Natural Relief for the Feminine Itch

Just because at least three out of every four women have experienced a yeast infection doesn’t make the condition any less uncomfortable or less embarrassing. Yeast isn’t just in your bread or your beer; it’s in and on your body too! Yeast thrives on moisture, so it tends to grow best in your mouth, intestines, and sweaty folds of skin. Women are pretty confident they have a yeast infection if they’re experiencing itching in the vaginal area along with a cottage cheese-like discharge, reddening of the labia, swelling of the vulva, and burning sensations during urination and intercourse. Although your first instinct might be to run to the doctor for some antibiotics, they are actually a common factor in causing the infection in the first place. Antibiotics don’t just kill bad bacteria, they kill good bacteria too, allowing yeast to grow freely in the body without competition.

If you’ve had a yeast infection before and you understand how the symptoms form in your own body, you may be able to treat it yourself at home using natural methods. One of the most effective natural home remedies is probably already in your refrigerator: yogurt. Live cultures in plain yogurt helps restore the body’s bacteria-acid balance. If you can handle the messiness, try inserting one or two tablespoons of plain yogurt into the vagina, allowing it to settle for a couple hours, each day until the symptoms subside. Since yeast infections are commonly caused by the Candida albicans fungus, some women have experienced relief after eating natural anti-fungal foods, like garlic and onions.

Before Western pharmaceutical treatments were developed, many doctors used gentian violet to treat yeast infections by soaking a long cotton swab and coating the vaginal walls. Unsweetened cranberry juice may also acidify vaginal secretions and help your body fight off excess yeast production. Some medical professionals recommend mixing tea tree oil with warm water to create a daily douche, and other experts suggest trying drinking tea brewed with rosemary or thyme to relieve itching and burning sensations.

If you are looking for relief from a brand everyone can trust, you might want to look at our product line here at Seagate. We carry an all-natural Vaginal Spray that can provide help and relief where you need it. Our Vaginal Spray with an Olive Oil base can alleviate itching, swelling, odor, and soreness without resorting to the harsh chemical compounds of most over-the-counter treatments.

However, don’t try to be your own doctor if you are pregnant, have a sexually-transmitted disease, are experiencing a recurrent infection, or simply aren’t sure if you have a a yeast infection. Of course, the best way to avoid these terrible symptoms in the first place is to practice good hygiene and eat a balanced diet. A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nonfat dairy products help your body fight infection before it becomes unmanageable. To avoid passing yeast to others, don’t share towels or bathwater with partners or children, and always wash the genital area before and after intercourse. Make a habit of wearing loose, cotton underwear and promptly change out of wet swimwear so that yeast organizations don’t have conveniently moist conditions to settle in. And even though it’s known as the “feminine itch,” these basic principles apply to guys too. Men have plenty of sweaty folds of their own that aren’t immune to yeast populations looking to find a new home.