Gentian Violet And Thrush
How To Use This Old Home Remedy For Yeast Infections
Gentian violet is a well-known remedy for oral thrush and yeast infections of the breast, caused by Candida albicans. It's very effective, but it fell out of favor because it's extremely messy to use. But messy or not, sometimes gentian violet clears up thrush when nothing else will.
Be aware that gentian violet will stain both your baby's lips and your nipples purple for a few days. These stains will fade, but stains on your clothing are permanent, so try to wear old clothing or do this treatment just before bed so you don't have to worry about it.
You can buy gentian violet without a prescription, but not all drugstores carry it. Save yourself some time and gas by calling around to see who has it before driving across town to get it. Your pharmacist can probably order it for you if it's not available at your favorite drugstore. You don't need much. About two teaspoons will be plenty.
Undress your baby to his or her diaper, and take off your shirt and bra. You may want to put an old towel under your baby to protect your lap. Dip a cotton-tipped swab into the gentian violet and let your baby suck on it for a few seconds. The gentian violet will probably spread and cover his whole mouth. If not, just paint the inside of his mouth with the swab. Be sure the tongue and the inside of the cheeks are covered.
Put your baby to your breast and breastfeed as usual, on both sides. When you're finished, your baby should have a purple mouth, and you should have two purple nipples. If not, grab a fresh swab to dip into the gentian violet and finish up so you match.
Repeat this treatment for three to four days. That's all there is to it, although you'll probably wind up with some purple clothing in spite of your best efforts.
More than likely, you'll feel better after the first treatment, and both your yeast infection and your baby's oral thrush should be gone within three or four days. If it comes back, you can repeat the treatment. But if it comes back again, check with your doctor. You may need treatment with an antifungal medication at the same time the baby is being treated with gentian violet.
Be sure to dispose of any pacifiers or nipples to avoid reinfecting your baby. And don't stick a pacifier in your mouth to warm it up or to clean it off if it gets dropped. The normal flora in your mouth can cause a yeast infection in your baby.
Sometimes a baby treated with gentian violet can develop painful sores in his or her mouth that can cause the baby to refuse to breastfeed. If this happens, stop using the gentian violet right away. The sores usually go away within 24 hours, and the baby can nurse again.
Gentian violet is messy, but it can be very effective for oral thrush and candidiasis infections in the breast.
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