Natural Alternatives for Thrush

[Pat Robinson]

The goal when treating thrush is to rebalance your gut bacteria rather than attack the yeast.

  

Thrush is caused by a fungus called Candida. A small amount of this fungus lives in your mouth most of the time. It is usually kept in check by your immune system. Thrush appears as whitish, velvety sores in the mouth and on the tongue.

Why not just kill all the yeast?  Yeast releases toxins into your blood circulation and breast milk when it “dies-off”. Breast milk is a detox pathway.

Avoid medicines, herbs, enzymes and detoxifying agents that kill off Candida. When you have an overgrowth of yeast, it is often related to high mercury in your system. The yeast sequesters the mercury *holding* it in your gut so it's not circulating around.  Killing the yeast = releasing the toxins = toxins in your breast milk. 

 

• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a natural anti-fungal and may be used topically for thrush.

1.  Dilute - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to 8 oz of water.
2.  Use cotton swab inside of baby’s mouth with ACV rinse BEFORE nursing.
3.  Apply ACV rinse to nipples, with a cotton ball, AFTER nursing.

 

*This order will prevent your nipples from tasting bitter and potentially harming  your nursing relationship.

 

• Coconut Oil is a natural anti-fungal and is a great way to kill yeast topically.

Apply to diaper area after each change. This is a great topical treatment for any type of yeasty rash (diaper area, face, body folds, cradle cap).

Coconut oil can also be applied to Mom’s nipples in between feedings.

 

• Garlic is a natural anti-fungal and works well to address Vaginal Yeast/Thrush in Mom. Thrush often occurs after antibiotic treatments.

Peel 1 clove of fresh garlic and inserting the clove into the vagina overnight. One or two nights should take care of most infections. If you need a stronger dose, peel the clove, then scratch a line with your fingernail. A stronger dose would be to cut the garlic in half so there is more raw surface area. Be careful, it can sting when scratched/cut. Remove the clove in the morning by “pushing” or pulling out.

 

• Whole Food Probiotics
  
  Probiotics help control yeast by balancing your gut with good bacteria. Continue eating probiotic rich foods even after symptoms of thrush are gone (for prevention). Fermented foods, such as kefir and yogurt, are easy, inexpensive and healthy options.

 

• Dairy-Free Juice Kefir

1. Purchase Real Kefir grains
2. Buy 100% juice, organic grape works great and is delicious.
3. Pour equal amounts of water and juice into a jar and add the kefir grains.  Cover loosely with the lid.
4. Store in a cool, dark place for 24-72 hours. (cupboard)
5. Twist cap regularly to release the carbonation.
6. Strain out kefir grains and store kefir in fridge.  Drink a glass every day, start slowly with only 1 tablespoon. The grains can be reused several times. But, keep a back up batch of kefir grains as they won’t reproduce in juice long-term.

 

*It would be very beneficial to make breast milk kefir for baby. Follow same steps as above, but with breast milk instead of juice. (no added water)

 

• Naked time for nipples and bottoms can help eliminate thrush. Sunshine for diapers and nursing bras can help too.
• Careful hand washing after diaper changes; and clean all cloth wipes*, diapers, baby laundry and Mommy’s laundry by adding ½ cup of vinegar to the wash (white vinegar is fine for this purpose). *Avoid disposable wipes that contain alcohol
• Rinse all pump parts, bottles, bottle nipples, pacifiers with vinegar before washing. Otherwise the yeast is passed back and forth baby<---> mama.
• Epsom salt baths, avoiding wheat and dairy and sugar are important too.

 

 

 

[Pat Robinson]

I see Gentian Violet recommended all of the time for thrush. Did you know that gentian violet is a water soluble dye derived from coal tar? Its chemical name is [4-[bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylidene]cyclohexa-2, 5-dien-1-ylidene]-dime... thylazanium chloride Another common name for gentian violet is crystal violet, and it is also called Andergon, Aniline Violet, Axuris, Badil, Basic Violet 3, Brilliant Violet 5B, C.I. 42555, Gentiaverm, Hexamethyl-p-Rosaniline Chloride, Hexamethylpararosaniline Chloride, Meroxylan, Meroxyl, Methylrosaniline Chloride, Methyl Violet 10BNS, Methylvioletti, Mythyrosailine Chloride, Pyoctaninum Caeruleum, Pyoktanin, Vianin, Viocid, and Viola Crystallina.

