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There are two not dissimilar conditions which affect women: one is leucorrhoea (whites) and the other is the dreaded thrush which, it would seem, has only recently sprung into notoriety. Both of them have more or less the same symptoms – a vaginal discharge, fiery pain and fierce irritation. There is also pain in groin and abdomen caused by the glands swelling in sympathy. Some practitioners believe that the condition is contagious and therefore you would be wise to seek professional advice in the first instance. After that most of the answer is in self-help.
Stress, allergic reaction, excesses of junk food, alcohol, stimulant drinks and yeast can all cause what is basically an incorrect balance of flora in the gut, colon or vagina. In the case of thrush this flora is known as Candida, a pretty name for a beastly nuisance. It is a fungal parasite which most of the time lies peaceably undisturbed in the colon and is kept in check by the immune system but it can, in the most simplistic terms, be stimulated into action by the use of antibiotics and the hormone pill. The many problems it may case range from the physical to the psychological.
In the past herbalists prescribed herbal teas and douches as a method of controlling leucorrhoea and associated complaints but little modern research has been done to find an answer to thrush. There have been remedies but because they were non-profitable they have been dropped from professional use. Cystitis has often been thought to cause vaginal thrush but in effect it may be the antibiotics given to relieve this painful condition which actually do the damage, so if you are ever taking antibiotics for any reason at all also eat copious amounts of plain live yoghurt. Whilst our grandmothers, to protect us against these female complaints, would have advised us most strongly against eating fermenting jam or bread with mould on it, modern practitioners believe that tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, sugar, bread and mushrooms will also all exacerbate thrush.
Do not wear tight synthetic knickers and tights or figure-hugging jeans.
Whilst you have thrush does not attempt to enjoy the pleasures of sex. It will not be much fun anyhow.
When you go to the lavatory always wipe yourself from front to back to avoid spreading infection – how many women can remember their mothers instilling this precept into them from early childhood?
The best ways ofeasing the irritation and helping to clear the condition are to eat a pot of live yoghurt every morning and raw oats once a day and to take garic perles or capsules daily.
Wash thoroughly every morning and night with a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide, dab gently dry on a tissue 9throw it down the lavatory afterwards0 and smear well with white petroleum jelly (Vaseline). It wrecks your undoes but prevents the discharge causing intense aggravation.
Before you rush off for professional advice on the cause or source of this unbelievable thing which has happened to you, do check first that you have not inadvertently forgotten to remove a tampon!
- Live yoghurt As well as eating this daily it is suggested that a little can be inserted into the vagina on a tampon.
- Honey Take it alone or in apple cider vinegar every morning.
- Blackberry leaf tea This tea I to be taken for cystitis, piles and leucorrhea as well as for thrush.
- Essential oils of juniper and lavender Add either of these oils to the bat
