Holistic Cures And Prevention For Bacterial Vaginosis

There are very good reasons why holistic cures and prevention work far better than conventional medication, such as antibiotics or over the counter creams and gels. To understand why this is the case, it is important to understand a little about the nature of bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis is a condition characterized by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria which causes the typical symptoms, including a watery gray or white discharge which has a pungent fishy smell, together with itching and burning around the vaginal area. There are thought to be many possible causes of bacterial vaginosis, including smoking, douching, using perfumed soaps, overwashing or a change in sexual partner. Indeed, in many women, it is impossible to even loosely identify one of the common causes. This is exactly why conventional treatment can be unsuccessful.

Antibiotics and over the counter creams and gels are typical treatments for bacterial vaginosis which you might get from your doctor or chemist. They may well give symptomatic relief. Antibiotics are generally effective at killing bacteria, and some of the over the counter treatments can be very soothing. However, killing the bacterial overgrowth and giving symptomatic relief are just two smaller elements in the overall steps which are necessary to eliminate BV altogether.

Conventional treatments take no account whatsoever of what might have caused your BV in the first place. For some women, unless they look at their own personal trigger points, they will never be free of this condition. Although it is not always possible to isolate a specific cause, the beauty of holistic cures and prevention for bacterial vaginosis is that they use a "whole body" approach, strengthening from the inside out to ensure that a condition like BV simply cannot thrive in a well-balanced, healthy body.

Main Elements Of Holistic Cures And Prevention For Bacterial Vaginosis

There are certain key principles when considering holistic cures and, indeed, the prevention of bacterial vaginosis.

* The easing of symptoms, should an outbreak occur

Symptoms can be eased usually by using simple methods. For example, using cold therapy around the inflamed vaginal tissues can really help. Killing harmful bacteria can also be achieved by adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a shallow bath.

* Strengthening the immune system

Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help, as can keeping generally healthy by taking exercise. You may also wish to consider taking a nutritional supplement.

* Increasing the quantity of beneficial bacteria in the vaginal and digestive tracts

Taking Lactobaccilus supplements can help with the digestive tract. To introduce beneficial bacteria into the vagina, soak a tampon in live probiotic yogurt and leave in the vagina for an hour.

* Taking steps to correct the pH level within the vagina

The pH level of a healthy vagina is slightly acidic. Whe BV is present, the pH level will be alkaline. Adding a couple of cups of mildly acidic cider vinegar to your bath is a good way to get things back to normal.

* Lifestyle changes to correct practices which are contributing to BV

There are many potential causes of BV, some of the most common ones are listed earlier in the article. You need to carefully consider which could be your personal trigger points and ensure that you stop any practices which might contribute to the problem.