Top 3 Home Remedies To Treat Vaginal Yeast Infection / Vaginitis

Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina and sometimes the surrounding area of vagina called vulva is also affected. Two most common types of vaginitis are -

Bacterial Vaginosis - caused by imbalance of bacteria in vagina.
Yeast infection - caused by overgrowth of a yeast called candida.

Vaginal Yeast Infections, also called candidiasis, cause intense itching, inflammation and irritation. It is a common female health condition with about 75% of the world's female population experiencing some symptoms of yeast infection at some point in their lives.

Yeast Infection / Vaginitis Symptoms

Women with vaginal yeast infection report one or most of the following symptoms -

Red, itchy, stingy, scratchy or burning vagina and/or vulva.
Pain during sexual intercourse.
Vaginal Soreness.
Thick, white and clumpy discharge looking like cottage cheese. When you insert your finger inside vagina and then take it out, your finger will have those thick, white clumps.
Vaginal rashes.
Irritated skin around the opening of vagina (vulva and labia).

Causes of Yeast Infection

Vaginal yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the yeast named Candida. This yeast is naturally present in any healthy vagina along with other bacterias and at normal levels it is harmless. The bacterias keep a check on the levels of yeast and stops it from overgrowing. But sometimes this doesnot happen and the yeast starts reproducing wildly leading to vaginal yeast infection.

The yeast usually starts growing in the intestinal tract and spills over into the reproductive area. Most often vaginal yeast infection is just a symptom of a larger problem - systemic yeast infection in your body. When the body is invaded by candida yeast, the condition is known as systemic candidiasis.

Overgrowth of yeast can result from one or more of the following factors -

Antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs - These drugs kill our good bacterias also making it possible for the yeast to reproduce without any check.
Oral Contraceptives - The hormones in birth control pills encourage yeast growth.
Hormone Therapy
Some illnesses like Diabetes
Suppressed Immune Systems
Pregnancy (due to hormonal changes, stress and higher nutrient needs often not met)
Alcohol, Tobacco, drugs like cocaine, marijuana, etc.
Reduced oxygen due to shallow breathing - Candida hides out in parts of your body where there is poor circulation and little oxygen.

Yeast Infection / Vaginitis Treatment - Drugs or Natural Remedies?

The usual mainstream medicinal prescription to treat yeast infection is topical antifungals (surface application) like butoconazole (Gynazole), miconazole (Lotrimin), Monistat, Tioconazole (Vagistat) and terconazole (Terazol). Sometimes your doctor may prescribe you a oral medication such as fluconazole (Diflucan) or a steroid to reduce inflammation. If your symptoms are severe or recurring, your doctor may also decide to increase the duration of these treatments to few months.

Some strains of candida are very adaptive and mutate themselves easily to become drug resistant. This can make the long term use of anti fungal drugs and creams ineffective.

Further, the yeast is capable of going dormant to avoid getting killed. So when anti-fungal drugs are taken Candida can go dormant to survive, or burrow itself deeply into the tissues where the medicine can’t reach it. It may seem as though the infection is gone when in reality it is only on pause. This is the reason why so many women are unhappy with anti fungal drugs - they reduce symptoms without addressing the root cause. The infection returns back soon.

An alternative cost effective way is to treat the condition at home naturally. Keep in mind that it takes a lot of awareness on your part to start treating your body naturally. Listen to your body and have trust in its natural healing system. Remember also that your end goal is to identify the root cause and eliminate it while relieving the symptoms all along.

No 1 Home Remedy for Yeast Infection - Garlic

Garlic is nature's best antifungal agent. To combat the vaginal overgrowth of candida, garlic is inserted inside the vagina and kept there for some hours. The usual practice is to do this overnight to avoid the strong taste of garlic which will travel up to your mouth from your vagina! Surprising? Yes, there seems to be a connection between the mouth and the vagina.

Take one Garlic Clove - Take a clove of fresh garlic and peel off its cover.
Sew a string - Take a needle with string and sew this string to the clove. Tie a knot at one end so that the string does not come out of the clove easily
Insert into vagina - Insert this into the vagina at bedtime. If you wakeup in the night with stinginess and burning in vagina take out the clove.
Remove in the morning - Pull the string to remove the garlic in the morning. Throw it away.

You should immediately see improvements in your symptoms. Depending on the severity of infection, you might have to continue this for 2-3 days.

If the infection is severe and you want a stronger dosage of garlic, make 2-3 small slits in the garlic clove before inserting in vagina. This will release more of the garlic chemicals into the vagina and will be more effective. But be cautious, a higher dose of garlic (a half cut clove) might burn the vaginal skin also. So start from the lowest dose and then depending on results and severity of infection work your way up to a higher dose.

No 2 Home Remedy for Yeast Infection - Castor Oil

Castor Oil is well known for its cosmetic purposes - healthy and strong hair growth properties but it works equally well for curing your yeast infection. It inhibits fungal growth, helps reduce inflammation and stimulates a cleansing effect to help clear out dead or semi-dead yeast cells.

The oil can be taken internally or can be applied topically on the affected skin. It is effective in both the ways.

Internal Consumption Eat about a teaspoon daily. It has a very unpleasant taste which makes it difficult to consume. Use only Pure, Hexane Free, Cold Pressed Castor Oil. The processing and refining of castor oil degrades the oil making it less effective or sometimes harmful.

External Application Castor Oil in vaginitis

Take 5 ml of warm Castor oil and apply inside the vagina and surrounding areas.
Massage for about a minute.
Do this twice a day or more depending on the intensity of condition.

You should feel relief within 5 minutes of massage. Keep it in fridge for about 15 - 20 minutes before using to get an extra soothing cooling effect.

No 3 Home Remedy for Yeast Infection - Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is another natural and powerful antifungal to cure yeast infection. A scientific study shows that coconut oil actively reduces Candida, the fungus responsible for yeast infection. It has been also shown to be effective against all strains of candida.

Coconut oil can be taken internally or can be applied topically on the affected skin. It is effective in both the ways.

Internal Consumption Eat a teaspoon of coconut oil before each meal. The recommended dose is 3-5 tablespoons a day. Start with a lower dose initially and then gradually work your way up. Use pure organic Virgin Coconut Oil only. The processing and refining of coconut oil degrades the oil making it less effective or sometimes harmful.

External Application Virgin coconut oil is shown to be as effective a antifungal topical treatment for Candida as many antifungal medications that doctors provide.

Take 5 ml of warm Coconut oil and apply inside the vagina and surrounding areas.
Massage for about a minute.
Do this twice a day or more depending on the intensity of condition.