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Gentle and Safe Home Remedies for Thrush

Home remedies for thrush can help you and your baby heal without harsh medication. Thrush is very painful..and you should begin treatment as soon you start to suspect a problem. Naturally, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies while breastfeeding.

Thrush is the common name for a yeast/fungal infection found in the mucous membranes. Typically, the word "thrush" refers to a yeast infection found on a breastfeeding mother's nipples and/or in her baby's mouth. This causes a great deal of pain for the mother when the baby feeds.

Thrush is caused by Candida albicans, a yeast-fungus that thrives in warm moist areas of the body. Many people host it without issue, however, sometimes Candida can grow out of control and cause health problems. Normally, yeast overgrowth does not occur in the nipples or breast, however, during breastfeeding the increased moisture makes the nipples more susceptible. A mother is more likely to get thrush after a course of antibiotics. Normally, the body's good bacteria will keep Candida in check, however, a round of antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria, allowing Candida to grow out of control. Studies have also shown that the use of oral estrogen-containing contraceptives and long-term use of steroid drugs can also increase the risks of yeast infections or thrush.^ef

Symptoms of thrush in the breastfeeding mother include:^ef

Shininess or redness on the nipples.

Intense pain during breastfeeding, which can be described as burning pain, or knife-like pain. This pain may last the entire duration of the feeding and sometimes afterwards.

White patches in the baby's mouth that can not be wiped away.

If thrush does plague your breastfeeding relationship, check out these home remedies for thrush and find relief.

Do be sure to treat both mother and baby, otherwise the yeast can just get passed back and forth.

Wash all clothing which comes in contact with the nipples in hot water, and boil any pacifiers or bottle nipples which the baby uses. Good hygiene is important to kill yeast and prevent it from spreading.

Reduce (or better yet) totally eliminate your consumption of sugar and other simple starches. Yeast feeds off sugar, and many people find that they are unable to completely eliminate the yeast beast until they eliminate or severely limit sugar from their diet. Sometimes, doing this alone can be a natural cure for thrush. But, if you need more help, read on.

Garlic cures thrush...or at least goes a long ways towards stopping it. Chew on raw garlic or take Deodorized Garlic Capsules if you don't wish to smell like raw garlic.

Probiotics are excellent home remedies for thrush. Take probiotics internally and break open a probiotic capsule to spread on the nipple. You can spread Jarrow Baby's Jarro Dophilus on your nipples and on white patches inside baby's mouth. Some mothers find that giving baby probiotics to their infant helps prevent thrush and colic. If you don't want to use a probiotic powder, you can also use plain probiotic yogurt.

Combine 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 cup of water and use this on the nipples to kill candida and discourage further growth. This is one of the simplest home remedies for thrush. Thrush also needs to be treated in the baby's mouth. Some mothers have good luck mixing 1 tsp baking soda with 8 oz. of water and using a cotton swab to swipe this inside the baby's mouth.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 100% Organic is an excellent home remedy for thrush and works well in combination with other home remedies. You can can take coconut oil internally and/or spread it on the nipples.

Grapefruit seed extract (note, this is DIFFERENT from grape seed extract) is one of the most common home remedies for thrush. Grapefruit seed extract (or GSE) is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. Add 10 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)Liquid to one oz. of water. Swab this solution every hour over mom's nipples and inside baby's mouth. It is suggested to swab the baby's mouth before breastfeeding, but the nipples afterwards.

Olive leaf extract also has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. It is also very rich in antioxidants, which help repair cell damage. Take Olive Leaf Extract internally to help fight thrush. This home remedy may work well in combination with coconut oil and topical remedies. Learn more about olive leaf health benefits.

Many people have good luck using a 0.5% solution of gentian violet. If you can't find a 0.5% solution, then you can dilute a 1% solution. Use this to swab the mother's nipples and the baby's mouth a few times a day. Gentian violet is one of the cheapest home remedies for thrush, however, it is also the messiest. It will stain both clothes and skin purple, so be careful and apply only when wearing old clothes.

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