Yeast infections can be a sign of an underlying health problem, but the immediate task is to treat one quickly to manage the painful and most obvious symptoms. There are over-the-counter medications available, but some people may have personal reservations or health restrictions and will prefer a natural treatment. As always, consult your doctor or alternative health care provider before doing any sort of self-treatment, especially if you are pregnant. It never hurts to get an expert opinion from a person who has actually seen your condition.
Natural remedies help alleviate yeast infection symptoms, and can also have a positive impact on overall health and reducing the underlying causes of the infection. We'll talk about four common treatments: raw honey, garlic, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar.
Raw honey has been used for literally thousands of years as an effective cure for a wide variety of ailments. Commonly available honey is sometimes refined or filtered, hence the usage of the word raw. We want to use untreated, raw, unpasteurized honey that ideally comes from a local beekeeper. Locality in honey gives local beneficial pollens. Economically we get to support beekeeping which is vital for agriculture. You can apply raw honey directly to the affected area and leave it on for thirty minutes. Then simply wash away with cool water.
Garlic is a well-known anti-bacterial and anti-fungul plant. Garlic, too, can be applied directly to the yeast infection site. It sounds strange, but it can be used as a suppository. You do want to use fresh garlic ideally, though a garlic capsule may have the same effect. Simply keep a single peeled clove of garlic overnight for a few nights in a row. For preventative measures, eating garlic will help in treating a fungal infection. Obviously raw garlic is a very strong flavor. Mixing some chopped garlic with orange juice or another strong flavored juice would work, but not sure what food combination experts would think about that. Mixing garlic with some warm water and drinking it quickly will also do the trick.
The previous remedies will work internally as a preventative, and externally as a tactical treatment. Tea tree oil, on the other hand, is definitely only for external use. Drinking tea tree oil in large quantities can be toxic. It is an extremely strong antiseptic and antifungal. Traditionally used in Australia, it is used for a wide variety of skin treatments. Apply tea tree oil to the affected area by diluting it heavily. Even putting a few drops on gauze and inserting as a suppository will have anti-fungal action.
Apple cider vinegar, the fourth remedy in our list, is a traditional remedy from several different cultures. You can take a sitz bath in 2 cups of apple cider vinegar put into the bath water, and apply a diluted solution to the affected area. Apple cider vinegar is commonly drunk daily. The recipes is 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar mixed with 1 glass of water.
You probably want to learn more about yeast infection holistic treatments. Prevention is really the goal of any natural treatment program and you can go to Yeast Infection No More. Learn about yeast infection home remedy in a learning video.
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