Protocol to Heal Your UTI, BV & Yeast Infections Naturally – GBS, Strep B, Streptococcus Agalactiae, Klebsiella Pneumoniae & Other Bacterial Culprits

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Sabriyé Dubrie

As a mystic Sabriyé taps into the collective wisdom on a Soul Path level that she shares through the Soul Teachings. These teachings serve to stir the remembrance of your own Soul Wisdom. Never miss a new Soul Teaching again by signing up for our newsletter.

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A resource to treat your UTI, BV & Yeast infections holistically

Having recently struggled with a rUTI (recurrent UTI) and later Bacterial Vaginosis which turned into a yeast infection for nearly six months despite rounds of antibiotics and treating it naturally, I wanted to put together a comprehensive protocol to help heal these three conditions holistically.

To keep this resource readable and easily accessible I split it up into three blogs:

  • This current blog is about natural remedies and the physical ins and outs of treating urinary tract infections based on scientific research and the urgent need to find non-antibiotic solutions to curb the rise of antibiotic resistance which is a global threat to humanity.
  • Then there is a blog on the metaphysical and psychological underlying causes of UTIs, BV, Yeast, and Streptococcus infections to help you work on the underlying mental and emotional patterns that create the physical manifestations of these infections.
  • The third blog in this series is about the spiritual meaning of UTIs and how these could be part of your spiritual or Kundalini awakening, helping you release the heart amor you built around your heart to protect you in your childhood and from past life experiences but that is now blocking the Kundalini energy from being able to open and rise through the heart chakra.

For me, true physical healing only came when I moved through the layers of psychological healing on a mental, emotional, and vibrational level from the childhood, past lives, ancestral and Soul path wounds that were at the root cause of my physical pain and discomfort caused by the three different infections raging in my ladyparts.

Let me be clear: I am neither a doctor nor a practitioner of integrative medicine, so none of the below is medical advice. I am just someone who went through this experience and found a way to heal it holistically when complementary medicine and allopathic medicine weren’t working the way I had hoped and the antibiotics were causing more issues than they were solving.

This three-blog series is a compilation of my research in my journey that helped me heal myself.

My personal experience with these types of infections

I went through multiple episodes of UTIs from the end of March till the end of August which became more and more painful as time progressed, accompanied by burning in the vagina due to the BV and yeast infection. I had bouts of depression, huge anxiety and there were times that I wondered if my yoni would ever feel normal again.

I could hardly work, I was super emotional and felt miserable. I didn’t even want to talk to friends and loved ones, I was being pulled so deeply into my own process.

Prior to this, I have had maybe three UTIs during my whole life that were easily treated and perhaps one or two yeast infections. I don’t recall ever being diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis before. In my 30’s I found Berberis Vulgaris through a naturopathic doctor and that has always helped nip any feeling of an oncoming UTI in the bud. I had never needed to dive this deep into this subject before, because I had always responded quickly to allopathic and natural remedies.

In hindsight, I realized I was one of the lucky ones because as I went onto the internet looking for answers I found that there are so many desperate women silently suffering from these afflictions sometimes for decades. Not being able to break the cycle of chronic UTIs, BV, and Yeast infections, which is often experienced as extremely frightening and feeling helpless because the medical establishment has no answers for these women.

Having a UTI is never any fun, having recurrent UTIs and other vaginal issues that don’t respond to treatment is every woman’s nightmare and yet I found there were so many women of all ages facing this issue for shorter periods like my own or longer periods that went anywhere from a year to multiple decades.

Because UTIs, Bacterial Vaginosis, and Yeast infections are common infections that almost every woman deals with at least once in her life, I wanted to gather all the research I did to heal myself holistically for my female readers and clients struggling with the same issues. When I say holistically I don’t mean only the natural remedies and solutions I used, but also the inner work that came up to heal the underlying root causes of my issues that I discuss in the other blogs in this three-part blog series.

This is what every woman should know about vaginal health and what we as mothers should be teaching our daughters.

I am certainly not advocating not using modern medicine, rather I am suggesting we use modern medicine and the natural remedies that have been proven through research to be as effective or even more effective than allopathic solutions to tackle these issues that currently exacerbate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which the WHO declared one of the top global public health and development threats of our time.

Every research paper I read talked about the need to find new ways of treatment because if we continue down the path we are currently on we won’t be able to treat these often relatively innocent infections because all the bacteria will have become antibiotic resistant.

Know which bacteria you are dealing with

When dealing with a UTI or BV make sure you know what bacteria you are dealing with. E-coli causes 80-90% of UTIs but other bacterial culprits can cause UTIs (or BV) as well. In my case, I had both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) in my first urine culture.

‘Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common cause of uncomplicated as well as complicated UTI. Further pathogens involved in acute infections include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, group B Streptococcus (GBS), Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida spp’ Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Because of antibiotic resistance among the different bacteria, what works to get rid of one bacteria doesn’t necessarily work to get rid of the other. Depending on the bacteria that is causing the UTI, the antibiotics that your doctor prescribes initially might not work at all because they don’t target the specific bacteria that is causing the infection.

If your doctor prescribes you antibiotics without your urine being sent to the lab, it is not clear which bacteria is causing the UTI and there is a reasonable chance that the antibiotics that you are given are not going to be effective. Or it may work temporarily, only to come back in a week or two.

This was my story, I was on my way to Greece with a stopover in Amsterdam where I had tried my best to get the UTI under control naturally but I also had acute bronchitis and we needed to fly the next day to Athens. I had been sick in my hotel bed for three days and had started to vomit as well.

The doctor on call gave me Amoxicillin and the UTI was gone until I was traveling back home eleven days after I finished my 10 days of antibiotics. Knowing what I know now I would have asked for Fosfomycin instead. This is a one-dose antibiotic for UTIs and one of the best first-line treatments for both uncomplicated as well as complicated UTIs. As it is your gut microbiome that is on the line, it’s important to speak up for yourself even when some doctors get crabby when you do.

Here’s a playlist with videos that will help you get savvy on what you need to know and what you need to watch out for from a medical perspective when treating (r)UTIs, BV & Yeast infections.

The problem with antibiotics…

Don’t get me wrong antibiotics saves lives and sometimes it is the ONLY solution. However, despite the threat of increased antibiotic resistance doctors continue to give them out like candy. I refused multiple rounds of random antibiotics during this almost 6 month period where I was offered antibiotics eight times, of which most times they had no clue which bacteria was causing the UTI, and one time they offered me another round of amoxicillin which did not work to begin with.

I could have taken all eight rounds and still not have solved the UTI because the antibiotics they wanted to give me were not suitable to get rid of the bacteria that had gotten the upper hand in my urinary tract system and later my yoni (the bacterial vaginosis).

One of the reasons aside from logistics that I took the first round of antibiotics and later another one is because of the looming threat of the infection traveling up to the kidneys. In reality, although this can happen it doesn’t happen that often. Be alert if you develop symptoms of a kidney infection, because you will likely need antibiotics then to prevent further complications.

Knowing what I know now, I would personally wait till I absolutely needed to use antibiotics and not take it as it were prophylactically.

But this is a decision everyone needs to make for themselves.

My three main reasons would be:

  • I want to know if the antibiotics work for the bacteria that is causing my issue
  • I want to prevent increasing antibiotic resistance within my own body
  • The threat of not taking the antibiotics has to outweigh its many side effects

Antibiotics side effects in the short and long term

Despite the fact that antibiotics save lives, they also come with some uncomfortable side effects that you are probably not even aware of, and in many cases neither is your doctor. Trust me during this close to six-month period I have had a doctor tell me that antibiotics don’t harm your immune system as well as the very unscientific claim by one doctor that there is some kind of super antibiotic that will save you if the bacteria that is causing your infection becomes antibiotic resistant, which all the literature on this subject will tell you is not true.

