Fungal Infections

Athlete's foot. Vaginal yeast infections. Jock itch. Fungal toenail infections. There is plenty of fungus among us. I've certainly had my own share of fungal infections.

While there are separate chapters in this book for athlete's foot and yeast infections, I thought it would be helpful to include this more generic look at herbs that can be used to treat any fungal infection. Whenever I get fungal infections at my Herbal Vineyard in Maryland, I often try mixtures of garlic and black walnut, both of which grow in profusion on my land, along with teatree oil, which I keep on hand. Each of these herbs is potently antifungal.

So why, you might ask, do I go to the trouble of mixing them? Why not just find a good one and stick to it, in the pharmaceutical tradition of isolating the magic bullet? One reason is that I love to work with herbs and have fun mixing them. Another is that the research is quite clear: Mixtures of antifungal herbs almost always work better than single herbs.

The synergy--the harmonious working together--of antifungal herbs has been demonstrated in several studies. In one test of ten plant species whose oils were antifungal, researchers noted that "combinations of the antifungal essential oils increased their activity remarkably." In a similar study, researchers noted that "in all the oil combinations, the antifungal potency was found to increase over individual oils."

We should not be surprised by this. After all, essential oils are complex combinations of compounds that evolved to protect plants against fungi and other diseases and pests. Synergy is the rule in nature, so it makes sense that combinations would work better than a single, isolated essential oil constituent.

Currently, many pharmaceutical "magic bullet" antifungals are more potent than herbal approaches, and sometimes when I have a bad fungal infection, I use them. But even then, I often combine them with herbs for an extra antifungal boost. If your doctor concurs, try this the next time you have a fungal infection and see how synergy works for you.

Green Pharmacy for Fungal Infections

Here are some antifungal herbs that can get the job done.

Garlic (Allium sativum). I believe that garlic is among our best antiseptics in general and antifungals in particular, closely rivaling teatree oil.

At the Banaras Hindu University in India, scientists working with garlic compounds showed that one of its chemical constituents, ajoene, was almost as effective against mildew fungus as several pharmaceutical antifungals. Several other studies have shown similar results.

Clinical trials have also yielded impressive results. Among people taking 25 milliliters (five to six teaspoons) of garlic extract a day, their blood serum exhibited significant antifungal activity against several common fungi, including Candida albicans, which causes yeast infections.

Garlic extract is even more potent when applied externally. I know from both research and personal experience that it boosts the antifungal effectiveness of pharmaceutical antifungal drugs. Simply liquefy raw garlic in a blender and use a cotton ball or clean cloth to apply it directly to the affected area three times a day.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Acording to my database, licorice contains at least 25 fungicidal compounds, more than any other herb listed. Oddly, I haven't found any good clinical trials on using licorice extracts to treat fungal infections, but based on this herb's antifungal content, I'm confident that it would help.

You can make a strong decoction by adding five to seven teaspoons of powdered licorice root to a cup of boiling water and simmering for about 20 minutes. Strain out the plant material. Using a cotton ball or clean cloth, apply the liquid to the affected area one to three times a day.

Teatree (Melaleuca, various species). Teatree oil is a powerful antiseptic that is very useful against fungal skin infections, including athlete's foot and yeast infections. Australian chemists have determined that C. albicans is remarkably sensitive to teatree oil. This research led to the development of products to treat vaginitis caused by yeast. Several women I know have reported success using teatree oil for vaginal infections that could not be entirely eradicated by pharmaceuticals like nystatin and clotrimazole.

For skin infections, you can apply a few drops of oil directly to the affected area three times a day. You might want to dilute it with an equal amount of vegetable oil, as some people find it irritating to the skin. For vaginal infections, you can apply some diluted oil directly or mix a few drops of oil into a lukewarm douche or sitz bath. If you experience any discomfort, discontinue use. This is especially important if you use it on or around the vagina, as this is a particularly sensitive area. In fact, teatree oil is such a potent antiseptic that I would recommend using it on the vaginal area only as a last resort, and always in a diluted form. Try other, gentler herbal approaches first. Then, if you want to use this oil, discuss it with your doctor. And one final warning: Don't ingest the oil. Like so many other essential plant oils, small amounts of teatree oil, on the order of a few teaspoons, can be fatal.

Black walnut (Juglans nigra). Kathi Keville, author of The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia and Herbs for Health and Healing, a California herbalist whom I admire, recounts one impressive study showing that the fresh husk of the black walnut destroyed candida better than a commonly prescribed antifungal drug. Her Candida Tincture contains one ounce of tincture of fresh black walnut husk plus a few drops each of tinctures of lavender flowers, valerian root and pau d'arco, with ten added drops of teatree oil. I'm partial to Keville's emphasis on black walnuts because at my place each autumn, these nuts are as common as golf balls at the driving range on a Sunday afternoon.

Camomile (Matricaria recutita). Camomile is a fungicidal that's especially good against candida. It's also potently antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Camomile is widely used in Europe, where it's incorporated into many over-the-counter antiseptics.

I suggest using camomile both internally and externally for fungal infections. You can make a strong tea using the dried herb and drink it several times a day. You can also apply the tea two to four times a day directly to the affected area with a cotton ball or clean cloth. Or simply use the spent tea bags. You might also apply a tincture purchased at a health food store or herb shop.

If you have hay fever, however, you should use camomile products cautiously. Camomile is a member of the ragweed family, and in some people, it might trigger allergic reactions. The first time you try it, watch your reaction. If it seems to help, go ahead and use it. But if it seems to cause or aggravate itching or irritation, discontinue use.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and other herbs containing berberine. Berberine is a powerful antifungal and antibacterial compound that's found in barberry, goldthread, Oregon grape and yellowroot as well as goldenseal. All have been used traditionally to treat yeast and other fungal infections.

If I had a fungal infection, I might buy some goldenseal tincture and, following the package directions, add it to juice three times a day. For skin application I would make a strong decoction using five to seven teaspoons of dried goldenseal to a cup of water. Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for 20 minutes. After it cools, strain out the plant material. I'd apply it to the affected area one to three times a day with a cotton ball or clean cloth.

Goldenseal Also known as golden root, goldenseal is a widely used and recommended antiseptic.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis). This popular natural hair dye contains 5,500 to 10,000 parts per million of the compound lawsone, which is active against many fungi and bacteria. I would suggest making a strong decoction by simmering five to seven teaspoons of henna per cup of water for about 20 minutes. Allow it to cool and apply the liquid to the affected area one to three times a day with a cotton ball or clean cloth.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon, various species). Scientists have demonstrated that lemongrass has significant fungicidal activity against several common infection-causing fungi. You can enjoy one to four cups of lemongrass tea a day. And for additional antifungal benefit, apply the spent tea bags directly to the affected area.

Pau-d'arco (Tabebuia, various species). This herb contains three anti-yeast compounds--lapachol, beta-lapachone and xyloidine--that show activity against C. albicans and other common problem fungi. I have personally used a Latin American salve containing pau-d'arco extract to clear up a yeast infection and would do so again if I had another flare-up.

Here in the United States, however, I'd go with a standardized commercial preparation and follow the package directions.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa). Pakistani studies show that oil of turmeric, even at very low concentrations, inhibits many common problem fungi. I'd suggest using commercial oil of turmeric, diluting it with water (one part oil to two parts water) and applying it directly to the affected area with a cotton ball or clean cloth.