Bacterial vaginosis is the most common type of vaginal infection. The condition accounts for over 40 percent of vaginal infections among women of childbearing age, according to naturopathic physician Tori Hudson. In her book "Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," Hudson says that low levels of aerobic, or oxygen-loving lactobacilli, and high levels of anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis set the stage for this nonspecific type of vaginosis. Women experience symptoms of a foul-smelling "fishy" odor and discharge, as well as itching and/or burning of the external genitalia.
Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis, otherwise known as goldenseal, is an herb with a long history of use for infectious and inflammatory conditions, especially those involving areas of the body lined with mucous membranes. Author Ruth Trickey writes in "Women Hormones & the Menstrual Cycle" that goldenseal is inherently anti-bacterial against at least six strains of micro-organisms. Goldenseal increases the immune response to microbial invaders within the first two weeks of supplementation, she says. A 1999 Immunology Letters article by J. Rehman confirms this finding. Trickey and Hudson suggest using goldenseal intravaginally as a suppository--Hudson at a dose of one capsule every evening. Hudson also suggests the oral route at a dose of two capsules one to two times daily. Goldenseal is considered an endangered herbal species, so use of a related herb-Oregon grape root-is suggested.
Tea Tree Oil
The Meleleuca alternifolia bush, native to Wales, produces the powerful bacteriocidal and fungicidal oil-known as tea-tree oil. Although best known for its use as a topical first-aid antiseptic, tea-tree oil has also been studied for its use in vaginal infections resulting from trichomonas and Candida albicans. In 1991, a patient with bacterial vaginosis reported complete disease resolution with the use of tea-tree oil pessaries. She was written up in a 1991 issue of the medical journal The Lancet. Prior to this account, tea-tree oil was not thought to be antimicrobial against Gardnerella-type species. A small follow-up study published in the January 1999 issue of the journal-Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy confirmed the finding. Joseph Pizzorno, co-author of "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine," suggests the alcoholic extract of tea tree oil diluted to 1 percent in water used daily as a douche and inserted as a saturated tampon weekly. The handbook reported no adverse reactions.
Garlic
Garlic is a well-known antimicrobial agent. It has both antibacterial and antifungal properties. The constituent, allicin, is believed to carry the weight of its antimicrobial properties, therefore Hudson recommends garlic supplements with the highest allicin content. Although Hudson admits that she is unaware of any clinical research on the insertion of garlic into the vagina, she recommends a single garlic clove inserted into the vagina in the morning for six to eight hours, based on anecdotal evidence.
References
- Rockwell Nutrition: "Bacterial Vaginosis"
- Planta Medica: "Antibacterial activity of Hydrastis Canadensis extract and its major isolated alkaloids"
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy: "In Vitro Susceptibilities of Lactobacilli and Organisms Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis to Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil"
- Immunology Letters: "Increased production of antigen-specific immunoglobulins G and M following in vivo treatment with... Hydrastis canadensis"
- Women, Hormones, & The Menstrual Cycle; Ruth Trickey; 2003
