Yeast Infections - The Enemy Within

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I have found harmony to be the 'golden key' of life. Business, relationships, health and nature all consist of complex structures. Each going many layers deep. While the various components of these structures play nicely together, and remain in harmony, all is well. But, as soon as this balance is disrupted, trouble ensues.

Candida, which is a yeast, or fungus, is present within all of us. Its presence is kept in check by the various good bacteria which patrol our systems. The good and bad bacteria cancel each other out, producing a level of harmony. All is well. Nothing to see here: move on.

However, should our defense system be compromised, due to stress, fatigue, recent surgery, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, pregnancy, tongue piercing, increased blood sugar levels or a recent course of antibiotics. The number of good guys in our system is depleted. This is where the candida microorganisms take their opportunity to multiply. An explosive yeast overgrowth commences and trouble ensues.

But hold on a minute! Aren't antibiotics supposed to stop this kind of thing? I mean, they are the 'Swiss Army Knife' of all things medical, surely? Well, actually no. In a cruel twist of circumstance, the antibiotics can be a bit too keen. They crush both the bad, but also the good, bacteria they encounter. Oops!

So now, unrestrained, these hoards of yeast bacteria run wild, like drunken frat boys, into their favorite habitat: our warm moist places. These include the mouth and the vagina.

Once they have moved in, and re-arranged the furniture, the symptoms of their occupancy begin to appear. Within the vagina these include:
A burning sensation during sexual intercourseContinual irritation of the vaginaSwelling and redness/rash around the vaginal areaA watery or 'cottage cheese' consistency vaginal dischargeA burning sensation during urination

But the guys in the mouth aren't sleeping on the job. Oh, no. Oral candidiasis (also known as "thrush") announces itself as a thick white, or cream-colored, deposit on the tongue. A cotton-wool type sensation in the mouth or temporary lost of taste, possibly with cracking in the mouth corners, illustrates that these guys know how to party hard too.

So far I've described localized candida issues. But systemic candidiasis, where the candida starts to invade our whole system, can commence where any bleeding occurs in the areas previously mentioned. For example: scratching of the vaginal itching can lead to slight bleeding. It is this blood exchange which discharges the candida microbes into the bloodstream and around our entire system. This leads the fungus into areas such as the colon, stomach, lungs, liver, bronchials, sinuses and even into the brain.

Luckily, help is at hand. There are many anti-fungal drugs available, together with holistic approaches, with which to kill off the offending infection. Those who are immunocompromised, due to chemotherapy treatment or those with HIV/AIDS, the course of treatment may involve intravenous anti-fungal drug administration.

Harmony can then, once again, be restored.

Think yeast infections are only confined to women? Check out Male Yeast Infection to see how vunerable men are too.

Looking for a holistic solution? Check out What Is A Yeast Infection?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_J_Nicholson

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Yeast Infections in Women Are Very Common

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Yeast infections in women are very common and very annoying but totally treatable. An estimated 75 percent of all women will get an infection at least once in their lives and many will be predisposed to get them more often. Certain factors may also precipitate a bout with an infection. One of the problems though are that women are self-diagnosing yeast infections and running to the drug store for an over-the-counter medication (such as Monistat 7 or Gyne-Lotrimin) to treat the first signs or symptoms of an infection when it may not be what they have at all.

Yeast is a type of fungus that normally lives in the vagina in normal levels. It is estimated that 20 to 50% of healthy women have yeast in the vaginal area. If it overgrows it can cause an infection with associated itching, burning and discharge. The most common symptom is itching which is present 95 percent of the time in all cases.

Causes of vaginal yeast infections:

- When antibiotics are taken to treat a urinary tract infection or a respiratory infection (or other types of infection) vaginal yeast can multiply to unhealthy levels and cause infection.
- Women with suppressed immune systems (when taking cortisone-related medications for example) tend to develop infections more frequently than women with normal immune systems.
- The use of douches or perfumed vaginal hygiene sprays can increase the risk of developing vaginal infections.
- Women who are pregnant, have diabetes or are taking oral contraceptives may be predisposed to developing vaginal yeast infections.

