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Home Remedies for Yeast Infections

Many people, men and women included, suffer at some point in their lives with a yeast infection. For some it is a miserable merry-go-round of fighting infection after infection.

Infections can occur in several places on the body but one of the most common locations for yeast infections in women is in the vaginal tract. The intimate nature and its associated embarrassments can add to the distress caused by this unfortunate condition especially as one of the symptoms is inflammation and severe itching.

Yeast occurs naturally in the body. It is supposed to be there and when it is kept at a healthy level its presence is undetected by the individual. However, problems can occur when these levels become unhealthy as a result of the accelerated growth of the bacteria.

There are many remedies that can be tried at home without the need to seek medical assistance which in itself is a relief to many female sufferers embarrassed by the nature of their condition. Individuals report varying levels of success but most people seem to swear by one or other remedy that has seemed to respond particularly well for them. Deciding which one to choose and try is a very personal choice.

Some of the remedies have been handed down through many generations: effective in a time before man made medicines were widely available or even invented.

It is agreed that avoidance of sugary foods and those with simple carbohydrates is a powerful weapon to aid in the remedies themselves. Yeast feeds on sugar and totally eliminating it from a diet will effectively starve it. It is worth while noting that simple carbohydrates are hidden in some of the most unlikely of foods particularly fast foods and processed foods. Get into the habit of reading labels to detect these sugars.

The following are all home remedies that have worked for individuals. Don’t be discouraged if the first one you try seems to have little effect. This doesn’t mean that one of the others will not respond better to the particular type of infection you have and your own constitution.

Garlic
One of nature’s healers that can be used to treat many ailments and conditions amongst them yeast infections. Many advisers advocate chewing directly on a garlic clove. The obvious downside to this is the odor but if you have become desperate enough then this method could well prove beneficial.

Tea Tree
Another miracle worker handed to us from nature herself. The easiest application for this remedy is to put a few drops into your bath water and immerse the infected area for at least 15 minutes.

Water
It is nothing new to be told of the tremendous health benefits from drinking water regularly throughout the day. Water cleanses the body of toxins, flushes out the system and generally aids healing. Water alone will probably not clear your infection but when combined with one of the other remedies will make it more effective. It will also help to prevent further infections once you have been successful in finding a cure.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Whole books have been dedicated to the efficacy of this liquid in 101 different applications (which include removing mold from curtains!) This can be added to your bath water in the same way as the Tea Tree.

Alternatively, dilute the vinegar and bathe the infected area thoroughly.

Plain Yogurt
The friendly bacteria in plain yogurt will attack the unhealthy bacteria that causes yeast infections. Be very sure to use only plain yogurt as other varieties will contain sugar.

Homeopathy
Yeast infections can manifest themselves in many different ways and each homeopathic remedy is aimed at a different type. Be sure to do your homework on which is the best one to apply. Resources can be found in literature in pharmacy stores, the Internet and books from a library. Expect names like bichromium, carbonica, pulsatilla and borax. The names may sound a little alarming in themselves but be reassured that homeopathic remedies are natural.

Honey
Yet another natural medicine that dates back in time: in this instance to the ancient Egyptians. Anything that has survived in this way has to be given serious consideration.

One of its applications is to apply the honey directly onto the infected area, leave it in place for 15 minutes and then rinse it away.

As with the homeopathic advice be sure to do your homework to identify which types of honey can be used in this way.

Manuka Products
If Tea Tree, garlic and the like are natures gifts then Manuka must surely be  nature’s secret  and most highly prized treasure. The Manuka tree grows only in New Zealand. The honey used in making Manuka products is produced by a highly specialized bee species that only visits Manuka trees. It has incredibly high levels of antibacterial and anti fungal agents that kill many varieties of yeast and fungi. So effective are these properties that a recent discovery has claimed that Manuka has been found to reduce the presence of the highly infectious and devastating MRSA virus.

Manuka honey can be applied directly onto the infected area as directed before or ingested.Manuka products come as creams and lotions, soaps and shampoos to name a few.

The even greater benefit of using Manuka is that, not only will it help to clear the original infection but it will provide enormous relief in the itching and burning that are a hallmark of yeast infections.

This list is of course not comprehensive and you may come across something not listed here that is your final salvat

About the author: Article by Outofstress.com Staff Author ‘Deneice Arthurton’.

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