Alternative Treatment of Vaginitis
Some women do not want to use over-the-counter or prescription medications to treat single or recurrent vaginal infections. For these women there are a number of alternative solutions. These include improving nutrition, vitamin-mineral supplements, herbal products and lifestyle changes.
Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements
A number of vitamin-mineral and micro-nutrient supplements have been recommended as effective treatment for the prevention and acute treatment of vaginal infections. For best results when used for prevention they should be taken daily. For acute onset infections, they should be started immediately as soon as any symptoms appear.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for the proper function of the immune system. It also helps with the manufacture of collagen, which is very important for women who are suffering from a vaginal infection or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Collagen is a protein that is found abundantly in a female body. It maintains the integrity of skin, ligaments, tendons and bone. If the collagen matrix (which is the main component of connective tissue) is intact, infection is less likely to spread, and organs are less likely to become scarred by the infection. Since bacteria can move through connective tissue having extra vitamin C will help to strengthen the connective tissue, make it more resistant, and therefore decrease the time it takes for your body to heal and repair damaged tissues. Vitamin C 1000 mg, twice daily.
Vitamin A - Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is a type of Vitamin A that is also known to help your body produce collagen. It can help keep your cartilage strong. It is important that you have adequate levels of beta-carotene to help stop the spread of infection. Beta-carotene is also a powerful antioxidant and is found in high concentrations within the Ovaries. If, however, Beta-carotene levels are low in your body, the in the levels will also be low within your ovaries and vagina and they will be less able to fight off infection. Beta-carotene also helps to prevent cell damage. Beta-carotene is also vital for immune function and for the normal growth and repair of vaginal tissues. Take 50,000 IU, daily.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E stimulate increased resistance to chlamydial infections. Vitamin E should be taken orally, but also the capsule can be opened and applied as an oil to the inflamed areas of your vagina. You can also insert a yeast-free capsule into the vagina to help soothe the tissues and encourage healing. If you insert probiotics or yogurt, open a capsule of vitamin E and mix it into the yogurt or probiotic solution. Use Vitamin E 300 IU, used as an oil to rub into sore tissue 1to 3 times daily.
B Vitamins
Women who do not take a broad spectrum of B vitamins regularly maybe deficient. B vitamins are necessary for healthy cell replication, this is especially important when vaginal cells are under attack by infection. B vitamins should be taken orally but since they are water-soluble they can be mixed into vaginal douches or yogurt or probiotic solutions. B-complex 50-100 mg of each B vitamin, daily.
Zinc
Zinc is an important mineral for the immune system and should be taken regularly and increased when an infection is present. Not only does zinc help to boost immunity, which promotes faster resolution and healing, but it can help to prevent a recurrence. Zinc 30 to 50 mg, daily.
Foods that Can Help Treat and Prevent Vaginal Infection
Garlic
Garlic is often referred to as “nature's antibiotic.” Garlic is very important when you are trying to fight off any infection because its strong antibacterial properties. Not only can it help to deal with an acute infection, but it helps to prevent recurrences by making the body an unfriendly place for any microscopic invaders. Use Garlic capsules with at least 4000 mcg of allicin, daily. Add more garlic to your diet.
Acidophilus
Lactobacillus acidophilus, is a bacteria known for replenishing the “healthy” vaginal flora, the normal bacterial essential for the vagina to work effectively and protect itself. Generally, bacterial infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections of the vagina tend to occur when the balance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria within the vagina is altered or changed for one or another reason. Often this occurs because of antibiotic use, but it may also occur because of stress, burn out, injury, birth control pills, infection elsewhere in the boy, and even psychological issues.
If the normal “flora” is healthy and in adequate amounts, it is less likely that opportunistic bacteria will be able to take over anc crate a vaginal infection. Lactobacillus is also toxic to Gardnerella vaginalis, which is the main cause of bacterial vaginosis. Acidophilus should be taken orally on a regular basis. This can be done by eating lots of yogurt or taking probiotic supplements. If and when, an acute vaginal infection occurs, acidophilus capsules or tablets, or plain yogurt o probiotic tables, capsules or liquids, can be inserted directly into the vagina either on your finger or using and old, but clean, applicator from a vaginal medication such as Monistat cream. Usually, a half an applicator, 2 to 2 times daily should work very effectively. The acidophilus you use should contain at least 4 billion beneficial bacteria per oral use or vaginal application.
Herbal Treatments
Many women are looking for a natural way to treat episodes of either occasional or recurrent vaginitis is with herbal remedies. A number of herbal products are believed to help treat and even cure vaginitis, as well as help to prevent the reoccurrence of vaginitis. In this article we will discuss a number of product which are suggested to be the most effective herbal remedies used to treat Vaginitis. These treatments can be used individually or combined.
