Top Natural Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies

Herbs

Posted by Amber (Manhattan, KS) on 10/20/2008
★★★★★

Bacterial Vaginosis.

Oak Gall, specifically a brand from Malaysia called Kzanah Manjakani Sarapat Plus pills, taken AFTER antibiotics have helped many women as well as myself. I don't know if it's the tannins in it, or what properties attribute to it's success, but most of us have taken prescriptions to assist in this issue only to have the BV symptoms to return. But now, with these pills there are no reoccurring symptoms. We take 2 tiny pills three times a day.

EC: Looks like that herbal formula is manufactured in Indonesia, not Malaysia.

"Ingredients:
Gambir - a powerful astringent that consists mainly of antioxidants catechin and catechutannic acid. Useful for arresting excessive mucous discharges.

Daun Jarak - used as an antihelminthic and purgative, to help improve bowel movement.

Akar Sarapat - as the name depicts, sarapat means "tighten" in the Malay Language. Commonly used in healing wounds and treating women with childbirth and birth-related injuries. Also used for the contraction of vaginal muscle and uterus.

Kunyit (Tumeric) - beneficial for hemorrhages, irregular menstruation and liver problems. Also prescribed for women after childbirth to stimulate and promote blood circulation. Very strong antioxidant to promote overall health and great skin!"

Herbs

Posted by Amber (Manhattan, KS) on 10/20/2008

Wow, thanks for the fast feedback!! Indonesia....ok. I order from a place that ships from Malaysia, I just assumed.

The pills are relatively cheap, but I love the fact that most of the cures on this site are all natural and most can be found in a grocery store.

What do you think is the most important ingredient is when it comes to these pills and the great results I, and the women on my yahoo group are having with this?

I'd prefer to find the one ingredient in natural fruit or food.

Thank you, Amber.

EC: Hi, Amber. Sorry, not sure the most important ingredient. I saw these herbs in pill and powder form everywhere when I spent 2 months in Indonesia many years ago. At that time I thought turmeric was the main ingredient in the formulas, but we'd have to talk to an Indonesian herbalist to know for sure. The individual packs of powder to be diluted with water (sold even in restaurants) were super cheap, that I remember. Balinese women that I talked to swore by the herbs for their "vaginal tightening effect" after childbirth!

Deirdre

Garlic

Posted by Danielle (Rancho Cucamonga, Ca) on 07/14/2011

They sell Garlic pills.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Elly90 (Woodbridge, Va) on 02/07/2011

How long should I do the oil and vinegar a week? a month> everyday?

Personal Care Products

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/12/2008 490 posts
★★★★★

To Sandy from Henderson: Yes, Sandy, applying ACV to itchy areas usually relieves the itching. My suggestion is to put a cup of ACV in his bath water (to relieve the itching & also protect from bug bites) and then try leaving off any soap, bubble baths, etc. because it may be the soap that is drying his skin and causing the itching. In most cases, the soap isn't really needed. All you really need for cleanliness is just some good old water and a washcloth. If he doesn't itch while you are omitting soap, you will know that you have found the cause. You will also find that you like the way he smells without the soap better than with the soap. I learned this from a little lady in her 60's about 30 years ago. She told me "My daddy was a chemist and he always told us that if you didn't use soap, you won't need deoderants because soap makes you stink. I stopped using soap (except for handwashing) in l982 and I found her daddy was right. Your sweat doesn't smell either, and you don't have that fishy odor all the EC users who complain of BV. Also decreases most of the foot odors too.

Supplements

Posted by Latoya (Sanford, Florida) on 07/26/2008
★★★★★

Hi, I have been suffering from BV since I was 15 yrs old I am currently 24 I have try everything under the sun the only thing that has work for me so far is taking b-50 complex vitamin twice day or the b-100 complex vitamins once a day. This is available at any stores that sell vitamins like wal-mart, Walgreens it's about $5.00 at most. The only thing is if you stop taking them it would come back so make sure you continue to take it and drink plenty of water I would say about six to eight cup a day I hope it works for you after taking them you would notice results immediately it should be gone by the second or third day.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Alex (Little River, United States) on 07/13/2008

