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Effective Natural Remedies for Thrush: Safe & Easy Solutions

| Modified on Sep 11, 2024
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Milk of Magnesia

Thrush, often a persistent and uncomfortable yeast infection caused by Candida albicans, is a condition many people face. While traditional medical treatments exist, many individuals turn to natural remedies for a more gentle approach. In this article, we delve into various safe and effective natural solutions, such as milk of magnesia, probiotics, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and garlic, which have been found to help manage and soothe the symptoms of thrush.

Understanding Thrush: Causes and Symptoms

Thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a fairly common fungal infection primarily affecting the mouth, including the tongue and mucous membranes. Nursing mothers may also experience thrush symptoms on their nipples. This condition arises from an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is naturally present in the human body. One of the most noticeable signs of thrush is a white coating on the tongue or inside the mouth, often accompanied by sores and potential bleeding.

Various factors can trigger thrush, such as a weakened immune system, high sugar consumption, diabetes, and the use of antibiotics which can suppress the immune system. Additionally, infants are particularly prone to thrush due to their frequent feeding habits, underdeveloped immune systems, and less effective oral hygiene.

Natural Remedies for Thrush

  1. Milk of Magnesia (MOM): Milk of Magnesia is the most recommended remedy for thrush on Earth Clinic. When applied directly to the affected area, it helps neutralize the acidic environment, which in turn reduces discomfort and inhibits the growth of yeast.
  2. Probiotics: Introducing good bacteria, especially Lactobacillus strains, helps restore the natural balance in the body. Consuming probiotic-rich foods like yogurt or taking supplements can be effective against thrush.
  3. Coconut Oil: Known for its antifungal properties, it can be a soothing remedy. Apply it topically to affected areas or incorporate it into your diet.
  4. Apple Cider Vinegar: Its natural enzymes can help control Candida growth. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water for a mouth rinse or a soothing bath.
  5. Garlic: Garlic's natural antifungal properties can help fight thrush. Include fresh garlic in your diet, or consider garlic supplements for more concentrated benefits.
  6. Tea Tree Oil: A powerful natural antifungal, tea tree oil can be effective when diluted and applied topically. However, it should be used cautiously as it can irritate sensitive areas.
  7. Aloe Vera: Known for its soothing properties, aloe vera can relieve itching and inflammation associated with thrush.
  8. Oregano Oil: Oregano oil, known for its antifungal properties, can effectively reduce yeast overgrowth. Dilute it with carrier oil and apply it to the affected area, or take it orally in capsule form.
  9. Baking Soda: Baking soda can neutralize acids and reduce yeast growth. Create a paste with water to apply topically or dissolve it in water for a gentle mouth rinse.
  10. Cranberry Juice: Unsweetened cranberry juice is known for its ability to fight fungal infections. Drinking it regularly can help maintain a healthy pH balance, preventing thrush proliferation.
  11. Turmeric: With its powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, turmeric can be an effective natural remedy for thrush. Incorporate it into your diet or apply a paste made with turmeric and water to the affected areas.

Lifestyle Changes

Incorporating lifestyle changes can also help manage thrush. Wearing loose, breathable clothing, maintaining good oral hygiene, and reducing sugar intake can prevent yeast overgrowth.

Conclusion

Natural remedies for thrush offer a gentler alternative to conventional treatments. While these remedies can be effective, it's important to consult a healthcare professional for persistent or severe cases. Embracing a holistic approach, combining natural remedies with lifestyle changes, can lead to better management of thrush symptoms.

Share Your feedback!

Continue reading to discover which natural remedies have helped Earth Clinic readers successfully treat thrush, and we invite you to share which remedy worked for you!

Related Links:

Natural Yeast Infection Remedies: Herbal Solutions & Lifestyle Tips

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by Maria (A.C.T) on 11/24/2022
 ★★★★★

Yes years ago when I was in my forties, a doctor suggested that a daily tampon dipped in plain yoghurt would clear up my problem with yeast in the vagina and it worked. However; I'm now eighty, have been given three different broad spectrum antibiotics by my well-meaning doctor and painful swelling and itching in the vagina and anus is the result. All the good bacteria were wiped out leaving me with thrush. I douched with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of warm water with a half teaspoon of bi-carbonate of soda dissolved in it. Had trouble inserting the douche, so used lots of aloe vera gel from the chemist and after I'd finished I dried off, washed my hands thoroughly then massaged the whole area with virgin coconut oil then last, I inserted some into the anus. Relief rather than a cure perhaps but I was very comfortable straight away.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marilyn (Oswego, Il) on 10/31/2009
 ★☆☆☆☆

I am in such pain with this thrush. My question is is it at all possible that the apple cider vinegar is making it worse?

