Coconut oil is made from the meat of mature, harvested coconuts from the coconut palm, and in recent years, its medicinal uses have come to light. But, did you know that coconut can also be used for “down there” in your vaginal area too?
Various studies support the long list of health benefits of coconut oil, especially for yeast infections arising from Candida albicans, a fungal pathogen.
Coconut oil has three unique medium-chain fatty acids with antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties that help fight yeast infections.
For example, the lauric acid found in
coconut oil converts to monolaurin, which is a compound that helps kill harmful fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Other fatty acids in coconut oil that are effective against Candida include capric acid and caprylic acid.
At the same time, these powerful fatty acids leave the good bacteria and yeast alone, which benefits the immune system.
Coconut oil also has antioxidant properties that help in the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. Also, it’s safe to use coconut oil for a yeast infection while pregnant.
While coconut oil and Candida are
perfect for each other, the question is, how is coconut oil used for yeast infections? Coconut oil can be used to treat Candida both externally and internally, including the following four methods:
Wash with the oil:
You can also wash with coconut oil once or twice each day to help prevent a yeast infection. Simply combine three to four tablespoons of coconut oil with two quarts of warm, distilled water.
Submerge a cloth into the solution and wash your affected areas. Perform the procedure as much as needed until the infection is gone.
READ THIS: 10 Signs You May Have A Yeast Infection
Apply it to your skin:
Coconut oil can also fight yeast infections of the skin. Simply clean and dry your
affected area, and apply a small amount of coconut oil. This should be done two to three times throughout the day and into the evening.
Apply coconut oil to the skin regularly until the infection has disappeared completely.
You could also combine it with other infection-fighting remedies such as garlic oil, cinnamon oil, or vitamin E drops.
Add it to your diet:
Adding coconut oil to your diet is a
no-brainer. It’s a good idea to add three to five tablespoons of coconut oil to your diet every day, but I would start with a single tablespoon and work your way up to five.
A good place to start is to replace butter with coconut oil.
Use coconut oil capsule supplements:
There are also coconut oil capsule supplements available. They are used on the body, and they melt due to body heat. It’s best to use two to three capsules at night until the yeast infection has disappeared.
As with anything you put down in your vaginal area, be sure to ask your physician if you have a history of infection or if your skin reacts differently to certain oils.
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