Fungal infections are very common (there are more than 1 million cases per year in India alone) and typically occur when one’s immunity is unable to fight them off or when one is taking antibiotics. Certain conditions like cancer treatment and diabetes also up the chances of you getting a fungal infection. Typically those prone to recurrent fungal infections are those with weak immune systems.
Diseases like athlete’s foot or yeast infection are caused by fungus. Fungi are organisms that have the ability to live in air, soil, plants, and water. They also live in the human body and only half of the fungi types are harmful to us. Fungi reproduce through spores that remain suspended in the air, landing on our skin or getting inhaled by us. As a result, fungal infections often begin from the lungs and the skin.
Fungal infections are hard to treat and can take a while to completely disappear. Doctors usually prescribe oral medication or topical ointments or suppositories. However, certain home remedies can also be useful to eliminate them. Here we tell you about some common fungal infections and the home remedies that work on them. Do take a few precautions like testing each remedy on the inside of your hand to check for an adverse reaction. Expose the affected area to air and sunlight if possible. Avoid synthetic textiles and opt for cotton.
Fungal Infections Home Remedies
1. Ringworm
2. Home remedies for ringworm
3. Athlete’s Foot
4. Home remedies for Athlete’s Foot:
5. Yeast infections
6. Vaginal yeast infection
7. Home remedies for yeast infections
Ringworm
This scrouge of childhood is an extremely contagious infection that is caused not by a worm but by a fungus called tinea. This kind of fungus lives on dead tissues of the skin, hair, and nails. Ringworm can occur on the body, the scalp, the feet, or the groin. This fungal infection is characterized by a raised circular rash—like a ring with a flat center (some ringworm infections do not have the raised ring). It looks like a raised red sore and is often accompanied by scaly skin.
This infection is very contagious and can spread easily from person to person or even from animal to person. Worse still, you can get an infection through things like furniture and clothes that have been touched by a ringworm-infected person. The condition causes a lot of itching and looks scary. However, the rings are not as serious as they look and clear up with an antifungal treatment in the form of ointments or oral medicines.
Fungal infection is characterized
Prevent ringworm by cleaning your hands and fingernails meticulously with soap. Keep your skin clean and dry; avoid walking barefoot in communal areas, change socks and underwear daily; avoid sharing clothes, towels, or bed linen with an infected person; avoid touching animals with ringworm; shower after gymming or a sports session.
Coconut for fungal infections
Home remedies for ringworm
Some of the most common home remedies that have been used over the years used for ringworm are as follows. They are effective in soothing the symptoms. Do consult a medical practitioner before using any home remedy. Also, do a patch test on the inner side of your arm to see if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
Garlic: Use a paste of garlic topically for relief from symptoms. Garlic is also used as a remedy for other types of fungi like Candida, Torulopsis, Trichophyton, and Cryptococcus. Mix the paste with some olive or coconut oil and apply to the affected area and leave it on for a couple of hours before you rinse. Use twice daily before till your symptoms reduce. Garlic has anti-fungal, antibiotic, and anti-bacterial properties. You could also eat garlic pods for your fungal infection.
Soap: This might be a simple remedy but it is pretty effective. Wash the ringworm-affected with soap and water thoroughly to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body. Don’t forget to dry the area thoroughly as fungus thrives in a moist environment. Do use an antibacterial soap that will disinfect your body and kill the fungal infection in its early stages. The drying effect of the soap will also help your condition.
Apple cider vinegar for fungal infections
Apple cider vinegar: Wipe the affected area with a cotton pad soaked in undiluted apple cider vinegar thrice a day for best results.
Aloe vera: Aloe vera will be soothing for your skin and will help treat your condition as well as it contains antiseptic agents that work against fungus, bacteria, and viruses. All you have to do is apply the gel from an aloe vera plant to the affected area a few times daily.
Coconut oil: This is an age-old remedy for skin infections and research suggests that coconut oil kills fungal cells. Apply liquid coconut oil on the affected area thrice a day and keep using it if you are prone to fungal infections.
Turmeric: Good old Haldi has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-microbial benefits as well. Apply turmeric paste made with a little water or coconut oil and apply to the affected area.
Powdered licorice: Licorice or mulethi powder applied as a paste with water will reduce inflammation and work against the fungus. Apply it twice a day.
Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil has been used in many ancient cultures to treat fungal infections. Add a few drops of the essential oil to a carrier oil like coconut oil and apply this to the skin.
Oregano oil. This is a wonder cure that has strong antifungals in the form of thymol and carvacrol. Dilute a few drops of oregano oil in a carrier oil and apply to the affected area thrice a day.
Organic neem oil: Neem oil has been used in Ayurveda for centuries to treat fungal infections. Derived from the leaves and bark of the neem tree, this oil has a potent antibiotic and anti-inflammatory action. Add need leaves to your bath water or make a decoction with neem leaves and apply it to the affected area. Dry the area thoroughly after use.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s Foot Fungal
Take a close look at your feet, have you noticed any peeling, cracking, and scaling of your feet? Do you suffer from any redness, blisters, itching, and burning? If you have any of these above symptoms you could be suffering from a fungal infection called Athlete’s Foot. This condition is caused by a fungus that thrives on the dead tissue of the hair, toenails, and epidermis. Interestingly, this condition could be caused by not one but four kinds of fungi.
