Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of a fungus. The most common form is Candida Albicans. Yeast infections can occur in many parts of the body including the vagina and penis, the skin, mouth and throat, the bladder, urethra and kidneys, bones, joints and muscles and deep organ tissue.
Candida in men and children is possible but the most common, recurrent yeast infection is the vaginal Candida Albicans suffered by many women and girls after they reach puberty. Any vaginal discharge should be checked out by a healthcare provider.
It has been estimated that roughly 75% of women experience a yeast infection in their lifetime, and of those about 5% get four or more vaginal yeast infections in one year. (womenshealth.gov)
If you are looking for natural cures for yeast infections there are important things you need to know.
For one thing don’t just grin and bear it. Yeast infections can progress into serious health complications. If it becomes pathogenic it produces rhizoids which can penetrate your intestinal wall and allow the yeast to get in to your abdominal cavity and blood stream. This can give you leaky gut syndrome, joint pain, memory loss and sinus and lung infections. It can even lead to cancer.
Infections during pregnancy are quite common.
Common Yeast Infection Sites
Vaginal Candidiasis and vulvovaginal Candidiasis are the bane of many a woman’s life. Any vaginal infection is worrying and can be extremely painful. The particular problem that many have is that once you’ve had one vaginal yeast infection the chances are high that you may suffer another.
Recurrent vaginal yeast infections are no joke and something you should speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about. They may suggest vaginal suppositories or creams.
You may be wondering whether Candida is regarded among the infectious diseases and can be transmitted putting your sexual partner at risk. Or perhaps you are wondering if you can become infected through sex.
Your urinary tract, mouth or throat are other common sites where a Candida overgrowth can occur so men are definitely at risk for yeast problems.
Antifungal Medicine
What can a doctor prescribe for yeast infections?
Your doctor may well prescribe an antifungal medicine such as Fluconazole.
Boric acid has been used and can be successful although up to 40% of cases are not helped. Boric acid is usually given in the form of suppositories used for 7-10 nights.
Lactobacillus capsules have also been used as medication.
Treating Yeast Infections Naturally
Perhaps you don’t like the idea of having to take Fluconazole or using an antifungal cream, suppositories or similar remedies for yeast and are wondering how you can deal with the problem naturally. Here are some ideas that will certainly help.
Natural antifungals
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an anti fungal and one of the best natural cures for a yeast infection. Do a spot test first on the inside of your wrist as some people have a tea tree oil sensitivity. Some women find that mixing a few drops of tea tree with a carrier oil, soaking a tampon in it and inserting that can cure vaginal yeast infections. Don’t leave any one tampon in place for more than 4-5 hours before changing it.
Oregano oil
Oregano oil is another natural antifungal that can be mixed with a carrier oil in the same way as tea tree oil. This is not the common Oregano Marjoram that you find in most herb gardens but Oregano Vulgare, which is the wild oregano.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is another natural antifungal and can be eaten or applied topically. It also makes it a good choice as the carrier oil for mixing with the teat tree or oregano.
Garlic
Garlic is one of the most widely known natural foods that has both antifungal and antibiotic qualities. However in this case eating garlic doesn’t seem to help very much.
Some women have tried putting a clove in the vagina overnight and claim this gives some relief. If you are going to try this make sure you attach a cord to the clove so you can get it out again and bear in mind that there is no proven evidence that it will help.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many uses in holistic medicine and one of them is to help in this type of infection.
Probiotics
Probiotics can help as they help restore the delicate balance between good bacteria and the yeast.
You have two choices when it comes to probiotics, either supplements from a pharmacy or natural ones. If you go to the pharmacy you will find a choice of capsules, lotions or creams. There are many brands available over the counter without needing to see a doctor.
Yoghurt a natural probiotic
Natural, unsweetened plain yoghurt is one of natures probiotics. Many people find the beneficial bacteria in natural yoghurt beneficial. You can add it to your diet but also apply it externally to the affected areas.
Cottage cheese is an alternative that you could consider.
Alkaline foods
The growth of yeast is encouraged in acidic environments. You need to maintain a balanced body pH. you will want to cut down on foods that can make your body more acidic including red meat, fish and grains.
It is important to eat a healthy diet to maintain a good gut microbiome and keep your blood sugar within the normal range. High blood sugar levels can encourage Candida overgrowth.
You can read about the candida diet and recommended food choices in this article.
https://marmaladesandwich.com/candida-diet
Lifestyle choices are natural ways to treat yeast infections
There are other lifestyle choices that can cut down the chance of getting a yeast infection in the first place. These include maintaining basic personal hygiene like showering after any sexual activity, showering daily and drying well afterwards. You do not need to douche as this can make matters worse.
Other factors you can try include keeping the genital area cool by wearing loose fitting clothing and cotton underwear. Also try to avoid damage to the vagina by using a lubricant during intercourse if needed. While we are on the subject you should know that oestrogen contraceptives can make women more prone to yeast infections. You may want to consult your doctor to consider your options for alternative birth control.
When choosing skin and body products it is best to stick to natural products that do not contain any harmful chemicals. Using natural products is highly recommended when trying to avoid yeast infections.
How to prevent yeast infections from recurring
Dietary changes you can make include increasing your probiotic intake and reducing the amount of sugar you eat. Most of us eat far too much sugar for good health anyway and yeast also thrive on it.
Make sure you stay hydrated. You can drink plain water, herbal teas or cranberry juice. It is important to consume enough fluid when trying to cure a yeast infection. Water is so important for our overall good health in many other ways also.
You also want to avoid stress as much as possible. Continual stress can lower our immune systems and lay you open to all sorts of infection.
So these are the best natural cures for yeast infections. Unfortunately you will only be treating the symptoms and not really addressing the root cause of why some people suffer with repeated yeast infections.
If you are asking “why do I keep getting yeast infections” and want to get to the root cause there is advice from a health consultant here. She recommends a 5 step system. You only have to read all the positive reviews to realize that the advice is sound.
So these are the best natural cures for yeast infections. Unfortunately you will only be treating the symptoms and not really addressing the root cause of why some people suffer with repeated yeast infections. If you are asking “what should I do if I get repeat yeast infections” and want to get to the root cause there is advice from a health consultant here. She recommends a 5 step system. You only have to read all the positive reviews to realize that the advice is sound.