Watch this video of doctors discussing the dangers of taking antibiotics when you don’t need them.

When you take multiple rounds of antibiotics the side effects compound, although in many cases one round of antibiotics can already do enough damage on its own. When I am talking about side effects, I don’t mean the direct side effects like nausea and stomach upset they cause when taking them but even more challenging side effects in the long term such as:

Next to the above general long-term effects of antibiotics, each individual antibiotic can have its own negative long-term effects so make sure to check those before you start a course of antibiotics. Had I known this before, I would have been much more discerning in regard to taking the antibiotics prescribed. I have always been careful with antibiotic use since I read about antibiotic resistance in my 20s. Luckily I have always enjoyed robust health so I have hardly needed antibiotics in my life.

Before this, I hardly had any UTIs in my life, and as I shared before if I felt one coming on the homeopathic remedy Berberis Vulgaris always nipped it in the bud for me. Because I didn’t use antibiotics I never further researched them, which is why I didn’t know many of the above consequences of taking antibiotics.

I actually wished someone would have laid it for me out like this because I would have made very different choices had I known all of the above.

Why you need to take probiotics if you take antibiotics

Because here’s what happened none of the doctors ever mentioned taking probiotics to counteract the antibiotics except one young doctor, (while my regular doctor was on vacation) when I asked what I should do in the twelve days between finishing my last round of antibiotics and my next urine culture. He said it to me AFTER I had already finished my antibiotics, but in his defense, he wasn’t the one who prescribed them to me.

This while the research on probiotics in relation to antibiotics has been long in:

‘Probiotics play a crucial role in preserving gut homeostasis, regulating intestinal function and metabolism, and modulating the host immune system. These mechanisms serve to effectively alleviate antibiotic-associated adverse effects and enhance overall well-being.’ Source: ScienceDirect.com

‘Research has shown that taking probiotics along with an antibiotic course can reduce the risk of side effects. This is especially true if you’re at a higher risk for conditions like C. diff colitis. Taking probiotics may even make certain antibiotic treatments more effective.’ Source: GoodRX.com

I certainly found this to be true, the first round of antibiotics gave me severe stomach upset and other issues I didn’t take a probiotic at that time. By the second and final round of antibiotics, I had no issues with direct side effects because I was taking first low-dose and then high-dose probiotics.

My acupuncturist had told me to take probiotics from the get-go, but it took me some time to figure out exactly which probiotics I needed because not all probiotics are alike or are the ones you need for UTIs, BV, or Yeast infections. This is how I ended up taking both the wrong probiotics (not vaginal specific) and not a high enough dose which landed me the BV and Yeast infection post my second course of antibiotics.

My doctor was aware of the chances of getting BV after antibiotics and sent me to get a vaginal swab and it returned positive for GBS (Group B Streptococcus), this was after I told her it felt like I had gotten a yeast infection post the second round of antibiotics. A later visit to my gynecologist confirmed that I did in fact have a yeast infection and likely not Bacterial Vaginosis (at least not anymore).

However, when I presented with symptoms of depression and anxiety after two rounds of antibiotics, there was no mention whatsoever that this could be related to the antibiotics. Instead, I was offered sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and advised to seek therapy. I am not even sure if my doctor is aware that this can be a side effect of the antibiotics as well or that our gut microbiome plays a key role in our mental well-being.

How antibiotics fuel rUTIs (biofilm)

‘Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, 20–30% of women with an initial UTI will develop a recurrent infection within 4–6 months. Recurrent UTI (rUTI) is commonly defined by at least three episodes per year or at least two episodes within six months. Repeated administration of antibiotics to treat rUTIs often results in the development of resistance to the antibiotics that were originally effective.

The high recurrence rates of UTIs and increasing antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens are a severe public health threat with a significant burden on healthcare system resources and patients’ quality of life. Thus, the growing resistance to antibiotic therapies highlights the urgent need to develop alternative treatment strategies to fight UTIs.’ Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bacteria are able to survive antibiotic treatment and the immune system by staying protected by biofilm. These bacteria eventually end their dormancy, grow their populations, and cause what is called a relapse infection or recurring UTI (rUTI). Another round of antibiotic treatment again kills the vast majority of the infecting bacteria, but some may again remain, protected by biofilm. This cycle can lead to frequent and recurring urinary tract infections.

This is why even if you choose the antibiotic route, it’s good to add biofilm disruptors and other natural remedies to your healing protocol to make sure that you don’t leave any dormant bacteria that can cause infection again.

Many of the natural remedies below have biofilm-disruptive properties but you can also buy special blends. I used the brand Biocidin in liquid form.

Other biofilm disruptors are:

  • Curcumin
  • Garlic (allicin)
  • Oil of oregano
  • Propolis
  • Berberine
  • NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
  • Vitamin D and vitamin K1 (in gram-negative bacteria)
  • And probiotics in sufficient amounts for example.


Biofilms allow bacteria to hide from both the immune system as well as antibiotics, so you should always incorporate them into your healing protocol to prevent possible relapses, no matter which route you choose.

If you are suffering from recurrent UTIs, you could also try hibiscus as a supplement or tea. ‘The natural compounds in hibiscus complement the already well-documented efficacy of cranberry. In women suffering from chronic UTIs (more than 8 infections per year), 200 mg of hibiscus per day reduced UTI recurrence by a remarkable 77%.’ Source: lifeextension.com

How to heal UTIs, BV, and Yeast infections naturally

Never having had to deal with UTIs from hell before or multiple rounds of antibiotics, my initial knowledge on this subject was very limited, and also my knowledge of natural remedies for such tenacious infections was zilch.

I am guessing that if you found this blog it’s because you are suffering from a tenacious UTI and/or BV, etc., and that the same applies to you. You are looking for solutions. During my search for answers, I read so many stories of women who were in the same boat, multiple rounds of antibiotics recurring UTIs, Yeast infections, and BV that they couldn’t seem to get rid of no matter what they did.

Some natural remedies can cause drug interaction with your existing medication

Please be aware that even when using natural supplements there is a possibility that they create drug interaction with your existing medication. Please make sure that before you use any of the below-suggested supplements that you check if they are safe to use with the medication that you are potentially already taking. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor about this.

UTI

Not all UTIs need to be treated with antibiotics, uncomplicated UTIs are often self-resolving (cure rates of 15–45%). In most cases, you have ample time to get your urine tested for the bacteria that is causing the issue while in the meantime using the natural methods below. More often than not, this will do the trick and you will be UTI-free by the time the test results come back.

If however, you start developing a fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and/or back pain go to the doctor because there is a slight possibility that the infection goes to the kidneys and into the blood (sepsis) and any antibiotic side-effect is better than being dead or being on the brink of death. Allopathic medicine is not the enemy, it just needs to be used with discernment. You can even combine allopathic and natural remedies to increase healing results.

Here’s a list of natural remedies that can help heal a UTI:

D-Mannose

‘D-mannose is a monosaccharide that can inhibit bacterial adhesion to the urothelium (bladder wall lining) after oral intake. Several clinical studies have shown the efficacy of d-mannose in the prevention of recurrent UTIs; these also provided limited evidence for the efficacy of d-mannose in acute therapy. A recent prospective, non-interventional study in female patients with acute cystitis reported good success rates for treatment with d-mannose. Adhesion of pathogens to the urothelial cells prevents their removal or washing off, and is, therefore, their first step in colonizing the urinary bladder. Accordingly, this represents a crucial step in the onset of infection, and strategies interfering with bacterial adhesion can prevent or treat UTIs’. Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Simply said this means that D-Mannose makes it difficult for the bacteria to stick themselves to the bladder wall which makes it easier to flush them out through increasing your fluid intake and urination.

