Conquering the Yeast Beast – 5 Easy Natural Remedies
September 15, 2009 by Alisa Vitti
Filed under Featured, Health
“Not another yeast infection!” We hear you, sister. This unpleasant little problem seems to crop up at the worst of times, especially during the hot, sweaty summer months. Sometimes you think you’ve gotten rid of it, only to have it show up again two weeks later. Yeast is pernicious, and here’s why.
Most of the time, yeast leads a quiet and harmless existence in your vagina and intestines. But when something throws your system out of balance – like vaginal irritation, unprotected sex, antibiotics, or too much junk food – the fungus can grow rapidly. The incidence of yeast infections has increased significantly in the last 20 years, most likely because of over-prescribing certain treatments for yeast and other vaginal infections. Antibiotics upset the bacterial balance
in your body, setting up conditions for yeast to thrive. Overuse of antibiotics and antifungal creams (e.g., Monistat) foster resistant strains of bacteria and yeast, making it harder and harder to beat the infections with drugs.
But don’t let the yeast beast get you down! Long before antifungal creams were around, women were treating their yeast infections with medicinal foods and good self-care. We’ve listed some these tried-and-true remedies below, and the good news is, these suggestions are both healing and preventative. If your goal is to stop getting yeast infections – instead of treating one every few months – stop here first before hitting your local drugstore.
Starve Out/Dry Out the Yeast -
Yeast grows rapidly in a warm, damp environment, and it feeds on sugary foods.
* Reduce sugar, alcohol, and fermented (yeast-containing) foods like cheese, bread, vinegar, soy sauce, and miso.
* Increase diuretic Anti-Yeast Tea (a variation on our UTI tea – see below!)
* Increase other diuretic foods like celery, millet, and mung beans.
* Wear breathable cotton or silk underwear.
Boost Immune Function -
The overgrowth of yeast is an infection, so give your body the rest it needs to fight it off. Treat yourself athough you have a bad cold.
* Get more sleep and spend more time horizontal.
* Increase garlic, especially raw.
* Increase echinacea and vitamin C.
* Drink plenty of water.
Promote Healthy Bacteria -
Acidophilus is a happy, healthy bacteria that helps keep yeast growth in proper balance, so give it a boost!
* Increase all-natural, plain, organic yogurt with active cultures.
* Take an acidophilus or other probiotic supplement.
* Use only warm water or natural, mild soaps to clean your vagina.
Re-examine Your Birth Control -
Depending on what your vagina is sensitive to, your birth control methods may be contributing to chronic yeast infections.
* The birth control pill reduces or eliminates natural progesteroneproduction, which can cause vaginal irritation and vulnerability to infection.
* Some women are irritated by the spermicide used with their barriermethod.
* Without condoms, yeast infections may be transmitted between sexualpartners.
LSW’s Anti-Yeast Tea -
Start this at the first sign of a problem!
* Bring 6 cups of water to a boil.
* Roughly chop and add to the water: 8 cloves of garlic (antibiotic), 2 stalks of celery (diuretic), and 1⁄2 bunch of parsley (diuretic).
* Let simmer for 20 minutes.
* Strain and drink the liquid as tea. Drink frequently throughout the day!
LSW is committed to helping you understand the amazing natural healing options that are available to you, so that you can make knowledgeable, powerful choices about how to care for your body and your menstrual and sexual health. For more information you can email Alisa your questions at balanceme@laughingsagewellness.com.
Photo Credit: www.flickr.com
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