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.
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.
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.......????
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 84 posts
good info! Thank you. and you are right, everyone is different!
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Salt, Garlic
Posted by Shaye (Baldwyn, Mississippi) on 12/30/2008
★★★★★
I woke up in so much pain Sunday morning, i knew i had a full blown yeast infection. i got on your web site and found out about the apple cider vinager and salt and quickly did as several had stated how to use the viniger. it was wonderful!! i did the douch twice a day and the bath twice a day, i also took 2000 mg of Garlic softgel three times a day, i got better but it didnt go away, this morning, of Tuesday i got up with the itching and burning in three spots that have really been hard to heal, this time i put three or four tea spoons of the acv in the douch bottle and i poked a hole in two of the garlic softgels and put that in the bottle w/ the acv, added warm water and shook it well, the acv dries up the skin so much "down there' but the softgels have soybean oil in them, so that helps that problem. i soaked about 10 min. longer and dried off and poked a hole in two more garlic softgels, i use spring valley from wal mart, i rubbed this stuff into the area and there was instant relief. this is the first time in days i had no meds on my "area" and i have no pain! Thank You!! i will do this until this is gone!!
Information
Posted by Randall (Phx, AZ, USA) on 12/18/2008
An important thing to remember is MALES get Yeast Infections also!! If a woman has a yeast infection it could pass very easily through sexual contact with a partner, And vice-versu. A reason why you might be having reoccurring problems is because after curing it you just receive the infection from your partner again.
Both you and your partner need to be cured of it to stop the infection from reoccurring.
But even so, as hard as these fungal infections are to kill, this is not the only reason for reoccurring infections.
A great free website dedicated to info about yeast infection and NATURAL HOME REMEDIES is:
http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com -- hope this helps!
Information
Posted by Eclover (Richmond, Va) on 04/13/2014
I think you are right, because I did that the other day, and I got a yeast infection now.
Garlic
Posted by Nome (Baltimore, USA) on 12/03/2008
★★★★★
Garlic cured yeast infection and sinus infection--on different occasions. The yeast infection while pregnant, just inserted it up before bed and taken out in morning. Sinus infection and coughing phlegm many times, chopped up raw and on a PB sandwich, sucked and chewed on slowly during day too.
Supplements
Posted by Alfonzo (Cape Coral, Florida) on 11/22/2008
★★★★★
My wife suffered from severe and recurring yeast infections as a result of her bad diet(favorite foods-breads, pasta and cheese) and becoming overweight as a result. Both of us became very frustrated as a result of the discomfort that it caused her. She tried all of the over the counter medications as well as prescription medicines, but they all failed! I've studied herbal remedies and vitamin fuctions for years as a hobby. Somehow, I concluded that this [vitamin(A)-vitamin(E)] combination would offer the best possibility for success and sure enough it has'nt occurred again. I's been such a long time that I think that it's fair to say that it was a success.
=======================================
[DOSAGE] 2 softgel caps of each vitamin i.e.(8000iu X 2 of A) (400iu X 2 of E) puncture and squeeze into a table spoon then using a liquid dropper or needleless shringe take into the unit so as to insert mixture deep inside the vigina once a day for about 3 days. Then follow-up only at next occurrance using the same method. Infection should disappear and eventually not return again. Good Luck!
Thanks Earth Clinic!!!
Stay healthy and free!!!
Supplements
Posted by Mara (Los Angeles, Ca) on 09/14/2012
After using a lot of ACV in my drinking water for the past year, which did help, I finally came upon the idea of taking vitamins C & E with every meal. It has worked wonders for me. Even if I eat something starchy, I don't get a yeast infection now.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by M Allen (Uk) on 02/01/2010
I would think Apple Cider Vinegar would certainly NOT be a cure for Candida Albicans or Thrush as it`s more commonly known. The reason being that apples themselves are full of natural sugar and yeasts thrive on sugars.
