Managing Candidiasis with Herbs & Natural Remedies

In a healthy body, candida, which is a yeast-like fungus considered part of the body's normal �€Å"flora�€�, is perfectly harmless. But if candida grows out of control, it can quickly overwhelm the body's immune system. Doctors call this condition candidiasis or a yeast infection.

What Causes Candidiasis?

Candida is part of the �€Å"flora�€� normally found in the body. It's only when candida populations grow too large that candida is considered an infection. So what exactly can cause your body's normal candida to build up to potentially harmful levels? Certain medications, especially antibiotics, can encourage an overgrowth of candida. Yeast infections are also common among people with immune disorders, diabetes and bacterial infections. But obesity and even pregnancy can also make a person more susceptible to this common infection.

Pitting "Bad" Germs Against "Good" Germs

One of the most common home remedies for yeast infections is yogurt. While the science supporting live-culture yogurt as a yeast infection preventative has been somewhat mixed, a growing library of evidence seems to at least support the idea behind it.

Even if probiotics can't actually prevent a yeast infection, the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus and other probiotics may help bring the body's flora back into balance. One of the most recent studies to look at the benefits of probiotics was a 2007 study which focused on oral yeast infections in the elderly. This study found that probiotics intervention reduced the risk of high yeast counts by 75%.

Fighting Candidiasis By Strengthening The Immune System