Natural Yeast Infection Remedies: Herbal Solutions & Lifestyle Tips

Hello, ladies! The apple cider vinegar does work better than or at least as well as over the counter remedies. I was taking antibiotics and became itchy and irritated in the vulva area. My external vagina was extremely sensitive and was so raw in between the folds of skin that rubbing it with a cotton swab actually produced a bit of blood! I was mortified at the sight of that and instantly had the creeps. I'd already been reading about acv and it's health benefits so I decided to give it a try. I just dipped the tip of a cotton swab into the vinegar and dabbed it directly on the irritated skin. It burned like crazy for a few moments but then quickly subsided, within a few minutes I felt relief! Less itching and irritation. Later on that evening I did it again after my shower. The next morning when I wiped myself I was 95 percent better! No itching, no discomfort NO drops of blood. I decided to do it one more time just to be certain that it was gone and walla! I only used the Q-tip dipped in apple cider vinegar with no dilution! That may be a bit too harsh for most women so I recommend that they dilute with a bit of water. I'm sure that it will still have the same benefits in a weaker version. Thanks to all the people who took time to post result and testimonies! That is always appreciated by those that are indecisive about trying home remedies. I'm totally satisfied with my results and have now encouraged my daughter to try it. If it works for her then I will post again. Here's to a happy and healthy vagina!

I got my first yeast infection a month ago and went right down to the drugstore for the "one day treatment. " It got rid of my yeast infection all right- but It gave me the worst cramps I've ever had and I sufferred some intense nausea. Was it worth it? Heck yeah! I think we can all relate to wanting to grind up on some sandpaper and not being able to! LOL- anyhow, this dreaded curse has returned so I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar. I took a bath first, then when I got out I locked the bathroom door, laid down on a towel and basically just doused my goods with the vinegar. I did not dilute- I just wanted to get straight to the issue! Boy- it BURNED, but only for about 30 seconds, after that I felt an almost soothing warmth. I will keep it up for a few days to make sure I've killed it and not just angered it. But so far, so good! Keeping my fingers crossed. Feeling human again right now :)

Ok so I am currently suffering from a YI or BV which I have had in the past so I figured its one of the two because I am familiar with the symptoms...anyway, I have burning, itching, and musty smelly discharge coming from my cooch but no cottage cheese. I have tried VH Essentials only for 3 days but experienced very little relief so that was a waste of $$. So I started doing some home remedy research and came across the "yogurt remedy" and the "ACV remedy" on this site. I filled a needleless syringe with plain greek yogurt (greek because its texture is thicker than most)and inserted about 1 teaspoon into my cooch. I am on dose #2 and I noticed the smelly discharge is not as strong about 85% gone and the itching was not as intense but still lingering. So I decided to be brave and try the ACV (from the supermarket). I poured straight ACV on a cotton ball and squeezed it so the liquid could drip onto my clit and labi...OMG! It burned like hell for about 60 seconds! However, I am 100% not itching or burning at ALL. ACV works for real!!!! I am ready to just pour the whole bottle down there lol...but yes ladies it does work. As for the yogurt...I will repost in about 3 days since I just started it today (02/19/10)...ACV is my hero!!

I just wanted to mention that hydrogen peroxide works on so much more that just bacteria. Just check out the hydrogen peroxide section on this site. I know from experience that it works on many other ailments including many skin rashes, canker sores and even athletes foot. I don't know personally if it works for yeast infection, but I don't think it's out of the question.

I also wanted to mention that even though hydrogen peroxide may not have any direct effect on yeast and/or fungi, it is believed it has an indirect effect against fungus because it balances your pH balance like normal flora (good bacteria). Therefore making it a harder enviorment for yeast to grow in but a helpful one for the good bacteria that keep you healthy. It works well for jock itch, atheletes foot, and other fungal infections because of this reason.

I used to take antibiotics orally for 3 years as part of an acne regimen. Now when I need antibiotics, they don't work for me. I came back from a 4 month trip to the carribean with a raging yeast infection that nothing would help. I also had a kidney infection at one point and everyone refused to see a connection. With the help of doctors who actually listen, I found a plan that WORKS.

First, birth control contributes to yeast. If you take it, get off of it, at least for a few months. Antibiotics will not work for yeast! Yeast is fungal, antibiotics kill bacteria, not fungi, and there is a huge difference. Maintaining a diet that is high in vegetables and low in or void of bread and sugar. Yeast survive on what you put into your body. They looove sugar and bread. This includes alcohol, too. Alcohol turns into sugar... Finally, BORIC ACID capsules saved my live! By maintaining a yeast free-sugar free diet and using boric acid vaginal suppositories for 2 months, I am 95% clear. Talk to a doctor about using boric acid. It is safe, natural, and won't affect the balance of your body's natural good bacteria.

Fixing this problem is about restoring a balance of healthy bacteria in your body, not killing all of them with antibiotics. I took 4 rounds of antibiotics for treatment and it only made my symptoms hide for months! If you are headstrong and willing to get rid of this forever, change your diet and use boric acid!

