http://www.care2.com/greenliving/win-the-yeast-infection-war.html
Win the Yeast Infection War
By Robert Rountree, MD, Natural Solutions magazine
Q: I’ve been plagued by yeast infections for four years, and nothing seems to make them go away permanently. Am I going to be on this roller coaster for life?
A: Since vaginal infections are easily misdiagnosed, it’s important to get confirmation that yeast is indeed the cause of your symptoms. Ask your health care provider to swab the affected area for culture and analysis by a microbiology laboratory. If possible, work with a lab, such as Genova Diagnostics (www.gdx.net), that can also test the organism for sensitivity to natural products, since that could help streamline your treatment.
The primary culprit in situations like yours is often a type of yeast called candida albicans; however, recent studies have shown an increasing incidence of candida glabrata, a related strain. C. glabrata tends to be hardier than C. albicans and may be more resistant to typical antifungal drugs, so it frequently causes recurring infections. The layer of mucus that coats the vaginal walls contains an elaborate ecosystem that includes a complex mixture of immune proteins along with numerous bacteria, predominantly Lactobacilli. In addition, various strains of candida can be found in up to 25 percent of healthy, asymptomatic women. This doesn’t cause a problem until something throws the ecosystem out of balance, which allows the yeast to overgrow and invade the delicate membranes that line the vagina.
Antibiotic use, diabetes mellitus, and suppressed immunity significantly increase the risk for vaginal–as well as intestinal–yeast overgrowth. Antibiotics kill off lactobacilli and other healthy bacteria that normally keep candida under control. The persistently high blood sugar that occurs with diabetes actively fuels the growth of yeasts, and diabetes often suppresses the immune system. People with HIV can also have weak immune systems, as can people taking corticosteroids or immune suppressive drugs. Chronic emotional or physical stress can suppress immunity as well. Studies have found that a subgroup of otherwise healthy women with recurrent vaginal yeast infections may have a localized immune disorder involving deficient secretion of a protective protein called immunoglobulin A. This makes it difficult for them to eradicate yeast from their mucous membranes.
If you haven’t already been checked for diabetes or HIV, get tested. Even if you aren’t diabetic, it’s still a good idea to minimize your intake of foods and beverages that raise blood sugar, especially alcohol, white potatoes, fruit juices, white sugar, and other refined carbohydrates. Cut back on dairy, too, since yeast loves lactose. Unsweetened yogurt is an exception since it contains insignificant amounts of lactose and is also a good source of lactobacilli. Another exception: Bovine colostrum. It contains immune-boosting substances that have been shown to increase the secretion of immunoglobulin A, which may fight off vaginal infections. Take it in powder form in a dose of 5 to 15 grams per day.
You can also restore balance and enhance vaginal health by taking powdered Lactobacillus acidophilus as a supplement and using it as a douche. For optimal results you should consume at least 30 billion organisms a day, typically one to three capsules of a high potency product. (Remember to keep it refrigerated to maintain potency.) Yogurt douches have long been a popular and effective remedy for vaginal yeast infections. However, now that L. acidophilus is available in suppository form, most women prefer the convenience of this method over douches. A typical course is to insert one suppository nightly for one to two weeks. Repeat as often as necessary.
I recommend that women with recurrent yeast infections supplement long-term with freeze-dried garlic and olive-leaf extract. Both have potent antifungal properties but do not inhibit the growth of healthy lactobacilli. Take 1,500 mg of garlic daily (about two cloves) and 1 to 2 grams of olive leaf extract a day. Ingesting 1 to 3 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil a day would also help.
Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health, Balanced Living offers its readers the latest news on health conditions, herbs and supplements, natural beauty products, healing foods and conscious living. Click here for a free sample issue.
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27 comments
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Konteyner
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why is this inappropriate?
Just as there can be "side effects" to ingestion of, or application of, any "natural" substance, sometimes even fatal. And in this case, Monistat does actually make you healthier. Because once the yeast infection is gone, you are, in fact, healthier!
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Monistat is just like any other drug, it provides immediate relief, but it also has side-effects and does not make a person healthier. For instance, if you take Allegra for insomnia, driving and binge eating in your sleep are listed as some of the side effects. And the active ingredient in Attention Deficit Disorder pills is methamphetamine which is the same illegal street drug called METH.
