The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jamie (Dallas, Texas) on 06/04/2009
★★★★★
hey girls. Yeah so yeast infections must be the worst thing ever, I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. Mine have always been medication induced after being on prescriptions. This last one I have had for over a month. I got it right after my period, and it took me a few days to realize what it was for sure partly because I had just shaved down there and thought maybe it was just irritated. Anyway I got on a prescription, which last time took over 8 pills to make go away. This time I felt little change on the 2 pills I took. I hate the over the counter creams so I didnt even go that route after my past experiences with them ( not working, burning worse than the actual infection). So after suffering for weeks, I have been online for hours a day, on every website. I tried yogart, both eating and inserting. I actually found it made it feel worse, when I inserted it. However I didnt have as much burning as I have with past infections if I did I think it would of been great. But eating the yogart I could really tell a difference I would eat 4 a day and after I would eat them I felt a lil better. I was nervous about trying garlic, I mean what if I couldnt get it out. So I ate two cloves of garlic instead, till I could get to the store to buy whole garlic pills. After reading on here I decided to try ACV. I was worried because it was midnight and all the natural stores are closed. Luckily the supermarket by my house is 24 hours and has a natural section in it. I found all natural ACV. It was like 5 bucks! I came home and made a bath with warm water, and a cup of ACV. I soaked in it for 20 mins. Then I took 1/2 cup of ACV and 1/2 cup water and poured it on a washcloth, I applied it to the infected area and left it there for two mins. It did burn a lil bit, which made me kinda feel like it was working. I felt a big difference. Even just after the bath I felt a big difference. I went to bed and did it again in the morning. My plan is to keep doing this twice a day till I feel completely back to normal, the only problem is I should be starting my period any day now so that will likely make this all way way worse. Im hoping for the best, and I am thankful for all of you who shared your stories, they were very helpful to people like me. I never write on these things, but I figured if it will help one suffering women I will do it. Thanks girls~
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Leah (Friendswood, Texas) on 09/03/2009
Garlic will kill anything fungal, use it until it goes away, dont stop when you think you've had enough, keep taking it diligently and the acv. Peroxide will kill it also and acidophilus. Take them all like crazy, and get ready to be happy! No more itching or burning! I had to do this also because I had got a yeast infection when I got a stent put in for a kidney stone. I used all of these and peppermint soap, and it all did the job almost instantly, of course you have to keep on it and make sure it is gone.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shampoo (Houston, Texas) on 10/19/2009
How do you apply the peroxide if you have a yeast infection?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Proxy (Spokane, Wa) on 02/01/2010
Hydrogen peroxide can either be applied, or diluted and applied. [Do NOT use internally as the doseage is in DROPS. Too much taken internally will cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar level.]
Garlic, ACV, Acidophilus, Coconut Oil
Posted by Tamara (Fort Collins, Colorado) on 05/24/2009
★★★★★
I am quite prone to bacterial infections and when I got the last one in October, I went to my obgyn clinic to get antibiotics, which before becoming a regular on Earth Clinic, had been my go-to for UTIs. But this time they couldn't confirm it, so they gave me a lesser, short course antibiotic that, by the time the tests confirmed that the infection I had would be resistant to it, had already run out. So they gave me a longer, more potent antibiotic (I have no recollection of the name) that, of course, gave me a yeast infection. I had never had a yeast infection before (miraculously) and it was agonizing but I did not want to take diflucan or any other prescribed, traditional medication. Instead, I read up on Earth Clinic and tried a few of the therapies. Unfortunately, it was several months ago that it happened, but I do remember a few things that definitely worked. I took a few baths with about 2 cups of organic ACV in the water and applied organic coconut oil to the external parts that immediately reduced, but did not eliminate, the itching and burning. But I believe the most potent remedy was garlic. I chewed one or two raw cloves of garlic twice a day and at night I placed a raw, peeled garlic clove internally as a suppository. Amazingly, it worked. As a word of caution, I don't recommend leaving it too long (take it out after you wake up), try to find a smooth, rounded clove so that it won't poke or scratch the vagina, and to tie some yarn or string around the clove to pull it out easily (wouldn't want to get it lost inside!). I noticed that the garlic worked fast and I would use it internally whenever it started to itch but the oil from the garlic would burn if I didn't have an infection. I also started taking acidophilus in the yogurt-like form and eating coconut oil, which I think helped as well. I only had the infection for three days and started these remedies on the second day, so it could've been even shorter! I had been skeptical of home remedies until this infection and subsequent "cure" and have since used Earth Clinic for mounds of ailments. In fact, I was quite prone to every cold and flu and got a lot of cold sores (once every one to two weeks) and haven't had anything in over 7 months. I guess it took me awhile to realize what a healthy lifestyle and natural remedies can do for me. Thank you Earth Clinic!