[Pat Robinson]

Nystatin is a prescription drug with many artificial ingredients and precautions. Plus it contains sugar which has been documented to increase oral thrush when consumed.
http://www.rxlist.com/nystatin-oral-suspension-drug.htm
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/22396/SPC/nystatin-dome%20suspension%20100,000%20i.u.~ml/

Diflucan (fluconazole) is a strong, systemic pharmaceutical prescription medication.
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/22396/SPC/nystatin-dome%20suspension%20100,000%20i.u.~ml/

Diflucan is a FDA pregnancy category D. Do not take more than 1 dose of Diflucan if you are pregnant. Long-term use of Diflucan can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. http://www.drugs.com/diflucan.html

Diflucan product WARNINGS, include:

Hepatic injury: DIFLUCAN should be administered with caution to patients with liver dysfunction.
Some azoles, including fluconazole, have been associated with prolongation of the QT interval on the electorcardiogram. During post-marketing surveillance, there have been rare cases of QT prolongation and torsade de pointes in patients taking fluconazole.

Concomitant use of fluconazole and erythromycin has the potential to increase the risk of cardiotoxicity (prolonged QT interval, torsade de pointes) and consequently sudden heart death. This combination should be avoided.
Fluconazole should be administered with caution to patients with renal dysfunction.
Fluconazole is a potent CYP2C9 inhibitor and a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Fluconazole treated patients who are concomitantly treated with drugs with a narrow therapeutic window metabolized through CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 should be monitored.

http://www.rxlist.com/diflucan-drug/warnings-precautions.htm

The CYP issue is related to poor detoxification genetics. Did your doctor test for this gene risk before prescribing Diflucan?

Nursing Mothers - Fluconazole is secreted in human milk at concentrations similar to plasma. Therefore, the use of DIFLUCAN in nursing mothers is not recommended.
http://www.rxlist.com/diflucan-drug/warnings-precautions.htm

Consider the long list of other drugs which interact and increase Diflucan side-effects and risks, including antidepressants, NSAIDs, cholesterol meds, heart or blood pressure medications, anti-diabetic medications, birth control pills, etc : http://www.drugs.com/diflucan.html

Hormonal birth control (ie, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Diflucan.

Post-Marketing Reports of Side-Effects: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/diflucan-side-effects.html

Here is the pharmaceutical manufacturer package insert for Diflucan: http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=575

[Pat Robinson]

I would not take an antibiotic without KNOWING which bacteria was being treated and KNOWING that the appropriate antibiotic was prescribed. Drug Resistant Bacteria develop.

Antibiotics damage our gut flora. Our gut flora is 80% of our immune system. Antibiotics destroy healthy gut bacteria alongside "pathogens". The bacteria growing out of control is due to imbalanced gut microbials. Any mama with Group B-Step antibiotics or antibiotics during a C-section results in imbalanced gut microbials.

A healthy gut can handle "pathogens". Strengthening the gut microbial balance will strengthen the immune system. There are many natural ways to strengthen the immune system, without antibiotics.

The damage from antibiotics takes at least a year to recover from. Thrush is a late sign of an imbalanced gut.


