Yeast and Breastfeeding Qs

[Guest guest]

Private email posted with Vicky's ok -

 

Ysha, yeast in the breastfeeding woman is becoming quite a problem, getting

harder all the time to eradicate. I notice a " new " treatment is oregano oil, as

mentioned in the latest Midwifery Today. There is a recipe there. The article

also mentions using Young Livings " inner defense " with thieves oil and oregano i

think. do you have comments on this type of treatment?

vicky york, ibclc, cpd

 

Hi Vicky -

 

Though I haven't looked at the article, it sounds like the reference is for

internal use of the essential oil/s, as the YL Inner Defense product is

encapsulated. Your observation is no surprise specific to postpartum maternal

conditions and I'm sure it is not limited to breastfeeding mothers. Are you

seeing more vaginal, nipple, thrush, or gas/bloating type symtoms? In any case

-

 

1) The condition of yeast does speak of pitta ama, weakened digestive fires, and

the also all too prevalent disturbed intestinal flora from antibiotic use. Poor

digestion creates ama (incomplete products of digestion). Ama is delicious to

yeast. Pitta ama is more acidic and heating, which along with the yeast

overgrowth creates irritation and inflammation where the agni (body

transformative processes/appropriate enzymes) are not able to properly burn up

enough of these toxins.

 

Simplistic, but from this we can use ayurvedic logic to find understanding about

your question using the essential oils. Our culture does not know how to reset,

ie turn back on, the naturally turned off or very low digestive fires after

birth (or c-birth). In fact, many tend to do the opposite - favoring raw foods

especially salads, cold foods, old foods (leftovers after about 6 hours),

frozen, canned, and then fast (includes toaster, cracker, on the go/standing up,

double tasking or restaurant also)foods.

 

We won't go into commentary there, or here about what ends up being craved,

which are even harder to digest foods like meat, bakery items, deep frieds,

cheeses, cold creamy yoghurt, ice cream, caffienne, chocolate, and other

stimulants including chile, raw onions and garlic, etc as well as the western

ways of and quality of milk.

 

Of course, lack of sleep, overwork, stress, and low thyroid also contribute to

yeast overgrowth.

 

Every one of these gets in the way of restoring our body's own healthy natural

enzyme function. With many side effects in addition to risk of yeast, including

lower immune system and risk of again, not just yeast infections.

 

Oregano, thyme, mountain savory, clove, rosemary essential oils oils have strong

antifungal properties. These are very heating oils which enhance the digestive

fires also, the body's ability to burn up toxins. Cinnamon also; this herb

becomes very heating taken with heating things, cooling taken with cooling

things. Laurus Nobilis (Bay Laurel), citronella and Melaleuca have some

antifungal gifts here too, not as strong perhaps, but noteworthy. I haven't

used the latter for candida.

 

It is important to note, these are all, to a significant extent, also antibiotic

and antiviral. Although more selective to body's need without the kind of side

effects of allopathic antimicrobials, and without being so destructive to

healthy flora also, they still require care from both their hot/dry influences

and this. Do probiotic followup with use.

 

I also work with the client or family member, to give small amount first in

vegetable capsule first AFTER food, or with milk or non-dairy milk, then between

meals if comfortable with increasing dosage. Perhaps someone knows better way.

How long? I'm not one to say it can be same for all, so this is ongoing

conversation. Those who are thin and lacking perhaps in enough stomach mucuous,

or have too hot a stomach will have to adjust accordingly, such as below.

 

Because the above oils are heating, they are actually valuable to postpartum

mothers even if months out, who have not properly stoked their digestive fires.

Yet because it is summer now in half the world, it may also be indicated to

include some balancing supports. For instance, there are several gentling,

cooler oils with mild antiyeast (antifungal) activity also - such as roman

chamomile and rosewood. Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus globulus also are

cooling and antifungal (and antibacterial/viral), though can increase vata used

alone with their intense penetrating property. Here is where good ayurvedic

assessment may be wisest to fine tune a personalized blend.

 

The essential oils when unadulterated by hidden dillution, petrochemical

pollutants, synthetics (over 90% of essential oils sold today) or high

temperature processing, offer many blessings properly used. A reminder, about

95% of the essential oils are evaporated out when many herbs are dried, reducing

their medicinal potency tremendously - this is a key reason fresh herbs are so

valuable. (Herbs also, especially roots and seeds, contain bioconstituents

essential oils do not.)

 

I really cannot speak for the potency of some brands available excepting this

kind of story - generally oregano essential oil is not considered antiviral, and

instead large amounts of the herb even dried are used for that purpose instead

by some practioners. The oregano we work with, being lower temp distilled, is a

strong antiviral also.

 

The Inner Defense product includes essential oils of clove,lemon, cinnamon,

eucalyptus radiata, rosemary, oregano, thyme and citronella in slight dilution

of virgin coconut oil. The coconut oil is a good way to take it on hot stomach -

ie with extra, as not only is coconut oil slightly antifungal, it is also

soothing and cooling. This eucalyptus gives anti-inflammatory support. The

blend is also very broad spectrum antibacterial and antiviral. As a named

product here, this is not suitable for non-vegetarians except by individual

client ok in emergency, as the capsule is gelatin with beeswax and lecithin.

 

(Gentle enough it has been daily immune healing and protection for my 92 year

old mother now for over a year, though she does experience a very brief warm

flush as it dossolves. We cannot advise it for such constant use. Although

there are better ways they're not willing to go into deeper Ayurvedic care with

her. - Yes, she does have low intestinal flora.)

 

I've personally used self-poured vegetable capsules for candida with mostly the

Thieves blend (clove,lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary), plus 2-3

drops of chamomile or rosewood for very good effect. I don't remember if it was

2-3X daily but duration was not long. with a pitta dominant culture in the

west, I'm inclined to favor this kind of recipe for oral use. I would NOT put

these hot oils on the nipples, and though chamomile and rosewood may feel very

good, it would have to be right after a feeding and then taste (mild bitter)

further removed with application of ghee then washing well before nursing unless

Baby has thrush, and is willing to nurse.

 

2) I would like to refer you to some not well organized but prolific discussions

of the past in our archives, collected into the files section. These discuss

alternative treatments that have worked or not so well, such as comparing

essential oils and gentian violet.

 

Ayurvedic study helps us not only see why some things don't work, but which do,

and why. and the abundance of choices that are in front of us with a

willingness to understand and use them.

 

Warm Regards,

Ysha