Using Gentian Violet

Prepared for you by Lynn E. Allison, M.D.

(Revised August 17, 2004)

Gentian Violet (1% solution in water) is an excellent treatment for thrush. Gentian Violet is messy, and will stain clothing, but not skin. The baby’s lips will turn purple, but the purple will disappear after a few days. Gentian violet is available without a prescription.

1. Dip a Q-tip into the gentian violet.
2. Put the purple end of the ear swab into the baby’s mouth and let him suck on the swab for a few seconds. The gentian violet usually spreads around the mouth quickly. If it does not, paint the inside of the mouth to cover as much of the inside of the cheeks and tongue as possible.
3. If you are breast-feeding, put the baby to the breast. In this way, both the baby’s mouth and your nipple are treated. If, at the end of the feeding, you have a baby with a purple mouth, and two purple nipples, there is nothing more to do. If only one nipple is purple, paint the other one with an ear swab and gentian violet.
4. Repeat treatment each day for three to four days.

http://www.bransonclinic.com/

Reference: Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC: www.BFLRC.com