Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal infection and is brought on by an imbalance of naturally occurring resident bacteria. Vaginal health normally depends upon many micro-organisms, including lactobacilli, gardnerella, mobiluncus, and others, preventing possible pathogens from multiplying to a level where they cause disease. The use of antibiotics allows more resistant bacteria to gain a foothold and multiply, thereby causing odor and discomfort. Several reputed non-traditional treatments are available to alleviate this imbalance, such as boric acid and tea tree oil. Before embarking on a regimen to treat this disorder, consult a gynecologist first.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is derived from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to the northeast coast of Australia. Tea tree oil is found in a diverse range of pharmaceutical products, having several purported beneficial antibacterial and antiseptic properties when applied topically. Tea tree oil is toxic when taken internally, and should never be added to food or drinks.
Tea Tree Oil and Bacterial Vaginosis
A September 2001 chemical analysis, published in the "Journal of Microbiology," compared the antimicrobial activity of Melaleuca alternifolia oil with several of its biologically active components, both individually and in two-component combinations. The study revealed that a compound, terpinen-4-ol, the principal active component of tea tree oil, was able to kill bacterial cells at a minimal concentration compared with other compounds found, as revealed by assays to determine the time required to kill 50 percent of the test organisms. They further concluded that terpinen-4-ol was more active on its own than when present in tea tree oil. These findings explain why tea tree oil can be less effective than terpinen-4-ol alone and further suggest the presence of compounds that limit the oil's microbial activity. A review article published in the September 2005 issue of "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine" also documented research into non-antibiotic treatments for bacterial vaginosis by the use of alternative therapies. It found data on alternative treatments are mixed and studies were generally not placebo-controlled. The lack of clinical studies thereby precluded the recommendation of tea tree oil to patients. They concluded that further research, in the form of high-quality, randomized, and controlled trials, is strongly recommended to determine the efficacy of tea tree oil to treat bacterial vaginosis.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is a relatively weak solution often used as an insecticide and antiseptic for minor burns or cuts, and is sometimes used in dressings or salves to protect against infection. It is typically applied in a solutions as low as 1 percent, but has been reported to be overall beneficial in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
Boric Acid and Bacterial Vaginosis
An article appearing in the May 2003 issue of ""Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey" offers a systematic review of the medical literature regarding the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicine therapies for bacterial vaginosis. The researchers reviewed all published literature available on conventional search engines and alternative medicine databases for all studies of the five most commonly used alternative therapies for the treatment this disorder. They concluded that boric acid solutions can be recommended to women with recurrent infections who are resistant to conventional therapies, but noted that the available evidence for treatment by boric acid is of poor quality despite its prevalent use and well-designed, randomized, and controlled clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of this therapy are needed before any reliable clinical recommendations can be made
References
- "Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey"; Common complementary and alternative therapies for yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review; K VanKessel et al.; May 2003.
- "Alternative Theripies in Health and Medicine"; Alternative therapies for bacterial vaginosis: a literature review and acceptability survey; E Boskey; September 2005.
- "Journal of Applied Microbiology"; Interactions between components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia; S Cox; September 2001.
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