Bacterial Vaginosis
Natural Remedies

Top Natural Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies

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Dietary Changes

15 User Reviews
5 star (15) 
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Posted by Forever Cured (Somewhere Far) on 06/18/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have suffered from bv for over 10 years and tried everything from pills, vinegar/peroxide douche and countless other things. I fixed my bv issue by accident. I had a thyroid issue and started juicing veggies and fruit for breakfast and lunch and dinner I ate my normal meal. After a week or so I noticed I no longer had that smell from the bv. I gave it another two weeks because I was so used to it always coming right back but two months of this plant based diet change and still no bv.

I believe the increase of alkaline veggies and fruit intake is the cause of this change. My ph is now balanced after so many years of being out of whack. All the years of have to do so much prep just to comfortably have sex with my husband are now gone. Bv is something that can make you feel less than a woman due to that horrid smell. I am and always have been a very clean person and still have no idea how the bv started but I'm now a raw foods lover for life.

Did I mention I also lost weight without trying. I was embarrassed to even write this hoping no one I know will be able to find out its me writing this. But after years of researching to try to find a cure I feel it would be an injustice if I didn't share my success story. The medicine is not a cure we have to fix the balance from the inside and it's all about incorporating the proper food that balances our insides.

Also I no longer have the pain staking irritable bowel syndrome, ulcer, and bloating that I was suffering from for years.

Replied by L.a.
(Sacramento)
12/14/2016

I have been suffering from BV I believe for as long as I remember. Even as a young child, and I'm only 18. It's not so much about sexual reasons, but having BV makes life really uncomfortable. The constant itching, the terrible smell, just feeling dirty. Plus I have stomach/intestinal issues as well and I've tried a lot of things but I always feel like I am in pain. If you could please help me out and explain what diet/detox you went on, the types of fruits and veggies that you ate, whatever helps :-) plus any other tips. This could be life changing for me and I'd really appreciate it.

Replied by Healingseeker
(Unknown)
11/08/2017

Thank you so much for this. I just started switching over to a raw diet this week. I've been dealing with BV for 7 months. It's amazing you stayed strong for 10 years. I'm about to lose my mind! I hope the more alkaline diet helps. Thanks and good luck as you stay healthy.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Lisa (Lafayette) on 08/19/2015
★★★★★

BV: I, too, have suffered with this horrible condition. After trying all the remedies listed on this site and then some, which none of them worked, except for a day or so, I began taking 1 heaping teaspoon of barley grass JUICE powder, (emphasis on the word JUICE), and after 2 days, it is completely gone. No smell at all. Not even a little bit...try it, please!!! If it works for you, post so that other women can try it as well with the hope that it can bring them relief....!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Dot (Central Texas, US) on 01/11/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

OH YA"LL! I suffered with it for years! I think it's related to having a candida override in your body. I itched and went to several top rated gynecologist in The Dallas area who all found NOTHING wrong.Top rated Dermatologist found nothing wrong. Even tho I had had std's and BV! I found the Bacteria thing in a magazine, which made my obgyn angry, but I insisted he test me and sure enough, I was positive. YOU would think he could have smelled it, right? The test was just a scrape and scratch & sniff. FRUSTRATing, our medical profession in the USA!!!

Use tampons and buy cottonelle wipes! Keeping the blood away will help. Also I keep the hair region very short. Just keep scissors for this purpose, and clean them with alcohol wipes every time.

NEVER re-use your towels!! I actually feel better when I dry off with the hair dryer anyway.

Take vitamins. Mostly time release C. The brand doesn't matter. You do need the sustained (or time) release, tho and I thought with rose hips helped.

I take the cheap garlic supplements in gel capsules from wally world, but I take 3 or 4 instead of one and twice a day!

I take turmeric twice a day (wally world) and neem seed also. I had to get the neem capsules at Family nutrition, but I think they might be good.

Stop eating cheese and dairy for a while ( I mean a few months), and when you do start back, keep it to just a small amount and NOT every day. Avoid sugar! And for sure, no artificial sweeteners! Stop consuming alcohol (that's a sugar) except I think red wine is not so bad, there's a balance somehow in that.

