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 and Salt
Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio ) on 10/13/2008
★★★★★
You know, I was skeptical about using ACV in the tub, but I was so desperate last night at 2AM, (couldn't sleep cuz of the itching), I tried it. Every time I clean the area with just plain old water when I have a yeast infection, I feel better for about an hour, and than the itching returns. I figured people were saying ACV in the bath works, because, they are washing the area and of course it's going to feel better afterwards. But, after trying it last night, I swear to God, it did something, because it has been 24 hours, and the itching and discharge has apparently ceased. I soaked with a quarter cup iodized salt and a cup ACV, and filled the tub up to wear my legs were submerged. I was concerned the vinegar may be too diluted. There was a distinct smell to the water, so I figured I put enough in there. It worked. I'm going to do it again tonite. Thanks Guys!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amanda (Atlanta, Georgia USA) on 10/04/2008
★★★★★
i suspected i might have a yeast infection or some sort of imbalance in bacteria. it has been burning and itching for days! i just got out of the bath and cant believe how calm it feels 'down there'. i put 1 3/4 cups of apple cider vinegar (the store brand) into a tub of warm water and let my body soak for a good 30 minutes. i also put in 3/4 epsom salt. i feel so much better because i had been in pain for days. i feel like i can walk normally now! i also have severe total body eczema so it helped calm the itching quite a bit. ladies just give it a try!
Boric Acid
Posted by Lorena (Santiago, Chile) on 09/29/2008
★★★★★
I've been suffering with yeast like for 5 months..been going to doctors all this time.. they keep prescribing OTC yeast infection remedies and diflucan even after i told them they wont work.. so finally I decided to try this Boric acid supossitory.. and it's onle been three days and I just cant belive how good I feel..it's truly amazing.. I read about this cure from a Doctor who treats people with chronic or recurrent yeast infections and vulvodynia with this protocol to acidify the vagina.. im doing exactly as he says.. the first week one suppository in the evening and one in the morning, the next week just at bedtime.. and then one every two days...I highly recommend this..!!
Apple Cider Vinegar, H2O2, Castor Oil
Posted by Eleny (Graham, WA) on 09/25/2008
★★★★★
My son recently had a horrible yeast infection on his bottom. I did not notice it right away because it was right on the outside of his anus. The reason I did not notice it right away is because he had not been passing regular bowel movements and I had no need to wipe him there. I was giving him his bath and wiping him when I first noticed it. At first I thought it was feces but it would not come off and when I looked he had what looked like a horrible case of acne that was about to pop. Initially I thought it was a diaper rash but soon realized it was not. I took him to the doctors office the following morning and the doctor said that he had a yeast infection and prescribed some ointment. I was honest and told the doctor that I would not try the ointment until I tried a natural alternative first. I then went home and applied diluted _____'s Organic ACV on a cotton square and wiped him and also put some H202 on another cotton square and applied that to the infected area. I then decided to use Castor oil because of the many health benefits it has when applied to the skin onto the yeast and I kid you not within a 24 hour period the infection was COMPLETELY gone! And believe it or not since I have used the Castor Oil on his bottom he has been passing bowel movements regularly. Check out this great article on the wonderful benefits of Castor Oil when applied to the skin
http://www.electroherbalism.com/Naturopathy/Therapies/Diet/FatsandOils/CastorOil.htm
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt
Posted by Lisa (Colorado, US) on 01/19/2015
When you can say you've been completely symptom free for at least 2 weeks, after all of your treatments have stopped, then maybe you've cured the yeast problem. Just because you feel better soon after a treatment of any kind, doesn't mean you've cured it! Until then, it just means something is helping temporarily.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt
Posted by Ash (Idaho) on 11/30/2017
This is an important point. A treatment may be successful in killing the majority of yeast, but it may also cause a disruption in pH or an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome (making it possible for any living yeasts to come back with a vengeance).
