Home Remedies for Chlamydia: Why They Cannot Cure This Infection

Antibiotics are the most common treatment for chlamydia and can usually cure the infection quickly. Delayed treatment has been associated with complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

The recommended treatment for chlamydia is a single dose of azithromycin 1 g taken orally or doxycycline 100 mg taken orally twice a day for 7 days.

Alternative chlamydia treatments include:

• erythromycin base 500 mg taken 4 times a day for 7 days
• erythromycin ethylsucciante 800 mg taken 4 times a day for 7 days
• levofloxacin 500 mg taken once a day for 7 days
• ofloxacin 300 mg taken twice a day for 7 days

You should abstain from having sex until the infection resolves — usually within one to two weeks. Your sexual partner(s) also need treatment even if they don't have any signs of symptoms. This is to avoid passing the infection back and forth.

There are several home remedies for chlamydia and a number of websites claim that these home remedies can cure chlamydia. While some of the home remedies have been shown to have antibacterial properties, antibiotics are the only proven cure for chlamydia. It isn't worth the risk of infertility or illness to not treat chlamydia.

If you experience symptoms, some of these home remedies may be effective for symptom relief, but they cannot cure the infection itself.

Garlic

Garlic has a number of proven health benefits and has been a popular home remedy for centuries. It contains active compounds, such as allicin, which have been shown to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. There is evidence that garlic does kill some bacteria, but not the bacteria that causes chlamydia.

Garlic does have proven antifungal properties and has been shown to fight the growth of yeast, which may make it beneficial during antibiotic treatment for chlamydia. Antibiotics increase the risk of yeast infections.

Shop for garlic online.

Echinacea

Echinacea is used as a home remedy for a few conditions, but is best known as a natural cold and flu remedy. Echinacea extract has been shown to boost immunity and help fight certain bacterial and viral infections. A small 2017 study showed echinacea can help pain and inflammation in people with knee osteoarthritis.

While this might help relieve some of the symptoms of chlamydia, there is no evidence that it can treat the infection. If you choose to use echinacea to calm your symptoms, do it in conjunction with the antibiotics.

Shop for echinacea online.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal appears to be a home remedy for all that ails you. There are claims that it can treat a number of conditions, including upper respiratory infections, canker sores. There are even some claims that goldenseal might treat STIs, including gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Lab studies conducted in 2011 found some evidence of goldenseal's antibacterial properties, but none confirming it as a cure for any STI, including chlamydia.

Shop for goldenseal online.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been shown to provide numerous health benefits. Curcumin, a plant chemical in turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

A 2008 study found that a topical cream containing curcumin and three other plant compounds had effects on chlamydia in lab tests. While promising, there isn't yet enough evidence to support turmeric as a cure for chlamydia. It might be a good choice to add to antibiotic treatment.

Turmeric's natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties do offer other health benefits and are safe for most people in the right dosage.

Shop for turmeric online.

Olive tree extract

Oleuropein, the major phenolic compound in olive tree extract, is known for its pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. It's even been shown to have an anti-cancer effect.

With so many health effects, it's not surprising it might be considered an effective home remedy for chlamydia. While there is no evidence to support olive tree extract as a way to cure chlamydia, many other proven health benefits that make it worth taking.

Olive tree extract is also called olive leaf extract. It's available in capsule form online and in health food stores. You can enjoy similar health benefits from eating olives and olive oil.

Shop for olive leaf extract online.

Diet

There are claims that you can get rid of chlamydia fast by following a special diet. These so-called chlamydia diets contain things such as certain fruits and vegetables, herbs, and probiotics. Claims of a special chlamydia diet are purely anecdotal.

However, what you eat before and after taking antibiotics may help protect your gut, restore healthy gut bacteria, and limit some of the side effects of taking antibiotics. Eating well as you treat your chlamydia with antibiotics will improve your immune function.

There are numerous risks associated with chlamydia. Risk and symptoms vary between males and females.

Risks include:

• spreading the infection to others
• infecting other parts of the body, including the eyes, throat, and anus
• painful urination
• vaginal discharge or urethral discharge
• bleeding
• lower abdominal pain
• infertility
• PID
• ectopic pregnancy
• higher risk of other STIs
• prostate infection
• epididymitis
• infecting fetus during pregnancy

Though some of these home remedies for chlamydia may offer other health benefits or provide some minor relief of symptoms, they can't cure chlamydia. Home remedies won't treat the infection, and they increase your risk for complications and infecting others.

See a doctor right away if you think you might have chlamydia. A doctor can diagnose chlamydia using a urine sample or swab.

You can get chlamydia through sexual contact with someone who has chlamydia. This includes vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Chlamydia can only be cured with antibiotic treatment. Home remedies for chlamydia can't cure the infection, though some may offer minor relief of symptoms as you complete the entire course of antibiotics. Prompt treatment can help you avoid serious complications. See your doctor right away if you think you have chlamydia.