You have probably heard about the traditional remedy of spooning yogurt into the vagina to cure yeast infections. It seems so messy. Yet so many women get yeast infections during pregnancy, after sex and just from being too busy and suffering stress. We need to deal with it somehow and without taking antibiotics.
Thankfully a solution has been found for this in the form of vaginal acidophilus inserts. These look a lot like the bullet shaped anti-fungal medications that you are usually prescribed for these conditions.
These tablets, which you can buy in health food stores, should be kept in the refrigerator as they contain friendly bacteria that can help cure your infection.
You can insert them manually with your fingers. Many come as a kit complete with a plunger style insertion device. If you have had lots of yeast infections then you will know what this implement looks like as antifungal medications are also often applied this way s well.
The insertion of these medicines can help greatly soothe the pain and irritation of the infection and help repopulate the vagina with the bacteria it needs to be healthy.
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a bacterium present in both the vaginal, and gastrointestinal tract; it is important in controlling vaginal pH and maintaining a healthy balance in the vaginal ecosystem.
It is not enough to just eat these helpful bacteria. You also need to also have the vagina make contact with it.
Age, infections, antibiotic use, douching, and many other factors can interfere with lactobacilli, upsetting the delicate balance and predisposing women to overgrowth of yeast and “bad” bacteria.
There have been several studies showing that regular ingestion of acidophilus, specifically in the form of yogurt with “active cultures,” decreases vaginal yeast and bacterial infections.
Acidophilus is also available in supplement form through capsules and powders. The powdered form, which is mixed with water, is the most effective but also the least tasty.
Give me an eight-ounce container of low-fat yogurt any day! But read the label: Not all brands of yogurt contain live and active cultures of lactobacillus acidophilus.
You should also not eat yogurts that have a lot of sugary fruits or flavorings in them. This is on the bad list of foods.
The truth is that eating the yogurt and also employing the supplements goes a long way towards reinforcing the positive bacteria in your gut so that it can thrive again and improve digestion.
When you look for yogurt or yogurt supplements look for the term probiotic on the label. The term “probiotic” is used to describe organisms that are used medicinally, including bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and yeast such as Saccharomyces boulardii
Acidophilus does have other health benefits. It helps prevent infection with some intestinal bugs, and seems to slightly improve general immune system function. This of course is of great use to people who have been taking the antibiotics for years and finding their immune systems compromised.