‘D-mannose also reduces age-triggered changes in the urinary tract that increase susceptibility to UTIs. Aging poses a number of challenges to the body’s well-being, one of the most important being an increased susceptibility to multiple diseases, including urinary tract infections (UTIs).’ Source: www.bcm.edu This research suggests that mannose supplementation could counter age-associated urothelial dysfunction in addition to limiting recurring UTIs.

DO NOT HIGH DOSE d-Mannose, a preventive dose is around 2 grams daily. Some sites encourage taking 3 grams every three hours which amounts to 24 grams per 24 hours stating that because it is a fruit sugar that the body cannot metabolize or store it is safe. However, taken in high amounts it can cause anxiety.

If you do want to try a higher dosage to manage acute symptoms, try keeping it around 12 grams per 24 hours. In research settings, I have seen higher doses as well, for example, 3 x 1,5 grams. See what works for you, if you become anxious from taking too much d-mannose know that when you stop the d-mannose the anxiety will stop as well. I did 2 grams every 2 hours (24 grams a day) for three days and developed huge hypochondria during that time. When I lowered my dosage to the maintenance dose of 2 grams a day, the anxiety dissipated.

I obviously canceled all my client sessions that week as I was not in the right space to support others in their healing journey fully triggered by my own unresolved pain. As the UTIs were helping me heal from the sexual abuse I experienced as a child, it didn’t come as a surprise to find that common childhood life events for people with hypochondria include; sexual abuse, seeing or receiving physical abuse, divorced parents, parents ignoring your needs, and more… Source: MedicineNet.com

Although I have of course always mentally understood the negative impacts of the sexual abuse I experienced as a child, I was now starting to see how many of the issues that I had struggled with all my life and had seen as my own weaknesses or that something was somehow wrong with me were actually a DIRECT result of my negative childhood experiences.

It hit me like a ton of bricks when I first really saw this and my body and mind really understood it. I cried a deep cry of release because even though I normally didn’t suffer from hypochondria anymore there was a period in my 20s predominantly where I had debilitating hypochondria and agoraphobia during the time when I started remembering the childhood sexual abuse.

It was also a time when I was made to feel crazy by my family and then-husband because nobody understood what was happening to me. Now, we know that pregnancy and childbirth can cause painful memories of our own childhood to resurface. ‘This is because this life stage touches on these memories of our own past, which may be painful or distressing.’ Source: Cope.org.au Then even doctors and psychologists often had no clue and there was little understanding of postpartum depression even within the organizations that were meant to educate people in the 90s.

This realization was really the catalyst for a process where I released a lot of the outdated perceptions (or self-identifications) of myself and started to finally see who I really was, rather than who I believed I was based on my past (traumatic) experiences.

Oil of Oregano and other natural antibiotics

Rather than use a chemical antibiotic, use a natural antibiotic. There are many to choose from but oil of oregano and propolis are some of the best. You will read that it is not safe to use oil of oregano internally, but that is not true. There are food-grade oil of oregano drops and capsules.

Personally, I don’t like the heat of oil of oregano, which is so intense you have to dilute it with for example coconut oil because otherwise you will burn every part of your body that the oil touches. I prefer the capsules as they are easier to take and easier to dose.

Several studies have shown the powerful antibacterial properties of oregano oil, even against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. In one study that tested the antibacterial effects of a range of essential oils, oregano oil was found to be the best at hindering bacterial growth (WebMD).

What is more important is that oregano oil effectively inactivates various pathogenic bacteria and their biofilms irrespective of their antibiotic susceptibility. The biofilms that bacteria create to protect themselves and to hide under is what makes them more resistant to allopathic antibiotics and the immune system.

‘Biofilm-forming pathogens are very challenging to treat with conventional antibiotics because of their greater resistance behavior. Hence, new and effective approaches are urgently needed.’ Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

When using oregano oil, search for a supplement that has a high level of carvacrol because that is the bacterial inhibiting agent in oil of oregano. It’s also important to take regular breaks in between, use oil of oregano 10 days at a time then take a week break and do another round of 10 days.

The maximum dosage I found used in research settings was 600mg, I used 300mg daily with a Solaray oil of oregano supplement which was 150mg a capsule. Start out slow with oil of oregano because it can cause a Herxheimer (die-off) reaction, this is because it’s also an antifungal that kills off candida and other yeasts.

On the days that I didn’t use oil of oregano, I used propolis extract as a natural antibiotic that also has antibacterial properties that inhibit streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) and other pathogenic bacteria.

Probiotics

The world of probiotics is very confusing initially because when it comes to urinary tract health you need different strains of probiotics than for simply restoring gut health. It took me some time to figure it out and find the brands that worked for me.

This is because some brands have too low of a CFU (units) count and therefore don’t work, and some use time-released capsules that actually guarantee greater absorption than vegetable capsules that have most of the probiotics not surviving the acid in your stomach.

If you have a GBS (Strep B) UTI you need L. Salivarius (research), L. Rhamnosus & L. Reuteri (research) which are in the Garden of Life – Raw Probiotics Vaginal Care probiotics for example. This probiotic did not work for me because it gave me a histamine response, although light it caused swelling of the lips and tongue, especially after food that was rich in histamine. I discontinued this probiotic and found one that worked better for me.

But everyone is different, I spoke to the creator of this video on Strep B UTIs and she healed her UTI using these exact same probiotics.

She explained to me that probiotics are a numbers game and that if you have an active infection, you need to increase the dosage of your probiotics so that there are enough good bacteria there to inhibit the bad bacteria. She started out taking one, then two, and in the end three capsules a day and was cured within a week.

After speaking to her I immediately doubled my dosage as well to 100 billion CFU a day. I later saw on a probiotic company website that you need to take at least 50 billion CFU or more when dealing with UTIs, BV, or yeast infections but I couldn’t find any research to back this up. However, most female vaginal health probiotics are 50 billion CFUs which seem to be the minimal dose for prevention and maintenance. 

‘Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GR-1 and L. Reuteri RC-14 (previously called L. Fermentum RC-14) seemed to be the most effective among the studied lactobacilli for the prevention of UTIs. L. Casei Shirota and L. Crispatus CTV-05 have also shown efficacy in some studies.’ Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

When choosing your probiotics search for UTI or Vaginal probiotics and make sure that they contain the probiotics mentioned above in adequate amounts but not too much (above 200+ billion CFU for longer periods of time) because too much probiotics can cause their own negative side effects in the long run.

‘Too much Lactobacillus in the vaginal microbiome can be problematic. Even though this microorganism is considered the most beneficial when it comes to vaginal health, too much can cause a condition known as Cytolytic Vaginosis aka CV.’ Source: tinyhealth.com

In the end, I found FemProBio from Health Aid that had all the probiotic strains I needed for Streptococcus agalactiae in 50.000 billion CFU, and that I did not get a histamine response to in the way I had to the Garden of Life brand. I first tried a single dose, and when that went well I doubled the dose, and the consistent pain I had in my urethra was gone in three days. I did get a bit of a reaction to the probiotics after doubling the dose (bumps on the back of my tongue which is the kidney and bladder area in TCM tongue diagnosis), so I lowered it again to a single dose after talking about it with my acupuncturist.

‘When you start supplementing with a probiotic formula, the good guys begin building strong colonies of beneficial bacteria that help to crowd out the inhospitable microbes in your GI tract—who then start to die off in mass amounts.

When large quantities of the bad guys are crowded out and attacked, they release toxins that can build up faster than you can expel them. Your body then creates an immune system response to clean house, which can manifest as mild and temporary experiences like digestive discomfort, changes in bowel movements, achiness, and even skin sensitivity (Herxheimer reaction).

