Yeast infections are the result of an overgrowth of the Candida albicans found normally in the vagina. Symptoms include a thick, sometimes yellowish, discharge with a starchy odor accompanied by itching and burning. The itching is the most unpleasant symptom. Some or all of the symptoms may be present.

Women who suffer from this annoying problem, which may periodically recur in some women, have recommended many homegrown remedies.

1. Douche with apple cider vinegar or with a mixture of one tablespoon of garlic steeped in one quart of water.

2. A douche of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.

3. A douche of highly diluted tea tree oil (make a stock of 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil combined with one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol. Combine 10 drops of the stock mixture with 1 pint of water for the douche solution).

4. A douche made of equal parts of sage, raspberry or comfrey leaf, and mullein with ¼ part of goldenseal. Make a tea using 4 tablespoons of the herb mixture in one quart of water, steeped for 15-20 minutes. After cooling, add two tablespoons of cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of acidophilous powder. Douche every other day for mild infections, or daily for more severe ones.

5. Use suppositories of tree oil or acidophilous. Homemade frozen acidophilous "popsicles" are cooling as well as beneficial.

6. Insert a tampon dipped in plain yogurt (containing live acidophilous cultures) into the vagina and leave in place for two hours to overnight.

7. Crushed garlic clove in a net wrapping inserted into the vagina overnight.

8. Use two size 00 capsules filled with boric acid as a nightly suppository. Insert nightly for one week, twice weekly for 3 weeks.

9. Use a solution of one tablespoon of potassium sorbate in one cup of water (about an 3% solution). Use a cotton tampon to absorb the liquid then insert it into the vagina overnight. It may be easier to insert the dry tampon then squirt the potassium sorbate solution into the tampon.

10. Swab the area with gentian violet. (Some women are allergic to gentian violet, so this remedy is not recommended. Gentian violet has been suspected of being a carcinogen).

11. Drink cranberry juice or eat dried cranberries.

These homegrown remedies should be tried under the care of a health professional, particularly for a first recurrence of yeast infection symptoms. The symptoms may be as a result of some other problem.