I have experienced this thanks to a yeast infection during pregnancy. Yeast infections are SO HARD to get rid of because the body is producing excess estrogen and sugars in the vagina. It's been hell.
A treatment might work and give me relief, but within 1-3 days the yeast would be back. Maybe even worse than before.
So far, I've tried garlic cloves as suppositories, coconut oil and oregano essential oil bulses, baking soda, salt, and ACV. It was after the majority of these treatments that work I read that prenatal yeast infections are so tough they are prescribed a full week of the toughest antifungal possible. I was focusing on treating with a remedy for maybe three days like my previous infections when I wasn't pregnant. Perhaps my treatments would have worked if I had stuck with them for a full week. Who knows.
Right now I'm trying whey from plain yogurt. It's easy for me to insert versus yogurt (the downstairs is always compact and engorged at 38 weeks so actual yogurt is almost impossible to stuff in there).
I'll see how it goes.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt
Posted by Sarah (Woodstock, Ga) on 05/25/2010
I have not tried the baking soda myself, but I would be cautious about that since it is very alkaline, and thus would create a good environment in the vagina for the yeast to grow. The reason ACV is so effective is because it changes the pH of the vagina back to acid, where the yeast cannot survive.
Yogurt, Garlic, ACV
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines) on 05/02/2010
Hi Hank...I had bad tinea cruris(jock itch) for over 7 years and, like you, all the antibiotics, lotions and drugs I tried couldn't make a dent. This rash covered both inside thighs right round to the buttocks and around my rectum -- like a big, bright red welt of skin.
For 7 years nothing worked, until I tried Milk of Magnesia. Here is my simple remedy:
After my shower at night -- and just before bed -- I would use my hands and just smear the liquid MoM all over the affected area (Don't forget to shake the MoM bottle first). I would then let it dry and then simply go to bed. MoM just dries to a pale white dust. Bye the way, MoM is also very cooling and soothing. In the morning I would just have another shower and wash it all off. Repeat this the following evening until the yeast is gone.
If you have sensitive skin(I don't) then perhaps it's better to apply the MoM just twice a day for 30 mins until it dries to a white dust and then wash it off. Then apply a moisturizer like jojoba or cocao butter to rehydrate the skin.
It only took me 2 days too get rid of the awful red welts, healthy skin again -- after 7 years !!.
MoM -- usually just a solution of Magnesium Hydroxide -- works in 2 ways to kill yeast, fungus, bacteria and viruses. First, MoM has a pH of 10 -- strongly alkaline -- no microbe can survive in this pH. Second, MoM is hydrophobic -- drives out or sucks out moisture wherever it is applied -- thus also killing the yeast/microbes by dehydration as well.
It also does not matter if the MoM has Aluminium Hydroxide in it, since both Magnesium Hydroxide and Aluminum Hydroxide are very badly absorbed by the body.
And it's really cheap too !!
Avoid Spermicides
Posted by Shelley (Los Angeles, California) on 06/23/2008
★★★★★
After years of crying in the doctor's office trying to figure out why I was getting recurring yeast infections, I read a small study done about the added spermicide in condoms. As soon as my boyfriend and I stopped using the condoms with spermicide I never had another yeast infection. It's been 4 years. When I asked my doctor about this, he made me think it was a crazy idea. I was tired of paying so much money on doctor visits and so much money on otc yeast infection remedies. A simple change solved everything.