Since the summer of 2006 I have been suffering on and off miserably from BV and yeast infections. Any time I have a flare up it is either after my period or after I have been swimming or in a wet bathing suit for more than two hours. This is a huge problem because I do alot of work in the water. The multiple sex partners that my Dr. is convinced I have, because of my constant falre ups, is a crock since I have a steady boyfriend and wouldnt dream of cheating. I have tried Triconazole, for the yeast infections and my dr. has put me on all too many BV antibiotics. I'm about to leave and go buy plain yogurt and some acidophilus. Thanks for the posting ladies and I will report back as soon as i get any result. But ladies definatly dont stay in wet bathing suits for too long if you get BV alot it just adds to a new flare up, which is something alot of dr.s forget to tell you I have been to so many and no one ever told me until I found one female nurse at my dr. office who told me about too much moisture for too long will trigure the bacteria

Dietary Changes

Posted by Julie (Seattle, WA) on 06/09/2008
★★★★★

I have T2 Diabetes and get BV when my blood sugar runs rampant. The only cure that seems to work is going raw for awhile. Just type "raw foods" into a search engine. Sometimes, it only takes two or three days, other times two weeks. Yes, you can live without meat, dairy, or cooked food. And you don't have to worry about putting things where they don't logically belong ;-). The body heals itself.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Stephanie (BALTIMORE, MD) on 05/22/2008
★★★★☆

Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies: I am a faithful reader of the Earth clinic website not only for me but also for my children. Now this is the first time I have tried this Tea Tree Oil remedy, which I poured the oil onto the tampon enough so the entire tampon was wet and I used my finger to push it into my vagina. I did this for the first time last night and when I woke up this morning, it felt like my lady place was on fire however desperate for this remedy to work, Ive now done it again this morning after cleansing the area with HP and for now it's not bad but when I remove it in a few minutes, we'll see. Ive also started taking the Folic Acid pills (400mcg) - 2 in the morning and 1 at night so maybe this stuff will help me. But I got tired of my doctor telling me I was having unprotected sex even after I told her I wasn't sexually active. Though I'm not a virgin I just don't have a partner right now. I'm tired of going to the doctor's office because for some reason I feel like a slut and I feel dirty and confused because I can't understand why this is happening to me. Now I see it isn't just me. I'll take anymore advice if anyone has anything to tell me. Thanks.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Stephanie (BALTIMORE, MD) on 05/22/2008
★★★★☆

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Phoenix (California) on 05/07/2016

You should never apply undiluted tea tree oil on any skin, especially sensitive skin. Tea tree oil shouldn't be more than 10%, but when dealing with the sensitive skin in the vagina I wouldn't put more than 1 or 2% in a carrier oil. Olive oil is a great carrier oil for this use because of it's antibacterial properties. I personally would just apply the oil directly. If your using the tampon method for applying Apple Cider Vinegar or oil mixture then only 1-2 hours at a time is necessary.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Kim (Hartford, Ct) on 05/30/2011
★★★★★

hello I've been a sufferer of bv for a long time and tried everything from the conventional way to the wacky ways of finding a cure for this horrible thing. One word for you :kefir. Kefir is a probiotic smoothie and is found in most grocery stores. They are located near the dairy sections. I drink 2 glasses a day and found results in 3 weeks. no more flagyl, no more hydro perox, no more acidoph pills up the vag, no more nonsense. Try it and good luck. its also the cheapest way.

Hydrogen Peroxide Variations

Posted by Destiny (Newark, New Jersey) on 04/29/2008
★★★★★

I came to this site hoping for a cure for my re-current bv/yeast infections. I was tired (and imbarrassed) of calling my Dr. every month for a prescription. And more importantly, with money being tight, I didn't have it to spend. I logged on and found this site and immediately tried the hydrogen peroxide/water (I used a plastic cup and poured equal amounts of each that covered the cotton part of the tampon)on the tampon. It burned for a minute or two then I felt bubbling, but it was tolorable. I drank some Apple Cider Vinegar (2 table spoons and 8 oz of water mix) and mixed a white vinegar and water douch (1/2 and 1/2). I left the tampon in for approx. 30 minutes, then douched an hour later. Again I felt some burning but it was again tolorable. The next morning there were no signs of the "cottage cheese" discharge and I was "so fresh and so clean"! I now have a new remedy that is both affordable and natural. Thanks for the tips.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Sherri (Winchester, Virginia) on 04/14/2008
★★★★★

