People have been trying various natural remedies to get rid of yeast infections.
Candida (Malassezia furfur or dermatophytes), Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton are the most common fungal infections on the skin.
Various acids in vinegar from apples, such as acetic, lactic, malic, and citric acids, are also beneficial for fighting microbial infections.
Cider vinegar is good for your health and medicine because it contains powerful healing substances like enzymes, probiotics, potassium, and magnesium.
Yeast Infection: An Overview
The fungus Candida albicans causes yeast infections.
Overgrowth of yeast for various reasons can cause an imbalance in the natural microbial ecosystem of the body.
This infection happens when our immune system and friendly bacteria fail to suppress the overgrowth of the fungus.
Fungus growing in excess disturb the healthy equilibrium of microorganisms in the body.
The death of healthy bacteria or weak immune systems causes the overgrowth of yeasts.
Yeast attacks commonly occur in the vagina (monilial vaginitis). Other areas of the body susceptible to a microbial infection are the esophagus, mouth, feet, skin folds, under the breasts, buttocks, and penis.
When you have thrush or an infection caused by Candida, you may have redness, pain, rashes, itching, swelling, and a white discharge.
There are several over-the-counter (OTC) antimicrobial and antifungal medications like ointments and creams available for it.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Treat Yeast Infection
Cider vinegar is greatly beneficial for health because of its potent healing compounds such as magnesium, potassium, enzymes, probiotics, and acetic acid.
The acetic acid in it is a probiotic substance that helps the growth of friendly gut bacteria and enhances your body’s immune system. The antifungal properties of apple cider vinegar can treat candida and eczema.
Fungus infections can easily occur in diabetes patients, as high blood sugar provides a nourishing environment for the overgrowth of catalysts.
According to some of the latest study reports shows evidence that apple cider vinegar may help to balance blood sugar levels in the blood.
A study published by the American Diabetes Association revealed how vinegar helped people with diabetes control their glucose and insulin responses.
Research says that the malic acid contained in it is a natural antibiotic with antibacterial and antifungal properties.
The acids in vinegar are also good for managing fungal diseases like ringworms, hives, toenail fungus, plantar warts, and others.
The Best Type of ACV for Fungal Infection
The pressed apple juice ferments the best-quality vinegar until its sugar becomes vinegar.
For maximum health benefits, always choose an organic vinegar that is unprocessed, unpasteurized, and unfiltered.
For best results, make sure you’re using homemade cider vinegar.
It is better to avoid the refined vinegar that you find in most stores.
Cider vinegar of good quality usually has something known as the “mother of vinegar,” a cloudy substance that either floats or sinks to the bottom of the bottle.
This floating thing in it comprises enzymes, probiotics, and trace minerals that are good for your health and keep this infection from happening.
Before you pour out the required amount of vinegar, shaking the bottle well to evenly distribute the floating or sedimented substances is suitable.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Candida Infections
Vinegar for candida treatment can be used orally or topically.
Methods of using ACV vary according to the infected area of the body and the type of infection.
1. Vaginal Yeast Infection
Yeast contagion in the vagina (Vaginal Candidiasis) is the most common form of vaginitis.
It is characterized by severe itching, redness in the outer region of the genital, a burning sensation, a white cottage cheese-like discharge, and irritation in the pelvic region.
Douching (washing or soaking) is the best way to this vinegar for Candidiasis.
Use this vinegar diluted in freshwater to douche the infected area; repeat the procedure a minimum of twice a day.
Another way to stop the itching and swelling is to put a cotton ball soaked in cider vinegar directly on the infected area of the vagina.
You can also use a vinegar-soaked tampon to treat the infection; let the tampon stay in the vagina for at least 20 minutes to allow the ACV to spread to the infected area.
2. Intestinal Yeast Infection
Overgrowth of yeast in the intestinal tract causes infection and toxic effects.
Unhealthy diets, excessive stress, or prolonged use of antibiotics trigger intestinal yeast contamination.
Some prominent symptoms of intestinal vulvovaginal candidiasis are muscle pain, headaches, joint pain, insomnia, belching, heartburn, skin rashes, anxiety, oral thrush, bloating, and diarrhea.
It can help manage candidiasis in the intestinal tract by re-balancing the friendly gut bacteria and eliminating the toxic fungus.
To cure a yeast infection in the esophagus, drink 1 tablespoon of diluted vinegar in one cup of water. Repeat the treatment three times a day.
3. Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is a yeast attack that occurs in the mouth.
It produces white or creamy-looking sores in the mouth and tongue. It can severely affect the areas around the tongue and inner cheeks.
If no timely treatment is administered, it may even further spread to the throat, gums, and roof of the mouth.
Cider vinegar is a good home remedy to manage oral thrush.
Dilution: Dilute two teaspoons of ACV in one cup of water, swish it around in the mouth, and drink it. Repeat the ACV treatment three times a day until the oral thrush is completely healed.
4. Cutaneous Candidiasis and Athlete’s Foot
A microbial affliction can occur in different areas of the skin.
