natural thrush treatment

[summerlump]

yep...got thrush...
any tips for treatment?

[Ffrenchstar]

Isn't natural yoghurt supposed to do the trick?

[summerlump]

though i'm not sure if its thrush or just the excess discharge that comes along with the second trimester.

[Ffrenchstar]

Here ya go

Complementary and other threatments

There is also a range of alternative or complementary treatments for thrush. Not all of these treatments are supported by research, but many women find them useful. Complementary treatments tend to be most effective when used as soon as you begin to notice the symptoms of thrush.

Calendula

Calendula (from marigold flowers) is both anti-fungal and soothing. Calendula pessaries for thrush are available at some health food stores. Calendula cream or gel may be helpful if applied directly on the irritated area outside of your vagina. Do not put a cream or gel into your vagina unless it says on the package that it is safe to use internally.

Garlic

Garlic has strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and may help stop thrush in some women. Peel a clove of garlic (be careful not to nick it), wrap it in muslin, to make sure you can remove it, and insert it into your vagina. Leave the garlic in overnight. Be prepared to smell quite strongly of garlic while you are using this treatment.

Tea tree oil

Some women find tea tree oil helpful in stopping thrush. Its effectiveness in fighting candida albicans is also supported by scientific studies. To use tea tree oil for thrush:

put tea tree oil on the tip of a tampon and insert it into your vagina
put tea tree on a panty liner or towel
dampen cotton wool with tea tree (mixed with water) and gently wipe around the vaginal area
Some health food stores carry ready-made tea tree oil pessaries and manuka oil salve (manuka is another type of tea tree). Look in the women’s health section or ask the sales assistant. Be aware that tea tree may sting at first, but it should stop after a short while.

Lactic acid wash

This is a relatively new product now available at larger chemists. The wash, to be used externally, contains lactic acid that helps maintain the natural pH balance in the vaginal area. This prevents yeast from taking hold. It can be used as a daily wash instead of soap, or as a treatment when you feel thrush may be developing.

Vinegar

Some women find vinegar can help stop thrush but, as with garlic, the smell is quite strong. Vinegar is acidic and may help restore the pH balance of the vaginal area to give the friendly bacteria a better chance of successfully fighting off yeast. Never use vinegar on its own – it must be diluted with water (1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 pint of water). You can also add acidophilus to the mixture (see yoghurt below). Use the mixture to gently wash the outside of your vagina or dip a tampon in it and insert it over night.

Yoghurt

Natural live yoghurt can be used in two ways to deal with thrush: eating it and/or inserting it into your vagina. The key is not the yoghurt itself but the bacteria, lactobacillus acidophilus, in the yoghurt. This helps the body maintain, or regain, its natural pH level and keeps yeast under control.

Eating yoghurt may help keep yeast levels low throughout the body, but particularly in the stomach and intestines. Because candida in the bowel can easily make its way to the vulva and vagina, keeping your digestive system clear of thrush may help prevent vaginal thrush.

Inserting yoghurt into your vagina may also help restore your vaginal pH balance, but there is less scientific support for this method. If you want to give it a try, put one teaspoon of yoghurt in an applicator, a plastic syringe or on a tampon, and insert it high into your vagina. Repeat this every night for a week. It is important that you use only unsweetened, plain, live yoghurt.

The active ingredient in this treatment, lactobacillus acidophilus, is also available at health food stores as a supplement on its own.

Taken from http://www.womenshealthlondon.org.uk...rushtreat.html

[summerlump]

Originally Posted by Ffrenchstar

Isn't natural yoghurt supposed to do the trick?

yoghurt has never worked for me. also don't think i can't stomach anymore.... has anyone used over the counter pesaries during pregnancy?

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1185761.htm

[summerlump]

thanks for the posting of tips! muchly appreciated

[Ffrenchstar]

No probs.

[Mariposa]

Originally Posted by summerlump

yoghurt has never worked for me. also don't think i can't stomach anymore.... has anyone used over the counter pesaries during pregnancy?

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1185761.htm

yep! with dd2 i had it for the first time in my life (and hopefully the last) i went to the chemist, red as a beetroot and they suggested canestan. although you cant use the pessary thingy.

i was mortified.

[JorBai]

Hi Hun!

I too thought I had thrush during my pregnancy last time but turned out it was just excess discharge although my Dr prescribed canisten cream and said its totally safe during pregnancy however I would see your GP first just incase it isnt thrush.

Its normal to have excess discharge during pregnancy im pretty sure.

See how you go with Dr but I would definately say just canisten cream.

Good Luck

[Beany]

You need to get the bacterial population up. Take inner health plus tablets and, if you can stomach it, drink some yakult.