Omygosh NO BEER. Believe me I know this from experience.

And NO BREAD!!! This is pretty hard, cuz it means no subway unless you get a salad. And NO pizza, till you get better. Then only once a month.

I am 60 now, and it's over. Mainly because of no sex and no menstral cycle. Been over about 10 years now. Maybe only 5 yrs idk, Just soooo relieved.

I wore a panty liner daily. I feel the wicking away thing helps greatly. I still wear a panty liner daily!

Take pro biotics! I had a whitish tongue for years.

it's almost pink now, but I have to take the probiotic every day. I also had to do a diet yeast cleanse. Lost 15 lbs, because the first few days are clear liquids only. Then only one green veggie. Later I made myself stir fry with a lot of fresh ginger, garlic, and onions. No coffee (thats a bummer, but caffeine WILL help any yeasts bond to your system.) Get rid of any dark colored fillings. I had them replaced as they needed it, but if you can afford, get them out! And do not eat tuna or salmon At least for a while. Mercury is a bonding agent for Yeast!

Wash off all fruits and veggies and I even wash the "pre washed" bagged salad. Do not put anything in your mouth that you think might not be washed off.

Avoid antibiotics, unless you just cannot get well.

If you are on antibiotics. Take probiotics in-between the drugs. Like a few hours after your meds. To put back the Good bacteria that gets destroyed! Drs will tell you this now, but they told me it was hogwash in the 70's and 80's. I did it anyway (most the time), glad I did!

If your tummy is rumbly or you have gas, you better get on my program!

Then take the probiotics (lactobicillious, acidophiulus, or both) They should come in a dark glass bottle. Best if you can find a health store that keeps the LIVE cultures in the fridge. Keep yours in the fridge, even if you buy some that was on the shelf. Lately I take Probiotic 10 which I found at vitamin world. It was not refrigerated, but I store it in my frige.

Work out!!!! I love Zumba (mainly becuz I have the best trainer on the planet, She is highly motivated and it's contagious) while you are dancing there will be little or no symptoms, Or at least that's a great mind trick. You have got to sweat! So get moving!!!

Avoid chocolate, I know! But at least for a while.

Treat this as a body invasion! It is! Do a cleanse of some type. Starve the thing to death!

Cilantro is a natural cleansing herb and if you can eat some every day, it'll sure help your body regain it's immunities. It will also keep arthritis away!

If you can afford it, get a vitamix. Or at least a nutribullet.Even if all you use it for is green grapes with a little fresh parsley and some ice, you will be getting amazing cleansing.

If you have a sinus/allergy problem, do use a saline rinse, but I have been able to quit that, by using an alcohol wipe in each nose cavity twice a day, then a swab with a qtip of tea tree oil in each side. Amazing, no drip or odors. But I have to do that every day. I guess we breathe in all kinds of stuff. TTO is a natural antiseptic! You can get that at wally world, too. Get the pharmaceudical grade.

I had to stop eating corn. Wait till you read the labels of all the stuff you eat. Most of it has corn oil. I guess that is a cheap filler. I developed an allergy to corn, so no pop corn or cornbread (this tough here in the south). I stopped eating catsup and bottled pasta sauce, and bottled salad dressing. Instead, increase your olive oil and coconut oils.

I try to only drink bottled spring water. All kinds of parasites live in your faucet.

Keep the faith!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Daphil (Buffalo, Ny) on 01/24/2014
★★★★★

This helped me, and I came across it almost by accident. I have had bv for about 3 years, but never really understood it. Took antibiotics and assumed I was better. I consider myself lucky because I do not get a fishy smell...a somewhat unpleasant smell yes, but not fishy nor do I get copious amounts of milky white discharge...just some yellowish discharge that tends to be thick. I also get itchy. And it has caused me some pretty bad depression. I have also done the at home ph tests that have all said that my ph is normal down there. So I kept assuming it was a yeast problem. Until recently I went to the dr because I was very itchy down there, and also mentioned the unpleasant smell.

I was tested for bv, and lo and behold, yep I have it again. I was given Flagyl oral, which worked, but after a few weeks I felt that I was creeping back to bv again. So I did some research. Loaded up on information. Did the hydrogen peroxide douche and probiotics, vaginally and orally. This helped. I went back to my dr to see if I still had bv or if I had cleared it.

