Many women are plagued by yeast infections and often seek any type of yeast infection remedies they can find. Luckily, remedies for these infections abound… even in your own home.

The most common yeast infection is vaginal. They can cause itching and irritation and a thick, white, curd-like discharge. It may be accompanied by redness, swelling or a cracking of the skin. You may experience burning when urinating, itching around the rectum and pain during intercourse.

Yeast infections are caused by an organism known as Candida albicans. Candida is a normal inhabitant of the human body, and at normal levels is a useful addition to our body’s flora. When imbalances occur, Candida gets out of control. It overgrows its normal numbers and an infection is the result.

While prevention is the best remedy for yeast, if you’re looking for remedies that are inexpensive and give you results, you may have what you need right at home. If not, a quick trip to the store is all you need.

If you are experiencing a severe infection, you’ll want to treat your discomfort as well as the cause of the infection. A dilution of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and water can help soothe the discomfort. Or you may try diluting a couple teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in water. Aloe vera juice can also be soothing… especially when it is chilled.

Besides these remedies for discomfort, you need to treat the infection itself. A dollop of plain yogurt with active cultures works great. You can freeze it or apply it fresh. This treatment is messy… it is best done at bedtime. You’ll want to protect your bed with a towel or other protective layer.

Tea tree oil is another of the very effective yeast infection remedies. Tea tree oil is an essential oil made from a tree that grows in Australia. It has nothing to do with the same plant that gives us tea to drink. Tea tree oil is a very strong oil with anti-bacterial qualities. It can be a little strong on its own, so you may want to mix it in a carrier oil like olive oil. You only need a couple drops of tea tree oil to a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Tea tree oil resolves yeast infections pretty quickly.

Garlic, surprisingly, is also a good remedy for yeast infections. Take a clove of garlic and peel it. You can wrap it in cheesecloth and tie a string around it to keep it together. Make sure the string is long enough to use later when you want to remove the garlic. Insert the garlic into the vagina and leave there for a few hours. You should notice a difference at the end of the treatment. You may need to repeat this treatment every day for a few days to be completely rid of the infection.