Candida overgrowth, commonly referred to as a yeast infection, irritates the delicate skin and membranes of your vulva and vagina. Symptoms include itching, burning and irritation. Several herbs have demonstrated antifungal properties against yeast infections and their skin soothing qualities help combat the uncomfortable symptoms associated with it. One of the best ways to use these herbs is to prepare a sitz bath with them according to "The Green Pharmacy Handbook."
Step 1
Fill your bathtub with about 6 inches of very hot water. Do not get into the tub yet.
Step 2
Add 1/4 lb. of dried chamomile flowers to a mesh bag or cheesecloth according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Tie it off as if you were making a giant tea bag. Add the bag to your bath water and allow it to steep there for 10 minutes. Chamomile has potent antifungal and skin soothing properties according to "The Herbal Pharmacy Handbook."
Step 3
Test the water to make sure it is warm, but not too hot that it feels uncomfortable. Remove the chamomile bag. Add 10 drops of lavender oil to your bath. Lavender oil inhibits yeast growth and kills candida according to an article published in "Medical Mycology" in 2005.
Step 4
Add 3 to 5 drops of tea tree oil to your water. It has demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial properties according to MayoClinic.com.
Step 5
Sit in your bath and allow the water to run over and around your vulva and labia. Soak until your bath water begins to get cold, which should take about 20 minutes. Repeat daily as symptoms persist.
Tips and Warnings
- A study published in the Spanish medical journal "Sidahora" in 1995 indicated that women found relief from yeast infection symptoms by adding a half cup of distilled white vinegar to a sitz bath. It's likely your yeast infection is both internal and external, so you'll also need to use a different method to treat the internal overgrowth to completely eradicate symptoms.
- Tea tree oil can irritate your skin according to "The Green Pharmacy Handbook" so it's best to add one drop of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of olive oil and dab some on your skin as a sensitivity test before exposing sensitive tissues to the oil as you sit in your bath.
Things You'll Need
- 1/4 lb. dried chamomile flowers
- Mesh bag or cheesecloth
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 3 to 5 drops tea tree oil
References
- "The Green Pharmacy Handbook": Fungal Infections
- "Sidahora": Natural Remedies for Vaginal Infections, Genet, J, 1995
- "Medical Mycology": Antifungal Activity of Lavandula Angustifolia Essential Oil Against Candida Albicans Yeast and Mycelial Form, D'Auria, et all, 2005
- MayoClinic.com: Tea Tree Oil
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Roman Chamomile
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