The most common home remedy for vaginal yeast infections is unsweetened yogurt that contains active bacteria. Many trademarks do not contain live acidophilus bacteria, so be sure to read the label. Nancy’s yogurt, made in Oregon, contains several different types of live cultures and can help you restore the balance between yeast and bacteria.

If you do not live in an area that sells this particular brand, check the labels on the yogurt available at your local grocery store; “living cultures” should be highlighted.

Adding sugar to yogurt will cancel out its benefits by feeding yeast; If you really can’t bear the thought of eating unsweetened yogurt, add a small amount of honey instead of sugar. Honey has been shown to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while sugar inhibits bacteria and feeds yeast. If you have to choose between sweeteners, always choose honey.

Brown sugar, raw sugar, and other forms of sugar are just sugar; they are no better for you and should be avoided like the plague if you have a yeast infection.

Some people put yogurt in the vagina instead of eating it, to get the acidophilus down where it is needed most quickly, but some studies have shown that this is not necessary or effective. If you want to try it, you can insert the yogurt directly into the vagina by dipping a tampon (the type without applicator, such as the OB brand) in unsweetened yogurt and then inserting it into the vagina. Remove the tampon after about an hour.

You can also freeze the yogurt on the fingers of a sterile plastic glove and then insert the frozen yogurt paddle into your vagina as a tampon. This can be a bit tricky, so you may want to wear a sanitary pad for a few hours. Believe it or not, frozen yogurt will feel good against your inflamed vaginal walls.

You can also find suppositories that contain live bacterial cultures at the health food store and online. These products deliver the beneficial probiotics directly to the affected area. Be sure to select a capsule that contains only live bacteria cultures and does not contain herbal remedies such as Pau D ‘Arco bark extract or black walnut that can kill bacteria.

If you use one of these products or put yogurt in your vagina, you should also eat a cup of unsweetened yogurt every day. You need a strong population of acidophilus into your intestinal tract to help strengthen your natural defenses and keep the infection from coming back.

Since yogurt is not an antifungal treatment, there is no risk that it will cause your yeast population to mutate and become resistant to drugs. Even if you are lactose intolerant, you may be able to tolerate yogurt, but if not, try one of the acidophilus capsules sold in the health food store, instead.

If you want to use yogurt as a natural home remedy for yeast infection, go ahead and experiment to see if it works for you. You can decide to cover all your bases and use yogurt both as a topical treatment in the vagina and in your genital area, at the same time that you include it in your diet. As always, if your yeast infection doesn’t clear up in a few days while using this remedy, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Most home remedies, including yogurt, will only work if you get yeast infection while it’s still fairly mild.