Ysha, Yeast in the breastfeeding woman is becoming quite a problem, getting harder all the time to eradicate. I notice a "new" treatment is oregano oil, as mentioned in the latest Midwifery Today. There is a recipe there. The article
also mentions using Young Livings "inner defense" with thieves oil and oregano i think. do you have comments on this type of treatment? vicky york, ibclc, cpd

Hi Vicky -

Though I haven't looked at the article, it sounds like the reference is for internal use of the essential oil/s, as the YL Inner Defense product is encapsulated. Your observation is no surprise specific to postpartum maternal conditions and I'm sure it is not limited to breastfeeding mothers. Are you
seeing more vaginal, nipple, thrush, or gas/bloating type symptoms? In any case

1) The condition of yeast does speak of pitta ama, weakened digestive fires, and the also all too prevalent disturbed intestinal flora from antibiotic use. Poor digestion creates ama (incomplete products of digestion). Ama is delicious to yeast. Pitta ama is more acidic and heating, which along with the yeast overgrowth creates irritation and inflammation where the agni (body transformative processes/appropriate enzymes) are not able to properly burn up enough of these toxins.

Though a simplistic analysis here, from this we can use ayurvedic logic to find understanding about your question using the essential oils.

First, we look at this fact: Our culture does not know how to reset, ie turn back on, the naturally turned off or very low digestive fires after birth (or c-birth). In fact, many mothers and with professional advice too, tend to do the opposite - favoring raw foods especially salads, cold foods, old foods (leftovers after about 6 hours), frozen, canned, and then fast (includes toaster, cracker, on the go/standing up, double tasking or restaurant also), foods.

We won't go into commentary there, or here about what ends up being craved, which are even harder to digest foods like meat, bakery items, deep frieds, cheeses, cold creamy yoghurt, ice cream, caffienne, chocolate, and other
stimulants including chile, raw onions and garlic, etc as well as the western ways of and quality of milk.

Of course, lack of sleep, overwork, stress, and low thyroid also contribute to yeast overgrowth.

Every one of these gets in the way of restoring our body's own healthy natural enzyme function. With many side effects in addition to risk of yeast, including lower immune system and risk of again, not just yeast infections.

The tendency also to favor lowfat, low salt, even low carb to loose weight or prevent candida's interest complicates hormonal and emotional as well as rejuvenative balance as well, indirectly contributing!

So this article isn't going into all those whys, that is for students of the ayurvedic postpartum care, and for other article pieces. This long list of things that contribute to the problem is not intended as criticism, rather to see how many issues are contributing, not being properly addressed, and to understand perhaps something of how the essential oils are corrective.

Oregano, thyme, mountain savory, clove, rosemary essential oils oils have strong antifungal properties. These are very heating oils which enhance the digestive fires also, the body's ability to digest ama (toxins). Cinnamon also; this herb becomes very heating taken with heating things, cooling taken with cooling things according to Dr. Ramakant Mishra. Laurus Nobilis (Bay Laurel), citronella and Melaleuca have some antifungal gifts here too, not as strong perhaps, but noteworthy. I haven't used the latter for candida and believe the bay will be very valuable tho more expensive.

It is important to note, these oils also are all to a significant extent antibiotic and antiviral. Although more selective to body's need without the kind of side effects of allopathic antimicrobials, and without being so destructive to healthy flora also, they still require care from both their hot/dry influences and this. Do probiotic followup with use.

I also work with the a person to give small amount first in vegetable capsule first AFTER food, or with milk or non-dairy milk, then between meals if comfortable with increasing dosage. Perhaps someone knows better way. How long? I'm not one to say it can be same for all, so this is ongoing eval and conversation. Those who are thin and lacking perhaps in normal stomach mucuous, or have too hot a stomach will have to adjust accordingly, such as below.

Key point:
Because the above oils are heating, they are actually valuable to postpartum mothers even if months out, who have not properly stoked their digestive fires! Yet because it is summer now in half the world, it may also be indicated to
include some balancing supports. For instance, there are several gentling, cooler oils with mild antiyeast (antifungal) activity also - such as roman chamomile and rosewood. Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus globulus also are
cooling and antifungal (and antibacterial/viral), though can increase vata used alone with their intense penetrating property. Here is where good ayurvedic assessment may be wisest to fine tune a personalized blend.

The essential oils when unadulterated by hidden dillution, petrochemical pollutants, synthetics (over 90% of essential oils sold today) or high temperature processing, offer many blessings properly used. A reminder, about 95% of the essential oils are evaporated out when many herbs are dried, reducing their medicinal potency tremendously - this is a key reason fresh herbs are so valuable. (Herbs also, especially roots and seeds, contain bioconstituents essential oils do not.)

I really cannot speak for the potency of some brands available excepting this kind of story - generally oregano essential oil is not considered antiviral, and instead large amounts of the herb even dried are used for that purpose instead by some practioners. The oregano we work with, being lower temp distilled, is a strong antiviral also.

The Inner Defense product includes essential oils of clove,lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary, oregano, thyme and citronella in slight dilution of virgin coconut oil. The coconut oil is a good way to take it on hot stomach - ie with extra, as not only is coconut oil slightly antifungal, it is also soothing and cooling. This eucalyptus gives anti-inflammatory support. The blend is also very broad spectrum antibacterial and antiviral (though not what works for staph). As a named product here, this is not suitable for vegetarians except by individual client ok in emergency, as the capsule is gelatin with beeswax and lecithin.

I've used it these without any problem, and other times they feel too hot/drying and need the "padding". Gentle enough it has been daily immune healing and protection for my 92 year old mother now for over a year, Strong enough she does experience a brief warm flush as it dissolves. We cannot advise it for such constant use though. Although there are better ways they're not willing to go into deeper Ayurvedic care with her. - Yes, she does have low intestinal flora.

I've personally also used self-poured vegetable capsules for candida with mostly the Thieves blend (clove,lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary), plus 2-3
drops of chamomile or rosewood for very good effect. I don't remember if it was 2-3X daily but duration was not long. with a pitta dominant culture in the west, I'm inclined to favor this kind of recipe for oral use.

I would NOT put these hot oils on the nipples, and though chamomile and rosewood may feel very good, it would have to be right after a feeding and then taste (mild bitter) further removed with application of ghee or coconut oil then washing well before nursing unless Baby has thrush, and is willing to nurse.

2) I would like to refer you to some not well organized but prolific discussions of the past in our archives at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/perinatalayurveda , collected into the files section. These discuss alternative treatments that have worked or not so well, such as comparing essential oils and gentian violet.

For those wanting to order the high quality oils Young Living so consistently provides over 13 years by my experience, you will need to have a referring distributor member number (mine is 25031) and know your options for ordering wholesale or retail. Please email me for any questions, and see our abundant essential oils discussion on this website under the shoppe link.

Ayurvedic study helps us not only see why some things don't work, but which do, and why. and the abundance of choices that are in front of us with a willingness to understand and use them.

Warm Regards,
Ysha