While you always have a small amount of the fungus Candida albicans is always present in your vagina, this fungus can multiply out of control and cause a yeast infection. There are many reasons why this can occur, including antibiotics, birth control pills, wearing tight undergarments, and a suppressed immune system, but you can help to protect your wellbeing against this with complementary wellness therapies. Several alternative therapies place the emphasis of yeast infection treatment on the elimination of the causes, rather than eliminating the fungus, meaning you can get rid of yeast infections on a more permanent basis.
1. Herbal Remedies: These include borax veneta, calcarea carbonica, kreosotum, mercurius solubilis, pulsatilla nigricans and sepia. The following herbs also offer promise in the treatment of yeast infection, and you can take them in the form of capsules, extracts, or teas, and some may be used in douches. Try calendula, echinacea (purple coneflower), German chamomile, ginger, rosemary, tea tree and thyme.
2. Combination Remedies: You can get combination remedies over the counter that are formulated for the most common yeast infection symptoms. However, they are considered less effective than the above-mentioned herbal remedies due to the fact that they lack individualisation.
3. Aromatherapy: To eliminate excess fungus in the vagina, douches of water and essential tea tree or marigold oils can help.
4. Ayurvedic Medicine: The ayurvedic treatment for yeast infections often includes dietary changes and herbal therapy, as the main focus is on digestion and your immune system.
5. Colon Treatment: Detoxification, fasting and colon therapy – such as colonic irrigation and enemas – can help to cleanse your intestinal tract and contribute to a healthy balance of normal flora in your body.
6. Hydrotherapy: If the itchiness of a yeast infection is bothering you, a hot sitz bath (perhaps spiked with calendula or thyme tea or vinegar) may provide relief.
7. Mind/Body Medicine: To can reduce stress and strengthen your body’s immune function, you can try guided imagery, meditation, and other forms of mind/body treatments.
8. Oxygen Therapy: Hydrogen peroxide treatment can help to give your immune system a boost, which, in turn, assists it in controlling the overgrowth of fungus.
9. Eliminating Foods: Eating certain foods can contribute to a yeast infection in one of two ways: by encouraging the growth of the Candida albicans in your vagina, and by taxing your body’s immune system. Whether these bothersome foods contain yeast or trigger the symptoms of food allergies or sensitivities, you want to avoid sugars (including honey, fruit juices, and maple syrup), artificial sweeteners, cheese, dried fruit, alcohol, mushrooms and meat, poultry, and milk (which can have traces of antibiotics in them).
10. Supplements: If you have an overabundance of fungus, it may be due to a nutrient deficiency. Supplements that can be helpful include vitamin A, vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, and essential fatty acids, among others. If you decide to go the supplements route, make sure that they are yeast-free and you speak to a medical professional beforehand.
11. Dietary Additions: As garlic has fungus-blocking properties, it can make a wonderful addition to your diet. Other foods that have strong antifungal properties include caprylic acid, grapefruit seed extract, and undecenoic acid. Aside from these specific foods, good nutrition that comes from eating a varied, whole-foods diet generally contributes to a strong immune system that can ward off infections.
12. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): While acupuncture, herbal therapy, and diet and lifestyle changes can individually help to reduce your yeast infection, TCM puts these elements together in order to offer ways to correct energy imbalances and enhance your body’s defences.