What’s more, some beneficial bacterial strains support a variety of positive activities in the intestinal tract, like producing lactic and acetic acid, stimulating cytokine production, increasing T-lymphocytes, creating natural antibacterials, and synthesizing vitamins and enzymes.

Often it takes some time for your body to acclimate to this new level of activity, so you may notice a difference (either positive or negative) in the way you feel for a few weeks until your system adjusts. Keep in mind that if you increase the dosage at a later date, you may return to this acclimation period once more.

The good news is that when probiotic species take hold, the benefits extend beyond just getting rid of the unwelcome guests in your gut. Once your microbiome is balanced and the bad guys are under control, your friendly flora work hard to help your body expel other harmful toxins that may be lurking.’ Source: hyperbotics.com

You can use the binders discussed in the Yeast Infection section to help with die-off (Herxheimer) symptoms. These binders will help remove the releases toxins and mitigate the die-off symptoms.

Homeopathy

There are many different homeopathic remedies that help with UTIs, I would however recommend going to a homeopath to get the right homeopathic remedies for you rather than searching online. This is because even if a remedy doesn’t work, it can cause symptoms of that remedy in healthy individuals which then doesn’t treat your physical issue and can make you feel worse by creating new symptoms you didn’t have before.

My homeopath because she was sending everything from the Netherlands to Spain where I live, sent me multiple UTI remedies including Cantharis which not only didn’t improve my UTI but actually created a burning sensation that I didn’t have before using the remedy and that went away after I stopped using it.

I responded really well to Staphysagria which is both indicated after multiple rounds of antibiotics and when there is a history of sexual abuse. I did even better on Medorrhinum and Syphilinum which you won’t find in the traditional lists of treating UTIs which is why you should work with a homeopath rather than Google.

The best thing is that she sent me Streptococcinum and she ordered Klebsiella Pneumoniae homeopathy for me, but by that time the Klebsiella bacteria was no longer in my urine sample.
Both Streptococcinum and Streptococcus Pyogenes (Tilch C5) which you can order at Helios help heal Streptococcus infections. This homeopathic remedy brought me to an understanding of the metaphysical causes of a Streptococcus infection that I shared in the blog on the underlying metaphysical causes of UTIs, BV, Yeast & Strep infections.

There are also homeopathic remedies that can help your body detox from the antibiotics you have potentially used which is another reason to work with a homeopath.

Acupuncture

I also did acupuncture which initially didn’t really help that much until I switched to a different acupuncturist who looks to trigger the electricity response (called deqi) at every point she needles, she doesn’t give up until you feel that zap of energy surging. I got further with her in three sessions, than I got with my previous acupuncturist in months. Especially because she could see where the energy was blocked in my body and treat me more accurately because of it.

Even though I have been doing regular acupuncture for years, I would go into a healing crisis after every session with her. But this is actually a good sign because:

‘In acupuncture, which relies on traditional Chinese medical theory, the idea is that disease initially invades the body in layers, from the most surface down to the deepest, and when the disease starts to leave the body, symptoms can flare up as they “exit” back toward the surface.’ Source: www.getverywell.com

Acupuncture is a well-established therapy method that can help heal UTIs and rUTIs, see quoted research below:

‘Our results showed that acupuncture reduced the recurrence rate among cystitis-prone women to half the rate among untreated women. Also, women in the acupuncture group exhibited reductions in residual urine. The finding that 50% of women in the untreated group became free of cystitis over the study period may reflect regression to the mean, as observed in other studies focusing on recurrent UTIs.

In summary, our results, as well as previous findings, indicate that acupuncture treatment may be effective in preventing recurrent lower UTIs in healthy adult women.’ Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alkalize your urine

‘Lemon juice has an acidic pH before it is digested. However, once metabolized by the body, it produces alkaline byproducts. These alkaline byproducts can make your urine more alkaline but have very little effect on the pH of your blood.’ Source: Healthline.com

‘Drinking more fluids like water with lemon flushes out bacteria in your urinary tract and can help you prevent urinary tract infections. It’s estimated that around half of urinary tract infections can be resolved by drinking lots of fluids. More acidic liquids like lemon water may be more effective at treating UTIs.’ Source: Medicinenet.com

You can also use high-quality food-grade sodium bicarbonate to alkalize your urine. ‘Alkalizing the urine may help to soothe the bladder. Bicarbonate of soda, 5 ml (one teaspoon) in half a glass of water, 2 – 3 times a day. However, due to its high salt content, it should only be taken for short periods of time. It should not be used in patients with high blood pressure or heart problems.’ Source: Bladderhealthuk.org

Vitamins and minerals

I was advised to take 3 to 4 grams of vitamin C a day (I took 3x 1500mg spread out over the day) by a Belgian doctor here on the island at the end of my healing journey. He also gave me an intravenous vitamin B complex and magnesium shot, because I had taken so many rounds of antibiotics. I supplemented zinc as well. As a precaution, I took all my supplements 2 hours away from the antibiotics when I was taking them.

‘Vitamin C has been suggested to be safe and effective antibiotic agent independently against both gram-negative and positive bacterial strains including resistant strains while being stable at different temperatures. One study showed that vitamin C exhibited independent antibiotic effect significantly in both in vitro and in vivo settings in a mouse model against carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumonia.’ Source: Wiley Online Library

However, when choosing your vitamins and minerals keep in mind that they can interact with antibiotics and even lessen the effect. When taking antibiotics always check if the supplements you are taking weaken their effect. This also applies to foods that contain certain vitamins and minerals: ‘Antibiotics are usually taken with water because taking them together with fruit juices, dairy products or alcohol can affect how the body absorbs some of them. Dairy products include milk, butter, yogurt, and cheese.’ Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are you struggling with chronic or recurring UTIs?

If you have a UTI that refuses to go away here are some causes and treatment options to treat tenacious infections that keep coming back… Recurring UTIs are also often caused by the biofilm that bacteria create to protect themselves from antibiotics and the immune system. If you are suffering from chronic or recurring UTIs you will find a list of biofilm disruptors in the antibiotics section that will help you make your healing protocol more effective whether you go the natural route or in case you want to increase the efficacy of the antibiotics you are taking.

Berberine

I started using Berberine when I had my fourth bladder infection. I was clear of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection but was told that I had absurd amounts of Strep in my urine which is why I opted for antibiotics again because I was not getting this infection out.

‘Berberine is a compound found in several plants that has been known for medicinal purposes. Some studies have found that berberine prevents E. coli from adhering to cells that line the urinary tract, thus providing a possible mechanism of action for its UTI-preventative properties (Sun 1988)’. Source: lifeextension.com

The following research is interesting for everyone who has a strep UTI or BV. ‘These results strongly suggested that berberine may damage the structure of bacterial cell membrane and inhibit synthesis of protein and DNA, which cause Streptococcus agalactiae bacteria to die eventually.’ Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Berberine has been reported to enhance the antibacterial action of antibiotics i.e. penicillin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, etc. Source: sciencedirect.com

You will also find it listed as a biofilm disruptor allowing the antibiotics or the immune system to better target and inhibit the pathogenic bacteria.

The recommended dosage is 1500mg a day for active infections, lower for maintenance doses. When I used it with antibiotics I used 1/3 of the dosage one capsule of 500mg. After I finished the antibiotics I increased the dosage.

‘Clinical studies have evaluated berberine (berberine HCl) at dosages ranging from 500mg to 1500mg per day for as long as six months in adults. The most common and most effective dosage appears to be 1500mg a day, given in three divided doses with meals. There is insufficient evidence to support its use in children.

