Natural antifungals
All of the following may be found either at your local health food store or through one of our recommended distributors:
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE): Grapefruit seed extract has been used in the treatment of human fungal infections. It is more effective at killing yeast than bleach, colloidal silver, tea tree oil and iodine (Sachs, The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed Extract, 1997). In the liquid form, it has a bitter taste and must be diluted in water or juice (carrot juice) or baby's milk. It can be used for topical conditions as well as internal problems. There have been no side effects observed with use of GSE.
D-limonene: found in essential oils of lemons, oranges, grapefruit, caraway, dill, bergamot, peppermint, spearmint, grasses and tomatoes. D-limonene is among a group of chemicals known as monoterpenes. These substances have been shown to cause regression and prevention of recurrence of mammary tumors in rats (Gould. Cancer Chemoprevention and Therapy by monoterpenes. Environmental Health Perspective, 1997. 105:5977-5979). They also have a direct tumorstatic effect, meaning they inhibit the growth of tumors, as well has the ability to block the initiation and promotion phases of carcinogenesis (Gould).
Caprylic acid: a fatty acid derived from coconuts. Caprylic acid is safe and effective at killing yeast. Follow directions on the individual product label for correct doses.
Probiotics: indiscriminant use of antibiotics leads to overgrowth of the normal intestinal yeast, which may either initiate problems or compound existing symptoms. By replacing the normal intestinal flora, yeast overgrowth may be inhibited. Probiotics are these normal flora, and include such species as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, among others. These are bacteria used in making yogurt- they are the "live active cultures" you see in the ingredients. They are important for the manufacture of B vitamins. They also protect against radiation damage, cancer, eczema, acne, allergies, and digestion disorders (Chaitow et al. Probiotics, 1995).
Olive Leaf Extract: Olive leaf extract "has the ability to kill invading fungus rather than merely inhibiting its growth" (Walker, 1997). It contains a phenolic compound called oleuropein, which has antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antibacterial properties (Walker).
Garlic: Garlic in its natural form is a highly effective, broad-spectrum antifungal (Mowrey, 1986). It can be eaten whole, cooked in recipes, ground up in a carrot juice, or taken as a supplement that offers it in its whole, albeit dried, form. Malic acid: Malic acid is found in apple cider vinegar. Although vinegars and most sauces are not encouraged in an antifungal diet, malic acid is antifungal. One might use a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water to consume once or twice a day.
Undecylenic acid: An organic fatty acid expressed from castor bean oil that, in the older days, was listed and used as a pharmaceutical antifungal agent. Today, it can be found in an over the counter form and used for the same purpose in products such as Formula SF 722 (Thorne Research). It is also used in many over the counter antifungal powders such as those used to treat athlete's foot and jock itch. It has approximately six times the antifungal activity of caprylic acid (Neuhauser, 1954).
Pau d' arco: May be taken in a capsule or a tea. The bark of this rainforest tree is inherently antifungal. Follow individual product directions for proper use
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Tea Tree Oil: A topical antifungal that should never be used internally, although at one time the leaves of the tree were boiled to form a tea that was consumed in order to prevent scurvy. The oil is derived from the indiginous Australian tree, melaleuca alternifolia, and it has been used for centuries as a general antiseptic, meaning that it kills a wide variety of germs (Carson and Riley, 1998). Studies at the University of Western Australia have documented antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties of tea tree oil. For skin problems, either direct, full strength application or dilution with water for washing purposes is recommended.
Carrot Juice (Carrots): An article in The Journal of Microbiology in 1988 discussed antifungal properties of carrots. Despite their carbohydrate content, which can be rather high, say, if a large carrot juice is consumed, we generally feel that the nutritional and antifungal properties of carrots outweighs this concern- enjoy a carrot juice today!
Herbs and Vitamins: Most herbs and many vitamins that display health benefits, like the antioxidants (Vit. E, A, C, Zinc, etc.), have antifungal properties (Costantini, 1998). For example, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is added to commercial applesauce to prevent the growth of fungi in the jars and cans. We feel that this ability to inhibit fungi may be more responsible for their benefit than their mere nutritional qualities can provide alone, given the documented ability of fungi to cause disease and illness. Please note that if fungi can cause disease, it would probably not be a good idea to supplement with brewer's yeast, a common practice in the nutritional arena.
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