Areas under the breast, under the skin, folds in the groin area, between the fingers, under the nail beds, and between the toes are highly susceptible to the infection.
A yeast infection on the skin (Cutaneous Candidiasis) or under the feet and between the toes (Athlete’s Foot) appears as reddish rashes, a patch of blisters that ooze fluid, itchy bumps, or cracked sores.
Applying diluted apple cider vinegar to the infected area helps reduce pain and itching.
For treating a yeast infection on the skin, you can use an apple cider vinegar bath, compress, or soak the body in the bathtub with ACV diluted in the water.
Let the affected area get soaked in ACV water for 20 minutes daily until the infection dries up and disappears.
How To Use ACV Treatment For Fungal Infections
We have just discussed some ways to use it for microbial infections affecting the vagina, mouth, skin, and esophagus.
There are many more easy methods to use ACV to eliminate fungal infections.
You can try out any of the methods according to the area of infection.
1. Ingesting
Drinking up to 2 tablespoons of this vinegar daily may help the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut.
It is also a good remedy for getting rid of infections in the intestinal tract and mouth.
To ingest, add 1 tablespoon of ACV to a cup of water and drink it. You can have the ACV drink twice or three times a day.
Avoid adding honey or sugar to ACV water because this will encourage the growth of Candida albicans, which causes yeast disease.
Daily intake of ACV water also has several other health benefits, such as reducing acid reflux, lowering blood pressure, supporting weight loss, and improving diabetes.
2. Soaking
Soaking the fungus-infected area with ACV may help eliminate the fungus causing the infection.
Use a cotton ball or cloth dipped in vinegar to soak the infected area.
Reduce the acidic content in ACV by diluting it with water to avoid irritation and a burning sensation; ideally, the acidic content should be less than 5%.
You can rinse off the applied ACV from the infected area after an hour of applying.
3. Douching
You can use ACV to douche the infected area.
This method works well for clearing infections in the vagina.
ACV helps to balance the pH levels in the vagina and eliminates the fungus that causes infection.
Add 3 tablespoons of ACV to a cup of distilled water, and use this ACV water for dousing the vagina.
Repeat the treatment twice or thrice daily for best results until the infection is gone.
4. Vinegar Bath
For vaginal Candidiasis, having a vinegar bath is a powerful treatment.
You can also use this method to treat yeast infections on the skin, between the toes and fingers, and under the toenails and feet.
Add 1-2 cups cider vinegar to warm water in the bathtub or a large container.
Soak the infected area or the entire body in vinegar-treated water for 10 minutes.
Alternatively, you can add 2 cups of ACV to a bucket of warm water and use this water for bathing and soaking the fungus-infected area of the body.
5. Vinegar Diet
If you find it difficult to consume raw cider vinegar, it is a great option to use in cooking, juices, smoothies, pickles, or salads.
Regularly consuming up to 2 tablespoons of it helps reduce the chances of getting this infection.
It also helps maintain a healthy pH balance, besides providing several other health benefits.
6. Supplements
Cider vinegar is now available in supplement forms such as pills, tonics, and capsules.
These supplements contain all the important ingredients naturally found in organic vinegar.
Taking supplements regularly may help your immune system, keep your pH levels in check, and keep you from getting microbial infections.
It may also help with weight loss, diabetes, and reducing blood pressure.
7. Using In Combination With Other Natural Remedies
Mix 2-3 cups of ACV and 10 drops of tea tree oil into your bath water to eliminate the infection.
In addition, you can also add a few drops of oregano oil to your vinegar bath.
Tea tree oil contains highly potent antifungal properties that may eliminate Candida albicans.
8. Tampons
A tampon soaked in apple cider vinegar is a fantastic option for treating vaginal Candidiasis.
Dip a tampon in one cup of cider vinegar and use it as an applicator inside the vagina.
The tampon gradually oozes out the vinegar evenly onto every part of the vaginal wall to reduce pain and irritation.
This vinegar suppository inside the vagina also helps to eliminate the fungus growing on the vaginal wall.
Side Effects And Precautions
Cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for a long time to treat yeast infections and other microbial infections.
There is no scientific evidence or verified study to support the claim that ACV is guaranteed to eliminate infections.
A doctor should treat all severe incidences of infections.
If, after using it for Candida infection, you do not find any improvement after two days, you should consult your doctor for further treatment.
Always use only the best quality vinegar, which is organic, raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized.
Before you put the vinegar directly on an infected area, you should always dilute it with distilled water to avoid irritation and allergic reactions.
Do not add honey or sugar to cider vinegar, as this might increase the growth of Candida fungus.
Do not bleach or wash the infected area with baking soda, as this will aggravate the infection by upsetting the body’s pH level.
Do not wear tight-fitting clothes and undergarments that allow moisture to gather in the affected area and prevent air passage to the body.
Include probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, tempeh, kimchi, kombucha, buttermilk, and pickles, which feed the good bacteria in the gut.
There’s no doubt that apple cider vinegar for yeast infections may work effectively with antifungal diets and personal hygiene.
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