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Natural Treatment Methods for Candida
There are a few natural ways to treat candida. My number 1 recommendation is to investigate the emotional aspects (detailed at the bottom of this article).
Candida flourishes in high PH levels, and can't survive in low PH levels.
So, anything which would help lower PH to the recommended vaginal levels will help treat candida, as detailed here.
The PH scale is a scale measuring from 1 to 14, lower numbers indicating a "sour", acidic levels, and higher numbers indicating a "sweet", alkaline level.
You can combine certain foods which don't encourage a "sweet" alkaline environment, reintroduce "good" microbial agents and bacteria to the digestive system to re-balance the flora of the body.
Detailed here are natural "grandma's recipes" ways I found to be effective with clients.
Yogurt
Using unsweetened yogurt, which is very sour and acidic, as an "ointment" directly on your vagina, immediately lowers PH levels and usually causes instant relief from the itching and burning sensation. It is recommended to put on at night before going to bed, letting the yogurt work undisturbed throughout the night.
Yogurt works wonderfully not only because of the lowered PH levels, but also since it contains good bacteria and probiotic.
Tea Tree Oil
The Tea Tree oil's strong aroma works as a fungicidal agent. Drip 1 or 2 (no more!) drops directly on your underwear and let the aroma do its job while it evaporates upwards towards your vagina. It is important not to put the tea tree oil directly on the skin since it will burn!
Foods
Some theories suggest that avoiding certain foods will "starve" and thus eliminate the candida. Anything alkaline, sweet or that is containing some sort of mushrooms or yeasts (both are fungus family) are to be avoided. These foods are - alcohol, sugar, sweets, dough, pastries, dairy products (the non-sour ones, as opposed to yogurt).
Using this diet, together with probiotics with recommended dosages, is supposed to re-balance the natural flora of the intestines and eliminate the candida.
But - in my experience, these diets don't work, or at least - they don't work well enough. I see a lot of exhausted, frustrated clients who have been on this diet for months, only to have the candida reappear once they go back eating.
Probiotics
Our digestive system is full of bacteria and other "good" micro organisms.
Antibiotics are indeed one of the most important development of western medicine which helped save countless of lives, but their main setback is unbalancing the natural "good" microbial environment. When the natural flora is ruined, candida can thrive.
Therefore it is recommend to consume probiotics while taking antibiotics, according to doctor's or pharmacist's instructions.
Soap
Avoid using an "intimate" soap brand on your vagina and vulva area. These soaps actually disrupt your natural PH levels and microbiome ("good bacteria") levels. These soaps are designed to make you feel that this part of your body is "disgusting" and needs to be thoroughly washed (what's up with the "mint" sensation there?!) Instead of catastrophizing your vagina and view it as a "disaster waiting to happen", accept it as a natural, healthy, valuable part of your body!
Look inside
Use a mirror! For 5 full minutes (put a timer on!) - observe, explore and discover your lower parts. Talk to your vagina, tell her everything that comes up. Listen to your vagina and ask her what she wishes to tell you.
"Sunbathe" your vagina. Do not use direct and strong sunlight of course, but if the sun is allowing it, spread your legs out into the open air, let your vagina breath, see the sun, liberate her and yourself!
Notice patterns
Throughout the menstrual cycle PH level changes. Before ovulation, PH levels rises, the area becomes less acidicand more alkaline, in order to encourage sperm survival. After ovulation, PH levels drop again, to protect the potential fertilized egg from any foreign bacteria to enter the body. That's why some women feel the candida sensation around ovulation times, and only feel a relief when they get their periods.
Being on the pill shuts down the natural cycle - there is no ovulation, no changing PH levels, which might also cause candida to thrive.
Emotional Aspects
My number one experience with client is that candida thrives in relation to emotional issues. The labia are called "lips" for a reason. When there is something that we are not saying - our lower lips will try to speak for us.
Ask yourself - what is it that I am not saying? Is it to my partner, my mother, or even myself? What needs to be said out loud? If you want, we can explore this answer together.
Be kind and gentle to your body.
Love,
Daphna
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