Replied by Melissa
(Summit Point, West Virginia)
01/23/2011
★☆☆☆☆

I had Thrush last year and the vinegar made it worse, very painful thing to deal with. I could only eat ice cream and yogurt.... Applesauce , it really burned my tongue and cheeks and gums.

Replied by Ladyliza
(Los Angeles)
09/25/2014
36 posts

Never, ever drink vinegar straight! It will burn your esophagus and may cause a lot of damage, not to mention it will take the protective layer right off your teeth. Always dilute it with water. You might even need a 50/50 portion.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Janice (Coloma, Mi) on 03/12/2009
 ★★★★★

Have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar? When my last child was born, he had thrush in his mouth. I was nursing him at the time and got a cracked nipple. The Dr. told me I had to quit nursing as the baby and I would just pass the condition back and forth. An old woman told me that was nonsense and to dilute apple cider vinegar with a little water and put it on a q-tip and rub it around in the baby's mouth and to rub soome on my nipple as well. She told me it would be gone in a couple of days at the most. I tried it and it worked. I have since passed this information on many times and it always seems to work. So, it's a cheap and easy thing for you to try if you haven't tried it already.

B6

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Posted by Carol (OKC, U. S. A)
★★★★★

Vitamin B6 has cured Thrush in people I have known.

Vitamin E stabilized my low BP.

Comfrey compresses healed not only the deep bruising (in 3 days), resulting from a stubbed, broken toe but also, bone -- after all, the common name for comfrey is "knit bone". Raspberry tea healed my indigestion after I was forced to eat "junk food" for 3 days whilst staying with my husband's cousin.

Cayenne pepper is awesome! My husband used it to reduce his weight. 1 tspn cayenne pepper in a 1/2 cup of hot water, 3 times a day. It speeds up the metabolism.

Baking Soda

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Posted by Gcybk (London) on 06/30/2015
 ★★★★★

I had chronic monthly recurring vaginal thrush for about 7 years and nothing helped getting rid of it permanently so I resigned my self to just living with it when I read about bicarb of soda and took half a teaspoon in a glass of water once or twice a day for 10 days and it has been gone ever since! I couldn't quite believe it at first but that was 2 years ago now so the result is solid!

Baking Soda
Posted by Judy (Meldrim, GA) on 03/07/2009
 ★★★★★

Baking soda quickly took care of a case of thrush my less-than-a-year-old son had. All it took was about one teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a small cup of water, swabbed inside baby's mouth 4 or 5 times a day with a Q-tip that i dipped into the mixture. It vanished in about 48 or fewer hours. It's been many years ago, but I think this is the amount of baking soda relative to water. I definitely remember that it worked very fast. This seems to be a simpler method than any of the others here.

The pediatrician (I've since learned to avoid such unnecessary licensed quacks :)) had recommended "a new drug" being used at the teaching hospital where she worked.

----Please be aware that teaching hospitals are notorious for using patients as guinea pigs: read the book, "Confessions of a Medical Heretic," to find out this and many other fascinating/horrifying facts about doctors. The physician who wrote it says to avoid doctors as much as you can!---- I called the local La Leche (breastfeeding support organization) to see if they knew something less toxic, and that is where the baking soda and water remedy came from.

Replied by Diamond
(Salisbury, Usa)
06/24/2011

Judy; you were very fortunate to have cured your little son of thrush. But as an older adult such as myself this thrush was not noticed as a young child and therefore was never treated, again it has progressed where it has deeply affected my whole system. Generally, if the whole body(system)is not treated it does great damage to the whole being it spreads like fire/feels like fire. While growing up I was on the wrong diet where thrush (which is the tip of the iceberg)is generally mold or fungus and got much worse

It causes many, many diseases(too many to mention).......

I agree that doctors are quacks, but the government controls these sad people, including vets. As does all clergymen, where animals/people are being used as needless and very painful experiments and, many years later have yet to prove anything of value. All I can say is: what can we expect from Corrupt America? Thankfully I am not one of the quacks but just a victim of circumstances. Thank you so much for your input it has helped me along the journey of healing through natural causes.

good luck & god bless

Replied by Ruby
(Gloucester, Ma)
11/01/2011

Baking soda is excellent. I have what may be thrush and I'm concerned because I've read that healthy adults normally do not get thrush. As far as mold going through your system. I've read that only Borax tablets (ingestible) can rid the body of mold. Also I would do an anti-parasitic and toxic cleanse for a month. I do the colonix (Dr Natura) cleanse every year on my birthday, sometimes twice a year to maintain my health. You may want to do 3 months.

Replied by Haleyk
(Hackberry, La, Usa)
01/05/2012

Thanks for posting this. I always use natural/home remedies for myself (i.e. An adult) when possible, but have trouble finding them for our children (5mo & 1.5yrs). Our 5 mo old daughter has already had thrush 3 times and I just noticed it again this morning. Giving the BSW a try! Will post a follow up with results.