I used to get BV about a week before my menstral cycle. I got tired of going to my OBGYN doctor because I felt dirty because I was going there almost once amonth. Finally I went to another doctor and he said that I needed to ve on a low dose of birth control and it will level out my hormones. Once I started taking the BC, I didn't get another episode of BV, until I received a blot clot in my leg from a foot operation and I could no longer take BC. I now get BV every month again. Believe me the low level of BC worked miracles for me. I hope this helps all of you out.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Karasi (Tallahassee, FL) on 05/25/2008
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

BC can cause bloodclots...you have to be careful. Your BV might have went away, but the BC brought you a bloodclot.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Stephanie (Chicago, Illinois) on 07/23/2008

BV is not an STD.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Soo (New York, New York) on 04/07/2008
★★★★★

I'have had bouts of bv on and off for about 4 years. Like everyone else it kept coming back, and I noticed that it was becoming more frequent and harder to cure with each time. Then for the last 5 months it was absolutely constant! People who sat beside me in the subway would sniff around and turn their heads. It was so embarrassing.

In Jan. 2008, I tried the 1:1 H20/ Hydrogen Peroxide douche + acidophilous (2 after each meal) + folic acid (3 800mcg/day). At first it worked wonders, but because I had done all three at once I didn't know which was working or not. I waited a few days and only took the vitamins. The odor and discharge came back so I knew that the Hydrogen Peroxide had been the quick fix. I douched again and the smell disappeared, but came back by the end of the day. Every other day I tried the douche for about 2 weeks and I found that the cure was losing its potency. I know douching is bad and this shouldn't be done regularly. I stopped and decided to wait if the vitamins alone would work. A week later and nothing. So I took one of the acidophilus pills and put it way in my vagina. This actually worked a lot better than the hydrogen peroxide. However, I noticed after a few times that this had lost its potency too. I was really desperate. The remedies here were my last hope.

Then, I decided to completely analyze my lifestyle. I'm from Korea and I came to NY about 2 yrs ago. I noticed that the bv became serious after I came to the states. 1. Quit using fabric softener in laundry - instead I use vinegar and some drops of essential oils. If you read up on fabric softener you'll find out that it's really bad. I'd hardly used fabric softener in Korea and simply ran the rinse cycle twice. Since fs was something I'd started in the states it had to do with my pH imbalance. Regular soaps/detergents are alkaline, which is what makes washed things rough. In order to get it soft you have to rebalance the pH. Vinegar will do this. I put about 1/4 cup of white vin with some drops of tea tree and lavender essential oils. (The oils are choice. You don't need them if don't have them). Laundry smells Wonderful and not cloying like fs. It's logical to use natural substance for your laundry, especially underwear! And very necessary to keep your clothes pH balanced. Vinegar smell disappears through drying; don't worry.

2. I bought a large batch of KIMCHI and started eating it everyday with my meals. There is a LOT of acidophilus and bifidus in kimchi and I'd had hardly any intake of those good bateria. (I hadn't eaten yogurt because I get skin blemishes with dairy.)

3. Skin trouble or not, I bought a yogurt maker and have been eating homemade yogurt once a day. This is a good way to insure that you have a steady diet of yogurt and after a few tries you'll find that it's cheaper and healthier than storebought.

4. Reduced intake of sugar. This was the Hardest thing to do. I love a good dessert, but I had to stop. I let myself eat a cookie about once a week.

5. I quit smoking. I just had 1 or 2 cigarettes a day, but still it's toxic and I knew I had to STOP.

6. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT in my cure: I did an Eastern medical treatment called moxibustion. I really went back to my roots to cure myself. How moxibustion (or moxa cautery) works is there are these short paper-rolled stubs of wormwood that is stuck to a round clay foundation and their placed usually where the ailment is, and burned. You can picture a 1/4 inch cigarette butt sticking up from a teeny flowerpot; however it might look different because mine was sent to me by my mom and is for home use. Mind you, your skin isn't burned, simply warmed, but the wetness is dried up and toxins seep out through the burning process. If you're not Asian and don't know what I'm talking about go to an Asian medical specialist and tell them to do a moxibustion on your lower abdomen because you have an inflammation in the female area. In Eastern med, smelly discharge and all that women's trouble is said to be caused by a coldness in the lower body, and where there is wet, there is cold. You'll notice that the discharge keeps you cold in that area. You need to make your lower body warmed up again. I did the moxibustion and the discharge and smell was almost gone immediately. I did it a few more days (once a day) and it's COMPLETELY disappeared. Wow, all I had to do was go back to my roots.

