Bacterial vaginosis, also known as gardnerellosis or dysbacteriosis, is a poorly understood but widely prevalent condition affecting the female reproductive organs. It is characterized by an imbalance in the natural vaginal microflora and is more common in women of childbearing age.
The disease arises due to improper personal hygiene, the introduction of foreign bodies, or through sexual contact with an infected partner. If a gynecologist diagnoses “bacterial vaginosis,” treatment with folk remedies often proves to be no less effective than the use of expensive medications.
How to recognize gardnerellosis and confirm the disease?
The vaginal microflora consists of numerous bacteria, with more being “good” and necessary for health. However, sometimes the number of undesirable bacteria starts to increase sharply, disrupting the normal functioning of the body. This is what is called dysbiosis.
Factors contributing to the growth of harmful bacteria include:
Prolonged use of intrauterine devices;
Abortions and miscarriages;
Intestinal dysbiosis;
Oral contraceptive use;
New sexual partner;
Weakened immune system;
Constant wearing of synthetic underwear (especially thongs) and tight pants, which obstruct air circulation to the genital organs;
Course of antibiotic therapy;
Douching with chlorinated preparations;
Frequent use of daily pads and tampons.
Bacterial vaginosis: symptoms and treatment in traditional medicine
The disease is easy to recognize independently, but before starting treatment, it is necessary to confirm it with a gynecologist.
Vaginosis manifests with the unpleasant odor of vaginal discharge. It resembles the “aroma” of rotting fish and intensifies during sexual intercourse due to interaction with semen. The discharge itself usually appears clear, homogeneous, and in small quantities.
When consulting a gynecologist for confirmation of the diagnosis, the patient undergoes a swab test for analysis. If the disease is present, an individual treatment plan is developed, divided into two stages:
Elimination of harmful bacteria from the microflora using medications.
Folk Remedies for Treating Bacterial Vaginosis
If a patient prefers not to undergo medication treatment, getting rid of this unpleasant condition can be achieved with the help of folk remedies. This approach is cost-effective and reduces the risk of allergic reactions to pharmaceutical drugs.
The concept of this disease in “folk” medicine has emerged only recently, so most remedies are aimed at eliminating discharge with an unpleasant odor and restoring microflora.
Important! Treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy should only be carried out under the supervision of a gynecologist. Do not experiment, as this condition can cause:
Infection of the embryo;
Postpartum inflammatory infections;
Premature labor.
Douching with Folk Remedies:
Infuse a tablespoon of herbal mixture of chamomile and plantain or yarrow with a liter of boiling water and let it steep for half an hour. Then strain the mixture and douche in the morning and before bedtime.
Pour a tablespoon of oak bark with 200 ml of boiling water and heat over steam for 10 minutes. Then transfer the infusion into a thermos, leave for 3 hours, strain, and let it cool down. Douche with it overnight for 7 days.
Boil a tablespoon of bird cherry leaves in 300-400 ml of water on high heat, then reduce and simmer for another thirty minutes. Use the cooled and strained decoction for douching every night for a week.
Mix chamomile (5 parts), walnut leaves (5 parts), sage leaves (3 parts), celandine, and oak bark (2 parts each) to prepare a herbal mixture. Add 2 teaspoons of the mixture to a liter of boiling water and simmer for half an hour. Douche twice a day. In this recipe, you can replace the herbal mixture with calendula petals: one tablespoon per 100 ml of water, simmer for fifteen minutes.
Tampons:
Successful treatment of bacterial vaginosis with folk remedies can be achieved with the help of cotton tampons soaked in plant-based solutions. They also help relieve itching or burning sensations.
Roll a piece of cotton or purchase a hygienic tampon from the pharmacy, soak it in either aloe juice diluted with olive oil in a 1:1 ratio or sea buckthorn oil. Insert the prepared tampon into the vagina and leave it for 7-8 hours – it is more convenient to do this before bedtime.
Sitz Baths:
In comprehensive treatment, it is advisable to include a daily 20-minute sitz bath (immersing up to the waist) with herbal decoctions. Here are a few recipes:
Soak 250 grams of oak bark in cold water and let it infuse for 3-4 hours. Boil the mixture, strain, and pour into a prepared bath. This procedure reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing.
Prepare a mixture of oat straw, walnut leaves, juniper berries, oak bark, and chamomile. Boil for 45 minutes in a covered pot, strain, and mix with water in the bath. You can use only chamomile (150 grams) or walnut leaves (250 grams). This folk remedy for treating bacterial vaginosis has antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.
Dissolve half a liter of hot water with two tablespoons of honey, preferably floral. Pour the mixture into the bath and add some bath foam to enhance the penetration of honey particles into the skin.
Boosting the Immune System:
To make the treatment more effective, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system.
Tinctures are excellent for this purpose:
Take:
Quince;
Cherry – 2 cups;
Water – 9 cups;
Lemon;
Garlic – 10 cloves;
Apples (preferably Antonovka) – 2 pieces.
Crush the cherries into a pulp. Grate the quince and apples with the peel. Crush the garlic. Remove the seeds from the lemon and chop it finely. Mix everything and pour with boiling water. Infuse in a covered container for half an hour, then strain. Drink four times a day, 100 ml each time.
Pour two tablespoons of dried hawthorn berries with 400 ml of water, bring to a boil, and simmer for fifteen minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of honey and simmer a little more. Grate two onions and mix with the obtained broth. Eat one tablespoon four times a day.
For the treatment of bacterial vaginosis with folk remedies to be effective, it should also include more fresh vegetables, cereals, and whole-grain bread in the daily diet, as well as dairy products.
