DIY treatments-yeast

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douches

although douching is generally a bad idea when you are healthy,

there are many effective home remedies for yeast infections that

involve douching. be careful when douching to keep the bag below

your pelvis and to exert only slight pressure, as really strong

pressure might drive the solution up through the cervix into the

uterus. also, be careful when inserting and removing the nozzle, as

damage to the vaginal walls can lead to more serious yeast or

bacterial infections.

hydrogen peroxide is produced naturally by bacteria in your vagina,

and kills yeast. if the bacteria aren't doing enough by themselves,

try mixing 1 teaspoon of ordinary 3% hydrogen peroxide from your

market or pharmacy with 1 cup of water. use as a douche once a day

until the day after your symptoms disappear.

teatree oil is an effective anti-yeast treatment and can be used

straight (see above), but needs to be highly diluted to use as a

douche. make a stock solution by combining 1 teaspoon tea tree oil

with 1 teaspoon isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which should turn milky

white. store in a dropper bottle. make a douche by adding 10 drops

of the stock solution to a pint of water, and use once a day for a

week.

herbal douche: this one's a little complicated, but apparently

worth the trouble. combine equal parts of sage, raspberry or comfrey

leaf, and mullein (optional), with 1/4 part goldenseal. then make a

tea using 4 tablespoons of the herb mixture and a quart of boiling

water. steep for 15-20 minutes, remove the herbs, and let cool to at

least body temperature. then add 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, and if

you want to really go all-out, add 1 tablespoon acidophilus powder

or 1/4 cup yogurt. for milder infections, douche every other day

until a day after symptoms disappear; for more severe infections,

use daily.

 

acidic douches restore the natural pH of the vagina, which is

relatively inhospitable to yeast. try making a solution with 2

tablespoons of white or cidar vinegar, or the juice of half a lemon,

or 1 teaspoon vitamin C, per quart of water. use every day to treat

mild infections, or in combination with other treatments for more

severe infections.

 

 

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temporary itch relief

to relieve vulvar itching, try making a paste of slippery elm

powder and a little water, and then apply as needed. another option

is to keep aloe vera juice in the fridge, and then soak a cotton pad

in it and apply it to your vulva as needed. slippery elm or aloe

will only relieve itching, though, and won't kill yeast, so they

must be combined with an antifungal treatment to really stop the

problem.

 

 

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don't try this at home

although it might seem logical to relieve itching with baking soda,

DON'T try it. it will just raise the pH of your vagina, make the

yeast happier, and make you unhappier (see causes).

i have been asked by an unhappy reader to alert everyone not to try

using echinacea/goldenseal capsules to relieve yeast infections. she

apparently was experimenting with her own home remedy, and ran into

a spot of trouble. here's her testimonial: "Ok - you know how

echinacea as a tea can tingle your tongue? It burns the shit out of

your crotch. I mean pure fire. And this was a totally stupid thing

to do -- but I figured -- don't ask what I figured. Just please tell

people NOT to do it. It's dumb." so remember, girlfriends,

goldenseal by itself is fine, but don't try echinacea.

another reader who was obviously desperate for relief and feeling

experimental writes "you should never put Nivea on a burning crotch.

It sends it straight to hell and since Nivea absorbs quickly, you

can't wash it off either."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A clean house is a sign of a misspent life"

 

 

 

 

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