Thrush
Thrush is a yeast infection that appears as creamy, white patches inside the mouth. It is especially common in babies and young children, and is often accompanied by a fever and poor digestion. Like most yeast infections, it is exacerbated if your child is given antibiotics. Studies from Germany, Russia, England and Hungary show that many essential oils, especially those of clove, tea tree and lavender, inhibit Candida albicans, the yeast that causes this infection. These essential oils can be diluted in any vegetable oil in your kitchen, such as olive or safflower. According to research on chamomile conducted in Hungary in 1976 and studies reported in the Journal of General Microbiology in 1988, the potent antifungal compounds in garlic and chamomile also combat this bacterium. To help fight thrush, try incorporating these foods into your child's diet.My herb student Rosemary became concerned when her infant daughter Cerridwyn became unusually cranky and fitful. This concern increased when the baby developed a serious case of diarrhea with lots of intestinal gas. Until this time, Rosemary had treated her daughter's few disorders with simple herbs, but on this occasion all her natural remedies only worked temporarily. Despite all Rosemary's best efforts, Cerridwyn's mouth was soon so raw and painful that she could barely nurse and was becoming dehydrated. Rosemary took the baby to the pediatrician, who said that Cerridwyn was probably just suffering from the flu, which would disappear in a few days. This proved not to be the case, and the problem just got worse every day.
Rosemary guessed that Cerridwyn's illness might be thrush and could therefore be treated with herbs after all. Confirming her guess, a few of the typical white spots that indicate thrush finally became noticeable in Cerridwyn's mouth. Rosemary knew that lavender and tea tree essential oils destroyed Candida, but she also knew that they were too strong to use undiluted in the baby's mouth. She mixed the essential oils in some vegetable oil and gently swabbed the inside of Cerridwyn's mouth with the mixture. Since Candida often spreads to a nursing mother's nipples, Rosemary also treated herself so that she and Cerridwyn would not continue to pass the illness back and forth. For the first time in two weeks, improvement was almost immediate. In another week's time, Cerridwyn was again a happy, healthy baby.
Thrush Oil
8 drops each lavender and tea tree essential oils
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Combine ingredients. Gently apply oil to inside of child's mouth with a cotton swab or a clean finger. A nursing mother whose child is suffering from thrush should apply this oil to her nipples so that she and her baby do not pass the illness back and forth.