There are a number of home remedies for yeast infections, and some, especially for vaginal infections, may be effective. Others have inherent problems and anyone who has not had a yeast infection before and suspects one is probably safer seeing a doctor first. Some conditions may have similar symptoms to yeast infections but are more serious, and misdiagnosis at home could delay important treatment.
Many women get yeast infections when they take antibiotics and one recommendation that can be tried at home is to eat yogurt with active live cultures in it. Though most of these cultures end up in the intestinal tract, which might help prevent diarrhea, some women report that they also note they do not get yeast infections if they are vigilant about eating yogurt each day. There are home remedies for yeast infections like lactobacillus acidophilus suppositories, and these have been found to be potentially more effective than eating yogurt or taken L. acidophilus supplements. They have additionally been judged relatively safe to use.
Other home remedies for yeast infections include things like douching with vinegar/water solutions, which may again introduce some live yeast cultures into the vagina. Alternately some people douche with garlic oil, tea tree oil or boric acid. Others take garlic oil internally. While taking garlic oil is likely safe, douching with garlic oil may cause vaginal burning, and boric acid is not recommended. There are few studies on the efficacy of tea tree oil. In fact, with most of these home remedies for yeast infections evidence for efficacy is not proven and is instead anecdotal.
There are a number of reasons why it may be better to use conventional medicine to treat yeast infections instead of home remedies. First among these is that conventional treatments tend to work quickly and reduce discomfort in a short period of time. Second, yeast infections can be considered contagious, especially if a person engages in sexual intercourse, which should be avoided for the length of the infection.
Getting diagnosis of a yeast infection can be important too. Though many vaginal yeast infections result from benign causes, they may also result from underlying conditions like pregnancy or diabetes. In general, yeast infections do not have significant complications, but still it’s best to make sure they are treated in a timely fashion. Most physicians believe it is better not to wait while trying lots of home remedies for yeast infections that may only prolong time the infection exists.
Typical traditional treatment for these infections includes various creams and suppositories that contain anti-fungal active ingredients. Treatment in recent years has significantly advanced, and some treatments are available in single dose amounts. These can be highly effective ways to quickly end infection.