One that is a cause of the majority of Athlete’s Foot infections is the trichophyton rubrum. Athlete’s foot is caused when your shoes are encased in tight shoes all day without getting a chance to breathe. This fungus loves a moist, warm and humid environment. Athlete’s Foot is usually treated with antifungal medication (oral or topical). On your part, take precautions to keep your feet dry and clean. Avoid walking barefoot. Athlete’s Feet can be of several types.
Interdigital: For instance, when you have itching and burning between your toes it could be a sign of an interdigital Athlete’s Foot. It’s also called a toe web infection as it occurs on the webs of your toes. This infection can also spread to the soles of your feet.
Moccasin: This infection causes dryness, itching, and scaliness that spreads to the soles and sides of the foot. This infection often causes the skin to thicken and crack.
Vesicular: This rare condition takes the form of fluid-filled blisters on the underside of the foot. These blisters appear between the toes, on the heel, or on the top of the foot.
Tea tree oil for fungal infections
Home remedies for Athlete’s Foot:
Organic tea tree oil: Soak your feet in water to which 40 drops of tea tree oil have been added. Remove from water and dry your feet before massaging some tea tree oil on the affected area.
Apple cider vinegar and Himalayan crystal salt: Soak your feet in this anti-fungal mix of apple cider vinegar, Himalayan crystal salt, and water. Dry your feet thoroughly after 10 minutes. Wipe the insides of your shoes with a little of the solution.
Baking soda: Dust a little baking soda on your feet and shoes on for the day. This will soak up the moisture and prevent the spread of the fungal infection.
Hydrogen peroxide: This is a wonderful cure for an athlete’s foot that kills both bacteria and fungus. Soak your feet in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water.
Yogurt: Apply probiotic yogurt to the affected area and let it dry. Wash off.
Garlic for fungal infections
Garlic: The anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties in garlic will make short work of your athlete’s foot. Mae a paste of garlic cloves and olive oil and apply to the affected area. Leave on for half an hour and wash off. Repeat this two to three times a day.
Yeast fungal infections
Yeast infections
Women may be familiar with yeast infections as the annoying rash that periodically plagues us. However, in reality, can affect any skin surface. The most common regions where this kind of infection occurs is within the folds and creases of the skin and warm moist areas like the crotch and armpit. Caused by fungi called candida, they result in an itchy scaly rash. These infections cannot be transmitted from one person to another. These infections are rampant among people who have are obese or have diabetes.
Toenail fungal infection
Candida infections can manifest as toenail fungus, oral thrush, and vaginal yeast infections. An overgrowth of Candida albicans in the lining of the mouth causes oral thrush that manifests as white lesions, redness, and bleeding in the mouth. Toenail fungus is a common fungal infection of the toenail that causes your nails to turn white, brown, or yellow. It also thickens them and makes them crack.
It also affects babies. Symptoms of a candida infection on the skin include rashes, itching or burning. While yeast infections are usually treated with medicated creams and oral medications, home remedies are successful in soothing the symptoms. Only to be used under medical supervision.
Candida infections
Vaginal yeast infection
Vaginal yeast infections are caused by the Candida albicans fungus. This happens when the delicate pH balance in the vagina is disturbed due to hormonal changes, ill-health, conditions like diabetes, and antibiotic use.
The symptoms of this infection include vaginal itching and swelling; burning sensation during urination or sex; vaginal soreness; discharge with the consistency of cottage cheese. You can prevent recurrent yeast infections by cutting down on sugar and processed foods. Yeast feeds on sugar so if you cut down on sugar you reduce the amount of sugar available for yeast in your intestines. Other preventive measures include wearing loose cotton underwear; discarding wet clothing as fast as possible; using antibiotics only when necessary; avoiding douching.
To see a doctor immediately if you suspect that you may have contracted a yeast infection. Doctors may prescribe, ointments, tablets, or suppositories.
Yogurt for fungal infections
Home remedies for yeast infections
Greek yogurt: The probiotics in Greek yogurt are effective against the C. Albicans fungus. Additionally, live bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus restore the pH balance in the vagina. Make sure you use unsweetened Greek yogurt.
Probiotic suppositories and supplements: These will restore the bacteria-yeast balance in your vagina. You can take oral probiotics with strains of the lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria or vaginal suppositories for faster results.
Coconut oil: Apply the coconut oil directly to the area. This oil is effective against the C. Albicans fungus. Only use pure, organic coconut oil.
Tea tree oil: This essential oil may be used as a suppository to treat yeast infections. Make sure that it is always diluted in a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil.
Apple cider vinegar: This is highly effective against fungal infections. Add half a cup to a bathtub of water and soak in it for 30 minutes. Do not douche with apple cider vinegar as douching flushes out good and bad bacteria from your vagina, leaving you more prone to infections.
Vitamin C: Do not use this topically or as a suppository but up your intake of vitamin C to boost your immunity and its fungus-fighting capabilities.
Thanks And Source: www.femina.in
Note- The information provided on this page is for general purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. All the content provided on this page is my own creativity. Thank you So Much.
