Yeast infection video

Here is a great 2 min video that explains about a yeast infection and the bacteria that cause it

Yeast Infection is not the only itchy culprit

A Recent report delivered to the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease has researchers warn that women who self diagnose them selves with a yeast infection and then treat their vaginal yeast infections with over the counter drugs may be doing more harm then good.

What Susan Hoffstetter said in her report was "Everything that itches isn't a yeast infection." There can be many reasons for vaginal itching or discharge that range from skin irritation because of dryness to sexually transmitted disease. Susan Hoffstetter pointed out that these conditions require different treatment and women should consult with their doctor before diagnosing themselves.

Working at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Hoffstetter analyzed over 150 cases and found that only 26% of cases actually had a vaginal yeast infection. When a women visits her doctor, the doctor will be able to identify correctly what her problem is through pelvic examinations as well as a vaginal swab.

4 Truths about drugs that cause yeast infections

There are drugs that dramatically increase your chances of developing a candida overgrowth. Some major culprits are steroids, the oral contraceptive pill, chemotherapy and antibiotics.

Steroids:
Oral steroids (such as those taken for asthma) can contribute to cases of oral thrush. So be on the look out for white patches in the mouth or on the tongue, and be prepared to see a doctor if you suspect a problem. Spacers used with steroid inhalers can help prevent oral thrush or stop it recurring. Treatment for oral thrush generally involves looking for and removing the cause of the problem, and then if necessary oral lozenges may be prescribed by your doctor.

Steroids taken either intravenously or in ingested as medication can increase the likelihood of getting thrush, either vaginal, oral, or sometimes on other parts of the body. Steroids may prescribed for such things as allergies, hodgkins lymphoma, crohn’s disease etc.

The Oral Contraceptive pill:
Because it alters normal hormone levels, it can increase a woman’s susceptibility to thrush. This is because as our hormone levels are altered by the pill, our ability to process sugar is reduced, leading to more available sugar for the thrush to feed on.

Chemotherapy:
Can increase your chance of oral thrush in a number of ways. First of all, chemotherapy works by damaging the cells in your body. Healthy cells can repair and keep reproducing, cancerous ones find it more difficult. But in the period where your healthy cells are damaged they are liable to more problems than usual.

You can find you get ulcers and bleeding, and candida, always present in our mouths any way, can become an opportunistic infection. Really good oral hygiene is important in treating and preventing thrush while having chemotherapy. If you have dentures, keep them very clean. If you have teeth use a soft tooth brush, an electric one can also be good. Replace the toothbrush frequently to prevent infection.

Chemotherapy often causes a lack of saliva, so eat foods that are soft on the mouth, think juicy or saucy things, rather than crispy or acidic.

Antibiotics:
Antibiotics are implicated in yeast overgrowth because they kill friendly bacteria such as lactobacilli. Lactobacilli are normally available to help keep a balance with the yeast and stop them growing out of control, so if they are removed yeast tend to flourish more.

It is also worth remembering that with the exception of the contraceptive pill, you only take these drugs when you have a pre-existent health problem. Candida overgrowth can occur purely because our body is run down, so the fact that you have a health problem already may make you more susceptible to yeast overgrowth, regardless of the drugs that you are taking.

When to go to Hospital

Emergency Care gives advice of when to seek medical advice for a Yeast Infection. Unfortunately a yeast infection can afflict people in a number of different ways. Fortunately the majority of cases can be treated quite easily, by visiting your doctor and then by making sure your life style is healthy. This helps you keep yeast infections a thing of the past and includes diet and exercise as life style choices.

However there are times when serious symptoms will mean that going to hospital may be the wisest decision. Before you go to hospital you will probably need to see your local doctor.

Times that Hospital may be needed

• People with weakened immune systems are candidates for hospitalization
• Women that are experiencing abdominal pain, fever chills, and nausea
• If oral thrush stops the intake of liquids

Yeast Infection cured with perfume

My story starts as I was sitting in a business meeting. I was intently paying attention to the person speaking. I was leaning forward and as such created a very enclosed space around my body.

