Can You Use Coconut Oil to Treat a Yeast Infection?

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The basics

Not only can yeast infections be uncomfortable and itchy, they can be hard to get rid of. Although they’re typically treated with over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription creams, some women are turning to home remedies. One such remedy is coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a fatty oil derived from the flesh of the coconut fruit. The oil is said to have many health benefits, such as aiding digestion and helping to balance your hormones.

It’s also thought to have antibacterial properties, which may make it an effective treatment for yeast infections. Here’s what you need to know about using coconut oil to treat a yeast infection.

What the research says

Coconut oil is an established antifungal. Although research on its use for yeast infections is limited, there’s evidence to suggest that this approach may work.

A 2007 lab studyTrusted Source found that coconut oil helped kill a species of yeast. Researchers found that the Candida albicans strain was the most susceptible to concentrated coconut oil.

In the study, less coconut oil was needed to get rid of the yeast than fluconazole. Fluconazole is an antifungal medication commonly recommended for the treatment of yeast infections.

A 2014 canine studyTrusted Source produced similar results. Twenty dogs were treated with a mixture of essential oils that included coconut oil. This mixture was applied topically for one month.

Researchers found that the treatment had a good clinical outcome, with no adverse effects or recurrence reported.

More research is needed to determine the possible short- and long-term effects of use.


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