Adverse Reactions (Side Effects)
A mild increase in vaginal burning, itching or irritation may occur when MONISTAT* is inserted. Abdominal cramping and upper respiratory infections have also been reported. Stop using MONISTAT* and consult your doctor if you have abdominal pain, hives, skin rash, headache, vaginal swelling or redness, burning on urination, or if you have severe vaginal burning, itching or irritation.
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I've been reading in some of the comments about the use of yogurt, vinegar, and other such "natural" remedies - but yogurt, vinegar, and other such things aren't natural. They're created in a manufacturing plant. Just like Monistat (which usually works a heck of a lot faster and more efficiently!)
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Continuation of previous post:
Coconut oil can be bought at your local health food store. One can use coconut oil to cook, but I just add it to my instant oat meal everyday. Like flax seeds, coconut oil is rich in omega 3 and omega 6. It is also high in saturated fats, but the chemical make up of those vegetable of those fats are actually good for the heart, so don’t get confused about American’s misconception of saturated fats. Grapefruit seed extract can also be bought at your local health food store in the supplement section. Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is an effective natural antibiotic that even those who are allergic to penicillin can use. GSE is very bitter, some people might want to use them in pill form instead of liquid, but the liquid form of GSE can be used in a wide variety of ways. For instance, you can put it into your pet’s drinking water to germs, use it as a mouthwash, it can also be found in some natural toothpaste and skin care, drink it in juice, and/ or put it on wounds and on your face.
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Not too long ago I was suffering from candida overgrowth and yeast infection, but I eventually completely got rid of it by adding a few natural remedies to my diet. After doing some research, I decided to add fresh ginger, organic raw coconut oil, and grapefruit seed extract to my diet. I chose to use those natural antibiotics instead of probiotics because they are more versatile and can be used for many different things. For instance, if you have a stomach flu, a cold, or food poisoning, ginger, coconut oil, and/ or grapefruit seed extract can help you get rid of those illnesses and more. Ginger, raw virgin coconut oil, and grapefruit seed extract are all naturally antibacterial and antiviral. They are mild enough to kill bad bacterial and, unlike prescribed antibiotics, they do not kill the good bacterial in your body. After a week of adding those items to my diet, my yeast infection of gone.
Fresh ginger can be bought at your nearby Asian market and it can be minced and used in your cooking, but it might be easier add to you diet by using fresh ginger to make ginger tea. To make ginger tea, cut some slices of fresh ginger and boil it in some water and drink it after it cools. Coconut oil can be bought at your local health food store. One can use coconut oil to cook, but I just add it to my instant oat meal everyday. Like flax seeds, coconut oil is rich in omega 3 and omega 6. It is also high in saturated fats, but the chemical make up of those vegetable of those fa
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does anyone know anything about how to CURE intestinal Candida... docs are at their witts end and ive tried just about everything i can. HELP ME
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I am 42 and I've also suffered with yeast infection...I'd say all my life. My mom said I had it as a child.
None of the over the counter creams helped. Monistat and Canesten didn't touch it. My doctor finally tried Terazole and it helped. I still get it, but the Terazole is the only cream that helps to clear it up. I also take a pill called Gen-Fluconazole. Sometimes I need one and sometimes I need two. I take vitamins to help boost my immune system and extra stretch garlic tablets and anadopholis tablets/yogurt. I stay right away from sugar. It's been a constant fight with doctors/specialist for years. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and yeast infection is part of having this illness, along with irritable bowel syndrome. I have to constantly try to eat really well just to feel close to ok.
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You might want to consider building up your immunity as well:
http://buzz.prevention.com/community/miss-nosipho/kick-up-your-immunitywith-soup
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I couldn't get rid of my yeast infection.
Then I douched each night before bed with vinegar water (yeast like an alkaline enviornment, vinegar makes the vagina more acidic).
After douching, I would insert yogurt with live bacteria into my vagina. (I got an applicator used for inserting spermicidal jelly from the pharmacy in order to easily insert the yogart deep into the vagina). Then I wore a menstrual pad to bed, so I wouldn't get yogurt on the sheets.
The vinigar water would wash out many of the yeast, and make the vagina more inhospitable, and the yogurt would repopulate the vagina with more helpful bacteria - which took up housekeeping and left the yeast with no place to grow.
I did this for a couple of weeks, and have seldom had problems with yeast since.
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