Treating and preventing
yeast infections with Acidophilus
At
some point in life, most women will experience the unpleasant symptoms
of a vaginal yeast infection. If you are prone to these
infections, you will be glad to know that there are natural supplements
that can assist in treating and preventing these infections.
Candida
albicans is the organism
that is responsible for the majority of yeast infections and is
normally present in your body in harmless amounts. An
overgrowth of this organism can however cause problems, one of them
being a vaginal yeast infection. Should something disturb the
normal balance of yeast and bacteria or even the pH level in the
vagina, yeast can multiply rapidly and grow uncontrolled.
Vaginal yeast infections are not the only problems that appear,
diaper rash and thrush are
also caused by an over-abundance of Candida albicans.
The word
candidiasis is used to describe infections in various parts of the body
caused by Candida albicans, the
most common being the mouth, ears, nose, toenails and fingernails,
gastrointestinal tract and the vagina.
A yeast infection is likely to develop when your immune system is
weakened by stress, lack of sleep or an illness. Certain
antibiotics such as tetracycline can cause yeast infections because it
destroys harmful bacteria as well as the "friendly" bacteria that keep
yeast levels normal. Because all yeasts feed
on sugar, a diet high in sugar can
cause Candida albicans to
thrive. Chemotherapy is also a well known cause of
candidiasis. People who suffer from diabetes report an
increase in yeast infections as well.
There is a wide array of symptoms associated with yeast infections and
because of this, this disorder is easily misdiagnosed.
Listed below are some of the main symptoms:
- Recurrent urinary tract
infections
- Painful and frequent
urination
- Vaginal burning, itching
and a white, curd like vaginal discharge with sometimes a strong odour
- Unusual menstrual cramping
- Muscle and joint pain
- White patches in the
mouth (thrush)
- Skin irritation in the
folds of the skin, especially in the groin area or under the breasts
- Abdominal pain and
bloating, indigestion and heartburn
- Constipation or diarrhea
Both
men and women can be affected by yeast infections, although the
incidence is higher in women than men. This is because of
hormonal changes during pregnancy and the use of birth control pills.
Women who have a yeast infection when giving birth can
transmit this disease to the newborn. Yeast infections are
rarely sexually transmitted, however care should be taken when either
partner has candidiasis.
Acidophilus is what is commonly referred to as a "friendly"
bacteria that inhabit your digestive tract. There
are some 500 species of these beneficial bacteria, but the most helpful
is two strains of Lactobacillus bacteria:
acidophilus and bifidus. Both these strains are
probiotics, which means that they help maintain a proper balance of
health-promoting intestinal bacteria.
Taking an acidophilus supplement along with an immune-boosting herbal
supplement such as echinacea, can restore the normal balance of healthy
bacteria in both the gastrointestinal tract and the vagina.
Certain vitamins such as B12, K, thiamine and folic acid are
also supplied by taking acidophilus supplements.
Studies have shown that when an acidophilus suppository or douche is
used, it can effectively treat and prevent vaginal yeast infections.
In fact, if you are taking a
course of
antibiotics or using birth control pills, it is recommended that you
take a probiotic supplement daily to ensure that a healthy balance of
beneficial bacteria is maintained.
For your colon to be healthy, it should contain at least 85 percent
lactobacilli (acidophilus and bifidus) and 14 percent coliform bacteria
(the healthy type of E.coli).
Acidophilus creates an inhospitable environment for harmful
strains of E.coli as
well as for salmonella, streptococcus and many other dangerous and
life-threatening bacteria.
Other benefits of acidophilus include reducing the symptoms of
inflammatory bowel disease, which is a chronic inflammation of the
intestines. Diarrhea caused by irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) is also relieved because acidophilus supplements
replenish the beneficial intestinal bacteria lost because of diarrhea.
What
are the side effects of Acidophilus?
Please
consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal
medications should you be under their care.
Very few side effects have been reported, even with prolonged use of
acidophilus supplements. If acidophilus is ingested in large
quantities, it may cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints.
How do I take Acidophilus?
Make
sure that when you purchase acidophilus supplements that they contain
live cultures or active cultures. Also check the expiry date
to make sure that you do not buy a batch that will be ineffective.
Store your acidophilus supplement in a cool, dry place such
as the refrigerator because heat can easily kill live cultures.
To promote intestinal health, take one or two capsules daily.
Check the label of the acidophilus supplement to make sure
that it contains at least a billion live organisms. When
taking acidophilus orally, take it at least half an hour before meals.
If you are taking antibiotics, do not take the supplement at
the same time as the antibiotics and continue taking the acidophilus
even after completing the course of antibiotics.
To make a vaginal douche, mix two teaspoons of acidophilus powder in a
liter of warm water. Use twice daily for up to 10 days to
restore the normal bacterial growth in the vagina. Do not use
the douche for prolonged periods as this can cause irritation.
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