Gentian Violet For Thrush – Recommended?
Have you ever heard of using Gentian Violet for thrush? There are mixed feelings about this on both sides of the equation. In this article we will look at what Gentian Violet is and the pros and cons of using gentian violet for thrush. By the end if this article you should be able to decide if this remedy is for you or not.
Thrush is a yeast infection in your baby’s mouth and is very painful and can stop your baby from being able to breastfeed or eat properly. It can also make breastfeeding very difficult and painful for Mom as baby and Mom pass the thrush back and forth between each other.
Gentian Violet is one of a group of medicines known as an anti-fungal. It has been used for quite some time to treat oral thrush but many find it is too harsh. As with any treatment or remedy you decide to use you must weigh the good against the bad (if any) and decide if it is worth it to try the remedy to solve your medical condition.
Here is the proper usage for this medicine;
Do not swallow it if using it in the mouth.
Avoid getting it on your clothes as it will stain them.
Do not miss any of the doses. Complete all even if the problem appears to have been resolved.
Apply with a cotton swab ONLY to the affected area.
Well one of the main areas of concern with using this remedy is that it should not be swallowed. How are you going to tell your baby not to do that? Impossible really.
It can also stain skin and clothes which makes me wary of it already.
Sometimes a breastfeeding baby will become upset when his/her mother uses Gentian Violet so rather than stop the breastfeeding look for other home remedies for thrush instead.
Just with the 3 above issues my feeling is to move on and look for a more natural, gentler, yet effective remedy. Gentian Violet for thrush has proven highly effective, however, which is why it is always considered for this condition.
There are natural remedies for thrush that can be just as effective without the downsides of Gentian Violet such as;
Yogurt – (which contains probiotics, which combats yeast infections)- you apply this with a cotton swab to your nipples and to the inside of your baby’s mouth. Be sure to wash your hands and nipples before breastfeeding your baby after this.
Vinegar & Baking Soda – You could make a mixture with 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water and use this to apply in your baby’s mouth. Then for yourself apply vinegar to your nipples using a mixture of 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water. Apple cider vinegar is recommended.
So there you have some food for thought as Gentian Violet for thrush has been proven very effective but there are some downsides to using it. There are other home remedies for thrush that can be just as effective without the downsides so now you should be in a position to decide which route you want to take for you and your baby.