Boric Acid
Posted by Sara (New York, New York) on 05/22/2008
★★★★★
I suffered routinely with debilitating yeast infections every month prior to my period, and nothing, including expensive otc creams and prescriptions, seemed to work. I tried boric acid suppositories after reading a rave about them in a diy health guide. I used 600 mg gel caplets and filled them with boric acid (cheap!) I obtained from an out of a way drug store. I used one every morning and evening for two weeks. I couldn't believe the difference. While creams and prescriptions took forever and sometimes made me feel worse, boric acid provided almost instantaneous relief and cleared things up right away. I highly recommend!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Carla (Media, PA) on 12/11/2007
★★★★★
re: Yeast Infection -- bathing in water and apple cider vinegar and then cleansing with the peroxide/water solution gave me immediate relief
Boric Acid
Posted by Sylvia (Los Angeles, California) on 12/03/2007
★★★★★
I try a lot of holistic/natural remedies and can't say that they all work - however - Boric Acid to cure vaginal yeast infections really works. I've had yeast infections that were never cured with otc medications. In desperation I tried boric acid capsules and it worked. Now it is all I use. Much cheaper than otc meds and it works much better! It's kind of a pain to put the capsules together every night, but it's worth it. You'll have to find the boric acid at the drug store and then 00 capsules at the health food store. Insert every night for two weeks. Do the full course otherwise your infection might come back. Just wanted to share because this is a natural cure that really really works!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by V (Panama, Florida) on 11/13/2007
★★★★★
I don't normally give comments back, but I am going to this time. I have had a yeast infection or BV for 4 days and thinking yeast first, I treated it with Monostat 1. It did not work, on the 4th day I was more miserable than I was on day one. I do not know how ladies put up with such a nasty condition for so long. Anyway, I dislike going to the doctors very much. I found this site and read your antidotes, then I found a medical site that backed the information about using a certain kind (that most people do not have) of H202 internally. I only have the 3% at home and that is what I used. The medical site does not recommend it for internal use. I do not own a baster or anything else like that. I used a tampon which I tried to soak with a solution of 50% bottled water and 50% H202, but I found it expanded too much in the applicator. In my frustration, I removed the tampon from the applicator and drenched it with straight H202 and used my fingers to push it up into my vaginal cavity. It was messy and a lot of liquid just came dripping back out. I also took paper towels and soaked them in staight H202 and methodically cleaned the entire external area from inside thigh to inside thigh and from start of pubic hair well past the anal opening. I let myself air dry then put on clean cotten underwear with a pad, and went to make a phone call, I talked for 67 minutes. During that time expanse there was a bit of a warm sensation that I felt and a bit of pain (like a cramping pain). After my call was over, I pulled the tampon out, then I literally dumped some more H202 over the entire external area and left myself air dry again. I woke this morning and have checked 3 times so far. No external cheesy stuff, no internal excessive white stuff, no musky smell, and I am pink again. I am going to the store to get some folic acid today also, but I did want to let you know of my success. P.S. I already eat Breyers probiotic yogurt daily regardless of state of health.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jaydene (Kngston, Jamaica) on 09/28/2007
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide worked instantly for the itching caused by my yeast infection, even though it stung a little bit initially. But the relief was worth the use I'm definately sticking by this one. Thanks for the info on the site, it was really helpful.
Boric Acid
Posted by Laine (Edmond, Oklahoma) on 08/25/2007
★★★★★
My daughter suffered yeast infection off and on from the time she was a baby. One night when she was red, irritatted and not wantting to urinate because of the burn, I remember and article I had read about boric acid. At seven she didn't like the cream monostat because it felt "yucky". I filled my old sitz bath wth warm water. I disolved two tsp boric acid in a cup of boiling water from the microwave. I dumped it in the water along with about a 1/3 cup withc hazel (for discomfort). Within about 3 minutes she was feeling relief and wanted to go to bed. I did this the next three nights and she is now 13 and has not been bothered with yeast there since, PTL.