The most common side effect of berberine supplementation is gastrointestinal discomfort. Postprandial and divided dosing is an effective strategy to minimize this risk. If gastrointestinal irritation continues, the dosage can be decreased accordingly.’ Source: integrativepro.com

UTIs & menopause or other hormonal changes

Hormone changes can cause UTIs at all ages including during our mother and crone years, i.e. pregnancy and menopause. ‘Hormones changes can also cause a UTI. UTIs are the most common complication during pregnancy. About 1 in 10 pregnant patients get one, often during the first and second trimester. ‘ Source: unmhealth.org While the risk of chronic or recurring UTIs increases for women in menopause due to the drop in estrogen and progesterone levels.

For pregnant women, the increased weight and pressure of your uterus on your bladder can block urine from flowing, making it an ideal environment for bacteria. Pregnancy also suppresses your immune system, which is your body’s natural defense against illness. This can increase your risk of infection, including UTIs

‘Why does estrogen loss cause UTIs? Estrogen helps tissues in your vagina and urethra stay elastic and moist. Estrogen loss can thin these tissues and cause dryness, irritation, and other changes that set the stage for UTIs. For example, estrogen loss weakens the muscles of your urethra. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter your urethra and move up to your bladder.

Estrogen also raises the level of healthy bacteria that normally live in your vagina and bladder. Healthy bacteria help fight off infection-causing bacteria. After menopause, low estrogen means you have less healthy bacteria to help prevent infections.’ Source: Acog.org

Vaginal estrogen (HRT) can help cure such types of chronic or recurring UTIs. The above also seems to indicate that a good daily probiotic could help as well to increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut, vagina, and bladder.

Pelvic floor & the urethral sponge tightness

The problem could also be caused by a tight pelvic floor or a tight urethral sponge, in both cases working with a pelvic care provider could be very beneficial.

‘Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) may be a result of a true UTI OR it may be the underlying “why” of recurring UTIs. When the pelvic floor muscles that control urination are tight and irritated it’s hard for them to relax completely and allow the bladder to fully empty.’ Source: legacytherapystl.com

According to Caytlyn Dee the owner of Integrative Pelvic Care. ‘UTIs (especially those that become chronic) are often due to too much tension in the urethral sponge. Aka G Spot. The urethral sponge is part of the clitoral network of tissues that is designed to become enlarged, especially during arousal, to protect the urethra from bacteria.

When the tissues of the pelvis, including the urethral sponge get dry or depleted, due to long-held tension, birth scars, trauma, rough stimulation, etc these tissues no longer engorge the way they were designed, so they fail to protect the urethra correctly, which can lead to UTIs or other urinary/pelvic issues.’

In this Instagram carousel, she gives a simple exercise to restore fluidity to these tissues which she expands upon in her paid programs. This can certainly be worth adding to your healing protocol if you struggle with a chronic or recurring UTI.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

‘Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection that happens when some normal bacteria that live in your vagina overgrow, causing a bacterial imbalance. Symptoms include an off-white or gray vaginal discharge that smells “fishy.” A vaginal swab can help determine which bacteria is causing the issue which can help in finding both the right antibiotic or natural solution to healing this condition. But keep in mind that antibiotics can actually cause BV by disrupting the vaginal microbiome, studies demonstrate over 50% of women who take antibiotics for BV have a recurring infection within three to six months.‘ Source: Seed.com

With such odds of getting reinfected again, it is worth looking at natural options to either make your course of antibiotics more effective or heal your BV naturally. If you do opt for antibiotics, ALWAYS take an ample dose of probiotics for the vaginal microbiome see BV-specific probiotics in the probiotic section below. This will help break the vicious cycle of recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

Natural remedies to heal bacterial vaginosis:

Oil of Oregano

According to Dr. Berg “Both oregano oil and grapefruit seed oil are fantastic to take for really stubborn cases of bacterial vaginosis. These can be taken orally in a supplement form.”
Follow the instructions for the use of oil of oregano in the section on UTI.

Some women have also gotten lasting results by mixing oil of oregano oil with a carrier oil and injecting it with a syringe into the vagina. Use a pad to catch the oil coming out and prevent it from spreading to other places. Be very careful if you do this and NEVER use the oil of oregano oil undiluted because it will burn your skin. Honestly, I am not a fan although I did use highly diluted oil of oregano once or twice in the vagina I prefer using the oil of oregano pills orally instead.

When used orally, take a weeklong break after using oil of oregano for 10 days and then start again. According to Healthline, you should take at least a weeklong break for every 3 weeks of use. I am a better safe than sorry kind of gal, which is why I kept to the 10 days on and 7 days off schedule but apparently, it is safe to take for longer periods (21 days) if you take breaks in between. Remember to start out slow to avoid a die-off or Herxheimer reaction.

Some badly researched sites, state that you can use oil of oregano undiluted in the vaginal area but let me tell you even if you spill this stuff on your hands it will burn like hell, imagine how that will feel to your vaginal tissue that is much more sensitive. Proceed with care.

Probiotics

One of the reasons why you do want an official diagnosis based on a vaginal swab is that you know with which bacterial overgrowth you are dealing. This then allows you to search online for the right probiotic that inhibits the specific bacterial overgrowth that is causing your vaginal infection.

I already listed in the UTI section which probiotics are good for healing GBS bacterial vaginosis caused by Strep B, but next to the probiotics that help restore the vaginal microbiome in general there are also specific probiotics that could help as well.

These are probiotics that work best for BV:

  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1® and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. ®
  • Lactobacillus paracasei F-19. ®
  • Lactobacillus brevis CD2®, Lactobacillus salivarius FV2®, and Lactobacillus plantarum FV9. ®
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001.
  • Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05.

Source: Optibacprobiotics.com

Garlic pills

Garlic has strong antibacterial properties, and it’s long been used as a successful home remedy for BV. Don’t buy just garlic pills because you need the active ingredient of garlic which is allicin. I used the brand Allimed, which you can order here.

A study comparing the therapeutic effects of garlic tablets and oral metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis found:

‘Amsel’s criteria were significantly decreased after treatment with garlic or metronidazole (70% and 48.3%, respectively; P < 0.001). Therapeutic effects of garlic on BV were similar to that of metronidazole (63.3% and 48.3%, respectively; P = 0.141). There were significant differences between the two treatment groups in terms of side effects; metronidazole was associated with more complications (P = 0.032).

This study reveals that garlic could be a suitable alternative for metronidazole in the treatment of BV in those interested in herbal medicines or those affected by the side effects of metronidazole.’ Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Boric Acid suppositories

If you have never heard about Boric Acid suppositories reading into them might make you wonder if they are safe to use. My chiropractor recommended them to me because it was the only thing that had worked for his ex-girlfriend.

But most resources say that it’s not first-line therapy, that you shouldn’t use them without consulting your physician first and of course create doubts around their safety and efficacy in some cases. We can all guess why certain cheaper solutions are made to seem less effective or safe as the solutions that can be patented and monetized to make a profit, that this gets in the way of research at times has also been established.

However, even the CDC says boric acid suppositories are safe as long as you use them vaginally (not orally), you don’t have open wounds in the vagina and you aren’t pregnant.

I watched a video about boric acid with former urologist-oncologist dr. George Ibrahim that really put my mind at ease. He says that boric acid suppositories should be in every woman’s first-aid kit to use when things feel a little bit off down there or in case of actual vaginal infections, this is because boric acid helps restore the vaginal Ph balance which keeps the vaginal microbiome balanced and healthy.

‘To treat BV, the 600mg boric acid capsules can be inserted into the vagina at night for about 1-2 weeks. If you have a recurrent BV infection, your doctor may recommend you use it 1-2 times a week for about 3 months.’ Source: khealth.com

I used the brand Nutricost that I bought on iHerb.com.

Boric acid can cause some mild side effects if used too much or incorrectly.