My results were inconclusive. What?! I was told I might have it...I might not. That there was nothing really specific on my culture. I was beyond frustrated, in tears. Where do I go from here? Am I starting to clear the infection or am I heading back to bv? I was told if I started having symptoms again to come back and get more antibiotics.

I was due for my period so I decided to wait until that was over and see how I felt. In the meantime, I decided to take charge of my health. I ate very poorly...sugars and breads were what I lived on. I was feeding the bacteria! I cut those out of my diet. Stopped drinking coffee. Drank lots of water. I was determined to get my body back in balance. I decided to do a natural herbal parasite detox. The first day of the detox, just hours after my first dose...I had little to no discharge, no odor, no itching! I have always had discharge, even when I was younger and did not have bv. The second day...little to no discharge, no odor, no itching! I was flabbergasted. But I got my period and thought that maybe it was just hopeful thinking. I continued the detox for the 10 days...and when my period was over...little to no discharge, no odor, no itching. I had not expected this to happen!

Some of the key ingredients to this detox were herbal remedies that I had read about that were supposed to help bv, but didn't know where to start with them...garlic, cranberry, black walnut, goldenseal, and Echinacea. All in one capsule. Just go online and search for natural parasite cleanse.

I am still taking a women's probiotic daily. I take vitamin D3, vitamin c, and folic acid along with a regular multivitamin daily. I have started to take several of the detox ingredients as supplements. I wash my vaginal area daily with white vinegar and water. So far, I do not feel I have any symptoms.

I don't know if this is a long term solution or not. I hope it is. I hope this might help someone else out there who is plagued by this awful condition. I think everybody responds differently to different treatments, but this one is worth a try!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Orangetulips (Newark, De) on 05/26/2012
★★★★★

I've been trying to beat my BV for the past nine months. I recently started 'juicing' and I always include a 1/2 lemon. I've only been doing it for a week now, but after my period the BV discharge has not returned. My juice is 50% veggies and 50% fruits. I drink my juice instead of lunch and the micro-nutrients are doing wonders. I've had zero side-effects. Go buy a juicer! I love juicing 6 kale leaves, 1/2 cucumber, zucchini, 15 baby carrots, 55 green grapes, 2 green apples, 1/2 lemon, ginger, a dash of coconut water and a dash of pomagranite juice. It's delicious! I've also lost 5 lbs. Let's get healthy!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Michelle (London, Uk) on 03/10/2012

I have suffered with BV for over 10 years. I have been through all the tablets and treatments, including the yogurts , I haven't used perfumed soaps or shower gels to no avail! However two weeks ago I started the Atkins diet, I also started taking a multi vitamin with probiotics at the same time. I have been totally BV free for about 7 days, no discharge no smell no nothing. I'm now wondering is it the tablets that are helping or is it the diet? I'm wondering if the foods I was eating were causing BV to flare up?

Replied by Mel
(Wash, Dc)
05/23/2015
★★★★★

Works wonders- eliminate all carbs and sugar and you will cure BV


Dietary Changes
Posted by Vcd (Chicago, Il) on 10/18/2011

Ladies... I did a 13 day detox program, which basically meant no solid foods. Only water, teas, homade soups with organic veggies. The first week was a struggle but what I noticed was no smelly bowel movements, a very pink tongue, bright skin, no vaginal discharge. I lost 12 lbs. Here was the conclusion I made. Its the food we eat that is causing all of the problems in our body. Acidophilus works when you take 4 -8 caps a day. Lysine helps too. There is a product at Walgreens that is great. Comes in a gel and on a tampon. Kills the odor while balancing your PH in your vagina. Drinking TONS of water keeps the smell in check. Stop drinking pop, juice and SUGAR is the biggest culprit. If you don't beleive me. Do a 7 day detox and watch the symptoms go away...


