| What are your choices? |
| Plan of Action |
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Introduction
Thrush (Vaginal)
Vaginal thrush affects millions of women during their
lifetime and many women will have several bouts of
thrush every year. Some women suffer from thrush on
a monthly basis, which can be enormously uncomfortable,
inconvenient and even embarrassing.
What is vaginal thrush?
Thrush is an infection caused by a yeast (fungus)
called candida albicans, which occurs naturally in
the gut, in the skin and in the vagina. Under normal
circumstances, it is kept under control by other 'friendly'
bacteria in the body, but occasionally it overgrows,
which is when problems start.
What symptoms could you experience?
With vaginal thrush you usually get a thick, white,
sticky discharge with soreness and irritation. The
discharge can often look like cottage cheese and can
have an unpleasant smell. If you are suffering from
thrush, you may experience pain during sex and when
passing urine. The outside of the vagina may also
feel sore and swollen.
The most irritating symptom is an intense itching around the outside of the vagina, which is definitely worse in some cases than in others.
Men are also susceptible to thrush, which appears as a discharge from the penis, with soreness and/or reddened skin.
What are your choices?
Because a discharge can be caused by other infections
(such as gardnerella see Vaginal
Infections it is important to know what type of
infection or overgrowth you have. This will, of course,
determine the most appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis is made by your doctor, who will take a sample of the discharge on a swab. The swab is then sent to the lab for testing.
The aim of the natural treatment is to ensure that your body has all the nutrients it needs to function optimally, thereby boosting your immune system. The programme focuses on certain foods and supplements in order to do this. You'll also encourage the friendly bacteria in your system, to create a normal balance that keeps the yeast under control.
Supplements
The supplements recommended below have been studied
in clinical trials and have been found to be effective
in connection with thrush. For best results you should
take them over a period of three months, at the end
of which you should be reassessed in order to monitor
improvements and changes and then adjust the supplement
programme according to your new condition.
Multivitamin and Mineral
A good quality multivitamin and mineral should form
the foundation of your supplement programme to make
sure that you are getting a 'little bit of everything'.
You then add in those nutrients in slightly higher
amounts which are known to help with thrush.
Beta-carotene
Levels of beta-carotene (a type of vitamin A) have
been found to be low in the vaginal cells of women
who have thrush. It is suggested that this may effect
the immune response of the cells in the vagina, which
encourages (or at least allows) the yeast to overgrow.
Zinc
Zinc deficiency has been connected with women who
have recurrent thrush. Adequate levels of zinc are
critical for the optimum functioning of your immune
system. People who are deficient in zinc will be susceptible
to recurrent infections or infestations of any kind
(that's why you may seem to suffer from one cold or
tummy bug after another when you are run down). If
you are zinc deficient, your immune system can be
compromised and your body will not be able to control
yeast overgrowth.
The essential fatty acids that are contained in oily fish and in nuts and seeds have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions so it is important to take supplementary EFAs while you are combating an attack of thrush. If you have a tendency to recurrent thrush. It's worth taking a capsule of linseed oil every day over a period of six months. Try also to ensure that you are getting enough of these essential fats in your food.
Garlic
Garlic is well-known for its effect on the immune
system and it has both antibacterial and anti-fungal
properties. Take garlic as a supplement when you are
trying to eliminate an attack of thrush, and as prevention
if you are prone to attacks. In clinical studies,
garlic extracts have been to found to prevent the
growth of candida. One of the active ingredients in
garlic is called 'allicin', and it appears that this
is the ingredient with the ability to prevent an overgrowth
of yeast. When buying supplements, choose one with
a high level of allicin.
Probiotics
A probiotic is the opposite of an antibiotic, which
means that it encourages rather than destroys bacteria
in the body. That's not as alarming as it sounds!
What probiotics do is increase the growth of 'healthy'
bacteria in the body, which is known as flora. By
taking probiotics, you are aiming to increase the
amount of beneficial bacteria in your system which
in turn helps to control the amount of yeast overgrowth.
As well as eating live plain organic yoghurt, (for
more information on the dietary recommendations for
thrush see the rest of the Thrush e-book at The Natural Health Practice) it is important to take supplements of
lactobacillus acidophilus, one of the best-known and
effective probiotics. Yoghurt has shown to be helpful
in preventing attacks of yeast, but a probiotic supplement
goes one step further to actually treat a yeast infection.
The difference is that lactobacillus levels in yoghurt
are high enough to work on a preventative basis, but
they will not be concentrated enough to deal with
an infection. Make sure the one you buy has to be
kept in the refrigerator, because these are viable
cells that need to be kept at a low temperature.
There are acidophilus capsules that can be inserted into the vagina. Alternatively, you can use live yoghurt in the same way. Some women slather a tampon with yoghurt, and insert it into their vaginas, removing the tampon after 30 minutes or so, which should be enough time for the yoghurt with all its beneficial bacteria to be absorbed by the body. This method can be effective but, like anything that is used externally, messy! Furthermore, if you already have a yeast infection, there can be no doubt that levels of beneficial bacteria are not high enough. Even if you choose one of these external methods, it's a good idea to take a good probiotic alongside.
If you are currently suffering from thrush, add in fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are the naturally occurring water-soluble fibre in fruits and vegetables. These act as a food source for the growth of friendly bacteria.
Dietary changes
As well as following the Hormone Balancing Diet, which
is outlined in Chapter 1, you can help to eliminate
the thrush by focusing on a few dietary changes. You
will definitely need to avoid sugar, and any foods
containing sugar, as they will promote the growth
of yeast. You also need to cut out foods that contain
yeast, and any products that are fermented, such as
bread and wine.