Probiotic suppositories

The use of vaginal probiotics have shown to improve vaginal flora, increase the beneficial bacteria, and reduce the harmful bacteria. Clinical evidence shows that probiotics are effective in the treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).

‘There is an increasing body of literature supporting the use of vaginal Lactobacillus suppositories to reduce candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis infections; however, the role of vaginal probiotics for the prevention of rUTI is less clear. There is increasing data that the vaginal microbiome varies between individuals that are susceptible to urinary infections. As such, it stands to reason that a vaginal probiotic would be more effective in preventing rUTI’. Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

I used the brand Bonusan probio fem which may only be a brand available in Europe. When searching for a probiotic suppository look for one that contains sufficient of the probiotics mentioned in the section for oral probiotics because these will help with curing BV.

I read research that said you can use oral and vaginal probiotics simultaneously, I used a lower dose oral probiotic (20 billion CFU) while using probiotic suppositories. This was not based on research, but on me wanting to be on the safe side, especially after the histamine response I got with taking the Garden of Life probiotics.

I made the simple calculation that with the time-released capsules I was absorbing 30 billion CFUs from the 50 billion CFU probiotics I was taking and I was handling that well, so I took an oral probiotic of 2x 20 billion CFU which I already had at home together with the 10 billion CFU in the suppository which would result in a total of lower than 30 billion CFU due to the loss of absorption from the oral probiotic. As time passed I used a 50 billion oral probiotic with the probiotic suppository without any issues.

Sadly because most doctors do not work with probiotics, you will kind of have to figure it out on your own like this and see what works for you. My acupuncturist immediately recommended me to get probiotic suppositories, but the pharmacy also really struggled to find anything and actually sold me the wrong thing initially. I also ordered the completely wrong thing online before, mainly because my Spanish is crap and I had the right brand but the wrong suppository. Until I finally found the Bonusan probiotic suppository that I again ordered online.

Although I had tested positive for vaginal Streptococcus agalactiae in June, by August the swab test came back negative which meant I had no BV. I don’t know if the first swab was a false positive, if the infection was really light, or if the natural remedies I used finally worked but I was happy it was gone.

This after I had done 10 days of boric acid and 5 days of probiotic suppositories back to back. I not only had no bacterial infection in the vagina but also the yeast infection I had was resolved this way.

Yeast infection (VVC)

At some point, both my acupuncturist and homeopathist said that my issue was taking too long to cure, so rather than go to my doctor I went to a private hospital gynecologist who took a look and made an ultrasound to ensure that there weren’t any internal issues or that the bacterial vaginosis had become pelvic inflammatory decease which it hadn’t.

Instead, I got diagnosed with a yeast infection end of July when end of May I had already told my doctor that I felt that the second round of antibiotics had left me with a yeast infection. Perhaps this got lost in translation because she did send me to get swabbed but then came with the bacterial vaginosis diagnosis while the gynecologist who actually was up close and personal with my vagina said there’s no smell, so probably no bacterial vaginosis.

My doctor then ordered a new vaginal swab to check for yeast as I also had vaginal thrush which could indicate vaginal candida, which she translated as mushrooms (hongos) and I think that’s where the term yeast didn’t land initially. But the truth is you can have both at the same time. Research has shown 20-30% of women with bacterial vaginosis are co-infected with yeast.

My gynecologist gave me some suppositories and cream with a list of scary side effects, so after trying them for two days and ending up with a BURNING yoni, I instead switched to the natural options that cured the yeast infection quickly and efficiently without any nasty side effects.

Natural remedies to heal a yeast infection are:

Probiotics

Please read the other sections on probiotics as well. Specifically for yeast infections you can use the following probiotics:

  • Saccharomyces boulardii is itself a yeast, but one with probiotic potential which has displayed anti-Candida properties in relevant research studies. Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®
  • Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14®
  • Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12®

The probiotic I took for yeast infections contained L. plantarum, L. paracasei, L. casei, B. lactis, and L. rhamnosus. I used Lovebug “Yeast + ph support” for yeast & UTIs. You can order it on their website. I tolerated this brand very well, I had no issue with other brands of probiotics only the Garden of Life one had adverse effects and I immediately discontinued using it.

My advice is to buy a probiotic blend already targeting what you want to heal like yeast, because you are not going to find a brand that has ALL the probiotic strains that can help and more strains in one blend isn’t necessarily better because more strains means less quantity of the different probiotics. It’s better to take 50 billion CFU made up out of 7 strains, than 50 billion CFU made up out of 24 strains because the more strains you add, the less amount of each strain you end up with.

I honestly love the brand Lovebug Probiotics, which has probiotics for various different situations from pregnancy to vaginal health, immune support, mood, infants, children, and so on… The products were created by a mom, trying to heal herself and her child after having been put on a broadspectrum antibiotic during childbirth and both struggling with their health in the months that followed. I bought the one for yeast infections (Yeast is a beast) and it worked like a charm.

Oil of Oregano

‘Yeast infections, caused by a fungus called candida, are one of the most common types of vaginal infections. Some strains of candida are becoming resistant to antifungal drugs. Early research on oregano oil in vapor form as an alternative is promising.’ Source: WebMD.com

‘The antifungal activities of some essential oils were investigated against C. spp. and among them, oregano oil was found to be the most effective oil, and further biofilm studies were conducted with it. Oregano oil inhibited biofilm adhesion and formation of C. spp. and mature biofilms and also displayed the ability to reduce biofilm formation when they were allowed to form on surfaces previously coated with oil (up to 50% inhibition rates). In addition, oregano oil was found to be effective against dual biofilms of Candida albicans + Staphyloccocus aureus at different concentrations.’ Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih

Please read the other two sections on oil of oregano for correct use and when to take breaks. You can only use food-grade oil of oregano essential oil internally and it has to be diluted because otherwise, it will burn your lips, mouth, esophagus, and everything else it touches. This is why I prefer oil of oregano pills and you need to take regular one-week breaks using this supplement whether you use it as an oil diluted in a carrier oil or gel pill form.

Chlorella or activated charcoal

Use toxin binders such as Chlorella, activated charcoal (derived from coconut shells), or even Zeolite (ACZ Nano Zeolite) that help bind toxins and as stated below may help to reduce die-off symptoms that are common with yeast infections. 

‘Chlorella is a type of freshwater seaweed (green algae). It contains protein, iron, vitamins B and C, and other antioxidants. It may contain substances that fight bacteria, fungi, tumors, and viruses.’ Source: WebMD.com

‘Binders are substances that bind to toxins and help to remove them through bowel movements. They can support detoxification, including during your recovery from Candida overgrowth. As you are addressing Candida overgrowth, there will be some toxic waste during the die-off process of the fungus. Activated charcoal and other binders can support your body’s detoxification abilities. A 2019 review published in Deutsches Arzteblatt International has found that activated charcoal may be effective for removing toxins and waste. As they help to remove waste quickly, binders may reduce your symptoms of Candida die-off as well.’ Source: integrative-medicine.ca

In other words, you don’t only want to starve the candida but help your body eliminate it.

‘When Candida cells are killed off quickly, a large no. of toxic substances are released simultaneously. This flood of endotoxins is noxious (harmful) and causes the kidneys and liver to work overtime to try and remove them which causes worsening of symptoms in patients.’ Source: sciencedirect.com

This is a step you don’t want to skip!

Echinacea

‘Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that boost immune function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. For this reason, professional herbalists may recommend echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete’s foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds.’ Source: mountsinai.org

Research shows that Echinacea extracts disrupt fungal cell walls and that in this study at least twenty-three yeast mutants exhibited high Echinacea sensitivity. This is why it should be part of your yeast infection healing protocol.