As I sat there I started to notice the vaguest smell that had me cringe in possible embarrassment.

At the moment I am taking a heavy dose of steroids and other nuclear drugs. The down side of all of this is the accompanying itch or yeast infection that happens when taking many of these hard drugs.

As I sat there in the meeting pulling my coat around me tighter I had these horrible thoughts of “can any one else smell me”. I was ready to crawl away and die. After the meeting and with a little investigation and help from my husband I ascertained that I was probably the only person that was aware of the sweet smell that made my blood curdle.

I have since made myself a promise, to make sure that I have sufficient perfume in my bag that if I am ever caught in a similar situation that I will be able to disguise the smell. At least enough to put my mind at ease, even if they do start calling me petal.

Should you insure against a yeast infection?

SICKO – Michael Moore’s new film that highlights problems in the medical, insurance and pharmaceutical industries cites an example of a woman who had her insurance voided because she did not disclose on a medical form that she had, had a previous yeast infection. And what is even more unbelievable is that they managed to do this when the form did not specifically ask about yeast infections.

As has been rightly pointed out there is almost no woman that has not had a yeast infection at some time in her life. The question that must be asked “how long can America stand this sort of blatant abuse by greedy CEO’s.” ?

Vinegar - friend or foe when treating thrush?

For holistic long term treatment of thrush, food is always an issue. Certain foods are held to feed thrush (eg sugar etc) and certain foods can help the body successfully combat thrush (probiotics etc).

Vinegar is an interesting food, when it comes to thrush, as it is both on the 'prohibited' and 'use every day' lists.

Why is vinegar prohibited? There is no clear evidence (that I am aware of) that consuming vinegar is a problem for people who have thrush, but some people avoid it because it is a fermented food product. There is a school of thought that says fermented food makes the body more prone to thrush. As I said, court is officially out on this (meaning that there are no double blind scientific experiments that say it is definitely a contributing factor in a yeast infection). However, if you find you experience flare ups when you have vinaigrette salad dressings, then by all means avoid it.

The really interesting thing on the 'ban on fermented foods' for yeast sufferers, is that fermented foods are often classified as very easy to digest and therefore good for you. Miso is an example of a fermented, easy to digest food. And I have found in my own experience that foods that ferment in the gut are a greater health problem than foods that were fermented before I ate them. Red meat is an example of something that can ferment in the gut. It can sit there for a while and is fairly difficult to digest.

So I recommend seeing what works for you, and what gives you trouble, try avoiding fermented food, and then try avoiding food that might ferment in you!

Moving on from talking about what we eat, vinegar is a star when it comes to topical home remedies for yeast infections. A vinegar dilution solution can help restore the health of your skin, by restoring its pH balance. Use it in a dilution of about 1 part vinegar to five parts water. You can use it as a mouth wash for oral thrush, a general 'toner' for skin

Thrush while pregnant - is it harmful?

Thrush while pregnant – is it harmful?

The answer is no, it isn’t going to hurt your baby if you have vaginal thrush while pregnant. But it could drive you crazy!

Oral thrush tablets are not recommended for pregnant women – they get into the bloodstream and can be harmful to the baby. The regular range of creams, pessaries/suppositories and home remedies can be used while pregnant as they are not taken up into the blood stream so quickly.

So, go and see your doctor or use some of our home remedies. Also – watch your diet and try to avoid too much sugary stuff.

Petrol Fumes

I have been spending time recently looking into the health effects of petrol fumes. It wasn't something that I had ever thought too much about before, but the other week I was talking to a MD who specialises in nutrition and he mentioned that high levels of cadmium, lead etc can inhibit the body's absorbption of essential nutrients.

This is because the toxins if present in your body will bind onto certain nutrients and be eliminated from the body. It is good that the toxins are eliminated, but it means we don't get to absorb the nutrients.

There are treatments that can be done to help you eliminate these toxins if they are stored in the body, and so if you and your health care provider think that you have symptoms of poisoning, it is worth while getting tested.
Lead poisoning can be established via a blood test.