The following are commonly recommended:
Echinacea: Many herbalists believe that Echinacea has been proven to be effective in helping to treat “infectious” vaginitis. Echinacea can also be used to make a douche after brewing 1 tablespoon of Echinacea in 1 pint of water.. As a dried root or as a tea 1- 2 grams daily; as a standardized tincture extract 2 - 3 ml daily, as an expressed juice (succus) 6- 9 ml daily, as a standardized powdered extract (with 4% phenolics) 300 mg daily, as a tincture (1:5) 1-3 ml (20 - 90 drops) daily, and as stabilized fresh extract 0.75 ml (15 - 23 drops), daily. Echinacea is often recommended for only ten days on and ten days off, for maximum benefit
Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has been the subject of a number of recent articles regarding its beneficial effect on vaginal infection. Tea tree oil appears to have significant antimicrobial properties and is especially successful in treating trichomonas. Tea tree oil should never be taken mouth. It can be used vaginally to combat trichomonas and bacterial vaginosis. It is possible to buy tea tree oil pessaries, which you insert into the vagina. You can also add a few drops of this essential oil to your bath, together with 3 cups of pure apple cider vinegar. This combination appears to be very helpful in treating vaginal infections.
Linseed or Flax Seed Oil: Linseed of flax seed oil appears to have anti-inflammatory powers. Usual recommendations are 1000 mg of Flax or Linseed Oil, daily orally.
Calendula: Calendula (Calendula officinalis) also known as pot marigold or garden marigold, has been around since ancient times. It is often recommended as a douche to reduce inflammation. Simply add 12 tsp of calendula to boiling water, steep the mixture and cool it before use.
Yellowdock Root: Taken daily as an oral supplement. Yellowdock is an herb that has become popular as an herbal remedy for the treatment of vaginitis. This treatment works well on its own but should be taken with other herbs for the best results.
Oregon Grape: Taken daily as a oral supplement. Oregon Grape is a shrub that is a popular natural treatment for vaginitis, and all types of vaginal infections. Oregon Grape contains the alkaloid known as barberine which is effective in treating vaginitis and other vaginal infections.
Black walnut and goldenseal are also effective in treating bacterial vaginitis.
Alternative Treatments to Control Discomfort
White Distilled Vinegar or Boric Acid: Use white distilled vinegar or boric acid douches to acidify vaginal pH. Insert one Boric acid tablet, twice a day for 2-4 weeks for prevention of recurrence.
Oatmeal Poultices: Take a package of instant oatmeal, prepare it according to the instructions on the package label and then when it is cool apply it to the vulva to suppress and control itching and discomfort.
Black or Green Tea: Soak a tea bag in water and cool it in the refrigerator and then apply it to the vagina helps to sooth and reduce itching.
Formula for a Douche To Relive Symptoms of Vaginal Infections
3 drops each lavender and tea tree essential oils
3 cups warm water
2 heaping tablespoons yogurt
Combine ingredients in a douche bag. Slosh around to mix well. Use treatment once a day. If the problem doesn't clear up within 5 days, consult a professional health practitioner.
A Women's Infection Tea
1 teaspoon each cramp bark, burdock root, echinacea root, Oregon grape root and optional, add vitex seeds
1 quart water
Combine herbs and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes, then turn down heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and steep for 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. Drink 3 to 4 cups a day. This formula can also be made into a tincture; take a dropperful 3 to 4 times a day.
Important Considerations
Venereal Disease
Always remember that any single episode of vaginal infection, that is a change in color, consistency, odor or texture of your vaginal secretions, often referred to as a “vaginal discharge” can be an indication of more than a benign or harmless vaginal infection. If you have relatively recently, had sexual relations with a new partner, and especially if your new partner is sexually active with one or more other women or men, then you should consider a venereal disease.
If you have not had recent or relatively recent sexual relations, past 3 to 6 months, then a venereal disease may be less likely but still be considered, if you are at all, sexually active.
If you are not at all sexually active or the last time you had sex was years ago, then it is considerably less likely that the new symptoms might be related to a venereal disease.
Cancer
If your vaginal discharge is bloody or blood tinged and unrelated to you menstrual period or you are post menopausal, you should see your gynaecologist before starting any treatment. The reason for this is simple cervical, vaginal, uterine or ovarian cancer can be associated with spotting and or bloody vaginal discharge or abnormal vaginal bleeding. On occasion, women will think that their bleeding is caused by a simple vaginal infection and will use over-the-counter, herbal or other alternative treatments, the bleeding will cease and they will ignore that it happened prolonging the time between the bleeding episode and the diagnosis of the real cause of their problem.
On occasion we have seen women who had infrequent bleeding which appeared to respond to home treatments who later presented with advanced, even metastatic cancer that might have, if they had been treated early enough, been completely curable.
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