Vitamins A & D

‘Vitamin A deficiency in patients with candidiasis is most likely a manifestation of intestinal candidiasis. Because vitamin A is necessary for the function of cytotoxic T cells and for the integrity of mucous membranes, vitamin A deficiency will aggravate yeast infection.’ Source: isom.ca

‘Results of the current study demonstrated that vitamin D3 has a significant inhibitory effect on Candida growth and biofilm formation. Considering its demonstrated antifungal and antibiofilm properties, vitamin D3 holds promise as a potential agent for medical applications.’ Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Garlic pills

Garlic or allicin the healing component in garlic is also an anti-fungal. I was already using them for the strep UTI and BV, so continued to use them for the yeast infection. I couldn’t find much actual research on it, although it’s recommended everywhere in the home remedies, midwife, and naturopathic blogs but I did find this in vitro and animal study proving its efficacy:

‘These results demonstrate the efficacy of anticandidal effects of allicin both in vitro and in an animal model of candidiasis and affirm the potential of allicin as an adjuvant therapy to fluconazole.’ Source: academic.oup.com

Boric Acid suppositories

I of course used the boric acid suppositories and within ten days my red and inflamed yoni that was burning had returned to her normal color and all the burning and redness disappeared. These are little miracle workers that I highly recommend, I continued to use them in a lower dosage (once a week) even after my yeast infection was healed. See the guidelines for a yeast infection below.

‘Standard yeast infection treatment is one 600mg capsule inserted in the vagina at bedtime for 7 days. For treatment of recurring yeast infections, standard yeast infection treatment is done for two weeks, and then boric acid can be used twice a week for 6 months to 1 year.’ Source: healthy.kaiserpermanente.org

Boric acid can cause some mild side effects if used too much or incorrectly.

Probiotic suppositories

‘There is an increasing body of literature supporting the use of vaginal Lactobacillus suppositories to reduce candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis infections; however, the role of vaginal probiotics for the prevention of rUTI is less clear. There is increasing data that the vaginal microbiome varies between individuals that are susceptible to urinary infections. As such, it stands to reason that a vaginal probiotic would be more effective in preventing rUTI’. Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

As I already explained in the bacterial vaginosis section, I used the brand Bonusan probio fem which may only be a brand available in Europe. When searching for a probiotic suppository look for one that contains sufficient of the probiotics mentioned in the section for oral probiotics because these will help with curing your yeast infection.

I read research that said you can use oral and vaginal probiotics simultaneously, I initially used a lower dose oral probiotic (20 billion CFU) while using probiotic suppositories but then simply tried them with the higher dosed oral probiotics, and that worked fine too. Because I was figuring this out on my own, it was a question of trial and error. I simply followed the rule, start out slow and see how you respond first.

Zits baths and vaginal rinses

I used Epsom salt, bicarbonate soda baths, and thyme tea rinses (externally) to help manage symptoms of burning as I had less itching.

In general, douches are discouraged which was fine by me as I wasn’t in the practice of doing douches anyway. Also, stay away from yoni steams while you are healing the combination of heat and water vapor will only provide a better breeding ground for both fungi as well as bacteria. Yoni steams can be amazing and have many health benefits, but you do not want to add heat and moisture to a raging infection.

You can also add tea tree oil or other essential oils to your sitz bath, for more information on how to make a Zits bath click here.

Calendula cream instead of clotrimazole (Canesten)

I used both clotrimazole (Canesten cream) as well as Calendula cream from the brand VSM the Canesten cream you can only use for a certain amount of days and it has a list of nasty side effects.

After reading the research below I realized I had Calendula cream at home and used that on the outside of the vagina while using boric acid and probiotic suppositories inside. This cleared up the yeast infection immediately and when I was swabbed again, there were no pathogens.

I started using the Calendula cream after I found this research result below online.

‘The frequency of most signs and symptoms were almost equal in the two groups at the first follow-up, but were significantly lower in the Calendula group at the second follow-up. Sexual function had almost equal significant improvement in both groups. Calendula vaginal cream appears to have been effective in the treatment of vaginal Candidiasis and to have a delayed but greater long-term effect compared to clotrimazole.‘ Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary changes to support your healing

It can also help to change your diet to support your healing, this is because certain foods can exacerbate your symptoms and/or feed the bacteria or fungi that are causing your infection. As you will see, many of the same foods are the culprit behind the different infections or are known to exacerbate the symptoms.

Because I have a macrobiotic background, I know how important food can be in our healing journeys which is why I immediately went to look at what foods I needed to cut out of my diet to support my healing.

Below are some of the dietary tips that I followed to support my healing. Although I did cheat here or there – I made sure that this was sporadic and in very small quantities. Sometimes I learned through trial and error, that for example, even the sporadic coffee wasn’t worth the bladder discomfort it created.

UTI

Sugar, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates can make any infection, including a UTI, worse by feeding unfriendly bacteria and reducing immune function.

These are the foods to avoid during a UTI:

  • Foods and drinks rich in sugar including energy drinks, candy and sweets, soda, and cakes
  • Caffeinated beverages of which coffee is a leading culprit for people with UTIs
  • Spicy foods
  • Refined carbohydrates
  • Alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor)
  • Citrus fruits
  • And Artificial sweeteners

These are all so-called bladder irritants that you should avoid when healing a UTI.

Streptococcus

I used Medical Medium as a resource for Streptococcus and followed his advice religiously. According to Anthony:

‘Eggs feed strep and should be avoided while you heal. Like eggs, dairy products feed strep as well. Avoid milk, cheese, butter, or ghee if you are battling any strain of strep. Try to stay away from corn, wheat, barley, rye, and canola oil.’ Source: medicalmedium.com He also created a blog with 12 foods that help heal strep that you can use if you have a Streptococcus infection.

Cheap D-Mannose is often made from corn which means you are feeding the strep, get the higher quality D-Mannose instead if you have yeast as a co-infection of a UTI.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

‘Women who consume diets high in fats are at increased risk of BV and more difficult to treat BV (Neggers 2007). Fats are found in high levels in meats, full-fat dairy, and processed foods such as fries, doughnuts, etc.’ Source: otepotiintegrativehealth.co.nz

In an Iranian study, women who consume an “unhealthy dietary” pattern had a 2x increased risk of developing BV compared to women who score low on the unhealthy dietary pattern (Noormohammadi 2022).

The “unhealthy dietary” pattern was characterized as a dietary pattern containing sugars, solid oils, sweets and desserts, red meats, fried potatoes, refined grains, organ meats, and sweet drinks. This diet was high in saturated fat as well as refined sugar/carbs.

In a further study, diet showed that women whose diet had a high glycemic load was associated with bacterial vaginosis. Glycemic load is a measure of both the amount and quality of the carbohydrates in foods (Thoma 2011).

Foods that are known to throw off your vaginal pH balance are:

  • Honey
  • Processed grains (e.g., instant oatmeal and sugary cereals)
  • Sugar
  • White bread and bagels
  • White rice

Candida (yeast infection)

There is a complete Candida diet that you can follow, but here’s a short list of foods to avoid when you have a yeast infection:

  • Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, corn, beans, and peas.
  • High-sugar fruits, which include bananas, mangoes, figs, and raisins.
  • Certain meats, such as processed meats and farm-raised fish.
  • Grains that contain gluten, including wheat, barley, and rye.
  • Dairy products that are high in lactose, such as milk and soft cheeses.
  • Processed fats and oils, for example, canola oil, soybean oil, and margarine.
  • Simple sugars and artificial sweeteners, such as sucrose, aspartame, agave, maple syrup, corn syrup, and honey.
  • Some types of nuts and seeds, including peanuts, pecans, pistachios, and cashews.
  • Certain drinks, such as caffeinated coffee and tea, sugar-sweetened beverages, and alcohol.