It is also worth being tested for heavy metal poisoning if any of the following apply to you-

you have lived in, renovated or lived next to any one renovating an older house that may have had lead paint on its walls. If this was sanded, for example then you would almost certainly have breathed in a lot of lead and it is easily absorbed through the lungs.

If you or someone you were sharing a house with haved worked in an industry where chemicals containing lead, or lead products themselves were used. Lead poisoning can occur from the chemicals or dust brought home on the clothes, even if you did not attend the place of work yourself.

If you have lived in an industrial area or near a large high way. Lead does not break down, so it can be found in the dust, in roof cavities of buildings, in the very air in these areas. It is also a risk for child centers to be placed on busy roads where lots of fumes are released.

I am still researching this and hope to have more information shortly, but it is worth thinking about when deciding where to live - avoid main roads!

The deficiency caused by this poisoning undermines the health of the body, including the digestive and immune systems, which could make the body more likely to suffer from yeast infections, and less able to fight them off if one is encountered. It will also make the body more prone to many other infections and medical conditions, by undermining general health.

Make Yogurt to Cure a Yeast Infection

What does the common out of the super market refrigerator dairy product “YOGURT” have in it that can help you be healthy – or cure a yeast infection? Well Dannone and Yoplait would have you believe everything. And they are correct that natural yogurt is fantastic.

Some of the medical advantages it can bring are
    Reduce the risk of developing a yeast infection
    Cure a yeast infection when applied to the affected area
    Enhance your immune system in fighting off bacteria
    Help stop diarrhea caused by antibiotics
    Tighten your Pause
    Ease Sunburn
    Eliminate Canker sores

Making yogurt on a commercial scale is a little different then making it for your self at home. However the same principals apply. An interesting article yogurt production explains that yogurt is made from the controlled fermentation of milk using two bacteria Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. During the fermentation process the lactose in the milk is turned into lactic acid which forms the yogurt characteristics so readily known. The acid that is formed has an advantage over normal milk in that it restricts the growth of food poisoning and spoilage bacteria.

It is important to get the correct balances of the two bacteria to be able to produce good quality yogurt. To purchase the dried bacteria it will be necessary to shop around at health stores. The bacteria can be cultivated on pasteurized milk and stored in the refrigerator, using a little each day as master culture.

The method of yogurt creation is not difficult and once the correct equipment is in place which can be purchased from http://www.lehmans.com or http://www.rietdairy.nl or other large equipment manufacturer the following procedure should be followed and with a little practice good quality yogurt can be made to eat or cure any thrush problem, sun burn or skin yeast infection.

    The method:
        Collect milk in clean containers
        Pastries milk at 80-85 degrees Celsius for 15-20 minutes
        Cool the milk quickly to 40-45 degrees Celsius
        and add starter culture
        Keep the milk at this steady temperature for 3-4 hours
        Once complete store in refrigerator until needed

Home grown garlic yeast infection cure

So if garlic is the antifungicide of the century, you really should learn how to grow it. And the great thing is that it’s fairly easy to grow anywhere.

Soil preparation
Garlic prefers a fairly light weight soil that drains. If your soil doesn’t match this description you can add things to it.
For example you can add some organic matter, such as well decomposed compost, leaf clippings from last autumn etc to your soil and dig it through. In some cases you may even want to add a little sand.
If you have very heavy clay soil you may want to consider raising the bed, either by planting the garlic into raised rows that you have hoed up, or by building a completely raised bed. To do this you will need to get soil from somewhere and to edge your bed with something – wooden planking edging works well.

Why all this fuss about damp soil? Garlic grows from a bulb that is in the soil for a long time. It will rot rather than grow if the soil is too damp.

Garlic also likes to be well fed. Well rotted manure, compost, blood and bone, a complete fertiliser such as a 10 10 10 are all really good to dig into the bed when preparing.

It is good to dig up and losen the soil to about the depth of one spade, prior to planting, and to add some fertiliser at the same time. Garlic likes to send down deep roots, so don’t skim on the digging!

