Oil

Cinnamon essential oil is a great oil to cook with, and is also a potent killer of Candida albicans—the fungus responsible for most vaginal yeast infections. Cinnamon oil is a proven natural remedy for yeast infections, and is a great natural medicine to have on hand. Cinnamon oil is easy to procure, and should be worth buying, as it can be used for more than just fungal problems. You can always take some time to learn more about this powerful medicinal tool provided by nature.

Learn more about Cinnamon Oil for Candida »

Bael (Aegle marmelos) Essential Oil

Another essential oil for yeast infection elimination, is bael or Bengal quince (Aegle marmelos) oil. This oil is from a tree native to India, and is currently present throughout Southeast Asia. In a study, published in the journal Microbios [86 (1996): 237-46.], aegle oil was found to inhibit 12 different fungi. Practitioners of Ayurveda in India use different elements of the bael plant for treating a wide variety of ailments. You may wish to combine this oil with other oils to create a synergistic yeast killing effect. Dr. James A. Duke recommended mixing herbs together, to enhance a natural remedy. This may be a prudent course of action when working with essential oils. There seems to be a limited amount of research available on Aegle marmelos; consequently, you may wish to consult a knowledgeable herbalist or medical doctor before you try using this oil to cure a yeast infection.

Learn more about Bael Oil for Candida »

Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus / nardus) Essential Oil

Another essential oil that was shown to inhibit the growth of fungus was citronella oil. In a Japanese study, researchers discovered this oil indeed had powerful antifungal abilities. However, the study also used another terpene (a chemical produced by plants which are often quite aromatic) called linalool. By using citronella essential oil and linalool in conjunction, the researchers saw that fungus was effectively inhibited. According to the study’s abstract:

Citronellal and linalool completely inhibited the growth of all tested fungal strains at a dose of 112 mg/L. Their minimum inhibitory doses ranged from 14 to 56 mg/L. The α- and β- pinenes showed an inhibitory activity against some fungi, whereas the other 8 volatile compounds lacked this property. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jarq/37/4/37_249/_pdf

You may be wondering where you can get linalool. Linalool is a chemical constituent of another essential oil—coriander seed essential oil contains linalool. It may be very prudent to acquire both of these oils, and use them in conjunction, to treat a Candida problem. Another proof that Dr. Duke was correct in proposing a mixture of herbal treatments creates a synergistic, therapeutic effect.

Learn more about Citronella Oil and Candida »

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Essential Oil

This essential oil is perhaps not the best choice for fighting a yeast infection. One study found that using geranium oil by itself to treat Candida albicans did not reduce the number of yeast cells present in the vaginas of mice. However, when used with vaginal washing, some reduction in vaginal yeast was seen. This may have been be a spurious correlation, as the vaginal washing by itself could have been the only treatment which helped remove the yeast. The study could only estimate that geranium essential oil played a part in healing a yeast infection.

Learn more about Geranium Oil for Candida »

Orange (Citrus sinensis) Essential Oil

Currently, there are perhaps not many widely available studies showing if orange essential oil treats a yeast infection. A study, published in the journal Food Control, did show that orange oil was able to kill all the moulds it was tested on. This study’s aim was to understand how essential citrus oils could be used to preserve foods; however, this strong activity against moulds could suggest that orange oil would also work against Candida species.

Learn more about Orange Essential Oil for Candida »

Cautions About Essential Oils

Keeping a good variety of essential oils on hand can really help when you need to treat various health problems.  You can naturally cure many health problems with these oils.  And, they are great to use for remedying yeast infections as well!
Keeping a good variety of essential oils on hand can really help when you need to treat various health problems. You can naturally cure many health problems with these oils. And, they are great to use for remedying yeast infections as well!
  • Concentration of the Oil — Essential oils can be manufactured differently, and such processes may depend on who makes the oil. Sometimes, oils are changed by the addition of other similar essential oils; or, via synthetic chemicals. The oil could also be diluted with other inert oils—such as olive oil. Make sure your product lists the concentration of actual essential oil; so that you know how potent your oil truly is. If an oil is heavily diluted, and is not 100% pure, you may not see the expected results from using a weak concentration.
  • Amount to Use — Every oil is different and contains different chemicals. Some essential oils; used in large, unsafe amounts; can cause negative effects on the body. Make sure you understand what a safe dose is before you use one of these oils.
  • Type of Use — Each essential oil may have methods of use that are safe, and some that are certainly unsafe. Tea tree oil can be used safely externally on the skin, but can be fatal if ingested. Many citrus oils have phototoxicity; and, can cause burns on the skin if exposed to sunlight after application. Make sure you know the proper procedure for utilizing an essential oil before starting your treatment regimen.
  • Plant Parts Used — Different plant parts can be used to create oils from the same species that have different chemical compositions; and thus, possess different competencies. Make sure you understand if there are varying ways for a certain type of oil to be made. Some oils may always be made from the same plant elements, so there may not always be this concern.

