Treating Thrush Naturally

May 21, 2009 by Monica
Filed under Healthy Family

This is part of the series of Natural Solutions for Common Health Problems. Make sure to visit the blog these days for more natural remedies.

Thrush is a yeast infection that can thrive in the baby’s mouth. Sometimes the baby will have a diaper rash caused by the excess yeast. However, sometimes the baby won’t seem to be bothered much by the thrush. If you’re breastfeeding, the yeast infection can be passed back and forth from your nipple back to baby’s mouth, making it difficult for you to eliminate the infection unless both of you are treated.

Thankfully yeast infections will respond to natural remedies such as the following.

photo credit: moppet65535

Strict hygiene

Yeast is a very hardy fungus, so very strict hygiene is crutial if you want to prevent spreading it to other family members. Moms need to wash their nursing bras and nursing pads, panties and cloth diapers in hot water and do a double rinse. Add vinegar to the first rinse to kill yeast and prevent irritation of sensitive tissues from detergents. Wash your hands well with hot soapy water after using the toilet or changing diapers. Wash anything that touches baby’s mouth (toys, teethers, etc) with apple cider vinegar. When it comes to bottles and nipples, these should be boiled or even discarded until the yeast is healed.

Baking soda

You can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to your nipples and then rinse it off before feeding the baby. Baby can also take baths with a sprinkle of baking soda in the water to help heal any diaper rash. Baking soda works by creating an alkaline environment that is inhospitable to yeast.

Vinegar

Vinegar kills thrush also – for the opposite reason as baking soda – as it is acidic. However, it could irritate the skin. One or two tablespoons can be added to a cup of water and applied to Mom’s nipples with a cotton ball several times a day.

Salty water

Salt is also a good cleanser, and very effective for killing fungus. You can put a spoon of marine salt to a cup of water and use it to rinse your nipples before and after feedings.

Probiotics and fermented food

Since yeast often overgrows in the gut when antibiotics are administered and the natural flora is disturbed, good bacteria found in probiotics and fermented food can help re-inoculating the gut. Mom can try natural yogurt instead of milk and replacing bread with sourdough bread. Kombucha is also a good source for healthy bacteria.

If you or your baby has a particularly difficult case of thrush, speak with your health care practitioner. You may have an underlying immune dysfunction caused by another health issue such as food allergy or diabetes.

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