Monday

Home Remedies For Bacterial Vaginosis


Bacterial vaginosis is a mild infection of the vagina caused by bacteria. Normally, there are a lot of "good" bacteria and some "bad" bacteria in the vagina. The good types help control the growth of the bad types. In women with bacterial vaginosis, the balance is upset. There are not enough good bacteria and too many bad bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis is usually a mild problem that may go away on its own in a few days. But it can lead to more serious problems.

Causes
Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an imbalance of the organisms (flora) that naturally exist in the vagina. Normally, about 95% of vaginal flora are lactobacillus bacteria. (These types are unique to humans, different from the lactobacillus in yogurt.) These lactobacilli help keep the vaginal pH level low and prevent overgrowth of other types of organisms. Women with bacterial vaginosis have fewer lactobacillus organisms than normal and more of other types of bacteria. Experts do not yet understand what causes this imbalance. Although the specific cause isn't known, a number of health and lifestyle factors have been linked to bacterial vaginosis.

Symptoms
Many women with bacterial vaginosis do not have any symptoms. Bacterial vaginosis does not typically cause itching. But it does cause:
  • An excessive grayish white vaginal discharge, unlike normal vaginal discharge. Some women describe the discharge as "yellow."
  • A bothersome "fishy" odor, which is usually worse after sex (intercourse). Other conditions with similar symptoms include some sexually transmitted infections (especially trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea) and vaginal yeast infection.


Remedies for Bacterial Vaginosis
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Pour a cup of apple cider vinegar in a tub of water. Soak your vagina in water mixed with apple cider vinegar for about 15-20 minutes as it helps in killing the harmful bacteria and removing the infection.
2. Yoghurt
Dip a tampon in plain yoghurt and insert it in your vagina to get rid of bacterial infection. Yoghurt contains natural bacteria, which help to balance the pH level of the vagina while eliminating the infection. You can also eat plain yoghurt at least twice a day.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an herbal remedy to treat bacterial vaginosis at home. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in the lukewarm water and rinse your vagina with this solution. Tea tree oil is a natural anti-bacterial that is very effective in reducing bacterial infection in the vagina.
4. Garlic
Garlic is one of the best home remedies for bacterial infection in women. You can eat raw garlic cloves, or place a garlic clove in your vagina and remove it after a few hours. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and works well to cure bacterial vaginosis.
5. Fenugreek
Soak a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in some water and leave it overnight. Drink this water the next morning on an empty stomach. Fenugreek helps in maintaining the hormonal balance and regulating the menstrual cycle.
6. Tea Bag
Soak a tea bag in water and then place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Then, place it in your vagina for about 10 minutes. Tea bag gives a soothing relief to the itchiness caused due to bacterial infection.
7. Milk & Turmeric
Mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of lukewarm milk, and drink it every day till the symptoms subside completely.
8. Margosa Leaves
Margosa is an effective natural cure for bacterial infection. Crush a handful of margosa leaves in some water to form a paste. Apply this paste on your vagina and leave it for some time. Repeat this remedy at least twice a day in order to get relief.
9. Calendula
Make calendula tea by boiling it in some water. Now, soak a clean cloth in it and gently rub it into your vagina. It will give you relief from the inflammation caused due to bacterial infection.
10. Black Walnut
You can apply black walnut tincture to cure bacterial vaginosis. Black walnut has great antiseptic, as well as anti-parasitic properties; therefore, it is effective in healing the infection of the vagina.
11. Golden Seal
Goldenseal is a powerful remedy to treat the bacterial infection in the vagina. You can apply it as a tincture in order to get rid of the problem fast.
12. Echinacea
You can also take Echinacea supplement in order to heal the bacterial infection quickly.
13. Boric Acid Suppositories
Boric acid also works a lot in curing the ailment. You can insert boric acid suppositories in your vagina for getting quick relief. Take a 0 sized gel capsule and fill it with 500 mg of boric acid to make your own boric acid suppositories.
14. Citrus Fruits
Drink juices of or eat citrus fruits, such as lemons, grapefruits or oranges. These fruits are abundant in vitamin C and strengthen your immune system to keep you away from all sorts of infections.
15. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide works as a natural disinfectant and helps to eradicate the bad bacteria and other inflammatory agents that cause bacterial vaginosis. Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with equal quantity of water. You can use this solution as a douche. Else, apply it to a tampon and insert in the vagina. Don’t let the tampon inserted for more than 30 minutes.
16. Over-the-counter Medications
Metronidazole and Tinidazole are two antibiotics that are very effective in curing the bacterial vaginosis. You can also apply vaginal cream, known as Clindamycin.
17. Warm Water Bath
A bath with warm water helps to soothe the tissues of the vagina, thereby, preventing infection.

REMEMBER
Things that increase your risk of getting bacterial vaginosis include:
  • Having more than one sex partner or having a new sex partner.
  • Smoking.
  • Douching.
  • Not using condoms.
Although bacterial vaginosis can be triggered by or get worse from sexual activity, it does not appear to be an infection that is passed from man to woman. So experts do not consider bacterial vaginosis to be a male-female sexually transmitted infection. Bacterial vaginosis may be passed from woman to woman during sexual contact.