Unfortunately, yeast infections are very popular and not very fun! Apple cider vinegar has been a long-standing traditional effective home remedy to help treat and prevent yeast infections. Although the best way to treat a yeast infection is a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, apple cider vinegar has been frequently used as a home remedy alternative to treat mild symptoms or help prevent future infections.
What is a Yeast Infection?
Yeast infections can occur on the skin as well as orally, intestinally and vaginally. They are common in women and are often caused by an overgrowth of bacterial fungi in areas of the body including the mouth, skin or vagina. A yeast infection will cause symptoms including rashes, burning, irritation, swelling, and discharge.
How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Work
Apple cider vinegar has been found to be one of the natural remedies to help get rid of yeast infections. It has been effective to help women with their yeast infection and bacterial problems because if it’s high acid contents. This helps to lower the pH levels in the body, which inhibits the growth of the bad bacteria and fungus.
The use of apple cider vinegar can also help to reduce the negative side symptoms caused by yeast infections including soreness, itching and the burning sensation.
Apple cider vinegar is full of enzymes and prebiotics that are good for the body. By adding this to your daily diet or lifestyle, you can help increase your overall health.
How to use apple cider vinegar
The best way to use apple cider vinegar is to create home remedies that will help the specific area of the body that is being affected by the yeast infection. For example, you can make a lotion that has apple cider vinegar mixed in with water for arms that have irritations and rashes. Or you could simply swallow apple cider vinegar solution that is mixed with water and honey to help oral yeast infections.
Skin
Skin yeast infections are often found in specific areas of the body including the groin, under the breasts and under folds of the skin. A yeast infection on the skin will look like an ordinary skin rash with bumps and spots. Apple cider vinegar can be applied to the skin once diluted with water to help relieve the pain and itch.
Mix your own home remedy by blending one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water and wash over the affected area. Another way to soak the skin is by taking a bath with apple cider vinegar added to the water. Add 2 cups of the vinegar to a normal bath and soak your body for at least half an hour to help the rash calm down.
Oral
An oral yeast infection often refers to an infection in the mouth as is referred to as oral thrush. The result of this infection is white sore in the mouth that can be painful and can be found on the tongue and inner cheeks of the mouth. Without any treatment to the affected area, the yeast infection could spread through the mouth causing problems swallowing and eating.
An effective way to help relieve the painful symptoms of oral thrush is to use apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash solution. Simply dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water and swish around the mouth up to 3 times a day. Due to the acidic level in the vinegar, it will help to kill off the infection – but watch out for the burn (at least you know it is working!).
Vaginal
The most common yeast infection occurs in the vagina. Affecting up to three-quarters of the popular of women, it is a very common bacterial infection. Vaginal yeast infections cause itching and burning, redness to the vaginal area, discomfort and discharge.
The application of apple cider vinegar can help to cure a vaginal yeast infection. A simple mixture of apple cider vinegar diluted with water is the easiest and most effective technique for helping calm the symptoms of a yeast infection. This solution can be used a wash for the vaginal area to help relieve the itchiness and burning sensation often felt when suffering from a yeast infection.
Apple cider vinegar bath can also help vaginal yeast infections as it gives the vaginal area time to soak in apple cider vinegar for a period of time. Soaking the effective area will help decrease the inflammation and calm down the itchiness.
If you’re looking for a more direct treatment method, add your home remedy solution of apple cider vinegar and water to a cotton ball or tampon and apply directly in the vagina to help reduce inflammation and let the solution work from inside first.
Apple cider vinegar is a useful treatment option for helping decrease the symptoms of a yeast infection. It is always important to seek medical advice if symptoms do not calm down after 4-5 days.