Dietary Changes
Posted by Tae (Landover, Md) on 03/03/2011
★★★★★

Hello I had bv for over 5 years and didnt reach this site until sometime last year, so I tried everything that everyone listed but it kept coming back. I went to a church service and went up for prayer sometime last year and the woman just said God told me to tell you to drink water. Now I said ok and left it alone, recently it was really getting bad and I was praying and God brought that back to my mind. So I started drinking water and didnt do nothing else that everyone else told me to do.. ITS GONE! I know that it sounds weird and its again the norm that only water would cure it but you tried everything else why not just drink water, I stoped drinking everything else and drink water all through the day and after 5 years I am free. Just thought I would give you guys what God gave me..

Replied by Jaci
(North Carolina)
12/08/2017

How long did it take the water to cure it?

Replied by Jackie
(Maryland)
10/17/2018

Wow, I was thinking of increasing my water intake. I have never had so many recurring bv issues until this year. I have taken 4 antibotics and the symptoms come back months later. The doctor just prescribed another antibotic but I am tired of the antibotics. I feel tired and upset stomach. I started taking a probotic with the last antibotics. I think the more water idea sounds the best.

Replied by Sophi
(Bellevue)
11/05/2018

BV I believe is caused from PH change in the vagina I started sleeping on a bio-mat and set it for medium which is pretty warm and sometimes I sweat from it . Then I got BV. I stopped using the bio-mat and I started taking cold showers at night, and I take high doses of probiotics, and folic acid


Dietary Changes
Posted by Lionaess (Healthier, Usa) on 02/06/2011

Any combination of these treatments can be quite beneficial in treating/battling bv. Once you find a combo that works for you, keep with it and maybe even alternate. However none it will be very effective in the long run if you dont change your diet-and fast! The candida diet is best to follow, HOWEVER, it is impossible (and very unhealthy) to avoid sugar altogether. Sugars to definitely avoid are refined sugars. Now this includes all the 'good' stuff we ladies love to indulge in. You really must do your research as refined sugars are are in more typical grocery store products than you probably think there are.

The candida diet advises to avoid fruit, sweet potatoes, etc. But after becoming emaciated I realized this was not correct either. Keeping a well balanced blood sugar level is extremely important. My strong advice is to eat as natural and organic as possible. Processed foods I.E. Canned, boxed, preserved are a no-no. Yes this means pastas, chocolates, ground meats, deli meats, sodas, moldy foods such as cheese, Alcohol, yes I said alcohol, YEAST IS A DEFINITE NO, yes this includes just about all bread. No cakes, cookies, sodas, sugary juices, if you can't pronounce the ingredients you probably shouldn't have it. I know, I know but I assure you not all hope is lost. Yes it is an adjustment and definite lifestyle shift. After much research I've learned there is a lot you can have AND ENJOY! I've learned how to make my own cakes and desserts, breads - all much much less difficult and time consuming than you might think.. And much much healthier. Elanaspantry.com has a wealth of dessert recipes that have truly saved my life (Love You Elana! ) Keep in mind, raw unpastuerized honey and agave I find are ok in moderation. I also use Earth Balance soy free butter when I must have it. Goats milk cheese (aged less than 3 months) when I must have cheese. So Delicious coconut milk ice cream (vanilla bean or vanilla mini bars) when I must have ice cream (you can also make your own) Ezekiel bread when I must have bread.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Naturalchic (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 02/04/2011
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I've tried all of these "cures" and none worked for me. I decided to research the internal cause and found it to be overgrowth of yeast/candida in the colon. The colon has been found to be the main source of alot of sickness and disease in the human body. I went on a yeast free diet (no dairy/sugar/fruits/fried foods/vinegar/wine/alcohol), you can look it up online. I only ate fresh veggies/salads without meat, as it can slow down the digestion process. Along with changing my diet, I started to cleanse my system of all the old food and toxins. The old food in your colon will cause you to store unwanted parasites and toxins in your body so no matter how many acidophilus you take, unless you rid your system of the old bacteria, it will be uneffective.

I went to a local health food store and bought Psyllium Husks, which is an absorbant powder that cleanses the body of toxins and pushes out build up from your colon. I drank 3 teaspoons of psyllium with 8oz of water immediately in the morning and at night right before bed. Drink psyllium on an empty stomach and wait an hour before eating, at night drink an hour or more after eating. Drink an additional glass of water after each psyllium mixture, also be sure to drink a minimum of half your body weight in ounces of water (weigh 150=drink 75oz) throughout the day(VERY IMPORTANT, psyllium will cause constipation and dehydration of you're not drinking enough water). It is also important to take daily probiotics after this cleanse to maintain the healthy flora.