Povidone Iodine Douche
Posted by Linda (Langhorne, PA) on 03/29/2009
★★★★★
I write to help others with distress in their feminine and colon parts that involves itching and painfulness (when these parts do or do not show visible redness) when yeast medicines like monistat are not completely effective to remove the symptoms. I douche with provodone iodine and find relief almost immediately but must continue with daily douches (yes up both body parts) for one week (7 days). I have never found an m.d. who recommends this -- i have been recommended metranizole but that is taken orally and can have yukky side effects.
Good luck ladies--feel better. You should.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Veronica (New York, NY) on 03/21/2009
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar for a yeast infection. I've read a lot about home remedies for cures and been worried to try them from all the mixed reviews. However, for the past couple of months, I have been having a very unfamiliar smell and itching sensation in my downstairs area. So I thought that maybe it could be normal since I just started having intercourse considering I got myself a PAP test and it came back clean. But after weeks of my vagina constantly being itching and uncomfortably smelling, I decided that I needed to take action. So I put about 3 tablespoons of ACV in a little dispenser bottle filling the rest with warm water. I put it directly on my outer labia lips and put some on a cloth and held it on for around a minute or so. After taking off the cloth, it stung a little bit for myself but very minimal. I did this twice and right after I felt a relieving sensation. It feels clean and able to breathe but just slightly itchy.With the other comments I would also like to say that no "cottage cheese" discharge came out my vagina and nothing of this at all. I'm going to keep continuing with this for at least 3-4 days, twice a day to make sure it is completely gone.
Yogurt
Posted by Alex (Bethesda, Md) on 03/17/2009
★★★★★
Using yogurt has treated my yeast infection. The trick is once you've inserted about a tablespoon with an applicator put your legs up over your head to ensure the yogurt gets all the way up there! I feel like my self again. Thanks everyone!
Yogurt
Posted by Mona (Santa Rosa, Ca Usa) on 09/22/2011
This worked wonders for me!!!
For immediate relief apply a handful of organic pure raw honey wherever relief is needed, I would suggest you do this in the bath as honey will begin to melt. Leave this on for 10-15 minutes then wash off. Take a bath in lukewarm-warm water pour in 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup of ACV.
Use plain organic yogurt, find a disposable glove pour yogurt in the fingers and freeze. Break off a finger each night and insert into your vagina, do this until you are completely sure it's gone, usually 3-5 days, longer if needed. Freezing makes it easier to insert and you'll find relief with the cold yogurt. Last I suggest using a sanitary napkin at night as yogurt will star melting immediately, and try to insert just before getting into bed.
Fragrance-Free Laundry Detergent
Posted by Debra (Shawnee, Kansas) on 03/14/2009
★★★★★
When I turned 19 I started developing awful UTI's which of course were followed by yeast infections because of the antibiotics. I was averaging a UTI every other month. After every UTI I had another yeast infection. I'm 31 and this cycle is starting to end. I'll post more about my end to the UTI's on the other page, but as for the yeast. It became absolutely resistant to over the counter creams and diflucan.. I have the same pattern as most, little irritation all month, period then major symptoms. I went to the doctor and had it tested (in the past we just assumed and he would dole me out the diflucan)... test came back negative. I had the fish odor, the itching and the discharge.. did not make a bit of sense to me. So I did what I'd been told to do years and years ago, but rejected because of price.. I switched my laundry detergent to a fragrance free, dye free brand. I switched my dryer sheets to the same.. I feel so stupid now.. I haven't itched since. I guess I didn't believe it since I didn't feel that my clothes were getting clean enough.. FYI.. first try.. had a pair of my sons peed in training pants.. and the entire load smelled.. I almost gave up.. I always wash in cold water.. I (as reluctant as I still am about this) switched it up to HOT.. and no smell.. everything comes out clean.. makes me almost wonder if you really need that much detergant.. hot water helps kill and such... I also (again, not cost effective, but so worth it).. use either ONLY cetaphil to wash that area.. or I bought Neutrogena fragrance and dye free face wash.. gentle.. (not for acne).. and again.. my uti's and yeast problems have disappeared.. My husband accidentally brought home the new charmin with aloe.. I didn't realize it till I took one wipe and it burned.. I started itching.. realized the problem and threw the junk out.. I bucked this for years.. figuring if I had detergant allergy it would show on my skin.. boy was I wrong..
