Everything you need to know about recurrent candida vaginitis

Recurrent fungal vaginitis is likely to be a serious problem and a source of daily stress for many women. Symptoms include itching, burning, stinging and the presence of redness, thick white secretions in the vagina and a feeling of dryness and pain during intercourse. It is important to know that the fungus called Candida grows mainly in the intestine and from there it spreads to the vagina. Women who suffer from this recurrent vaginitis may report in their history:

1. Many antibiotic treatments
2. Diet rich in simple carbohydrates or sugars
3. Pregnancy
4. Excessive anxiety
5. Oral contraceptive tablets
6. Sexually transmitted diseases
7. Tight clothes
8. Vaginal douches
9. Poor local hygiene
10. Hypersensitivity to various foods
11. Systemic candidiasis
12. Decreased defence of the body
13. Diabetes mellitus
14. HIV
15. Hormonal abnormalities
16. Abnormal gut and vaginal flora
17. Lack of sleep
18. Excessive alcohol consumption

 

This condition is one of the many that classical pharmacology’s effectiveness is limited only to the temporary withdrawal of symptoms. The holistic way of approaching the disease instead of suppressing the symptom aims at:

• To the elimination of the fungus from the intestine and vagina, with various substances, supplements or plants that have no side effects
• To strengthen the immune system of the body and help it use its own autoimmune powers.
• To the management of stress, proper nutrition and elimination of the toxic environmental factors that contribute to the disease, knowing that environment, body and mind are interconnected and interacting.

Therefore, holistic treatment of recurrent fungal vaginitis includes:

a. Diet Instructions:

Recommended foods:

1. Natural, unprocessed foods
2. Daily at least one yoghurt containing gut-friendly flora or kefir.
3. Garlic and onion, having antifungal properties
4. One-two tablespoons flaxseed, with a glass of water, also having antifungal properties
5. Honey seems to favour colon colonisation with friendly microbes, as it contains oligosaccharides that feed lactobacillus.
6. Good hydration, at least one glass every 2 hours
7. Prefer organic meats, which do not have high levels of antibiotics and organic fruits and vegetables that have not been exposed to chemicals.
8. Use stevia as a sweetener

Foods to avoid:

1. Simple carbohydrates (sugar, fructose), as well as milk (for lactose), because they are food for the fungus.
2. Alcohol
3. Caffeine
4. Foods that the body may be sensitive to, such as gluten-containing foods in some cases.

 

b. Herbal remedies:

1. Echinacea and Hydrastis Canadensis (goldenseal) to strengthen the body’s defence
2. Oregano oil
3. Allum sativum for the antimycotic properties and strengthening of the body’s defence
4. Pau d’Arco (Tabebuia avellanedae), for antifungal properties
5. Black walnut, for antifungal properties
6. Grapefruit seed extract for antifungal properties
7. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), to support the liver and kidneys during detoxification of the organism
8. 8.Vitex agnus castus, which balances the hormonal axis that controls the menstrual cycle, for cases that the vaginitis is associated with cycle abnormalities or is occurring on certain days of the cycle (should not be taken with contraceptive pills)
9. Physillium, rich in fibre, to combat constipation and detoxify the intestine, to help promote a favourable change in intestinal flora

 

c. Food supplements:

1. Probiotics with acidophilus and bifidus, which are gut-friendly bacteria that prevent the growth of candida.
2. Caprylic acid, a type of fatty acid having antifungal properties
3. Vitamin C, to enhance the body’s defence
4. A multivitamin, to enhance and support the detoxification of the body

 

d. Local treatments:

1. Vaginal douche with chamomile, tea tree oil, kefir or yoghurt
2. Vaginal suppositories with probiotics
3. Boric acid suppositories
4. Sitz bath for 15-30 minutes with diluted apple cider.

 

e. Stress management:

There are many ways to reduce discomfort and anxiety and to find more peace and joy, such as:

1. Exercise (aerobics, yoga)
2. Meditation
3. Five minutes, every day, expression of gratitude
4. Write a list of things that stress you and one that gives you joy. By setting up a program, try every day to eliminate from your life, those in the first list and enrich the second list.
5. Replace a negative thought with a positive one. Only one thought, every moment can be produced by the brain.
6. Aromatherapy massage, in your bathroom or your room, with geranium, rose, lavender, jasmine or bergamot has relaxing properties.

 

f. Acupuncture – Acupressure

There are points on the body where needling by acupuncture or finger pressure, may reinforce the immune system, normalise genital function or reduce stress.