Clove Remedies That Kill Candida

According to Karachi University's 2006 studies and the 2009 trials at the University of Porto, clove -- Eugenia caryophyllata, a culinary herb with a slightly sweet, spicy flavor and aroma, can help relieve the growth of candida (Candida albicans). Candida is a fungus that commonly infects humans, growing along the mouth, vagina, skin, stomach or urinary tract. If you use clove to combat the spread of candida, select a means of ingestion befitting the severity of your case of candida.

The essential oil of clove exhibits a high eugenol content, which gives it its useful antifungal quality, according to the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto, Clove essential oil effectively combats candida as well as aspergillus, inhibiting growth of the fungi, as well as other filamentous fungi and yeasts. Applying clove essential oil quickly reduces the candida's ergosterol supply, which it needs in order to maintain fungal cell membranes. Besides its effectiveness in killing off candida growth, clove essential oil works well against strains of fungi that can resist fluconazole, a fungicide commonly used for clinical purposes.

For culinary purposes, cloves are often used in dried form. Whole, the cloves resemble small, hardened florets, coated with a fine, aromatic dust. In powdered form, cloves have a medium-brown color and fine texture. If you're looking for an easy way to combat candida, dried cloves are most likely the easiest form of the spice that you can find. Simply increasing your daily intake of cloves can improve your resistance to candida and kill off any existing infection. To introduce more of the spice into your regular diet, you can add them to hot drinks such as herbal teas, mulled wine or apple cider. Cloves complement many autumnal and wintry dishes, balancing the flavors of citrus and dried fruits. Whenever you stew fruits or make jams, add a few whole cloves to the mix. Use sachets or cheesecloth as necessary to avoid eating any whole cloves.

You rarely consume a dried clove, whole. Instead, take whole cloves by brewing them into decoctions, preparations that use boiling water to extract an ingredient's active ingredients or flavors. You can make a very simple clove infusion by boiling water with a few cloves and a slice of lemon, for flavor. If you wish to sweeten the brew, you can add a little bit of honey, as well. According to the Department of Microbiology at Karachi University, Pakistan, clove is one of the few antifungal herbs that retains its potency in decoctions, unlike oregano or poppy seed, which lose their potency when prepared in decocted form, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations website.