Acidophilus is a type of friendly probiotic bacteria that can help fight Candida albicans--the type of bacteria responsible for causing a yeast infection. There are more than 100 trillion bacteria living in your bowels, according to Harvard School of Public Health. Some are more "friendly" than others, but your body maintains a balance of good and bad bacteria--until something upsets the balance. Candida can multiply very quickly when healthy probiotic bacteria don't keep it in check. That's why taking antibiotics, which kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, often causes a yeast infection.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
There are two groups of bacteria, with several species and strains within each group. Acidophilus is a type of Lactobacillus bacteria, found in fermented foods and supplements. Lactobacillus can be used to aid digestion, boost your immune system, prevent diarrhea, treat skin disorders such as eczema and canker sores and can treat multiple types of yeast infections. Taken orally, Lactobacillus acidophilus can treat thrush--an oral yeast infection; taken as vaginal suppositories Lactobacillus acidophilus can treat a vaginal yeast infection and a urinary tract infection.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Taking a vaginal suppository that contains up to 1 billion live Lactobacillus acidophilus cells twice daily can help treat a yeast infection. Probiotics alone will not cure a vaginal or urinary tract infection and should be used in conjunction with conventional treatment, such as an anti-fungal cream. Continue to use the suppositories twice daily for seven days. The National Institutes of Health also notes that vaginal suppositories that contain both Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus can lengthen the time in between yeast infections if taken for the 10 days following your menstrual cycle for three consecutive months.
Oral Thrush
Candida albicans causes your yeast infection, but a yeast infection can take many forms. Athlete's foot, canker sores, diaper rash, jock itch and oral thrush are all types of infections caused by a yeast overgrowth. The Mayo Clinic says that eating yogurt or taking oral Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements can treat oral thrush. Not all lactobacillius cultures fight candida--read product labels carefully and make sure your food or supplements specifically contain Lactobacillus acidophilus. Columbia University Health Systems suggests eating 8 oz. of unsweetened yogurt containing live cultures daily.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
One of the most common causes of any type of yeast infection is the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill most of the bacteria in your body--the bad and the good. Candida can multiply quickly and grow out of control before your body has the chance to replenish the good probiotic bacteria that would keep candida in check. The NIH recommends taking lactobacillus products at least two hours before or after antibiotics; otherwise, antibiotics will reduce the efficiency of Lactobacillus acidophilus and other beneficial bacteria.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; An Introduction to Probiotics; January 2007
- MedlinePlus: Lactobacillus
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics
- Columbia University Health Services; Yogurt for Yeast Infections; January 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Oral thrush: Treatment and drugs; August 2009
