Bacterial vaginosis is a condition by which the normal flora and fauna within a woman's vagina is disrupted and overgrown with harmful, foreign bacteria. It often causes vaginal pain, itching, burning, a grey discharge and an unpleasant odor. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in American women of childbearing age. Bacterial vaginosis can be treated with antibiotics, such as metronidazole or clindamycin, but herbal remedies are effective and cause fewer side effects.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has strong antimicrobial properties and has been used in Asian countries for many centuries as a topical and internal disinfectant, according to "Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica." An antimicrobial agent is one that can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, which is important for bacterial vaginosis because it can occur concurrently with vaginal yeast infections. Tea tree oil can be used within the vagina by soaking tampons with it, adding it to a douche or inserting it as a suppository. Tea tree oil can enhance the immune system, which helps to prevent recurrent bacterial infections.
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernel oil is another antimicrobial compound, due mainly to the glycoside, amygdalin. Amygdalin, also found within the kernels of bitter almonds, is a source of cyanide molecules, which effectively kill bacteria and fungi. Apricot kernel oil can be used as a carrier for other herbs or essential oils and mixed as a douche, or it can be applied directly to the outer portion of the vagina. Apricot kernel oil can cause local burning and tingling in higher concentrations.
Oil of Oregano
Oil of oregano is perhaps the strongest antimicrobial of all herbal oils and extracts, so care must be taken to properly dilute it if using within the vagina as a douche or soaked tampon. The two antimicrobial compounds in oil of oregano are carvacrol and thymol. Carvacrol is the more potent of the two and can kill a wide range of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, including Candida albicans, as cited in "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine. Thymol is a weaker antimicrobial, but an effective immune booster.
Black Walnut Extract
Black walnut husk extract is a powerful antibacterial and anti-parasitic, primarily because of the compound, Juglone. Black walnut extract is typically taken orally and on an empty stomach, where it is absorbed more efficiently and spreads throughout the bloodstream, eventually treating the bacterial vaginosis. Like any herbal remedy, pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a health professional in regards to appropriate dosages and strengths of black walnut extract.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a small shrub-like tree with leaves and bark that can be distilled and made into ointments and extracts. Witch hazel makes astringent solutions that can be safely mixed into a vaginal douche and used internally as an antiseptic.
Garlic
Frequently called, "nature's antibiotic," garlic is a popular and economic antimicrobial effective against bacterial vaginosis. Garlic's strong antimicrobial properties are due to the compound, allicin, which attacks pathogenic bacteria while preserving the beneficial flora and fauna of the vagina, according to "The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs." Garlic capsules can be taken orally, or raw garlic can be peeled, crushed and inserted into the vagina as a suppository or wrapped in a tampon.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Bacterial Vaginosis Fact Sheet
- "Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica"; Dan Bensky et al.; 2004
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs"; Nicola Reavley; 1999