Replied by Cheryl
(Pa, Usa)
07/19/2017

If baby is nursing, it's important that mom treat herself and clean breasts before and after.

Bentonite Clay

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Posted by Michale (New York) on 03/16/2012
 ★★★★★

I ate 1 teaspoon of Bentonite Clay (diluted in a glass of water) the first day, then 1 tablespoon and brushed my teeth with it 3-4 times a day - horrible dry mouth and thrush gone! After just 2 days!

Black Seed Oil

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Posted by Deborah (San Diego, California) on 12/24/2013
 ★★★★★

Take 1-3 teaspoons of Black Seed Oil for a few days and your thrush will be gone and you'll have a nice pink tongue!

Replied by Keru
(Saudi Arabia)
08/22/2014

Does Black Seed Oil have to be swished in the mouth, or just simply swallow it.Thank you.

Calendula Tea

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Posted by Mayari (Candler, NC) on 12/05/2007
 ★★★★★

Calendula tea helped my newborn's thrush. I brewed it for four hours and then applied it with a q-tip and gave her a little in a spoon about 8 times a day. It had an immediate effect, and after a week, her thrush is nearly gone.

Coconut Oil

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Posted by Serena (San Diego, Ca) on 05/23/2013
 ★★★★☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Coconut oil is an incredible remedy to cure thrush. BUT you have to use it in the wrong way. If you take too much, it can exacerbate your symptoms. Through much trial and error, I have learned the importance of GOING SLOW!! When I took a tablespoon, and even a teaspoon of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, my thrush got so bad I could barely swallow - my mouth got so incredibly dry. Coconut oil is SUCH a potent detoxifier/antifungal - if you already are having a problem with yeast, you must go slow! I started taking just 1/8 of a teaspoon of coconut oil for about a week (even that tiny amount initially caused detox reactions in me) and then all of a sudden the thrush that the coconut oil had in the past cleared right up!! GO SLOW AND START WITH TINY AMOUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO USING COCONUT OIL AS AN ANTIFUNGAL! Good luck!

Coconut Oil
Posted by Jade (Dallas, Tx) on 09/08/2011
 ★★★★★

While I was nursing my baby we both got thrush. It was very painful to nurse. I started just pumping and bottle feeding. A friend of mine said thrush is a fungus and to try extra virgin coconut oil. I put it on as a topical on my affected area. And after a few minutes I would nurse. Not only did the oil add more relief than the lanolin during the actual nursing, but within days the thrush was gone. I continued to use it for my mosturizer and we never had thrush again.

Since it helped there I suggested my husband use it on his toe nails. He had 2 that I was guessing were infected with fungus. They grew so thick I would file the tops of them so they looked less gross. It took awhile because the nails had to grow out. One was completely healed and one still looks a little funky but is half the size. I think he stopped using it too early on that toe (it was worse than the other to start with).

I have also used it on diaper rashes as sometimes those are caused by fungus. It had helped several times on those.

Coconut Oil
Posted by Melanie (Rochester, Il) on 06/06/2010
 ★★★★★

Both myself and my infant suffered horribly from thrush. I breastfeed and had it on my breasts, baby had it on genital area. It was miserably itchy. I began consuming 1 TBSP coconut oil daily, as well as applying it topically to myself and my baby. I also would use tea tree oil/alternate 2-3 x daily,it also helped considerably to avoid sugar, and breads. A few things happened, I noticed right away my asthma improved and was able to go off my meds! I lost 8 lbs the first month, and a total of 30 in 5 months consuming the coconut oil. It took about 3 weeks, but the thrush was totally gone, with no reoccurances!

Coconut Oil
Posted by Rodney (Delaware) on 04/18/2006
 ★★★★★

I suffered with thrush for 9 mos. Tried Nystatin and several other RX meds. Tried all of the popular probiotics and even tried the expensive Three-Lac. Three-Lac did offer some relief but could not completely get rid of the problem. One week of extra Virgin coconut oil from GNC, Emerald labs did the trick. I had several days of pure hell from upset stomach, loose bowels stomach pain and so on. This eventually subsided and the benefits have been nothing short of miraculous. I wish I had known of this product earlier, it would have saved me a ton of misery and saved me a boat load of cash.

Colloidal Silver

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Posted by Ted (Seattle, WA) on 08/13/2014
 ★★★★★

Swishing Colloidal Silver around in my mouth a couple of times helps clear up thrush instantly. Taking some orally could help as well.

Cranberry Juice

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Posted by Michelin (Georgia) on 10/10/2022
 ★★★★★

Cure for Oral Thrush (Yeast)! Unsweetened Organic Cranberry juice.

The organic cranberry extract supplements did not work for yeast, even when I dissolved them in my mouth before swallowing. I just drank about 4 oz a day and it was gone in like 2 days. Like a Miracle!


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