Garlic can also be grown in pots. If you’re doing this then don’t just get soil from the garden, you will want to use a commercial quality potting mix.

More on Garlic growing soon.

Belly Button Yeast Infection

Belly button yeast infection has become more of an embarrassing problem with the change in fashion. A few years ago a belly button yeast infection was confined to red irritable skin that was itchy and sore, with the probability of a bad smell coming from your middle. Fortunately the sufferer was the only person aware of the problem. Unfortunately skinny tops these days have exposed more belly buttons to every one else then is possibly needful.

Because yeast infections thrive in wet damp areas a larger tummy with an inni belly button is more susceptible to a yeast infection. I am not sure if the modern trend to piercing contributes to a belly button yeast infection, however it probably would not help or keep a yeast infection away and it would definitely irritate the healing process.

To clear up a belly button yeast infection try tea tree oil on a cotton swab and make sure that you dry right inside your belly button. You can also use most anti-fungal creams that battle a yeast infection in this area quite successfully. If you have a larger tummy you may want to try our Anti-Candida diet book as it will definitely help with other remedies relating to skin yeast infections and of course it has good food that will help control the tummy over hang.

Belly button yeast infection may not be the only problem associated with a sore irritable weeping belly button a patent urachus (or urachal cyst) may be the problem which is a small ligament that extends from the top of the bladder to the umbilicus (belly button). After birth this closes off but sometimes it may not and can become infected causing what you may think is a belly button yeast infection.

I would suggest that you get your belly button examined by a Doctor just to make sure you don’t have some thing more serious that you can not treat alone.

Candida and ADHD or ADD

Are Candida yeast infections a contributor to the ADD/ADHD epidemic affecting our children? ADD or ADHD have become an increasingly big problem as more and more children are diagnosed with these problems. Some times it appears as though Doctors are too quick to use the latest buzz word and attribute every thing to the latest research that turns up connections between symptoms and disease.

ADD/ADHD seem to be one of these and the underlying problem for the diagnosis can be something of a very easily solvable nature.

It is important when a child is diagnosed with ADD/ADHD to investigate other areas which may reveal a cause and a cure.

A Candida yeast infection is one of the problems that can cause ADD/ADHD. Candida releases 42 chemicals into the blood which are actually toxins. These toxins go through the blood brain barrier and have an effect on the control center controlling sleep. These toxins can also cause other health problems.

A few other areas to investigate are

• CAPD (Central Auditory processing Disorder)
• Learning Style or Learning Disabilities
• Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Spoiled and undisciplined children
• Gifted children
• Hearing and vision problems
• High mercury levels
• Fluoride
• Allergies

A good diet will always help in addressing many health problems. I suggest having a look at our Anti-Candida Cook Book

Yeast infection in babies

A new baby is one of the most awe inspiring events that can ever happen. While watching those beautiful eyes we wonder why we have been so blessed to receive such a gift as the baby we are holding.

Unfortunately life can disrupt those wonderful moments with periods of sickness. Having a sick baby is one of the most frustrating and helpless feelings as we so want to make it better and we know that they just don’t understand.

One of the sicknesses that can afflict babies is thrush. Yeast occurs naturally in all babies mouths. It is when this yeast gets out of control that an overgrowth occurs and a yeast infection follows.

Most babies that experience a yeast infection are exposed to it during birth. While traveling down the birth canal it is possible to pass a yeast infection on to a new born baby. You may be experiencing a yeast infection with out even being aware of the fact.

This is not the only way in which a yeast infection can be passed between mother and child. Breast milk can also carry the infection across. Antibiotics are the primary reason for this in so far as antibiotics can kill off good bacteria in the milk which keep the yeast in control.

Because a yeast infection can be passed through milk it is possible that a c-section baby can develop a yeast infection because of antibiotics you or they may be taking. When a yeast infection does develop it is important to treat both mother and baby as it is easy for a yeast infection to linger when not treated completely and thereby re-infecting each other.