Study: Oral Garlic Not Useful In Treating Vaginal Thrush

Researchers have found that garlic does not significantly reduce vaginal candida.

AsianScientist (Dec. 26, 2013) – Researchers in Australia have found that garlic does not significantly reduce vaginal candida (thrush).

Findings from the study, led by researchers at the University of Melbourne and the Royal Women’s Hospital, were published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In a simple randomized double-blinded controlled trial, 63 women with candida were given three garlic tablets or placebo orally twice daily for 14 days. Results found a non-significant reduction in the amount of candida in women who were taking oral garlic tablets, compared with women taking placebo.

Lead author University of Melbourne’s PhD candidate Cathy Watson said that the findings provide valuable information that support future trials involving more participants to demonstrate the effectiveness of oral garlic to treat thrush.

“Many women have difficulty clearing thrush, and complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies are very popular. Our study shows more investigation should take place in this field and properly inform the public of the benefit of alternative therapies,” she said.

This study is the first to investigate the effect of oral garlic on vaginal colonization of candida and provides another link in the chain of investigation of complementary and alternative therapies.

Despite the assumed benefits of garlic as an alternative therapy to treat vaginal candida, further studies are needed before it can be properly recommended, the authors say.

The article can be found at: Watson C et al. (2013) The effects of oral garlic on vaginal candida colony counts: a randomised placebo controlled double-blind trial.

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Source: University of Melbourne.
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