Psyllium will swell in the digestive track absorbing all toxins and sweeping the walls of the DT, forcing it out of the body in bowel movements. This is similar to a colon cleanse but it is much more natural and less expensive. You will notice that when you go to the restroom it will be in the shape of your digestive track, long and bulk.

Within 4 days my bv was gone!! It is recommended to not drink psyllium for longer than a week at a time. But the best part is that, you probably wont need to, as it is not just a temp fix like many of these other recommendations. Please research colon cleanse and yeast for more info. Continue to keep up a yeast free diet and add in only a few foods slowly, to monitor the tolerance on your system. Also dont forget to take probiotics daily.

I'm not a physician, just someone that has been through years of torture. Hopefully this helps anyone that has tried everything, like me. This is the true cure!!!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Alfred Baron (Rangsit, Bangkok,Thailand) on 04/17/2009

3/17/9: Been reading the new postings today. .Woman talk about BV..to take folic acid pills, a short cut would be to take a Glass of Tomato Juice.. Tomato juice is loaded with Folic Acid ..

I am an 81 year old fellow that wants everyone to be healthy and happy..been reading books ,,how to heal your self..amazing book "The Golden Seven plus One by C. Samuel West" will teach you how to heal yourself

Also one more thing..VERY healthy food.. I thought weed in my Garden, only to find out healthy, grows like a weed..has little yellow flowers. PURSLANE.. you can find a picture of it in the computor.

Stay well

Alfred

EC: Purslane - yes! How strange that you should mention this. My husband's friend from Canada just told us about it last week and I was going to mention it as well... Apparently an amazing weed. Going to create a new page for it soon on EC.

Deirdre


Dietary Changes
Posted by Kay (Sunny, CA) on 02/06/2009
★★★★★

I tried not eating any yeast made foods, no pasta, breads, etc and tried folic acid, b12, acv but nothing worked. The doctors I went to visually thought I had BV or an STD but the test results were always negative. I googled and found that coffee can cause BV, yeast infection, migraines, balance problems and dizziness, I had all those issues. I quit drinking coffee including decaf and caffeine products. No more BV! voila!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Di (Brooklyn , NY) on 12/16/2008
★★★★★

Hello ladies, ive been suffering from BV for some time myself. The reason for this bacteria occurrence is the pH imbalance in your vagina. I've noticed that a lot of you are recommending the hydrogen peroxide, it is a good way to get rid of the bacteria but dont over use it. It still is an acid and eventually could cause other complications because it strips away you vaginal walls. For starters what you all should do is try to change you diet. SUGAR IS A BIG NO!! sugar will prevent Lactobacillus species from growing. You should also try to eat more grain and less refined flour foods like white bread and pasta. If you have whole foods in your area or a Russian store you can get kefir, it is cultured milk and a natural probiotic. Try to incorporate kefir into your daily diet. Acidophilus will cure the infection but its up to you to keep it from coming back. Your diet is the key to keeping the pH balance in order. it took me about 2 months with just cutting out sugars and drinking cultured milk to get rid of the infection. I didnt use acidophilus or douches, just kept what i eat under control. Maybe itll help you too.


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.


Essential Oils

3 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  67%
4 star (1) 
  33%

Posted by Mags (Cedar Rapids) on 04/22/2017
★★★★★

I have been battling BV for about 6 years. I have tried everything. Out of frustration I decided to use essential oils to try and help. I have many and thought I would start with a few combinations and see if I can get something that works. I took a douche bottle amd added 3 drop 100% grapefruit oil, 3 drops 100% tea tree oil and 3 drops 20% frankincense. I filled the douche with tap water, shook the bottle and then used the product. I have had no signs of BV, no drying, and no itching. I used it directly after sex with my husband, my symptoms are usually much worse after that. But, again, I have no symptoms. I am hoping this works long term and if I can help anyone else who is dealing with this than I am happy.



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