Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of Candida Albicans and while it is not a serious condition, it can cause a lot of discomfort. As well as seeking help from your doctor and treating yourself with over the counter medicines, there are many things you can do to help yourself at home.


Steps
Oral thrush

1. Place 1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar in 1/2 cup of warm water, then use this mixture to rinse your mouth four times per day.
2. Reduce the amount of sweets and carbohydrates in your diet, because they help the candida to reproduce.
3. Eating garlic or taking garlic pills may help.
4. Research for herbs that prevent candida growth (preferably from non-commercial objective information sources).
5. Taking acidophilus pills or eating yogurt that contains the live acidophilus culture may help. In a quality supplement the pills are shielded against stomach acid, contain at least 5 billion bacteria per day (preferably in four different bacteria strains).
6. break open two acidophilus capsules and mix with one tablespoon of orange juice.

Vaginal thrush

1. Take a hot bath.
2. Menstruate! Menstruation changes the pH of the vagina, making it hard for the infection to survive.
3. Avoid using spermicidal creams, lubricants and latex condoms if suffering from vaginal thrush.
4. Treat both yourself and any sexual partner you may have to avoid reinfection.

General advice

1. Keep the affected area clean by washing with plain water. Avoid using soaps, shower and bath gels and deodorants.
2. Wear natural fibres and keep affected areas as cool, clean and dry as possible.
3. Drink Cranberry juice.
4. Avoid stressful situations as stress is often a trigger for thrush.
5. Treat persistent thrush with external application of Melaleuca Oil.
6. Remove, treat or avoid possible causes of thrush (where sensible): oral contraceptives, broad spectrum antibiotics, iron deficiency; anaemia, diabetes, steroid therapy, high sugar diet, alcohol.
7. Apply Aloe Vera gel or natural yogurt to the affected area.
8. Avoid dairy foods, food and drink containing yeast, dried fruit, mushrooms, monosodium glutamate, pickles and smoked meat and fish. These have all been shown to be possible triggers for thrush.

Tips

• Oral Thrush is a medical condition of an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth and throat. This usually appears in the mouth of infants and those with compromised immune systems.
• When the condition is seen in newborn infants, the mother often has a vaginal yeast infection and should seek treatment.
• Taking a long course of powerful antibiotics may also lead to this condition because the antibiotics kill off the healthy bacteria that normally keep the 'yeast' in check. The patient should not stop taking the antibiotic unless told to do so by a doctor. If you are starting a long course of antibiotics, ask your doctor what you can do to avoid this condition.
• Diabetics may get frequent bouts of thrush if they have consistently higher than normal blood sugar levels.
• Thrush may be a sign of a wider overgrowth of Candida so following a restricted diet as above for at least one month may be advisable.
• Consider using acidophilus supplements to support friendly bacteria in the gut.

Warnings

• Seek medical treatment immediately if you get this frequently, or if it is severe.
• Check with your doctor before beginning any treatment whatsoever.
• Children that are not eating or drinking can become severely dehydrated quickly and need urgent medical care.