Bacterial vaginosis is caused when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina, most commonly “Gardenerella vaginalis” or “Mycoplasma Hominis.” Neal Chamberlain, MD, of A.T. Still University reports that the condition can be transmitted by sexual contact but women who are not sexually active may develop bacterial vaginosis as well. The symptoms of vaginosis include irritation and itching in the vaginal area and abnormal discharge. Orthodox treatments for bacterial vaginosis include the medications metronidazole or clindamycin. These medications may cause unwanted side effects, leading many women to seek alternative therapies, like garlic and tea tree oil applications, for example.
Diagnosis
In order to determine whether treatment with garlic is appropriate for your condition, it is imperative that you determine if the vaginosis is caused by bacteria, yeast or other colonies. Some symptoms like vaginal itching and irritation are common to all types of vaginosis. The vaginal discharge that is normally seen with each type of infection is different however. Cases of bacterial vaginosis present with gray or white discharge with a milky consistency. There is also usually a strong “fishy” odor as well. This bacterial infection is more likely to respond to treatment with garlic. In comparison, non-bacterial vaginosis caused by yeast growth presents with a thick, mostly white, curd-like discharge that may or may not be accompanied by a foul odor. A definitive diagnosis on the etiology of the infection should be made by a doctor.
History
Richard Rivlen, professor of medicine at Cornell University, reports that medical literature from ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece and Italy all mention garlic as a potent healing substance. Rivlen also reveals that the man often times credited with being the father of medicine, Hippocrates, utilized garlic as an essential ingredient in at least one of his therapies. In a compilation of studies done on garlic, Armondo Stuart of The University of Texas at El Paso reports that garlic is still a first line defense against disease in traditional healing practices in Mexico and presumably among other traditional cultures as well.
Active Components
Garlic is believed to treat bacterial vaginosis by its antifungal and immune-boosting properties. Although most evidence for the treatment of vaginosis with garlic is anecdotal, the Langone Medical Center at New York University reports that studies done in test tubes show the antimicrobial properties of the main disease fighting component of the garlic bulb, called allicin. John Sobanski of McDaniel College reports that garlic has been shown to prevent bacterial growth in the intestinal tract and on the skin. He also reports that garlic increases natural killer cells, lymphocytes and phagocytes; all needed to fight any type of infection, including bacterial vaginosis.
Protocol
Although garlic can be ingested and applied in a number of ways, allicin is released when the bulb is crushed. Many women find it effective to wrap the crushed bulb in gauze and insert it directly into the vagina once a day or overnight and then removing it after about eight hours until the symptoms clear. If the symptoms persist for more than a couple of days or become worse, contact a doctor as soon as possible. Garlic may cause thinning of the blood so exercise caution if you are on blood-thinning medications like warfarin.
References
- A.T. Still University; Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) IV; Neal R. Chamberlain; 2004
- NaturalRemedies.org: Bacterial Vaginitis
- Cornell University; Ancient Health Remedy ‘rediscovered’ by Weill Cornell and Others; Jan Sileo; 2006
- The University of Texas at El Paso; Detailed Information: Garlic; Armando G. Stuart
- New York University - Langone Medical Center: Vaginal Infection
- McDaniel College; Garlic; John Sobanski
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vaginitis; Steven D. Ehrlich; 2010
