Yes! Thank goodness, right? But don’t get too excited. You’ll likely still have to take a trip to the doctor, to the pharmacy, and – at the very least – the grocery store.
First, you need to make sure you’re actually suffering from a yeast infection. While most women are familiar with the tell-tale signs of a vaginal infection, it’s important to make sure you get a proper diagnosis just in case you have some other form of vaginitis. Bacterial vaginitis, for example, has similar symptoms but needs completely different treatment. Other yeast infections, like jock itch in men, oral thrush, or even fungal infections, should be properly identified as well – especially if you’ve never had a yeast infection before.
In terms of treatment, you’ll need two things. You’ll need a local treatment for your particular type of infection. Most are sold in the form of vaginal suppositories (for women), or topical creams. You’ll also want to adopt some variation of a Candida diet plan, avoiding sugars, processed foods, carbohydrates, alcohol, and anything else that contributes to the growth of yeast.
If you have a systemic infection, you’ll definitely need to follow a Candida diet plan. It takes a lot of time (we’re talking months), but the diet combined with antifungals and some immune boosting supplements will help you to eradicate the overgrowth within your body. You should generally do this under the supervision of a physician or naturopath, so that your overall health can be monitored throughout the process.
Again, seek professional assistance if you’re not sure what you’re actually suffering from, or if your infection is recurring or persistent. You may need treatment that is a bit more advanced than over-the-counter medications can offer.