Hey, Ive been suffering from yeast infections all my life, and Ive done the tea tree oil thing, and it works great, but your body becomes used to the oil after awhile. What people dont know is that there are many essential oils that will treat a yeast infection and instantly and more efficiently than monistat. Midwives and Herbalists have known this for centuries.

The ones I use are as follows::

Cypress, (diluted with jojoba oil, it will burn) Lavender, Rosemary together (may burn, dilute a bit)

Roman Chamomile in jojoba oil with another oil blend which has cedarwood, sandlewood, and Myrtle oils, and are perfectly safe and all used for yeast infections, and other infections, I googled them all and did extensive research as well as tried these on myself.

Ylang, Ylang, and patchouli oil (hard core hippy chick here, lol! )

Neroli, and Myhrr (spellcheck??) frankenscense (cant spell it, lol)

St Johns oil and east Cape Manuka oil (another relative of the Tea tree) and Bergamont works well too (same oil they out in earl grey tea)

Eucalyptus..(wll burn like heck, DILUTE!! )

I either make them in coconut oil frozen suppositories, or I just put a few drops straight on a clean finger and lay down on my back, and insert and rub around in there as far as it will go (gross I know, but when you have an uncomfortable miserable life ruining yeast infection youll try anything!!!) I also tend to clean the yogurt like material out in the shower, so the oils can really penetrate, but thats not necessary for most people. (really gross, I know, sorry for the TMI, but we need to get well here, lol!!)

You will notice relief within 15 minutes, Im serious. And it will be gone in just a couple days (usually. If you have a more severe infection, you may need to apply the oils up to five times a day. Build yourself up to it, aswell, it may burn a bit, but after a while your body builds up resistance and you can take much more concentrated amounts on the skin without burning. I know with my infections, I usually dont dilute, (except with eucalyptus, and Mrryh, lol!) very strong. Oregano oil can be used aswell, REALLY STRONG, only use a drop in sum carrier oil.

Essential oil are incredibly healing for wounds, and all manner of things. After having success treating my yeast infections, I did ALOT of research into it, and I was amazed. God put these incredibly healing things on the earth and its awesome!

Most of these oils dont cost more than ten dollars, sum are just $4, Mhrry (cant spell sorry) is about $17, so its worth the investement. Like I said, I get these things frequently, so I know very well, how awful they are. The oils work great, try it!!

I suffered a raging yeast infection after having to take a regime (3 months) of strong antibiotics for a staph infection a couple of years ago. Someone suggested taking Acidophillus... I took 4 capsules of the 8 Billion strength with each capsule as a maintance dose till I finished the antibiotic treatment... However, when I started on the Acidophillus treatment, I needed fast relief from the itching and inserted 2 capsules directly in the vagina 2xs a day... this really helped and gave a jump start to relieving my symptoms! I did this also while taking the capsules oraly.

I don't understand why Doctors are not savvy to this and tell their patients about Acidophillus when they prescribe antibiotics in the first place... maybe to sell higher priced Nystatin drugs thru big Pharmacital corporations!

This site is a blessing... I come here often in search of new remedies and cures! God bless you...
J. Browne

I'm a 33 year old woman and I've had two yeast infections in my entire life. The first was when I was 19 and the second was just recently. I got my period and shortly after it started, I started to get symptoms of a YI - itching, soreness around my vulva, swelling, burning. I figured this infection was triggered by extremem stress and the fact that I just got back on the Pill.

At any rate, this particular YI came back FULL FORCE! It was so bad I could barely concentrate. The itching was massively intense and I was so sore, I felt like I was walking funny. I was desperate and willing to try anything - and I did. First, I stopped using the tampons (since my period was on) and switched to pads. Then I went to the sore and got some Vagisil-1 (which really didn't work) and plain yogurt. I inserted the Vagisil and ate like 2 1/2 cups of the yogurt (which I sweetened with fresh berries). I gave it about 12 hours, and nothing! Finally, I decided to go to the internet and see what Earth Clinic had to offer. I had used the site previously for a case of Bacterial Vaginosis I had and the peroxide douche they recommended cured my BV!

I found lots of info on ACV but I was afraid to do the douche, so I did the bath with 1 1/2 cup of ORGANIC Raw ACV. I sat in the bath for about 20 minutes and it relieved my symptoms for about an hour but of course they returned. I had HAD IT! I was at the end of my rope and the itching was driving me crazy. I called my doctor and got an emergency prescription of Diflucan and took it that night. The Diflucan took forever to work and I really wasn't able to get much sleep that night but I was just relieved to have it in my system.

The next morning, I still had some itching but I could tell that the swelling and burning was subsiding. I was desperate and so I FINALLY decided to try the ACV douche. I got Summer's Eve that I had stashed away and poured it out. I filled the bottle with about 3-4 teaspoons of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (try the organic isle in your grocery store) and the rest with warm water. I douched TWICE! I had to say, as graphic as it is, what came out of my vagina was disgusting. It looked like rotting flesh but I know it was yeast.

