There are so many unknowns with yeast.  I read (and keep most) all of the
yeast-related posts on Lactnet and the "absolute facts" are disputed or
modified with regularity.

Gentian Violet...3 days, until yeast problem is resolved, one
application/wait 2 days, in baby's mouth/then feed, paint nipples/feed
baby....

Oral Nystatin for a month resolves yeast.  Nystatin is worthless.

Treat preventively.  No one develops a yeast imbalance if her/his immune
system is healthy.  Baby won't get an imbalance from mom's milk if he has a
strong immune system. Scald the milk.  Don't treat the frozen milk.

Wash and boil everything in the house.  Eliminate dairy and sugars.
Eliminate everything that has yeast in it.  The yeast in bread is not
Candida Albacans.  Don't use antibacterial hand soap.  Let drinking water
sit overnight to rid it of chlorine, which destroys bacteria in the GI
tract, including acidophilus.

Take acidophilus while taking abx.  Don't bother because the abx will kill
off the acidophilus; instead, begin at the end of the abx treatment.

Use Tea Tree Oil in a carrier oil.  Put Tea Tree Oil in the bath.  Use
Grapefruit seed extract, coloidal silver.  Rinse with vinegar--only
distilled, no-only apple cider, not at all because it will be drying.

Yeast is basically systemic.  Nipple yeast is not systemic.  Yeast *cannot*
be systemic.  The different sites of yeast infection are different strains
of yeast and are not passed on.  Yeast is yeast, treat the dog, the
husband, the other children. Yeast is "self limiting;" just leave it alone
and it will go away.

The above are just a few of the "absolute" and clear approaches to yeast
treatment.

What we need is an INTERNATIONAL YEAST SUMMIT.  They have international
summits on other dreaded diseases states.  I want the best minds at this
conference; there to delve into this most insidious problem and tell us
what this yeast "epidemic" is all about. *I* suspect that it is about
antibiotics all over the place and nutrient-poor diets.

What we have now is "try this, then that, then this other may work." Or we
have resistance to treating at all, or a hit or miss treatment. I have more
women quitting breastfeeding because of yeast than any other one cause.

*At the present time*, what I find works most of the time(if mom will/can
comply) is:
Diflucan for at least a week *after* all symptoms are gone.
Gentian violet on her nipples once or twice a day for as long as it gives
relief.
Acidophilus.
Strict diet of low or no refined sugars. Elimination of dairy products. Low
intake of refined carbohydrates. Plenty of whole foods/nutritious foods.
Antifungal cream for nipples. (Haven't had Dr. Jack's APNO made up yet)
Garlic, either in food or as a supplement.
Echinacea to boost the immune system.
Distilled vinegar solution if it isn't uncomfortable.

Sunlight and Fun.

I have had a lot of moms who finally restored their GI tracts to healthy
balance.  It was usually after several recurrances involving sugars or
alcohol. The holidays were particularly challenging.

Now the above steps don't resolve all cases. And I add some things
sometimes. If I see that a mom is just not going to be able to follow my
suggestions, then we do what we can.  I had one client who did restore
balance even though her diet was a "yeast feast" and the other suggestions
were loosely followed. It took her about 3 months, but she did get there.

Among the most anguishing messages that I get is, "It's back!!" There are
so many variables and so many unknowns, that, to me, this problem is a real
scourge.

I don't know about treating the dad and the dog.  I had one family in which
the dad chose to take the treatment because he had a white tongue, bad
breath, and a craving for sweets, and decided that he would join his wife
in a GV coctail every day.  They felt that it helped him.

I am encouraging steps toward a healthy immune system as a major part of my
suggestions. The "Big Pill" is much more popular, but I am having more and
more clients who are wanting to build health at the same time and not just
get rid of the symptoms of yeast.

I need to get to a LLL meeting to see mothers who had babies, are
breastfeeding them, and are not in crisis.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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