Yeast Infections: Natural Prevention and Remedies

Hydrogen Peroxide

Already in this article, we’ve seen hydrogen peroxide (HP) pop up a couple of times. Produced naturally by healthy bacteria in the vagina, HP plays an important role in controlling and killing off Candida albicans. Hydrogen peroxide is a reactive oxygen species which works in tandem with our immune systems to help kill off infections. It does this by creating something known as oxidative stress. Simply put, HP exposes candidiasis to high levels of oxygen, damaging and killing yeast cells in the process.

Often, yeast infections get their chance when the body is not able to produce enough HP to keep yeast from growing out of control. Women who have taken antibiotics are prone to having a drop off in healthy, vaginal bacteria which leads to lower levels of HP production. While natural remedies including vaginal suppositories of honey or boric acid yield small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, another popular method is to douche with a dilution of HP and water. Douching once a day with a mixture of one teaspoon of three percent HP with one cup of distilled water has shown to help clear up infections. Lastly, when douching with hydrogen peroxide, do not use apple cider vinegar at the same time.