From that moment on, my itching was TOTALLY gone!!!! I don't know if it was the ACV coupled with the fact that I had Diflucan in my system, but the ACV douche seemed to be the ONLY thing that got rid of the itch, which I think is the biggest culprit of the YI!

Thanks so much Earth Clinic! I am totally hooked to this site for all my ailments. I can't tell you how much money I've spent on doctor's visits, prescriptions and stuff like Vagisil that don't work. My ACV was $3.29! This site not only recommends great advice but it's good to know that others are going thru similar experiences!

I've been having a yeast infection for about a month. With all the usual symptoms -itching -dryness -some white discharge -no odor I've had yeast infections before, generally due to antibiotics. So, naturally, I tried to cure it via over-the-counter anti-fungal cream suppositories (I think it was Monostat). From my experience, I should feel relief after a day of using this treatment. I waited about 4 days, but the treatment didn't phase my symptoms. I tried it again, waited about 5 days, still no cure. I went into a walk-in clinic, they assured me I didn't have an STD (which I was afraid of) but a different type of yeast infection that the cream doesn't cure. So, they prescribed me Diflucan (spell check) with a refill just in case. I took the first pill, waited 2 days and took the second. This didn't help me either.

I went to my regular doctor, she took a culture to find out what type of yeast infection it is. The culture took 7-10days. After the 8th day my doctor called to inform me that I didn't have a yeast infection.
Now, it's my belief that doctors are idiots. Both doctors offices took cultures yet only one said I had a yeast infection.

So, I used the old Apple Cider Vinegar method. I ran a bath a little less than ankle deep and poured about 1 1/2 cups of Apple Cider Vinegar. This did not present immediate relief, but after soaking for 30mins, my symptoms had subsided. Thank you _____ for organic Apple Cider Vinegar and thank you to my ex boyfriend who left it at my house.

There are some draw backs to this remedy. The smell is not pleasant and it made my vagina very dry. So, I recommend some sort of women's lubrication (I used Vagasil 4day moist treatment). Don't use something that's not made for women because that can cause a ph imbalance (which leads to yeast infections). I had to use the Apple Cider Vinegar method twice, once in a day. And I also drank 2teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with 1 cup hot water and honey to taste. With enough honey, it tastes like Apple cider.

This was the only treatment that worked for me. And after a month of being uncomfortable and itchy down there, I think all the women here knows what kind of relief it brings feel normal again.

I love my crazy mother. The random remedies that she recommends always seem to be nonsense at first, but they work EVERY time!!! I have been a huge fan of earth clinic since my mom introduced me years ago when I was a very very poor college student. ACV basically works for everything. Clears up your skin, good for your insides - outsides, and apparently yeast infections. I also have been adding it to my dogs water bowl and it has cleared up her horrible skin (which i have spent HUNDREDS of dollars at the vet's office trying to cure). I have been in AGONY the past 24 hours with this horrible yeast infection. I get one atleast every other month and I always use that stupid, expensive monistat or vagisil. They are messy and unsuccessful in easing the pain. This morning I hopped on earth clinic, and sure enough ACV was the cure. I put some on a wet washcloth and held it on my lady area for about 3 minutes. It burned like hell at first, but it worked!! I'm going to soak in the bath now, as I'm sure that will be much relief as well. I have had problems with 'yeast' since I was a teen. I have been on those "Nature's Cure" yeast pills, but they aren't really helping. I'm going to start taking acidophilus pills cause I heard that they are great. I love you earth clinic!!! i just want to smother you with hugs and kisses!! thank you so much for the relief.

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!!!

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!

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..!!

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.

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.

I was on antibiotics for strep thoat. They of course gave me a killer yeast infection. I tried diflucan, which usually works but it didnt this time. I started having to use anti itch creams and finally bought a monistat 1 day ovule and some external cream. The cream would work randomly and I felt like I was always putting it on. 2 days into that cream I had such a burning itch it was unbearable. I decided to finally put in the ovule and still no relief 2 days later. I came to this site and read about using apple cider vinegar and I figured why not try it. I tried it about 2 hours ago, I drank 2 table spoons in water and sat in a bath for a half an hour with a cup of it mixed in. I got the kind from trader joes since the health food stores that sell the completely organic kind are closed on sundays. All I can say is it is a MIRACLE!!!! For the last week I have had to live with cream on 24/7 and still have no relief. I can happily say that I have not itched at all since I drank it and took the bath. Its saying alot because I literally have not had to put any cream on either for this since I took the bath. I hope this keeps working because that was horrible!!!!! I even dabbed a little diluted ACV on the outside, even though it burned a little it feels sooooo much better. I reccomend this if everything else is not working for you!! Wish I would have known about this a week ago!!!

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.

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 !!

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.

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!

I have to say it is a big relief to have used the remedy of hydrogen peroxide for curing a vaginal yeast infection. I diluted by using onc cup peroxide and a quarter cup water. Used a douche bottle and rinsed with it two days only once a day. It is gone. Amazing! Thanks again.

re: Yeast Infection -- bathing in water and apple cider vinegar and then cleansing with the peroxide/water solution gave me immediate relief

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!

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.