Fragrance-Free Laundry Detergent
Posted by Maria (Phoenix, AZ) on 04/24/2009
★★★★★
I agree with your post. UTI's are a direct result of soaps and toilet paper. Once I change the products to more natural or organic, and stopped using harsh liquid soaps, my UTI's are staying gone. I've had over 50 UTIs in over 10 years.
Ted's Remedies Feedback
Posted by Jessica (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 03/06/2009
Hi Ted: I've had reoccurring yeast and bladder infections for years after reading you post on Vit B3 deficiency and yeast overgrowth I began taking it 2 days ago when I take it my neck ears face and arms break out in a rash a few hours after taking. Is this normal should I still be taking it?
EC: B3, aka Niacin:
"Most people taking niacin experience skin flushing and a warm sensation, especially of the face, neck, and ears when they begin treatment or increase dose. This reaction is usually mild, but has been intolerable enough to cause up to half of participants in studies to stop therapy. Dry skin and itching is also commonly experienced."
Ted's Remedies Feedback
Posted by Pamm (Birmingham, Alabama) on 04/01/2013
They make a niacin flush free & it works, I couldn't take the regular b3 withouth itching skin & flushing and burning of the skin, the flush free really works!! No side effects...
Ted's Remedies Feedback
Posted by Laurie (Ny, New York) on 04/01/2013
It's called niacinamide and is sold everywhere.
Athlete's Foot Fungus Cream
Posted by Barbara (Dallas, TX) on 02/14/2009
★★★★★
Relief from vaginal itching: Believe it or not you will expience relief from itching overnight with a simple cream for athlete's foot fungus. I even used it on diaper rash on my kids--cleared it up overnight!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by LH (Slidell, La) on 02/11/2009
★☆☆☆☆
Okay so I have been suffering from either a yeast infection or bv... havent quiet figured out which one it is. I have the itching so im thinking it is probably a yeast infection. I have tried everything...acv douche, h202 douche,folic acid pills, yogurt, acidiphillous pills, garlic pills, Rephresh, Yeast gaurd. Now im trying the b-comlex 50, nicinamide 100 and liquid b-12. It kind of worked on the first day but now I dont think it is really working. I havent tried the Boric acid inserts bc i dont know where to find the boric acid. Also I was wondering if you can insert the Nicinamide and the B-complex pills into your vagina? If anyone has any remedies that they would like to share with me or any comments this would be very helpful! Thanks!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Katrina (DC, DC/USA) on 02/11/2009
Take a piece of garlic, tear off the skin, wrap it in gauze, tie some tooth floss around it, and make sure you are using a long piece of floss since you are making a garlic tampon. Insert this tampon into your vagina and sleep with it overnight. Remove it in the morning, and do this for 3-4 days until your yeast infection is gone. If the infection is real serious, ask your doctor to prescripe the yeast infection pill, I think it's called diflucan, and take that in addition to the garlic tampon treatment. Note, if your period is coming up, this might help get rid of the yeast infection as well. And also, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you not consume products that have sugar (or minimize sugar as much as possible) since this is food to the yeast. It might not hurt to take yougurt pills and garlic pills as welll, though make sure you eat before you take the garlic pills or they might hurt your stomach. Goldenseal and echinacia pills might help your imune system too. I'm not a doctor, but this method has worked for me.