A Natural, 12 Hour Yeast Infection Cure

Linda Allen’s Yeast Infection No More

According to a research paper published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews [12.1 (1999): 80-96], Candida species are quite ubiquitous organisms. Candida are most frequently present in the mouth; and, live in 31% to 55% of healthy people. The species that causes approximately 70% to 80% of all Candida infections is C. albicans.

The Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology [2011 Jul;46(7):496] reports there appears to be a correlation between intestinal Candida infections and vaginal yeast infections. And, this provides a clue, as to why yeast infections in general, can reoccur.

This study states, in 148 cases of vaginal candida infections, 33.1% of the women were infected in both the intestines and vaginal area. The recurrence rate of yeast infections, in women with simultaneous intestinal infection, was significantly higher than for women who did not have an intestinal infection. This study concluded that vaginal yeast infections are highly associated with simultaneous intestinal Candida infection.

As research appears to indicate, systemic Candida infections can and do happen. A more systemic Candida infection may primarily get a foothold in the intestines; and cause a wide array of problems. If your yeast infections keep happening, a systemic Candida problem may be why.

One woman who suffered from a systemic Candida infection, for about 12 years, was Linda Allen. The systemic Candida infection that attacked Linda caused a wide range of health problems in addition to yeast infections. Some of these problems, Linda describes in her own words in the following quote:

To be honest, it was hard to pinpoint exactly what was wrong: I wasn’t really sick, but I wasn’t really well either. I had listlessness, fatigue, brain fog, stomach ailments, unexplained rashes, skin infections, and so on. It seemed like every day brought a new challenge.

My energy was sapped and I felt exhausted, which affected my grades and put a big dent in my social life.

Linda Allen’s symptoms included an embarrassing vaginal discharge, severe itching, and burning sensations. Her infections were difficult to deal with, and Linda’s health problems cost her financially as well. Linda states these infections of Candida can become excruciating when they happen as frequently as a menstrual period.

Yet, Linda spent a great deal of time in research; and even questioned health professionals who were kind enough to share some time with her. Linda even tried an array of purported "cures." Although it took a while, eventually, Linda put together a natural treatment plan she hoped would solve her Candida situation.

After spending about a year refining her new approach, Linda tried her system on herself. It worked amazingly well. Linda even returned to a few medical doctors to get tested for the presence of infections. These tests revealed all indicators of infection had vanished! Linda was indeed well again, after such a long, difficult journey.

Linda has since published a book detailing how to copy her success. She also includes a 12 hour yeast infection cure that can get rid of a superficial (such as a genital yeast infection or oral thrush) yeast infection in about 12 hours.

Linda’s publisher protects those who get her book with a 60 day, 100% money back guarantee. Linda’s publisher, a subsidiary of the United States based firm Keynetics Incorporated, is a reputable digital retailer that has been around for a long time. They have great customer service, and make getting a full refund on Linda’s book quick and easy. If you’re not satisfied, you can quickly get all your money back.

If you would like to learn more about Linda’s journey to freedom from Candida, see reviews of others who tried her natural system, or find out more about her efficacious book; you can find more information at Linda Allen’s website.

Author: Mr. Nicholas Gross

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Nick Gross is a natural medicine enthusiast who has been researching and writing about natural medicine since 2008. Nick is primarily a web developer but also researches and authors written and video content about natural health. Nick has a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Northern Iowa.

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SOURCES:

  • http://dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F2231-4040.79796 — Shah, Gagan, et al. "Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass)." Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research 2.1 (2011): 3. PubMed Full Text
  • http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2FS2221-1691(14)60215-X — Cortés-Rojas, Diego Francisco, Claudia Regina Fernandes de Souza, and Wanderley Pereira Oliveira. "Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice." Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine 4.2 (2014): 90-96. PubMed Full Text
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  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8893526 — Pattnaik, S., V. R. Subramanyam, and C. Kole. "Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro." Microbios 86 (1996): 237-46. PDF Available Here
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  • http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2007.12.003 — Viuda-Martos, M., et al. "Antifungal activity of lemon (Citrus lemon L.), mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis L.) essential oils." Food control 19.12 (2008): 1130-1138. orange oil kills food moulds
  • http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jac/42.5.591 — Hammer, Katherin A., Christine F. Carson, and Thomas V. Riley. "In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and tea tree oil products, against Candida spp." Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 42.5 (1998): 591-595. PDF Available Here
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  • Google Books — Higley, Connie, and Alan Higley. Reference guide for essential oils. Abundant Health, 1998.
  • https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.12.1.80 -- Fidel, Paul L., Jose A. Vazquez, and Jack D. Sobel. "Candida glabrata: review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical disease with comparison to C. albicans." Clinical Microbiology Reviews [12.1 (1999): 80-96].
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22041440/ -- Lin XL, Li Z, Zuo XL. "Study on the relationship between vaginal and intestinal candida in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis." Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi). [2011 Jul;46(7):496].