Thrush - natural remedies

[Bellini]

Seeing as though i'm prone to thrush, no matter how much I change my diet or anything else for that matter :banghead:, I may as well get some advice about natural remedies to save me forking out money for canestan all the time.

So...I have heard yoghurt does the trick. Exactly how does this work and what should I do? Any other advice for natural treatment?

[Guest1234]

I haven't done this personally, but I believe it is the done thing for thrush.
Soak a tampon into some natural yoghurt and then insert. I'm not sure how long to keep it in for, I seem to think 1 hour and repeat with a new one? Some one correct me if I'm wrong.

[HunterzMummy]

Yes, yougurt I have used this pregnancy lol its so odd putting it on though lol.. I used the natural Jahla one and put it all on my whoooha then put a pad on. It was wierd, nd it kinda itched me a little. But it did get rid of it very quickly. My suggestion would be to put it on before you go to bed that way its not so wierd and irratating walking around with it on IYKWIM...

[Lemonhead]

Ive heard about the natural yoghurt one too.

Also, stop using soap down there, jus wash with sorbolene in water. Avoid eating too much sugar and wear cotton briefs...

I got thrus wicked ways with DS and I actually used the Canesten 6 day pessaries (just didnt use the applicators).

Also EAT alot of natural yoghurt.

[Veritas]

Great advice already!

Yoghurt can help both topically and in ur diet.

No soaps, synthetic underwear, etc

Reduce sugars and yeast in ur diet....I also found drinking cranberry juice can help

[Opinionated]

I found switching to a menstrual cup with cloth liners for back up was the biggest help to me. I went from thrush more than 6 times per year, to once in the last 12 months.

When I have had it, I run a couple of cotton buds under boiling water then dip them in tea tree oil and insert them for a second, moving them around in there. Do it at least morning and night, more if you can. Fixes the problem within days. If you don't wet them first though, it burns ( however the burn is great for a terrible itch). If it is mainly external, just dilute some tea tree oil in water and wash the area twice a day. You can douche with a mild solution of diluted tea-tree if you prefer.

Take inner health plus capsules.

Go bare bum as much as possible (long skirts are great) and wear cotton undies when you can't.

Reduce high sugar food (including dried fruit).

Avoid yeast products.

Avoid alcohol.

Avoid any products when washing, warm water and a cloth is plenty.

Try to avoid using lubricant- I found it makes it worse, probably because the sugars in it feed the thrush.

I should have shares in canasten, I used to buy heaps of it.

[Guest1234]

Also it may be a good idea to treat your partner for thrush too, coz it can be passed on to him and then back to you.

[Bellini]

Yep, I have tried absolutely everything. Including...

I take a daily probiotic (inner health plus)
I don't use antibiotics or the contraceptive pill
I never wear tight sythetic underwear or tight clothes
I don't drink
I use cloth pads
I don't use perfumed soaps etc 'down there'
I wash my underwear separately to the other washing, on a warm cycle, with some canestan rinse added and no fabric softener
I wash the towels with canestan rinse added, and never use the same towel twice
I regularly wash our sheets, and again, I add canestan rinse to the cycle
If I have it, DH treats himself too, and we avoid unprotected sex (sooo annoying when TTC)
I have changed washing detergents to see if it was that, but it didn't help
If I feel like i'm over-using the canestan, I ditch it for a while and place all items out in the sun
And last but not least, I have completely changed my diet, following advice some time ago from fellow hubbers. I actually haven't had it for about 6 weeks before now, which is blardy amazing.

Anyway.... does the yoghurt down there actually eradicate the thrush or does it just soothe it?

[neeky]

i only seem to get thrush when preg but get it for the entire pregnancy. SO this time i just haven't even been bothering doing anything coz i cant bloody afford the canestan all the time.
So my Dr told me last week to try soaking a tampon in 50/50 vinegar and water. Then inserting like a pessary. Apparently it does the same job as the pessary just A LOT cheaper.

I still haven't tried it and it seems odd going to buy tampons when heavily pregnant but i suppose i'll have to give it a go since im due back at the dr tomorrow and she'll probably ask if i tried it.

[mim1]

Wow, bellini, you seen to have tried everything. Have you spoken to your doctor and mentioned what you've tried? My only thought is whether you've been checked for diabetes? Diabetes could make you more likely to get thrush. Don't want to freak you out, but I don't have any other suggestions.

[LMenz]

Garlic is very good for thrush too. I take the tablets when I get an outbreak but I have read inserting a clove of garlic is effective - I just haven't got the guts to do it :p

[Bellini]

Wow, bellini, you seen to have tried everything. Have you spoken to your doctor and mentioned what you've tried? My only thought is whether you've been checked for diabetes? Diabetes could make you more likely to get thrush. Don't want to freak you out, but I don't have any other suggestions.

I don't think I have diabetes...I have a family member with diabetes and I periodically check my blood sugar just for fun :o It's always normal. I've raised the thrush issue with my GP before - she just said that some women are more prone to it :confused: especially living in warmer/humid climates like where i'm from. It really does suck though.

Neeky - let me know if the vinegar tampon works :D. Sounds very cheap indeed.

Lmenz - I have heard the garlic remedy too. May as well give that a try as well...

[xmizzyx]

You need to use acidophilus yoghurt, for the live cultures and good bacteria, it kills the thrush not just soothe it. If you have some 100% pure tea tree oil, try a few drops in a bath (and I mean just a few drops eg.5-6, it's potent!). Tea tree oil is a natural antifungal and antibacterial.
Try to avoid acidic fruits also. Orange juice is a killer!

[CookiesRYum]

i have heard about the garlic but never tried it. I wonder if it works.

[Luna Lovegood]

Also change your toilet paper to a unscented one...

[Bellini]

I use an unscented toilet paper :yes: It has certainly made a difference since I made that switch.

Well i'm pleased to say that I tried both the vinegar tampon and the yoghurt tampon, and my thrush went away :D I'm not sure which of the two worked though, I probably shouldn't have tried them both on the same day :o For anyone thinking about giving it a go, the vinegar stung a bit...just a warning.

[Emmi]

Try coconut oil. You buy in jars from the healthfood shop and for my sister and I, the itching usually stops in a few hours. It's anti-fungal so it helps thrush. It comes solid when the air temprature is cold, but does go solid when it's warm. You just get some and um, insert it up there :)