Homeopathy Treatment for Vaginal Yeast Infection
Vaginal Yeast Infection/Fungal Infection/Candidiasis/vulvovaginal candidiasis
Vaginal candidiasis is a fungal or yeast infection of the vulva and/or vagina. It causes a smelly, thick, white-yellow discharge that might be accompanied by itching, burning and swelling. It can also make walking, urinating or sex very painful.
Vaginal candidiasis can be an occasional problem for even the healthiest woman. However, it’s more common and severe in women with weakened immune systems. For many, a repeating or worsening Vaginal Yeast Infection is the first symptom of HIV infection. This infection can occur at any CD4+ cell count but is likely to occur more often when your CD4+ count falls below 100.
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Cause of Vaginal Yeast Infection
Most yeast infections are caused by a type of yeast called Candida albicans.
A healthy vagina has many bacteria and a small number of yeast cells. The most common bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus, help keep other organisms-like the yeast-under control.
When something happens to change the balance of these organisms, yeast can grow too much and cause symptoms. The various risk factors are:-
- Taking antibiotics sometimes causes this imbalance.
- The high estrogen levels caused by pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy can also cause it.
- Health problems like diabetes or HIV infection
- Contraceptive devices — vaginal sponges, diaphragms, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) may increase the risk of yeast infections.
Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infections
The symptoms include the following:-
- Pain during urination, vulval soreness or irritation,
- Pain during intercourse
- Reddened and swollen vulva and vaginal tissues.
- Some women have no abnormal vaginal discharge. Others have white clumpy (curd-like) or watery vaginal discharge.
Diagnosis of Vaginal Yeast Infection
Because few specific signs and symptoms are usually present, this condition cannot be diagnosed by the patient’s history and physical examination. The doctor usually diagnoses yeast infection through microscopic examination of vaginal secretions for evidence of yeast forms.
Treatment of Vaginal Yeast Infection
Allopathic treatment of yeast infections include the local applications of creams and lotions which definitely temporarily relieves the itching and the associated symptoms but doesn’t cures the problem completely which is the main reason of recurrence of the problem.
Allopathic medicines used for treating candidiasis are miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole, and butoconazole.
A pill called fluconazole (Diflucan) is also prescribed by the allopaths. Side effects of fluconazole include stomach upset, headache, and rash. Fluconazole interacts with a number of medications, so one has to be careful when on other allopathic medicines.
Homeopathy on the other hand treats the infection from the root with internal medicines (medicines taken orally). Homeopathic medicines have shown great results in cases of Vaginal Yeast Infections. Homeopathy believes that the use of creams and ointments leads to the suppression (temporary removal) of the main symptoms of the internal disease which is done in the conventional/allopathic treatment of candidiasis. Homeopathy believes that skin disorders are to be treated from within. A well-prescribed homeopathic medicine not only takes care of the infection but also treats the patient as a whole and improves general health as well.
Frequent antibiotic usage kills other organisms that compete with Candida albicans (causative organism) and help its growth. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics can gradually make the bacteria resistant to them. Thus, very often you end up using more and more potent antibiotics. Besides, all antibiotics come with their own share of side-effects. So, stop popping pills at the drop of a hat!
Many allopathic doctors claim to treat Candida yeast infections. However, research suggest that lot of such treatments don’t work to get the root cause treated. In contrast homeopathic medicines which act as strong anti-inflammatory medicines not only treat the infection completely but also remove the tendency to the recurrent infections.
Prevention
- Keep your genital area clean and dry. Avoid soap and rinse with water only.
- Avoid douching. It may actually worsen vaginal discharge because it removes healthy bacteria lining the vagina that protect against infection.
- Eat yogurt.
- Use condoms to avoid catching or spreading sexually transmitted diseases.
- Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays, fragrances, or powders in the genital area.
- Avoid wearing extremely tight-fitting pants or shorts, which may cause irritation.
- Wear cotton underwear or cotton-crotch pantyhose. Avoid underwear made of silk or nylon, because these materials are not very absorbent and restrict air flow. This can increase sweating in the genital area, which can cause irritation.
- Keep your blood sugar levels under good control if you have diabetes.