The best cure for Canadida is going on a special diet and avoiding ALL fast foods, sugars (even those in fruit, breads with yeast, stick to basic things vegetables, meat, fish etc., the yeast will die off gradually. This will take about 3 months to feel really better. But you cannot then go back on the junk foods and sugars you used to eat as the Candida Albicans will come back. Candida has been deemed by many physicians a pre-lude to cancers. You`ll feel amazing after being on the diet a few weeks, but persevere and you will not be troubled by it again. Not only that your Immune System will be strengthened, you`ll have lots of energy, better skin and any depression will lift.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil
Posted by Bri (Baltimore, MD) on 11/13/2008
★★★★★
Coconut oil softgels and acv tablets cured my yeast infection. Take a 200mg acv tablet at the beginning of each meal and again at bedtime. Insert a coconut oil softgel in the vagina at bedtime or when you can be comfortably laying down (lounging) and 1 tbsp VIRGIN coconut oil 3x daily. The coconut oil is an antifungal and eliminates dryness, and the acv creates a hostile environment for the yeast. Get the softgel and acv tablet @ swansonvitamins.com. Bathing in and douching with acv in addition to above treatment is great while symptoms are accute, as is consuming yogurt and/or probiotics 2x daily while doing the acv/coconut oil treatment.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by M Allen (Uk, Uk) on 02/01/2010
Yeast???? With a yeast infection the last thing you want to take is yeast....stay off all yeast products, sugars etc., all junk foods.
Garlic
Posted by MsB (Rosenberg, Texas) on 10/21/2008
★★★★★
I must be honest, I was really scared to try the Garlic Clove, but i figured, what harm can it do. I peeled a piece of fresh garlic, and cut it in half (vertically) and inserted into my "sugarpot". My "sugarpot" began to feel much better! In the morning, I had no symptoms. Im going to do it again to make sure that the yeast is gone. But It really really works, Thanks to all who posted feedback, it has really helped!
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Candice (Los Angeles, Ca) on 03/04/2012
If you get them after having sex, with the same partner, it could be possible that you are passing the yeast infection back and forth. sometimes the infection can live on a male esp if there is constant exposure to the infection (from your vagina).
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt
Posted by TEAH (NORFOLK, VA) on 09/07/2008
★★★★★
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR AND TABLE SALT CURED MY YEAST INFECTION.I HAD BEEN ITCHING SO BADLY AND I WAS SO RED AND IRRITATED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD A Y.I. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS SEVERE AS THIS ONE.I HAD BEEN TAKING ANTIBIOTICS AND IM GUESSING THE MEDS GAVE ME THIS INFECTION. I SOAKED IN A TUB OF WATER UP TO MY WAIST THAT HAD 2 CUPS OF VINEGAR FOR 30 MINUTES THEN I SOAKED A WASH CLOTH IN VINEGAR AND WATER AND PATTED IT ON THE SORE SPOTS THAT WERE ON THE EXTERIOR OF MY BODY. NEXT I FILLED A DOUCH BOTTLE W/ WATER AND A TABLESPOON OF SALT SHAKEN WELL. I CLEANED INSIDE TWICE WITH THIS AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I FELT SO MUCH BETTER. I DID THIS FOR 3 DAYS. AFTER THE 2ND DAY IT WAS GONE BUT TO MAKE SURE I DID IT FOR ANOTHER DAY. LADIES IF YOU NEED A HOME REMEDY FOR THESE EVER SO IRRITATING YEAST INFECTIONS GIVE THIS A TRY IT WORKED FOR ME AND IT DIDNT COST ANYTHING VERSUS THE 12-20 DOLLAR CREAMS THAT ARE MESSY AND TAKE FOREVER TO CLEAR UP THE SYMPTOMS.GIVE IT A TRY IT WORKED FOR ME.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt
Posted by Bakersfield (California ) on 01/10/2015
Will this help the burning?
Garlic
Posted by Kishka (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) on 12/30/2009
I know this is an old post but I had yeast for 3 months and then BV for about 3 weeks. I used probiotics, garlic, yogurt, oregano oil and ACV, which did not work. I added about 8 oz. of kombucha a day and it cleared up within 3 days. I am completely amazed and elated. The connection is that kombucha has copious amounts of good bacteria, B12, and amino acids, etc. The difference could be that it has live, good bacteria compared to probiotics in pill form.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lovely (Ottawa, Ontario) on 04/04/2012
★★★★★
ACV WORKS WONDERS.
My first YI and one of the most uncomfortable vaginal experiences of my life!!! I took a one time otc oral product. The itching, burning misery continued and my vagina remain swollen and miserable. I read the threads on this site and decided I must at least try acv.
I bought Apple Cider Vinegar pills and pure Apple Cider Vinegar made by Heindz. The pills I've taken once, so odds are most of my relief came from dipping a tampon in half and half vinegar and warm water and inserted it for about 30mins. I also dabbed the solution on my vulva.
It burns/stings for about 3 mins. BUT within 15 mins TOTAL RELIEF!!!!! No burning, no itching AND I no longer have that gross YI discharge. My vagina is no longer swollen and it's, by all accounts looking and feeling like normal.
Please don't wait to try this, the sooner the better.
