Home Remedy for BV

In a healthy vagina, there are bacteria present referred to as lactobacilli and bad bacteria, also known as anaerobes. In an unhealthy vagina, the anaerobe bacteria take over and cause an imbalance. The imbalance usually leads to the infection or inflammation which is known as bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis can also be referred to as bacterial vaginitis or simply "BV." In order to get rid of BV, you will need to restore the healthy balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria.

Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis

• Some of the most common signs of bacterial vaginosis include a horrible fish-like odor, accompanied by unusual or increased discharge from the vagina. There may also be itching in and around the vagina, as well as irritation to the affected areas. Women suffering from BV may also experience mild to severe pain during sexual intercourse, light vaginal bleeding or in some cases, painful urination.

Home Remedies for Bacterial Vaginosis

• One of the most common and effective methods of restoring healthy bacteria is through the use of yogurt. The active cultures that are present in yogurt, such as L. acidophilus, can help to restore the healthy types of lactobacillus bacteria levels in the vagina. There are two ways to utilize yogurt effectively in order to relieve and cure your bacterial vaginosis.

  The easiest and quickest method of relief is to use a fresh, unused tampon and soak it in organic, plain yogurt with live active cultures. Look for organic, plain yogurts with active cultures such as L. acidophilus or other lactobacilli listed. You can insert the tampon and allow the bacteria to go to work for up to an hour before removal. Clean the area thoroughly to remove any excess yogurt. However, do not douche afterwards because douching will remove the bacteria before they are given an opportunity to fully fight off the bad bacteria.

  For those who are uncomfortable with inserting yogurt into their vagina, consumption can also work fairly well over the course of one or two weeks. For consumption, the above-mentioned yogurt without sugar or artificial flavors is recommended. However, you can still consume regular yogurts as long as they still contain the listed active cultures. For this method, you should have one container each morning with breakfast and one container each evening before bed. Over the course of several days, this will slowly help return the bacteria levels to normal in your vagina.

  Lastly, to aid in the process you can include soaking in tea tree oil. By mixing a few drops of tea tree oil into your bath water and soaking for a minimum of 20 minutes, you can relieve some of your symptoms. This can be repeated every few days as needed.