Using honey to treat yeast infections sounds really strange, (and sticky!) but many women absolutely swear by it.

Honey is known to increase the numbers of beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria in the gut when included in the diet, and it has many other known health benefits. Perhaps this is why many women with mild yeast infections have found their symptoms improve or completely go away in just a few applications of honey. Men could try this remedy, too, if they have symptoms of a male yeast infection.

To try this, buy some raw unheated honey at the health food store. (Regular honey from the grocery store might work, too. If you already have some on hand, go ahead and try it). Smear the honey liberally on your crotch area to cover all the itching spots, and let it sit there for at least five minutes. Then take a bath or shower and wash off the sticky mess with unscented, non-medicated soap.

As always, if you’re using honey or any other natural or OTC yeast infection remedy and your infection doesn’t clear up quickly or seems to keep coming back, talk to your doctor. You could have a bacterial infection, or you may have a serious underlying condition, such as diabetes or a compromised immune system that can’t fight off infections the way it should.

Many women have wonderful results by using a peeled clove of garlic for yeast infections.