For myself and boric acid I do something easier than capsule, I take a soda straw and and shuff it down in the boric acid and drop it in the end of an old applicator I keep along with a little cortizone for quick relief and easy application. Also, did you know that athlete's foot cure is also either miconsole or chlortiromozol as AF is a yeast infection. It's also cheaper to buy than the packaged vaginal yeast infection cure.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by reina (orlando, US) on 08/09/2007
★★★★★
I started having a terrible itching two days ago. This had never happened to me so I didn't know where it came from, especially now that I am on a good diet. It may have been the bath that I took, and many other things. Anyway, the itching started being unbearable, last night I couldn't sleep at all so I started reading the cures on these site. I did the folic acid, garlic softgel and hydrogen peroxide. The itching really as subsided. Hopefully it goes all away. The hydrogen peroxide seemed to help a lot.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Keys (Fremont, CA) on 08/01/2007
★★★★★
I got this yeast infection a month ago right after my period. I started feeling itchy before my period and I believe period made it worse. It was itchy, burning and red. This was my first time and I went to see a doctor. She said its external and prescribed a cream that I applied for 7 days but didn't help. It spread internally and I went to see another gynec who confirmed that this was internal moderate Yeast infection. He gave me two pills to take 3 days apart. I took it, it cured my internal but I still had external infection. After a month I got tired and yesterday I was searching online for home remedies and came acrosss this site. I ran to a store and bought the following: Apple cider vinegar, Iodized sea salt, craneberry juice, Acidophilus, cotton balls and a yogurt with living culture. I drank one glass of craneberry juice, took one acidophiuls pill, drank 2table spoon ACV and a glass of water, ate one cup of yogurt and took a hot bath for 30 minute with 1 cup of ACV and 2 cups of iodized sea salt. Also at night drank another glass of ACV and water , took 2nd acidophilus tablet and damp some ACV/water on the affected vaginal area. Today morning i woke up and I felt amazing. Finally after a month my burning is gone and I can walk freely. My symptons are almost gone. I am going to continue doing this for couple of days. This is great !! Thanks to all of you who shared their experience.
Acidophilus
Posted by Ann (toronto, Canada) on 07/05/2007
★★★★★
I have had a yeast infection for the past 5 years. I tried EVERYTHING. The apple cider vineger douche worked for a couple of days but the infection returned. Then I tried a cure I found for candidia, which I think I have/had, do to the other side effect of dandruff. I ate a section of a garlic clove and took acidophilus tablets. I was on the tablets, 3 a day for about 4 days, then I took a section of garlic before I went to bed on the fourth day. The next day I found that the white discharge I had been used to in my underwear was not there! Gross I know-- but think what a relief that was after 5 years of it.!! I will continue with the tablets and garlic to see if my dandruff clears up. Also I have found since taking the garlic that my tounge getting less of the white stuff (another sign of candidia). Try it! Hopefully it help someone else!
Boric Acid
Posted by Caren (New York, NY) on 05/03/2007
★★★★★
I had a yeast infection for a whole year, and took Monistat, which didn't work. Then was told by a girlfriend to go to DuaneReade and buy Boric Acid powder. Then go to a health food store or order online to try to find empty caplets. You put the powder in the individual capsules, which is tricky to do, but so worth it. Then I insert it with finger as far up as I can, and try to do this quickly, because if the capsule gets wet and soft, it's harder to do. Your vagina needs to be a certain ph level in order to be healthy. Using the boric acid restores it to normal levels again. Anytime I feel a yeast infection coming on, I put a capsule in. It's worked for me every single time. And if I still feel the yeast infection, I will use a capsule the next day as well. It's good to put it in at night time, so that it stays in there, doesn't fall out. Maybe you could also use vitamin C in the same way? I'm not sure, I will have to look into this. The last time I had a yeast infection though, I stupidly did a vinegar douche, and gave myself Bacterial Vaginosis. I forgot to do the boric acid. I probably forgot because it's been a whole year since I've had one! Anyhow, usually a vinegar douche does the trick, but they warn you right on the box that douching can bring on infections, and sure enough it happened to me. So be careful with douching. Better to insert an acidic capsule, because douching will remove all yeast, from your vagina, as well as remove all bad bacteria - and all beneficial bacteria as well! So it can set the stage for more infections! Another problem with douching is that it can push bacteria up into your uterus. This is bad.
