Natural Yeast Infection Remedies: Herbal Solutions & Lifestyle Tips

I have been suffering with systemic yeast issues for over 5 years which seem to present themselves as yeast infections, symptoms of yeast infections even when there is no infection, fatigue, brain fog, sleeplessness, rashy feeling in my skin esp in the legs, feet, hips, back and joints. About 8 months ago I started something called the GAPS diet along with an anti-candida diet to heal both my leaky gut (the main issues I've been told) and the yeast overgrowth.

About 2 months ago I got a yeast infection from sex with my boyfriend. I was devastated as I had been on the GAP/Candida diet for 6 months even though I know it can take anywhere from a year to two years to really heal the body. It was tough. So...I went to the doctor, they swabbed and confirmed yeast. They did the typical treatment..diflucan. I took it even though I hadn't touched a pill or chemical in 6 months. Just to be safe I also got OTC 3 day monistat. A week later I'm still feeling bad and I'm back at the drs with another swab and confirmed yeast. They gave me more...diflucan and pretty much shrugged (this was not a gyno, just a GP). They told me to take one and then another one 3 days later. So I did. At this point I was sure that the diflucan probably wasn't going to work so I started researching. After talking with my boss, who is also a good friend, she suggested tea tree oil tampons which actually worked for her BV and her wife's yeast infection. So I did that for 3 days and didn't feel any better. I then decided to try boric acid suppositories which I have used in the past for BV succesfully. I filled 00 capsules with boric acid and inserted once in the morning and at night. Felt better for the first few days and then on day 5 and 6 I started feeling worse. This could have been die-off, not really sure but I switched methods at this point. My boyfriend and I had a cruise coming up and I was desperate to feel better.

I started reading about Grapefruit Seed Extract and found a way to use it on a tampon online. Here is what I ended up doing after some trial and error. This worked for me and in fact eliminated most of the symptoms during the treatment aside from just feeling swollen down there I actually did this our entire cruise and didn't suffer much.

1. I melted about 1/2 tbsp of coconut oil in a small glass jar (BALL baby food jars work great). Do this on the stove or using a hair dryer aimed under the glass jar not in it (did that on the cruise since there wasn't a stove and it worked great). Do not use the microwave.

2. I added 8-10 drops of GSE and mixed well. **Just FYI, these oils really don't mix and you will see the GSE settle in little oil balls on the bottom of the jar. This is ok.** Also you will need to adjust the dosage to meet your needs. If 8 irritates you try less drops or start with 5 and work your way up. I was fine with this amount.

3. Take a Super Tampon in a cardboard applicator (very important it's cardboard). Remove the tampon and keep just the applicator. Take a regular tampon and put it in the cardboard applicator and thread the string through the bottom so it looks like a normal tampon where the applicator is just a little over sized. This will allow the tampon to expand as you add the oils.

4. Carefully and slowly drip or pour in very small amounts of the coconut oil/GSE mixture. Allow time for the amounts to absorb. This is going to take a minute or two. I got to where I could do it as a slow steady drip. If you pour too fast you'll end up with the oil just running out of the bottom of the tampon and it'll be messy. The last to go on will be the GSE oil which is good because it will be right at the tip. Be careful not to go too slow so the applicator doesn't get soaked and soggy. It takes a little practice but you'll get it quickly.

5. Once all oil is on the tampon (there may be some dripping out of the bottom, if so don't worry just get it in), you will insert it. **FYI...sometimes a little oil will seep out of the bottom when you insert. For this reason I would make sure you aren't standing over something, like clothes or good rugs. Best to do with pants off standing in the bathroom on tiled floor if possible. Wear a panty liner during the day

6. Change this out every 7-8 hours for about 14 days. I am not sure if it is needed for 14 days but that's how long I did it for.

At the end of treatment I went to an actually gyno and had a swab and labs done. My swab came up yeast free and the labs just came back yesterday and I am clear of all the yeast strains they tested for (albicans, glabrata, tropicalis, Parapsilosis, Krusei). The dr told me I obliterated everything in there. They found no yeast and no bacteria at all.

Right now I am doing suppositories of coconut oil and 50 billion probiotics. I Mixed 1/2 CO with 1 50 billion capsule and poured it into 1/2 tbsp molds to insert each night to make sure the good bacteria is what grows back after the decimation of everything. I plan to do this for 5-7 days to repopulate the good guys.

I would highly recommend GSE as a yeast remedy.

The only thing that has helped since I stopped being able to buy prescription anti-fungal pills over the internet, is grapefruit seed extract. It works! And it works fast!!! I put anywhere from 10 to 20 drops on fruit like a kiwi or orange in the morning or in orange juice to hide the taste. I do this every morning for as long as I am having a problem. I can usually tell right away, the difference by just looking at my tongue. My tongue usually has a white coating when I am experiencing problems with yeast.

Takes anywhere from 1 to 3 days to notice a real difference. I'd say 5 days for most people would work. It's an ongoing battle for me so I do it several times a week especially if I have anything sugary.

Do a 'google' on 'the benefits of grapefruit seed extract'. You will be amazed. It is available at many health food stores, or online. Good luck.