Herbs (see caution below)
Herbal treatment is aimed at treating an active attack of thrush and also working to prevent future attacks.
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Research has been undertaken into the effects of tea
tree on candida and other vaginal infection and it
has been shown to be an excellent anti-fungal and
antibacterial agent herb.
This essential oil (the same type of oil that is used in aromatherapy) is not taken by mouth, but used vaginally to combat the thrush. It is possible to buy tea tree oil pessaries. Try adding a few drops of tea tree essential oil to your bath when you have thrush. If you are prone to thrush, it can be used on a preventative basis.
Echinacea
Because your immunity will be compromised if you are
suffer from recurrent thrush, one of the aims of herbal
treatment will be to boost your immune system.
Echinacea is one of the best herbs for increasing immune system function. One study showed that women suffering from recurrent thrush, who were given echinacea, had a 43 percent reduction in the number of attacks.
For optimum benefit to the immune system, it seems
that echinacea is more effective if taken with short
breaks. I would suggest four weeks on and then one
week off.
For more information on other herbs to help with thrush, see the rest of the chapter on Thrush e-book at The Natural Health Practice which you can download
Tests are extremely useful, in that they can tell you what deficiencies you have at the moment and then for you to know what supplements would be useful to take to correct those deficiencies. You would then be re-tested after three to four months to monitor your progress and to adjust the supplement programme accordingly.
Mineral Analysis Test
with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
This test measures the deficiency and excess levels
of 7 different minerals and 5 heavy toxic metals that
may be present in your body.
Online Personalised
Supplement Assessment Programme
The analysis of this comprehensive questionnaire will
give you a three monthly supplement programme to help
balance any vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may
have.
Candida Test (Comprehensive Parasitology)
(Stool Test)
This CDSA test checks your digestive health and gives
a complete overview of the body's intestinal function
evaluating if you are digesting your food properly
and absorbing the nutrients effectively.
This test will help you find out what foods you may
be allergic to or reacting to, which may cause weight
gain, bloating, fatigue etc. and let you know what
foods you should avoid eating.
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Thrush options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
Plan of Action
Nutrition
Ensure you are getting the right nutrition:
Follow dietary recommendations outlined on the Foundation
of Health page.
And for more information on the special dietary recommendation
for thrush, see the rest of the chapter on Thrush e-book at The Natural Health Practice
The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results
Your supplement plan
A good multivitamin and mineral tablet
Beta-carotene (25,000iu per day)
Zinc (30mg per day)
Garlic capsules (containing up to 5,000mcg of allicin,
taken once a day)
Lactobacillus acidophilus and FOS
Linseed (flaxseed) oil (1000mg per day)
Echinacea
Tea tree oil pessaries
At the end of three months you should reassess your condition and adjust your supplement programme accordingly.
Candida in the Digestive System
Candida can exist in other parts of the body other
than the vagina. For example, oral thrush is common
in babies, and appears as white patches on the inside
of the mouth. Candida can also form in the intestines.
In the intestines, the yeast form of candida can become 'mycelial' (that, is, it forms root-like growths). These roots can penetrate the intestine walls, and cause the gut to 'leak'. Small pieces of undigested food then escape into the bloodstream. This condition is known as 'leaky gut syndrome', and is the result of an overwhelming infestation of candida in the body, known as 'candidiasis'.
Persistent vaginal thrush can be one of the symptoms of candidiasis, but other symptoms can include food cravings especially for sugar and bread, fatigue, a bloated stomach with excess flatulence, a 'spaced out' feeling, and becoming tipsy on a very small amount of alcohol. Both men and women can suffer from candidiasis.
If you suffer from these symptoms, you will need to take the candidiasis in hand and often food allergies need to be checked as well. To do this, you'll need expert advice.
A stool test, which can be organised by post, can be used to detect an overgrowth of yeast in the digestive system. The test also show shows the levels of beneficial bacteria in your body. But don't assume that because you have these symptoms, there is candida at the root. Many of my clients have believed they were suffering from candidiasis - even going to the extent of following an anti-candida diet for some time - before a stool test showed that a parasitic infestation rather than candida was at the root. The symptoms of both conditions are remarkably similar, so it is essential that you have the appropriate tests to get the correct treatment.
These tests will help you to assess your present condition and indicate any specific deficiencies you may have that need to be balanced.
Mineral Analysis Test with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme)
Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
Candida Test (Comprehensive Parasitology) (Stool Test)
Food/Allergy Intolerance Test
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Thrush options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
The section above forms part of a larger complete e-book on Thrush. In the rest of the e-book you will learn what the medical approaches to thrush are and how to combine them with the natural approach. This is called Integrated Medicine and is the way that healthier of the future is moving towards. You will also learn what medical tests will give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition and if you really need to have them. The medical treatments for thrush are then examined which can include looking at either drugs or surgery. Each treatment is then discussed and the pros and cons of the options explained. The Integrated Approach to thrush is considered in some detail so that if appropriate you can know how to combine the best of both conventional and natural medicine.
At the end of the e-book is a practical step by step summary of what you can do to help yourself.
If you would like to read the rest of this e-book click, Thrush e-book at The Natural Health Practice and you will be given details of how you can download the whole e-book.
| Introduction | What are your choices? | Plan of Action |
The contents of this site are for information only and are intended to assist readers in identifying symptoms and conditions they may be experiencing. This site is not intended to be a substitute for taking proper medical advice and should not be relied upon in this way. Always consult a qualified doctor or health practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, taking the pill or on any medication. Your situation will need to be looked at individually and you should not attempt to self treat. The author and publisher cannot accept responsibility for illness arising out of the failure to seek medical advice from a doctor.
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