Olwen Anderson's Blog

Most women have suffered vaginal thrush at some time in their lives. If not treated effectively it can become a long term, annoying problem, causing recurring episodes of embarrassing itching and irritation. Fortunately there are natural solutions on hand to help you overcome the infection.

The thrush yeast is always present in your vagina, but kept under control by an acidic pH and competition with friendly bacteria who also normally reside there. But if the wrong conditions develop the yeast can get out of hand, and that's where the itch and the irritation comes from.

To get rid of the infection naturally, your aim is to restore your normal vaginal ecology and set up conditions where the yeast can no longer thrive. You can do this with an old home remedy, or a modern remedy, and with some simple changes to your diet and hygiene.

One ancient and very effective remedy for thrush is yoghourt – the plain unsweetened variety. Yoghourt is full of friendly bacteria, and its natural acidity alters vaginal pH. Take about a dessertspoon and with very clean hands put a dollop on your finger. Insert into vagina and spread it around generously. Do this last thing at night before sleep, every night for several days. Wear old underpants overnight if you need to.

A modern remedy for thrush infections is ti-tree. This is an Australian plant which forms the basis for many effective anti-fungal and anti-bacterial remedies. Take a look at their web site www.thursdayplantation.com to locate a supplier in your part of the world. You can use a ti-tree douche or cream that's specifically designed for combating thrush.

Some changes to your diet will help prevent thrush from returning. The thrush yeast loves a sugary diet, so remove sweets and soft drinks from your shopping list! Sweet, yeasty foods like doughnuts and sticky buns, beer and alcohol should be avoided too, as they feed the yeast bug. Eating yoghourt, oddly enough, will help combat thrush– about 100g, or one dessertspoon of plain (unsweetened!) yoghourt every day. Include plenty of garlic in your diet too.

A woman's anatomy makes it too easy for bacteria and yeast to travel from the bowel to the vagina. When you have a bowel movement, remember to wipe from front to back so you don't accidentally infect yourself. 

Avoid wearing synthetic underwear, as it can create sweaty conditions that thrush thrives in. Choose natural fibres that 'breathe' like cotton or bamboo.

Remember that thrush can be transmitted from and to your partner, so your partner may need treatment too.

Your local GP is well worth a visit if you suspect you may have a sexual infection. If you're too embarrassed to see your local GP, look up the sexual health centre for your area; they are totally confidential, non-judgemental, and staffed with experts in the area of sexual health. In Australia, they're free to access. (Do a Google search for 'sexual health centre' and your city or state)

If you’ve ever been affected by a bladder infection, (also known as cystitis), you’ll probably remember vividly the pain and discomfort associated with it. Hopefully it cleared within a few days. For some women however, life is one cystitis attack after another, requiring constant treatment with prescription medication like antibiotics.

Our female anatomy makes us more likely to develop cystitis. The tube (urethra) leading from the bladder to outside the body is shorter than in males, and our urethral opening is perilously close to the anus. This can give bacteria an easy journey towards the bladder.

In chronic cystitis, bacteria have set up a comfortable home in the bladder, and find themselves in ideal conditions for breeding. If you suffer from chronic cystitis, or if you want to help yourself recover faster from a bladder infection, here are some tips:

Cystitis bacteria love acidic, sugary urine. By increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, and reducing sugar and grain-based foods like bread and biscuits, you’ll be making your urine less acidic and sugary, more alkaline.

Although its probably painful to urinate, drinking at least three litres of pure water a day during an acute attack will help literally flush out the bacteria. By the way, drinking black tea can make the infection worse, as tea can sometimes irritate your bladder. And it makes your urine more acidic.

Curiously, making sure there are good bacteria in your intestine will help your body resist cystitis. Four dessertspoons of good quality fresh plain yoghourt every day will help keep your intestinal bugs happy. During an acute attack, probiotics tablets may help.

Cranberry juice is an old remedy for cystitis – but a good one. A small glass of pure cranberry juice every day is a good practice for chronic cystitis sufferers. A natural therapist can supply you with cranberry extract capsules if you don’t like cranberry juice.

Some women find that emptying their bladder after sex helps flush out bacteria that have made their way into the urethra. Also, when wiping after a bowel motion, always make sure you wipe from front to back, to prevent any bacteria being wiped towards your vagina and urethra.

Feeling stressed will dampen down your immune system, making it more likely you will develop an acute attack of cystitis. 

Remember that if you’re suffering from an acute or chronic bladder infection you may need professional help to get rid of it completely. But these tips will help you manage your bladder health better.