Treating Vaginal Candida Albicans
Candida Symptoms, Causes, Diet and Effective Natural Treatments
How do you know if you have vaginal candida (also called thrush)? Find out what causes it and what can be done to alleviate symptoms naturally and through diet.
Candida Albicans is a yeast organism which usually lives harmlessly in the vagina, bowel and mouth, all the time. Everyone has it. The problems start when it gets out of control and there is an overgrowth. It is then sometimes called a yeast infection.
What are Vaginal Candida Symptoms?
- White discharge, sometimes with a yeasty smell
- Mild to extreme itching and burning sensation
- Redness, perhaps some swelling
- Painful sex
What are Some of the Main Causes of Vaginal Yeast Infections?
- Hormonal changes due to the Pill or menopause
- Taking antibiotics which can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina (and intestines and bowels)
- A stressful period in your life such as divorce, bereavement etc
- Weakened immune system due to illness
Natural Treatment for Vaginal Candida
- Remove tight clothing and rinse away any discharge with cool water. Try to go without underwear to allow the area to heal. Underwear that has been in contact with the discharge should be washed in extremely hot water, along with towels.
- To reduce vaginal irritation, try calendula cream or aloe vera gel.
- Put 8 drops of tea tree essential oil in a luke warm bath. When you get out of the bath, gently dry your vaginal area with a cool hairdryer to avoid damaging the sensitive tissue.
- Book an aromatherapy massage for relaxation and to boost the immune system.
- Try to rest and have at least two nights with a minimum of 8 hours sleep.
Candida Diet
A lot has been written about strict yeast-free diets to treat candida. Some also suggest no sugar, canned fruit, mushrooms, fermented products, tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate or refined foods. It may be that one or some of these foods make vaginal candida, or yeast infection, worse, so you could experiment with cutting one food out at a time over a few days and observing any change. A diet that is rich in fresh steamed vegetables and salads, and excludes cookies, sweets and alcohol, should soon bring about improvement.
For many women, symptoms of vaginal yeast infection can be triggered or made worse by a cheese sandwich! Bread and cheese together appear to cause problems, so avoid these two culprits for at least a week after the yeast problem has cleared up.
Eat a little raw garlic each day if possible. Alternatively, chop 6 cloves into everything you cook for at least a week.
Eat two small tubs of plain yogurt, sugar free, and with live acidophilus. Do this each day for at least a week. Then cut down to one tub.
A Word About Fruit
All fruit should be peeled. The mold that lives on fruit could be a trigger for future episodes of vaginal candida. Dates, figs, raisins and grapes should be avoided due to their high sugar content.
Finally...
Yeast problems can be passed between sexual partners, so avoid sex until you are certain that the candida infection has completely gone.
If the vaginal candida symptoms are still as severe after three days, consider taking an over the counter remedy such as Canestan, whilst continuing to follow the diet guidelines.
Pregnant women should consult their doctors.
Reference: Candida by Angela Kilmartin (Bloomsbury 1995)