Pat

[Barbara Marie Steele]

I discovered 3 months ago that I have candida.  The symptoms describing candida were apparent throughout my life but never diagnosed by a physician.  I took penicillin daily for 26 years for a heart murmur stemming from an undiagnosed case of rheumatic fever when I was 7 years of age.  The past 17 years I struggled with terrible foot odor but no physician related it to anything physical.  I was required to have bloodwork drawn in order to get my thyroid medication renewed, and my dr. sent me home with an order to cut out sugar and to only eat baking splenda... I knew that something else needed to be done as the foot funk had increased over the years, so I googled the results of my bloodwork and they all led me to Candida sites.  I gave up all wheat, sugar and am eating a very limited diet and have lost too much weight for my frame, and before finding your site, I also began experimenting with supplemental treatment... wild oil or oregano and purchased probiotics.  I feel 100% better physically, however, my foot funk is still a major problem in my life.  I have begun to make cultured vegetables, but it seems that the only thing that helps slightly curb the odor is eating 1 Tbs of both hemp and chia seeds daily.  I am wondering if the odor could be from a bad liver or kidney.  I'm currently without health insurance and don't know if I should have tests run... or even what type of tests to have run... to find out if there is anything seriously wrong with my organs.  I have lots of energy... ride my bicycle and walk as often as I can and other than the terrible "yeasty" foot smell (not to mention the money I've had to spend on inexpensive shoes as that odor cannot be removed by anything), I appear to be healthy.  I've consumed many carbs during my lifetime... between the ages of 7 and 63.  Does anyone have suggestions for me?

[Pat Robinson]

Have you tried topical coconut oil, lavender essential oil or apple cider vinegar, or baking soda soaks for your feet? All have anti-fungal properties.

Are you eating about 7 tablespoons of fat per day? Omega 3 fatty acids are important and are in chia seeds.

Magnesium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins are important for supporting our natural detoxification system.

I've noticed that inexpensive shoes with their man-made plastic parts created more foot sweat than leather.

Pat

[Barbara Marie Steele]

Since mid February, I have begun taking these supplements in capsule form: 

1000 mg Vit D3

500 mg Ester-C

5000 mcg Biotin  (I lost my half moons in my fingernails but I now see little moons forming at the base                             of my nails)

Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract

50 mg Zinc

1000 mcg B12  (tablet... under the tongue to dissolve it)

The only prescription med I take is 100 mcg synthroid for my thyroid

I was taking 1/2 tsp of baking soda twice daily for awhile, because in spite of eating fresh salads with raw vinegar and lots of olive oil, cultured vegetables, and cooked vegetables I became severely impacted.  A few years ago I discovered Perdiem and it worked well, however, I went off everything that had ingredients that I thought might interfere with treatment of the Candida in Feb.  In other words, constipation has always been a problem for me since I was a young girl.

The baking soda didn't always alleviate the problem, so, I decided to try a product called "Calm" which is a magnesium powder.  It has worked better than the baking soda but it makes me feel very bloated which then causes me not to feel hungry. 

I also just began taking an enzyme called "Assist" which is for digestion and it also makes me feel full. 

I feel quite overwhelmed right now.  My feet are so bad it keeps me isolated from people because when I'm around them, their sinuses go into overdrive because the smell is quite awful.  About a year ago I lost my sense of smell so I can no longer detect when it's bad except for people's reactions to me.  The feet issue has changed my life... I used to be outgoing and now I isolate because people make some pretty insensitive comments... and I understand as I have smelled it and I know how disgusting it is.

Do you mean to apply the virgin coconut oil to the bottom of my feet?  Would I dilute the vinegar and for how long would I soak?  What would the ratio of baking soda to water be?

I used to purchase good quality shoes, but if I had a bad foot odor day, they would be rendered useless after one day's wear.  I tried every product known to man and even used to bag the shoes up and stick them in the freezer as I read once that below a certain temp any bacteria would be killed... not so with yeast!

I consume about 8 Tbsp of oil daily... 

2 Tbsp of virgin coconut oil to chase down the wild oil of oregano (1 Tbsp twice a day)

1 Tbsp of flax seed oil in my daily smoothie along with the chia and hemp seeds, 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1/4 fresh blueberries and 1-1/2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk,

5 Tbsp ev00 combined in my salad and to also saute veggies or cook veggie omelets or saute meat or fish.

Thanks for any and all help... I'm beyond knowing what to do and none of the three physicians I've seen over the past 17 years have known how to treat it nor did they know what caused it... they just said that many people suffer from foot odor and the only rx available to soak the feet in intefered with the synthroid rx.

Barbara