Yoghurt doesn't work against thrush

A University of Melbourne researcher, Dr Marie Pirotta conducted clinical trials on 235 women, using "active probiotic" yoghurt treatment for vaginal and oral thrush. Despite being the most popular prescription for thrush; yoghurt doesn't work. The yoghurt contained Lactobacillus acidophilus bacterium. Oral thrush is a common side-effect of taking powder based asthma inhaler drugs. As a scientist who uses an asthma inhaler, I had attacks of oral thrush, and also found that yoghurt doesn't work. However, in a lateral step, I looked at the reported anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties of humble tea tree oil, and decided to test them out on myself. Tea tree oil is an extract of the Australian shrub Melaleuca alternifolia which has been in use by the Aboriginal peoples of Australia for centuries to treat many different conditions. I bought some tea tree oil based toothpaste from a health food shop, and discovered that it totally wiped out the oral thrush. So tea tree oil based toothpaste, in a sample of one, namely, me; works every time to keep away oral thrush after I use my asthma inhaler. Tea tree oil has been tested in the labs against vaginal thrush since the 1960's. The problem is to have it dilute enough form, because it can cause severe burning sensations if its too concentrated. Herbalists sell pessaries filled with a tea tree oil infusion, and tiny diluted amounts can be applied to tampons by hand. Just be warned that if you do it yourself rather than buy an over-the-counter product, you may be in danger of severe pain from the tea tree oil. References: Yoghurt no answer to thrush (press release) AIDSmap|Tea Tree Oil (many good paper references) Photo from the Australian National Botanical Gardens