Probiotics
These are a popular yeast
infection remedy and probiotics are naturally present in the vagina and
digestive tract. These "friendly bacteria" suppress the growth of
Candida and other potentially harmful organisms. This is why probiotic
supplements have been investigated as a yeast infection home remedy.
Low levels of lactobacillus in
the vagina are thought to be one cause of yeast infections because
lactobacillus can block the growth of harmful bacteria.
You can get probiotics as oral
supplements or vaginal suppositories but they do not work for everyone.
Tea Tree Oil
This is an essential oil which
can be diluted and applied to the vaginal area. There have not been any studies
into whether diluted tea tree oil actually works on yeast infections and, if
you are going to try it, remember never to apply neat tea tree oil and never use it if you are pregnant.
Combine a teaspoon of tea tree oil with a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol. Mix the solution and it should go white. Keep the solution in a dropper bottle and add 10 drops of it to a pint of water. Use it as a douche once a day for a week to rinse the vagina out.
Boric Acid Suppositories
Boric acid can be used as a
natural yeast infection cure. This chemical substance has mild antifungal and
antiseptic properties and a study in
You can get boric acid
suppositories from some compounding pharmacies and there is one called Yeast
Arrest which is made by a company called Vitanica in
Boric acid is toxic, which means it is unsuitable for children and pregnant women. It should never be used on open wounds, cuts or in the mouth. Do not use it for longer than a few days and be aware than boric acid can cause vaginal irritation and burning as side effects.
Garlic
Some women swear that inserting a garlic clove into the vagina and replacing it every few hours helps with yeast infections. You can also add garlic to your food, eat it raw or take garlic pills.
Garlic is a powerful enemy of yeast because it is both antibacterial and antifungal. Eating a lot of garlic can help to discourage yeast infections but you can also put a clove of peeled garlic in some cheesecloth, insert it into your vagina and leave it there for 3 or 4 hours.
Live Yogurt
Live yogurt can be used to fight yeast infections. Dip a tampon in plain, unsweetened yogurt and insert it into the vagina. Repeat this twice a day until the yeast infection subsides. Never use yogurt containing sugar because sugar feeds yeast infections.
If you have another type of yeast infection you can apply live yogurt on the site of the infection for 15 minutes at a time or eat it. If you still have the yeast infection symptoms after a week, see your GP.
