For those with yeast overgrowth... "It is wise to cut back on honey ingestion at the beginning of the dietary regimen (amount of honey in recipes should be decreased by at least 75%). The amount of honey may be increased as the condition improves." (quote taken from BTVC)
We have found that using some form of probiotic is also helpful. Probiotics can take the form of yogurt (made from goat, cow or nut milk), other fermented foods (such as HOMEMADE sauerkraut or kimchi) or probiotic powder or capsules (in case the child is not yet ready for any yogurts).
Ensuring that all vegetables and fruits foods are peeled and cooked at the beginning is also helpful in controlling yeast overgrowth. Undigested foods can feed microbes and delay healing.
The use of anti-fungals may be necessary. Some natural anti-fungals include: homemade carrot juice and garlic, oil of oregano, grapefruit seed extract (GSE) with or without enzymes. Some decide to go with prescription anti-fungals such as Nystatin. If using both a probiotic (or yogurt) and an anti-fungal, be sure to give them at separate times in order to preserve the live beneficial bacteria.
Some parents use anti-yeast enzymes, such as Candidase or Candex. S. boulardii has been found to be very helpful for yeast overgrowth. (The probiotic section of our website has more info about S. boulardii. )
From Catherine T.
"I have found this to be helpful with yeast and bacteria.. All you do is juice some carrots, and then use a garlic press to squeeze a clove of garlic into the juice. Carrot juice has some anti-fungal properties as well as the garlic. This needs to be drunk WITH FOOD because otherwise it will bring on a stomach ache. Try it once or twice a day for a few weeks. It's strong tasting so not every kid will try it.
I have an Omega juicer."
From Patti:
"Just want to clarify that this needs to be FRESHLY juiced carrot juice...... 4 oz. twice a day, for the average kid..... with one clove of garlic crushed in. When I make it, I just toss the garlic clove down the chute with the carrots and use the juice immediately."