Anyway, if you're unable to find an Asian medicine facility where you live... try some things to warm your lower ab. Don't wear jeans, especially tight jeans. Don't just sit down in cold areas - cold plastic subway seats are bad! If you have a hot water bottle, hold it against your lower belly. If you don't have a hot water bottle, use a heating pad or just put warm water into a PET bottle and use it. Drink lukewarm water and not cold refrigerated or ice water. However, I really recommend just a few times of Moxibustion. Everything else is a lifestyle change that should be kept up, but this is something that is direct.

But now I have another problem. I don't smell anymore, but my clothes and sheets still have that odor left in them. No amount of regular laundry will get rid of it. Do I have to get a new wardrobe or can someone help me rid of the stink?

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 04/09/2008 490 posts

Hi Soo,

I've never been diagnosed with BV but I have had the odor. Didn't get rid of it until I quit using soap for bathing (learned this from a lovely lady in her 60's about 30 years ago - she had never used deoderant but you didn't fall backwards when she lifted her arms. She said "My daddy was a chemist and he always told us that if you didn't use soap, you didn't need it because soap is what makes you stink." By Ned, I found that she (or rather her daddy) was right!

For your problem with the odor in your wardrobe and bed linens, I suggest you try adding 1 cup of ACV to your final rinse in laundering them. I think you will like the results.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Soo (New York, NY) on 06/19/2008

I have continued to take the acidophilous (Nature's way primadaphilous bifius- works great) once a day. I also take one folic acid (800mcg) per day. I continued to use a bit of vinegar and essential oils in the rinse cycle of my laundry and within about 4 washes any residual smell has disappeared from my clothes. I've learned that not smoking is vital in this.

I did the moxibustion treatment about 4 more times since I wrote here. Two times in April and two in May right after my period ended because the BV came back after my period.

However, a week has past since my period this month in June and there are absolutely no symptoms of BV. I've hardly given BV a thought for the past month and a half. That's how clean and fresh I feel.

So here are what must be kept up. The acidophilous, folic acid, no smoking, drastically less sugar intake, and eating lots of greens.
I learned that chlorophyll works wonders as an internal deodorant. I also take 2 table spoons of chlorophyll a day since I'm single and it's difficult to eat a ton of greens every day. Don't give up! It's taken me half a year since I started treating myself with these natural remedies. Thank you and good luck to all!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Sissy (Fort Worth, US) on 01/04/2008
★☆☆☆☆

Try to get the Veggie capsules for the boric acid suppositories... the gelatin capsules do not melt as well. I have had BV for three years now and I have been on antibiotics about six diffrent times and nothing has worked...I have used garlic, acidophillus, yeast arrest, tea tree oil and nothing has worked. The boric acid helps with the smell but I still have a lot of discharge. I have read a lot about the folic acid so I am going to get some tomorrow and start trying that. I have literally spent over 1000 dollars on different medicines and doctor visits trying to cure this and nothing has worked. I will let you all know if the folic acid works for me. I have faith that one day I will get rid of this. I have also been depressed about it and have cried. Stay strong ladies.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Stephanie (BALTIMORE, MD) on 05/22/2008
★☆☆☆☆

I used this method and right now at 3:26 pm in my office on May 22, 2008, I am sitting in my chair with an irritated "lady area" and I really want to leave work. I was so hopefull this method would help me but I'm thinking of going to the emergency room. I was feeling okay before I tried this method, besides the stinky smell and wet panties, but it was better than what Im going through now.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Sarah (Seattle, Washington) on 06/30/2012

Tea tree oil is strong. I tried a lot of things including garlic cloves (whole peeled), and chlorophyll douches, but ultimately it was vitamin B complex that made the difference. Lots of acidophilus is good.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Koko (Chicago, US) on 07/08/2014
★★★★☆

My bv was the worst during and after my period. Not anymore though, I use a Diva Cup and have found that before reinserting it, coating it inside and out with (diluted) tea tree oil has greatly reduced the symptoms during that time of the month. I cleanse daily in the shower, using cold water instead of warm, which otherwise has been the most effective remedy for me. Paired with tea tree oil during my period, my chronic and sometimes intense symptoms have been mostly under control for several months now. Not cured, but still figuring that out.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Renata (Ct) on 03/31/2018

Do I take the tampon out of the plastic applicator? Also, do I mix the oils together then soak? I'm confused.

