How to Treat Thrush Naturally
Thrush (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis) is caused by an overgrowth of Candida spp., a specific group of yeasts. When the vaginal environment is disrupted, Candida can grow excessively, causing inflammation and discomfort.
It can be easy to assume what you are experiencing is thrush, but it is important to understand your symptoms. Sometimes it feels obvious that it may be thrush, and at other times it is not.
Thrush symptoms may include:
Thick, white, clumpy discharge (cottage-cheese consistency)
Intense itching or irritation leading to redness and soreness of vulval tissue
Dryness of the vulvovaginal tissue
Burning during urination or intercourse
It is important to acknowledge and validate, that while thick white discharge is a common symptom, alot of people do not experience this. Some individuals experience only burning, or sometimes tears and cuts.
If you are experiencing anything like an odour, or gushing like discharge that is more thin or grey in nature, have a read of my BV blog to see if any of those symptoms resonate. It is possible to have co-infections (aka, thrush and BV at the same time) - read more below.
Understanding recurrent thrush
If you experience thrush 3+ times within the year, this is considered Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (RVVC) and if it is more persistent and continuous this is considered Chronic Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (CVVC).
Myth bust: It is possible to have Candida without experiencing cottage cheese discharge - sometimes it can be only burning, dryness or irritation. It is possible to have a swab come back negative, but still be positive for thrush.
When considering recurrent Candida, naturopathic care will look into various potential contributing factors:
Microbiome imbalance: When protective bacteria are disrupted or yeast overgrows, opportunistic microbes can take over.
Antibiotic use: Antibiotics kill unwanted bacteria but often beneficial bacteria is harmed by antibiotics too, creating an environment where yeast or other microbes thrive.
Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormones, during menstruation, contraception use, pregnancy, or menopause, can shift the balance of vaginal microflora.
Lifestyle and hygiene factors: Stress, diet, sleep, and environmental factors can influence microbial balance and vaginal health.
Immunity: If immune defenses are compromised, this may influence vaginal microbiome health.
Sexual activity: New or multiple partners can impact microbial balance through microbial transfer, and the act of sex itself can naturally cause friction which can contribute to a flare.
It is important to understand that often VVC has been linked to recurrent BV and that BV-associated microbes may be the dominant microbial imbalance and development for persist VVC.
Often times individuals assume they do not have BV as they do not experience odour, but BV is often asymptomatic and may appear with no symptoms, or with no odour but signs of more thin, watery discharge or burning. You can read more about BV here.
Vaginal microbiome testing is available to help identify what microbes are present in your ecosystem that may be driving symptoms.
The Naturopathic Approach to Recurrent Thrush
At Botanical Abundance, the naturopathic approach to recurrent infections prioritises restoring the vaginal microbiome to bring in a beneficial amount of healthy bacteria. But most importantly, we want to ensure your symptoms are reduced to help support your quality of life, as well as support healthy tissue to reduce any inflammation, burning, tears or cuts.
Naturopathic support and treatment can work alongside medical treatments such as antifungals or antibiotics. Jessie happily works collaboratively with medical practitioners to create a well rounded approach to health.
Appointments are available via telehealth or in person at the Good Vibes Clinic in Surry Hills.