The whole point of the candida diet is to starve off the yeast by avoiding the types of foods it feeds and breeds on.

When neither natural nor allopathic medicine is working…

Not all infections are an invitation to look deeper and when there isn’t a deeper mental, emotional, or vibrational cause whatever path you choose will work quickly for you. It will either pass on its own or respond quickly to antibiotics or natural herbs and supplements.

This was not the case for me, in fact, neither the antibiotics nor the natural solutions I was using were getting me the results I wanted. Although I did heal the BV and yeast infection naturally, the UTI I was dealing with came back a couple of times before it healed completely.

This forced me to look deeper at what this situation (the infection and the Streptococcus) was here to help me heal. In hindsight, I concluded that if the antibiotics or natural remedies had worked as quickly as I had hoped, I would not have been able to go as deep in my process as I went.

I actually stopped working as much as I could for three months, in the final month I didn’t do any sessions at all. This allowed me to go deep into my process and experience a spiritual metamorphosis that I had not anticipated, nor had I expected it to come from a UTI that kept coming back.

Healing UTIs, BV, and Yeast infections on a mental and emotional level

If you are struggling with a recurrent infection or a UTI, BV, or Yeast Infection that won’t heal you could also try some of the videos on this Healing UTI playlist I created.

Not only did I research natural remedies that would help my body heal, but I also researched metaphysical causes because one thing was for sure after not having had a romantic or sexual partner for 3,5 years I wasn’t having a UTI because I was ‘pissed at my partner’ or anyone else for that matter, at least not that I was consciously aware of.

Although this interpretation resonates with many there is another school of thought that resonates much more for me which revolves around releasing fear and feeling safe.

‘Do you feel safe to the bone? Do you have a deep trust that everything always works out? Or is there still a little child deep inside you who is afraid of the “monsters under her bed”? For example, are you afraid of death, are you afraid of not having enough money, or do you fear for your safety on the streets? Bladder infection and other symptoms in that area are always related to some existence fear, conscious or unconscious. For example, if your mother was often afraid when you were in her womb, you may have unconsciously adopted that fear and still carry it with you. Negative sexual experiences also often turn out to be a cause of fundamental feelings of insecurity and bladder problems.’ Source: avaloncoaching.nl

This was one of the interpretations I found when I was looking for more profound meanings that could help me address the root causes, rather than superficial ones that just didn’t quite fit. The further result of that search I detail in this blog on metaphysical meanings.

Working with healers & therapists

I also did over a good amount of healing and therapy sessions with different healers and therapists, to get to the bottom of what wanted to be seen, felt, and heard. I will write a separate Soul Teaching on this in the future, for now, I will summarize it to keep this blog readable.

The rUTIs helped me:

  • Heal old fear patterns, including scarcity & survival programming
  • See the truth about the incest and sexual abuse I experienced as a child, which was much worse than I had thought
  • Release outdated beliefs and self-identifications
  • Heal patriarchal wounding and distrust of the Divine Feminine (which corresponds with the metaphysical meanings I wrote about in the corresponding blog)
  • Find (feel) safety within myself
  • Step off the wheel of karma
  • Become sovereign and reclaim my power

Trusting the body

While all the other stories of women healing their UTIs naturally seemed easy and effortlessly often just doing one or two things to help their bodies heal, I was throwing everything at it and basically trying to force the infection out in the same way that antibiotics do.

I didn’t realize this until after my 4th round of antibiotics when I saw a post on Instagram that said that ‘the reason you’re not healing is because you are trying to control your body rather than support and trust her’. 

That really hit home for me and I immediately understood how my early childhood experience of sexual abuse played a role in this. I then worked with a healer to get to the original wound of this pattern within my soul history and this helped me to shift my perspective and behavior toward my body.

Reading the Instagram post the thought occurred that there was a reason why the body wanted this infection as it was helping me release so much stuff that I had already worked on, but that had still been stuck in the body.

Surrendering to the wisdom of the body

This made me look at it a different way that I found reflected in the excerpt of an originally Dutch blog post called ‘The infection, friend and foe’ which asks us to look at infection and inflammation not as something that needs to be gotten rid of as soon as possible, but an important process in the body to bring about repair.

As a side note, the Dutch word ‘ontsteking’ is used for UTIs, which are called ‘blaasontsteking’. It’s a word that can mean both inflammation as well as infection which is why I left it to mean both in the translation because it can apply to both.

Every time we interrupt this process through antibiotics or otherwise it has to start all over again, which can lead to lingering infections that stay for weeks or months because the body cannot finish its repair process. This is obviously different when the infection is life-threatening but most infections are not that serious, just irritating.

‘Infection is nothing more than the start of the repair work on your body. Most inflammation occurs due to tissue damage. It is our body’s way of initiating repairs to the damage. Good inflammation has a beginning and an end. It starts immediately after the damage occurs and usually ends about 5 days later. The function of the inflammation is to clear the damaged tissue, clean the surrounding area, and prepare it for repair. If the first phase of repair, the inflammatory phase, goes well, the eventual chance of complete recovery is greater.

An inflammation is an independent and automatic process, or in other words: The inflammation goes away on its own. Again, the purpose of the inflammation is to clear out the damaged tissue and prepare for repair. The inflammation continues to perform these actions until it succeeds (!). The damaged tissue may have little strength in the first few days: About 0-15% of its original strength. This means that if you exceed this limit due to excessive strain, the tissue will be damaged again. And then the whole inflammation cycle starts again! This way your recovery process can get stuck in the inflammatory phase. In some cases even weeks instead of a few days.’ Source: roelschenk.nl

After multiple recurring infections and multiple rounds of antibiotics (and running out of antibiotic options that the Strep B bacteria was sensitive to) I thought why not simply trust that my body knows what it is doing and stop trying to force the infection out?

I made peace with the infection and with the streptococcus which as you can read in the blog on metaphysical meanings have their own little Divine agenda that is actually a blessing in disguise and I swear the peeing every 5 seconds stopped quite quickly after that.

This was the start of my recovery, even though I continued my natural healing protocol my inner stance toward my body and the symptoms I experienced changed, which changed how my body responded to what I was doing to support my healing.

I do believe I needed the time it took to access all of the deeply hidden wounds this situation brought to the surface, but it was also the fact that it took so long and that nothing that I was doing seemed to be working that allowed me access to my deepest unresolved pain.

The shift I made was to be willing to trust that my body knew better than me what needed to be healed and how to do it as well as be willing to have that process take as long as was needed. In other words not just the concept of surrendering, but the actual application of surrender to something that was painful, frustrating, and that I wanted to be rid of yesterday rather than today.

To support myself during these negative emotions I used the Bach Flowers:
Walnut, Agrimony, Gorse, Star of Bethlehem, Olive, Heather, and Cherry Plum 

Even though, I have tested negative for a UTI three times now I have continued with the probiotics, biofilm disruptors, D-mannose, etc. to make sure that there aren’t any bacteria lying dormant that could start the whole process all over again. I will probably continue this for the coming six months.

I have also decided to do a bowel and parasite cleanse while I am at it as this can also help with the disruption of biofilm in the gut. I will be using Dr. Hulda Clark‘s parasite cleanse after my acupuncturist recommended using clove and wormwood to tackle biofilm in the gut – both are key ingredients in this specific cleanse.

The year 2024 will go down in history as my year of detoxing the body, and both my blood lab work, as well as my tongue and pulse (TCM), show that I am healthier than I was before all of this happened. Not only that I have been told by multiple people that I have this beautiful glow now, a testament to all the inner work I did in this extremely challenging but also rewarding year of the dragon.

Have you struggled or are you struggling from a UTI, rUTIs, BV, or Yeast infections? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, takeaways, or tips for our community to support them in their healing process.

With my deepest love,

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