General Feedback

Posted by Sandhi (USA) on 09/21/2007
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

I want to point something about the Baking Soda remedy for increasing the alkalinity of body. Unfortunately, this remedy worked for me in the beginning, as I noticed improved digestion, but then I noticed I came down with a chronic case of Bacterial Vaginosis. A fishy odor coming from the vagina. I have heard, women who are on Birth Control Pill get BV. But I have never used BCPs. Further reading, I found out that Baking Soda, and for that matter most anta-acids can lead to the depletion of B-vitamins in the body. ( including Folic Acid & B12). And no wonder Folic Acid is recommended as a cure for BV

I am taking Folic Acid ( 1 mg) and B-complex now, but the fishy odor is not gone completely! I am really stuck with this odor which I NEVER had before. So could it be, my folic acid levels are depleted and I am unable to get them to a healthy level. As of now, I am suspecting Baking Soda has done this to me. And I am abstaining from using it anymore. I would be interested to hear what other female users have to say about this.

General Feedback

Posted by Tracy (Frederick, MD) on 01/21/2008

Just wanted to put in my .02cents. I was taking the ACV Baking Soda tonic three times a day. It's ironic now that I think about it, the way our bodies talk to us, the last few times I took the recipe, (and I'm very used to the taste of the ACV/BS tonic) my nose would turn up at the smell, it smelled furmented, almost like old wine. Then I got a yeast/BV infection...and after research and trial and error, I realized that what Sandhi mentioned was true, too much BS can reverse the body's alkaline and actually make it too acidic. So, after curing the Yeast infection with Hydrogen Peroxide, yogurt and water (monostat DID NOT WORK) and quitting the Baking soda, I feel much better. Every once in a while if I feel heartburny I'll add BS to my ACV, but I skip the BS most days and just take ACV and feel much better~!

General Feedback

Posted by Sandhi (USA) on 09/21/2007
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by YoYo (Detroit, MI) on 09/20/2007
★★★★★

I tried Flagyl, and it worked. I take showers instead of baths. I also use unscented dove or ivory soap. I only wear cotton underwear, and lose fitting pants, and at night i sleep with no underwear. Now i have no problem with bv.

Yogurt

Posted by Stacie (MIAMI, FLROIDA) on 09/11/2007
★☆☆☆☆

Okay I had BV like two weeks ago I tried the ACV and Yogurt treatment (I used 2 caps of ACV and 1 Tablespoon of plain yougurt) And it Came back i did it again and now it won't go away. I keep on using the yogurt but nothing happens is there anything else I can use? or am I doing something wrong?

Yogurt

Posted by Samantha (Miami, Fl) on 04/07/2018

I don't know about the ACV, I think it may have thrown off your pH. I used to use ACV on my face for toner and it helps with some of my hyperpigmentation but I only use it at night and in the affected areas. It's too drying otherwise. I used it ONCE on my vagina when I thought I had a pH imbalance. A week after I used it, I had BV and it was bad. I started using the yogurt and tampon method, soaking the tampon in pure yogurt with cultures for 10 min and then inserting it in and leaving it for about three hours. Then I rinse in the shower to make sure it's all clean (just the outside, don't douche! ) and then I do it again for good measure. I don't recommend sleeping with it in because it could make it worse or so I've read in several online articles. Not sure if it's true, but I'm not risking it.

I don't know if this info is important or not - but I'm 20 yrs old and I had my first spell of BV when I was about 16, though I wasn't sexually active so I didn't really notice it. It went away by itself. I never went to the gyn and I never diagnosed it as anything other than 'sweaty vag'. I got another case of it about two weeks ago, I recognized the symptoms but I didn't know what they meant so I googled it and I put the pieces together and diagnosed myself with BV.

I've heard good things about acidophilus probiotics. They're not too expensive either so I'm going to try them as well. I also regularly take Azo pills for urinary tract support, it has probiotics in it. I'm prone to UTIs so this is just preventative. I recommend it if your BV is giving you a burning sensation when you pee. It helps with the pain. I wish you luck with your BV and advise you stay away from ACV, it's not the 'fix all home remedy' that the internet makes it out to be!