Yeast infections are not a pleasant thing and we would all
like to know the best way to be rid of them, yet the subject just does not seem
to be talked of much.
I recently had to go on antibiotics (don’t even get me started
on how annoyed I was that I had to go on them). Once the antibiotics had done
their job which involved killing the bad bacteria… but also killing the good
bacteria, both my daughter and I (she was still nursing at the time and so the
antibiotics messed up her system too) developed yeast infections. Not wanting
to use the standard over-the-counter creams or prescription pills, I decided to
research the natural remedies for yeast infections.
The good news is that there are a quite a few reliable
natural remedies for yeast infections! Better yet, you probably have every
single remedy in your home already! No need to run to the store for relief!
Natural Remedies for Yeast Infections
Probiotics – Odds are that you developed a yeast infection
due to a lack of probiotics (the good bacteria) in your body. Yeast infections
are generally due to a yeast overgrowth. Probiotics can help keep yeast under
control. Therefore it’s a good idea to take probiotics (whether in capsule form
or through lots of fermented foods) before, during, and after taking
antibiotics. Not to mention probiotics are a good thing to take no matter what.
Garlic – Insert one clove of garlic (either by itself or you
can thread a string through for the extra reassurance of removal) Note: people
swear by this one however, garlic can burn a bit so consider yourself warned.
Yogurt/kefir – Along the same lines as the probiotics
(because yogurt contains probiotics), plain, unsweetened yogurt can be used as
a topical remedy. There are two yogurt methods, 1) simply slather on and in
like any yeast infection cream or 2) soak a tampon in the yogurt/kefir and
insert. Either method is likely to
be messy.
Tea Tree Oil – Tea tree oil is amazing for it’s
antibacterial properties! I would recommend using a carrier oil (
coconut oil is
my preference as it also is antibacterial.) Mix 4-5 drops of Tea Tree Oil in ¼
cup of oil. Apply part of this mixture (this is a large amount worth at least a
few days) as you would any other cream. I did this at night before bed and my
yeast infection was gone in just a few days. There are a few benefits to this
method: 1) Tea Tree Oil provides instant relief from itching and burning 2) you
can use Tea Tree Oil mixed in coconut oil as a diaper cream which is safe for
cloth diapers and will clear up a babies yeast infection, although you will
still want to strip your cloth diapers.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Drink it and/or take a bath with it.
Seems natural that vinegar would be on this list, there’s hardly anything that
vinegar can’t do!
Skip the sugar – Sugar feeds yeast. Needless to say, it’s
best to lay off the sugar at least during a yeast infection. Sometimes just
cutting out sugar itself will help, sometimes you need to go all the way and
remove all sugar containing foods and the refined grains that convert to sugar.
I wouldn’t really recommend relying on this method to fully remedy a yeast
infection however. I do think it’s beneficial but I think you need a bit of
help to really get rid of a yeast infection.
I have only used the Tea Tree Oil method so far (outside of
including yogurt in my smoothies) so I cannot personally vouch for the other
remedies, however I have heard many others swear by them.
I also want to mention that all these methods should be fine
to use while pregnant. Of course, since they are home remedies, there really
hasn’t been any testing done but the remedies in and of themselves are
harmless.
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