Yogurt
Posted by Jane (Glendale, Arizona) on 02/11/2009
This is my first yeast infection in 20 years! I had to take a high dosage antibiotic and four days later, wham! Yeast infection! I did not want to take another synthetic drug and upset my system even more. I too looked up natural cures and stumbled upon this site. I had heard about yogurt from a girlfriend and she said it was amazing. I bought plain organic yougurt and inserted it with a tampon for an hour. The itching went away instantly! It felt cool and soothing. I did apply some yogurt to the outside of my vulva to help soothe. This is only my first day,but will try it again tonight before I go to bed. My v-jay is irritated, but not how it was earlier. I can at least sit down without cringing. I expect that to subside after another application. Thank you!
Yogurt
Posted by Jane (Glendale, Arizona) on 04/12/2009
★★★★★
Update: I continued to use the yogurt for three days, once in the morning and once before bed. I dipped a small tampon in the plain organic yogurt-covering it to almost dripping- and left it in for about an hour. I usually left one in over night. Each day the symptoms were less and less. It has been two months now and no yeast has returned. I do eat yogurt everyday to ensure it does not return. Amazing and cheap remedy that truly works!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sally (Upper Hutt, New Zealand) on 01/29/2009
★★★★★
Hi I would like to thank everyone who has written about apple cider vinegar.
I had a Yeast infection: itching, and burning, around the outside of my vagina. I get the monthly e-mail from (Earth Clinic )and just my luck there is was in my in-box. Clicked on a few remedy's. However, tried ACV. I poured (neat) ACV on a face cloth (enough to cover face cloth in half), and placed it on the vagina for a few minutes. It stings for a little time. I did this, for a couple days. All good now.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Maira (Winter Park , FL) on 01/27/2009
★★★★★
Organic Black Molasses: I started taking Molasses for Yeast Infection that I have been dealing with for Five year and seemed To have gone away. But I have a concern, I have read that too much Molasses can harm your body and lead to cancer. Is this true?
General Feedback
Posted by Miss (Sandy, Utah, USA) on 01/23/2009
Yeast infections are so so so so so aggravating but ???? what do you do first and how do you know if the problem is causes by yeast. So many say yeast infections never go away no matter what you do and is a life long problem that you never stop fighting.... why and what is CAUSING the problem to begin with so we don't have to keep fighting all this yeast taking over.......????
General Feedback
Posted by Rosy (Orlando, Fl) on 01/24/2009
I found that when I switch to organic cotton panties that I stopped having yeast infections. I also started using dye-free, fragrance-free, natural laundry soap and that has helped to.
Boric Acid
Posted by Alabama (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 06/22/2012
I have had infections for a year. My swabs kept coming up negative for anything. Then we noticed the same funky smell on my husband and when the doctor realized that my husband had yeast as well. We were giving it back to one another. That was problem number 1. So he got treatment for that. But all the yeast treatments I had been using were not helping but irritating me even more. I got the book writtten by a gynecologist called THE V BOOK. It helped me to understand EVERYTHING. There are chemicals in a lot of those over the counter creams as well as lube and ph balancing gels and BV gels that actually have glycerin and lactose in their base.... Which is sugar and makes yeast/BV worse. And also chemicals that make the stinging worse. So even if the infection is gone you could still have allergic type reactions to the products. I tried everything. Even boric acid capsules... That actually burned so badly they bleached my underwear! But I persisted and the doctor finally did a swab and it was super positive for BV and Yeast. SO she put me on Lamisil for 30 days and boric acid (which has a 90% success rate in clinical trials for both yeast and BV). But this time I did it differently. I made icecubes of either pure coconut oil or pure olive oil... I rotated and emptied the small capsule of boric acid to the cube and mixed it up well. I also made regular olive oil ones too. Every night I put one of each in... A boric one and an olive oil one............ Such relief, the cold, the lubrication, the anti inflamatory properties. AMAZING. 14 days... I pushed them high up with old applicators so they wouldn't leak too much. Then I went to bed with a pad on............. Sometimes I had to change it before I fell asleep and sometimes I applied vaseline to avoid vulvar burning. Within 3 days, this depressing, horrible agonizing situation was over. I bought the boric acid BEHIND the counter at the pharmacy. I think you can also buy it in the hardware store or online............ Give it a try. No diet change, husband treated as well and boric acid icecubes! Super cheap and super effective. Don't know if I needed the lamisil but hey it was only 30 days. I think you should try without oral pills first. I do maintenance now when I feel an itch and also back off and stop when it feels like it's burning and not in the yeasty way... Which means I don't need it. Everybody is different, but I implore you to get the book and try the icecubes. And get your partner checked! And the rest is up to your body and how much and how often you need it. Listen to your body it tells you a lot and also knows how to repair itself. Be patient and don't use too many things at once like I did, it just makes matters worse. The V Book explains it all.
