Natural Yeast Infection Remedies
As many as three-fourths of all women will get a vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime, so yeast infections are statistically quite a common gynecological complaint. The yeast that is the problem is not the fungus named Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is used to make baked goods as well as alcoholic liquor but instead a yeastlike fungus of the genus Candida, which can be found naturally occurring in minor quantities in the vagina, mouth, and digestive tract. Overgrowth of this fungus results in the development of yeast infections, which can be simple enough to treat using time-tested natural yeast infection remedies.
Tea tree oil, which is an essential oil from the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, is one of the natural yeast infection remedies that can work. All you have to do is dilute a few drops of it in a small quantity of water, apply the watered-down liquid topically with a washcloth, and a compound called terpinen-4-ol in tea tree oil is apparently what fights the yeast. Although this essential oil is deemed to be among the natural yeast infection remedies, remember that full-strength tea tree oil should never be used directly on the vaginal area.
Natural yeast infection remedies can also be used to treat the symptoms of yeast infection, namely itching and irritation. One such remedy is taking an oatmeal bath. Into a warm bath, add colloidal oatmeal like Aveeno bath treatment, which is simply oatmeal ground into fine powder. The structure of colloidal oatmeal lets it stay suspended in water.
Another of the natural yeast infection remedies is just to wash with water and a mild soap. Scented soaps, bath oils, feminine hygiene products, and similar items should be avoided because their chemical components may irritate the tissues of the vulva. Women do not even really need to douche since the vagina is self-cleaning, and douching may disrupt the balance of the vaginal ecosystem.
A cool compress is another one of the natural yeast infection remedies that you can make use of. With a cool, damp washcloth applied to the outer part of the vagina and imparting cool temperature as well as moisture, women can ease the discomfort.
As natural yeast infection remedies, probiotic dietary supplements and vaginal suppositories are also favored by medical practitioners. Like yeast, the beneficial live microorganisms in such preparations are also naturally occurring organisms in the vagina and digestive tract. Probiotic species such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14 work by suppressing the yeast population and preventing harmful overgrowth.
