My Favorite Hacks To Battle A Yeast Infection
There I was, lying face up with my knees to the ceiling. Naked and staring at the lights while getting my vagina swabbed from front to back.
"Yeast Infection," my doctor told the nurse. "Yup, I knew it from the minute I saw it," she replied. I didn't know whether or not I was more confused or embarrassed. How in the world did I--a germaphobe who showered three to four times a day--get a yeast infection?
"Don't worry Kim, this is the norm. In fact, 80% of the women who come and see me during the Summer have it. It's warm out and vaginas tend to get more moist during this time of year--it makes for the perfect environment for yeast."
It took me a few days to muster up the courage to make that appointment for my gynecologist but I knew something was up when I started to feel less normal. To be frank, my vagina was way more moist than usual and although Trina and Khia once boasted that being super wet would be a gift, I quickly learned that it was something more like a curse.
You see, my twenties has brought me a bunch of reality checks that my vag wasn't ready to cash. Gone are the days of eating mountains of sugary candy and wearing those tight and silky five for $25 Victoria Secret G-Strings.
In my twenties, I have learned that my vagina needs a little more TLC. First up, this yeast.
But before I popped the Diflucan my doctor prescribed me, I was on a mission to find something that was more on the organic side. So I tested just about every online at-home remedy to see if it worked and lets just say it was an experience like no other.
Disclaimer: This is the writer's personal experience. xoNecole is in no way recommending these remedies as absolute truth. If you are experiencing issues with yeast, please consult your doctor before trying any of these remedies.
First up, "The Garlic Tampon". Garlic kills yeast, they said. Old Wives Tales say that you have a few options when it comes to garlic. Consume it, any way you'd like (liquid or solid). Stick a clove in your vag or soak a tampon in garlic and sleep with it inserted overnight. So I tried them all and I want to let you know the most important step that just about everyone forgot to mention. DILUTE - because although garlic may kill yeast it also sets fire to the rain. Either I didn't have it inside of me long enough to kill the yeast or the remedy just didn't work, but unless you have an inferno down there and don't mind going to work/school smelling like you're cooking I'd say, use this remedy at your own risk.
Next, I tried yogurt. Tons of it, as yogurt is said to have the "good" bacteria that is used to fight the "bad" bacteria. However, if the yogurt you are using isn't plain and unsweetened, you run the risk of making the infection worse and this, my friends, was my case.
Lastly, I tried apple cider vinegar; after all it worked wonders on my natural hair. However, just like garlic, ACV burned and unless you're Usher and willing to "Let It Burn" this might not be the remedy for you.
It was at that very moment that I realized that internal impurities couldn't be fixed using exterior solutions. So I began taking a look at my diet and cutting out the sugary things that I had been binging on over the past few months--gummy bears, soda, and that good ole Chik-fil-A lemonade, and it was almost at that very instant that I was able to start tackling the Candida that was attempting to cockblock me.
So what finally worked for me? A sugarless diet, a trusty pair of 100% cotton underwear, incorporating more garlic and sugar-free yogurt in my meals, taking a shot of ACV each morning and that good ole Diflucan.
Lesson learned: You don't have to die to kick it.
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images