A vaginal infection is not considered a sexually transmitted disease or infection, however, men can develop symptoms of an infection after having intercourse with an infected partner. Also, in rare instances a man can develop a yeast infection due to a weak immune system or prolonged use of antibiotics.

Treatments:

If it is the first time you are experiencing an infection, a visit to the doctor should be in order so they can take a culture, look at it under a microscope and confirm it's an infection. Any subsequent infections will typically have the same annoying symptoms and can be treated with an over-the-counter medication. If symptoms persist, however, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor right away as you may have something other than a yeast infection. Also, doctors are able to prescribe a stronger medication than what you will get over-the-counter which will take care of the infection much faster.

Wearing 100% cotton underwear is also a good practice to help with moisture since moisture trapped against your skin will encourage the growth of yeast. Many women also eat yogurt with "active cultures" as part of their diet to help avoid infections.

Yeast infections can also affect other areas of the body. It is common for women to develop an infection under the breasts. It is referred to as Intertrigo where the folds of skin, such as those under the breasts, come into contact with each other and due to the warm, moist environment a yeast infection can develop. Symptoms are redness, swelling, oozing and itching. Untreated infections in the folds of the skin can persist and take a long time to go away.

Babies can also get yeast infections in their mouth which is called thrush. Signs of thrush can be seen in the form of white patches and sores on the inside of the mouth. A pediatrician must diagnose thrush and prescribe the proper medication for its treatment.

Curing Urinary Tract Infections the Natural Way

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What is a Urinary Tract Infection?

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common infection. It starts in the urinary tract. This includes: bladder, kidneys, and urethra.

The infection can be serious. If untreated, UTI can spread to the kidneys causing serious permanent damage that could result in dialysis, kidney transplant or death. UTI affects 8 to 10 million Americas annually. It is almost solely a women's affliction.

Symptoms of UTI

Symptoms of UTI include: frequent and pressing urge to urinate but passing only small quantities of urine when you get there; burning sensation during and after urinating; cloudy urine or blood in urine.

Treatment

Doctors will treat UTIs with antibiotics such as Sulfa drugs. However, herbal remedies can bring much-needed relief and speed up healing.

Herbal Remedies for Urinary Tract Infections

Golden seal and Oregon grape both contain berberine and other alkaloids that kill bacteria. It is thought that these herbs inhibit infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. Instead, the bacteria are expelled from the body in the urine.

Cranberry juice has been used for over a century to treat and prevent UTIs. You can drink 16-24 ounces per day of unsweetened juice or use capsules. If taking the capsules be sure to drink at least 8 ounces of water with each.

Uva ursi, widely used in Europe, contains a bacteria-killing compound called arbutin. If you use this treatment you MUST drink 16 or more ounces of cranberry juice as well to neutralize acid in the urine.

Diuretic herbs like hydrangea, parsley and dandelion leaves, horsetail and marshmallow increase the amount of urine, washing away bacteria. Parsley's seeds reduce inflammation and marshmallow soothes inflamed areas. Mullein also is known for reducing UTI.

Nasturtium leaves, flowers, and seeds contain natural antibiotics helpful in preventing UTIs. Horseradish root also contains an antibiotic substance. Mega doses of vitamin C are also helpful in treating UTI.

Both Vitamins A and C are good for preventing UTIs. You need at least 5,000 mg of vitamin C.

Cautions

If you have special health conditions always check with your physician and/or a naturopath regarding side effects of natural remedies. Women who are pregnant or nursing need to be especially careful.

When a UTI feels better, don't discontinue remedy. Often the infection is still there. Don't discontinue treatment until you've had a urine sample tested.

Whether you are using an antibiotic or a natural remedy, always follow up treatment with a physician and ask for a urine sample analysis to confirm that the infection is gone. Your symptoms may have disappeared, but the infectious bacteria may not be gone. The bacteria can invade your kidneys and cause permanent kidney damage that could result in dialysis or even death. A urinalysis will reveal any bacteria in the entire urinary tract.

If you find blood in your urine, seek medical attention at once. Do not attempt to treat this condition with natural remedies.

For more information on urinary tract infections visit http://naturalremedies4uti.com/ and download our free natural health guide Urinary Tract Infections at: http://naturalremedies4uti.com/health-guides/