Q: susun,
i am writing because i have gotten bv 5 times in the past 2 years.
the first time i got it i wasn't taking very good care of myself [eating lots of sugar and drinking alcohol]. i tried treating it with a bentonite clay douche- 6 T clay in a pint of luke warm H2O. douche with the H2O after the clay has settled. once daily for 5 days- and echinacea tincture- one dropperful 3 times a day for 3 weeks- followed by goldenseal tincture- one dropperful 3 times a day for one week. take a week break from the tinctures and repeat the cycle 2 more times.
the bv went away, but a month and a half into taking the tinctures it came back [like i said, i ate too much sugar and not enough nourishing foods]. i ended up taking an oral antibiotic to get rid of it.
and up until the past fall i didn't get it again. when i got it in september i didn't know it was bv because i had different symptoms [only a foul odor] and i had it checked out by a homepathic practitioner and she thought the smell was caused by something else. and it wasn't until i'd had it for 3 months did i go to a gynecologist and find out it was bv. because i had it for so long it scared me into taking the antibiotic vaginal gel [metronidazole] the gynecologist gave me.
2 months after that i got it again. and used the rest of the metronidazole.
i hate the capitalist system that has made it so hard for me to treat myself wholistically all the time. and avoid antibiotics as much as possible.
so in saying all of that. this is where i'm at now. i don't use scented laundry detergent and dry my clothes in high heat. i wear only cotton underwear [when i wear it]. i eat almost no sugar. i eat a balanced, vegan diet- whole grains, lots of veggies, fruits and beans. i drink alcohol rarely. i take a probiotic [acidophilus] supplement daily. i eat fermented foods. i wipe from front to back. i use a natural, unscented soap. i boil my keeper before i use it. i haven't even been stressed out lately. i feel like i'm doing everything i possibly can to prevent any diseases.
and just this morning while cleaning my yoni i find that it smells like bv. since i stayed at a friends house and didn't have access to my herds and such, i stuck a clove of garlic covered in olive oil up by my cervix. i've taken one dose of echinacea so far and have the clay and H2O settling in a jar.
i've decided to try the clay douche and echinacea and goldenseal for real this time [no sugar and alcohol and coffee to hinder my healing]. but i wanted to consult you and see what you think could be up. it seems like my yoni hates me.
please let me know if you think i should try something else.
thanx, n.
A: Hello N., thank you for writing. I have heard women struggle with diagnoses of BV over the years. Not having suffered it that I know of, I do may not have the personal experience.
Often the women's relationships with "down there" are one of battle and hate. In your case I hear you feel your yoni hates you. These are strong emotions to feel with such an intimate part of our body.
Any suggestions I have may not be from personal experience, so take them as you will. I say may not since I have never officially had this diagnosis, and some with bv suggest that if I am all better I never really had it. I have suffered infections of sorts - discharge, itchiness and most recently smell. In all cases I found it took me looking at many angles.
One was my relationship with this part of my body and how I view its expression. This can not be overlooked. It sounds you have done this and care deeply for your well being.
Another, you have also done, was disposing of nylons and even rarely wearing underwear at all. Cotton clothing and not tight. I like to breathe. Another one that puzzles me still is that I notice a smell sometimes only when I wash. I have concluded it is a reaction of the soap with my tissues or fluids. I have myself chosen to wash less with soap other than around the outside of the area and have consequently been healthier feeling and smelling. I also noticed the smell correlating with how diligent I was about washing after intimate relations.
I think it is a beautiful vibrant ecosystem down there and many things can effect it. It is highly adaptable for a time, but can get thrown off. With love and care I believe it has the ability to readjust itself.
You may also enjoy reading this from Susun Weed on the topic:
The big antibacterial herb is echinacea. I use the tincture of the fresh root of E. purpurea or tincture of the dried or fresh root of E. augustifolia
A dose is one drop for every two pounds you weigh. (150 pounds = 75 drops) A dropperful is about 25 drops.
The dose can be taken 4-6 times a day for 10-14 days. In addition, I would do a sitz bath in water with apple cider vinegar in it once a day during the treatment.
Another useful antibacterial herb is yarrow. The tincture is used and a dose is about 25 drops 3-4 times a day. You could brew a quart of yarrow infusion and do a sitz bath in that, too.
Blessings,
Karen Joy
I never had a problem with bv until my husband. He smokes cigarettes and the second he comes near me, I get it. Quit smoking, and don't have unprotected sex with people who do. An alkaline body is helpful, but if you don't stop the source, it will always come back. Also a heavy reliance on antibiotics, natural or synthetic, will also create problems. When I am not pregnant or nursing (rare these days) I use a zapper. Weakens all problems and gets the bad gone. Good luck!
Posted by: Shelby | August 01, 2014 at 09:10 AM
Hello Ladies,
Bacterial Vaginosis is so frustrating, I know. I have been dealing with it for a few months now and I'm finally feeling like I'm getting somewhere good. I have been eating yogurt every day, wearing cotton underwear, taking probiotics by mouth, AND also inserting vaginal probiotic sepositories. The vaginal sepositories I think seem to help the best. You can get them at: wisewomenherbals.com. I've also been instructed to douche with Triphala. You can get the powder form of that herb at Banyanbotanicals. Steep the herb 1-4 ratio of herb to water. Strain. and then douche with liquid.
Also, make sure your diet is super clean: no sugar, no alcohol, no processed foods, no wheat, and no dairy (other than yogurt). Eat tons of leafy greens, whole grains, and clean protein. No meat. Dandelion greens are GREAT.
I shower using a tea tree oil soap.
All of this is good stuff. However, I think what is SOO important that has not been mentioned, is what our sexual relationships are like. I know for myself that my relationship has not been in the best place, but when I continue to have sex, going against the feeling of not really being fully supported emotionally by my partner, my BV flares up agains. So, with that said, make sure that your partner is in a good place too and that you two really are in the right frame of mind to be having sex. Our bodies are very powerful and if the mind and body aren't in sync, the body will react.
It also could be even simpler... maybe your partner has a really acidic lifesyle/diet... encourage him/her to have a clean diet too and maybe take probiotics with you.
I'm here for all you ladies. This has been a struggle.
Posted by: Mary | March 31, 2012 at 08:16 AM