Boric Acid
Posted by Jillery (Rawlly, NC) on 05/31/2014 86 posts
good info! Thank you. and you are right, everyone is different!
Yogurt
Posted by Daisy (Houston, Texas, U.S.) on 01/19/2009
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Now, Ive been suffering from this for a while now. At first i was not quite sure what i had. Someone told me it must be a yeast infection. so i went to the store and bought creams to treat it. No good. Then also i read here that someone used plain yogurt to treat it. so i tried it and for the first time in many years no odor no more anything. For one day i felt awesome in that area. now this was not for long. it came back! i was shocked and a little upset. it's not as strong as before but its still there and its quite embarrassing with my boyfriend and all. anyone care to help?
Yogurt
Posted by Sandy (Bangalore, India) on 01/21/2009
★★★★★
I eat around 200 ml of yogurt every night (home-made yogurt), and this keeps yeast infection away. I find that if I miss eating yogurt for a couple of days, a slight odour is back. Key is to eat around 200-300 ml yogurt everyday...this is easy to do as yogurt is delicious and also healthy.
Yogurt
Posted by Bbmolasses (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Usa) on 11/10/2009
If it only worked temporarily,and you've been experiencing the problem for years, you definitely want to see a clinician to make sure its yeast and that it is your only problem. Sometimes problems can occur together. Personally, I was skeptical of the yogurt cure until I tried it. I always get a mild yeast infection a couple of days before my period. I got a 20cc syringe, no needle and just applied liberally and went to bed. I do this for another night even after the symptoms disappear, to ensure complete efficacy. It made a believer out of me! Make sure you use certified organic yogurt with live active Lactobacilli (more than one species is good).You can also alternate between yogurt and garlic cloves as garlic contains allicin, a powerful natural anti-fungal. Both are definitely better for me, since I'm allergic to most of the topical application anti-fungals available on the market and the pill is not 100% effective for me in the recommended dosing schedule.
The quest for well womanhood continues!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by LIZ (Philadelphia, PA) on 01/08/2009
★★★★★
I truly believe that Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is one of the most precious liquids on this earth. I should make a little altar in my bathroom just for it.
I had a yeast infection since Sept. 27, 2008. I had never had a yeast infection in my life so after 2 weeks of torture & doubt, I went to my doc. She prescribed Gynazole and Nystatin cream. I admit the Gynazole did calm the inflammation but it didn't get rid of the yeast. Nystatin helped in calming the pain.
I had thought the prescriptions would end my yeast infection but soon after I noticed the little white clumps. The yeast refused to go away so I quickly started eating yogurt, inserting yogurt, Monistat-3, Monistat-7, eating acidophilus pills by the dozen, inserting acidophilus powder,drinking water w/acv each night, inserting garlic cloves and eating 3 cloves each night. NOTHING WORKED.
I decided to reach out to science again so I was prescribed 2 mega doses of Diflucan. Those clumps didn't leave.I decided to be brave and try the ACV douche. I was traumatized from the garlic inserts so I didn't want anything as invasive.
Last night I emptied a douche bottle and put 3 teaspoons of ACV (_____s Organic) w/lukewarm tap water. As I showered, I douched and immediately felt some tingling but no pain. I was relieved and squeezed the bottle to the last drop.
I noticed there was no slight itch. Also, later in the evening I noticed there were no clumps. I do feel slightly dry but no odd smells from the vinegar. I intend to continue douching for 2 more nights and 1 morning so I can be sure the infection is completely gone.
