Typical yeast infection remedies that are suggested by doctors only empty your pocketbook. Most physicians want you to buy pharmaceutical drugs or OTC’s that may work but can be quite expensive to buy. Home remedies work just as well for many women and can save you a lot of money and grief! Yeast infections can be a really aggravating thing!
There are so many yeast infection medicines on the market today! Fungal medicines include butoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, nystatin, tioconazole and terconazole. There are some that work overnight (like Diflucan) and others, mainly ointments, tablets, or inserts, (like Monistat) which are targeted to work in just a few days.
However, there are many inexpensive home yeast infection remedies that you can use that work very well and may even work faster than OTC's or prescribed medicines!
In order to understand how these simple yeast infection remedies work, consider why you get one in the first place. Yeast infections are caused when there is an imbalance in the pH levels of your body. Your body strives to be more alkaline than acid, yet most people consume an overabundance of food and drinks that are highly acid. When your body becomes overly acid, yeast infections happen!
Take a look at this list of foods and drinks to see why yeast infections happen so quickly and easily!
Did you have an 'Ah ha' moment? When you know which foods and drinks make your body more acid, it's no wonder that we get yeast infections in the first place and/or why we don't get them more often!
Normally, the vaginal lining is very alkaline. When you have a yeast infection, the pH balance has changed. Yeast infections happen because there is too much yeast but also because there is an imbalance. The uterine walls become too acid and you break out in a yeast infection.
Although douching has 'not been suggested' by doctors, using a mild vinegar and water douche helps return the uterine wall lining back to its alkaline balance which helps to fight off the excess of yeast. Vinegar really helps cool down the itch and helps reduce swelling and redness!
(Notice that Apple cider Vinegar is on your list of 'alkaline' foods. This is probably why a mild vinegar and water douche helps so much before or during a yeast infection!)
Douche the moment you begin to feel itchy, then douche two more times in the next 24 hours. (It also helps you feel 'fresh' in the midst of yucky discharge and that’s worth it’s weight in gold!) But don’t overdo douching!
Douche no more than 3 times initially. The point is to STOP the yeast infections BEFORE it starts. The first moment you experience any symptoms is the time to douche.
This can help you experience much shorter and milder infections. And don’t use anything but the MILD vinegar and water douche if you douche! Medicated and regular strength vinegar douches won’t work well because they are too harsh on the uterine lining. You want to keep some of the 'good bacterial flora' that’s in the uterus.
If it doesn’t clear up pretty quickly, then this remedy isn’t working for you and you may want to consider trying different yeast infection remedies. Remember to incorporate alkalizing foods/drinks when you get any symptoms too!
If a mild vinegar and water douche don't work for you, consider these other natural yeast infection remedies!
More Home Remedies
Insert unpasteurized, plain yogurt with a small spoon, sterilized spatula, or vaginal cream applicator. Insert at night before bed and wear a pad. Repeat for three to seven nights, until symptoms disappear.
Douche with a mixture of water and yogurt. Mix together and shake well before douching. (Also eat a lot of yogurt with live active cultures!)
"Paint" the vagina, cervix and vulva (outside area including the labia or "lips" of vagina) with gentian violet. (You'll need a speculum for this.) It stains so you'll want to wear a mini pad. This method usually works after one treatment.
Insert a garlic suppository. Peel one clove of garlic, wrap in gauze, and insert into the vagina. Leave the garlic in for up to twelve hours. Repeat as necessary. Also eat a lot of garlic or take garlic capsules.
Drink lots of light cranberry juice. (Better to leave out the Vodka for now:o)
Insert Potassium Sorbate. This is used in home beer-making and can be found at beer or wine making store. Dip a cotton tampon into a 3% solution (15 grams of Potassium Sorbate in one pint of water) and insert into the vagina at night. Remove in the morning.
Consume Acidophilus. It's available in powder or capsules in many superstores or found in some milk and yogurt products. (Read the labels. Some dairy products have added acidophilus.)
Stay Dry. It's really important to keep your vaginal area as dry as possible. No hottubs, pools, baths, or excessive showers. Yeast feeds on moisture, so you'll only make it worse!
Wear. Wear loose clothing when you have a yeast infection. You want to keep as much ventilation going to the area as possible. This helps things stay drier too.
More Yeast Infection Remedies
Drink two or more glasses of buttermilk is a great recommendation for your daily diet and avoid too much acidic food. Try eating some bananas and avocados to balance your pH levels.
Daub the vaginal area in a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar regularly. If you are itchy, then add a little bit of garlic to the solution to help stop it.
Take olive leaf extract and grapefruit seed extract capsules/caplets throughout the day. These herbal remedies are known as good tonics for sufferers of yeast infections.
Boric Acid Suppositories are also a good remedy to use and can be located through compounding pharmacies. There have been many studies proving the usefulness of Boric Acid for yeast infection remedies.
Wash the vaginal area with a solution of Tea Tree essential oil mixed with water. Tea tree oil has great antiseptic properties. It can be used regularly for general cleanliness as well as alleviating the symptoms of thrush.
Next time you get a yeast infection, remember these home yeast infection remedies. Just a simple douche can stop a yeast infection in it's tracks if you can do one before it gets out of hand!
. (You'll need a speculum for this.) It stains so you'll want to wear a mini pad. This method usually works after one treatment.
. It's available in powder or capsules in many superstores or found in some milk and yogurt products. (Read the labels. Some dairy products have added acidophilus.)
are also a good remedy to use and can be located through compounding pharmacies. There have been many studies proving the usefulness of Boric Acid for yeast infection remedies.
has great antiseptic properties. It can be used regularly for general cleanliness as well as alleviating the symptoms of thrush.
