18 Home Remedies for Vaginal Discharge

Leukorrhea, or vaginal discharge, is common among women.  It is a thin or thick discharge of fluid, white, clear or another color in nature that is sometimes odorless or has an odor. It happens between your menstrual cycles or during pregnancy. It can last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

There are different types of vaginal discharges and also difference causes. It can sometimes be caused by hormonal changes in your body, specifically an increase in estrogen.   

Another thing that can cause it is a vaginal infection or an STD.  A symptom of the STD is a foul odor and it will be yellow or green in color. That is also a bad vaginal discharge sign.  

Other things that contribute to leukorrhea are tampons left in too long, anemia, and diabetes.  Also if you get an injury you can get one too.  

When to do Something About Vaginal Discharge

Vaginal discharge is a natural thing that most all women go through. Because of this, it is not a health problem. However, at certain times, you may want to try to change the color or odor of your vaginal discharge. When the odor or the color of the discharge changes, it could be a sign of an STD. Changes like these are also common in pregnant women. If you are worried that you have an STI or STD, see a doctor.

The only other reason one might want to change their vaginal discharge is if they do not like the scent. Discharge is not usually something that smells great, but it shouldn’t smell terrible either. If the smell is unbearable, then you should probably see a doctor.

Home Remedies for Vaginal Discharge

Since the vaginal discharge is a natural thing, which is usually not a health problem, these home remedies will work to bringing strange colored or smelly vaginal discharges back to their normal pH, color, and smell. They will not eliminate vaginal discharge.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar will restore your natural pH balance.  It will also reduce odor and protect your flora (the natural bacteria found in your vagina.).  You can either take it as a drink or use as a vaginal wash. To use it as a drink, mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water. If you do not like the taste, you can also add honey and/or lemon juice.

To use the apple cider vinegar in a bath, add two cups of the liquid to a warm bath. Soak in this bath for 20-30 minutes. Do this every day until you see a difference in your vaginal discharge.

2. Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are also used to help vaginal discharge.  It too will help restore your natural pH balance and restore your levels of estrogen.  The seeds boost your immune system.  All you need to do is drink fenugreek tea each day to see results.

 

3. Indian Gooseberry (Amla)

Indian gooseberry is good for the health of your vagina. It also has vitamin C to boost your immunity. You can eat or drink it daily to see results.

 

4. Banana

Bananas are good for stomach problems as well as helping rid you of vaginal discharge as it maintains the health of your vagina. Eat a banana or two a day to restore your vaginal discharge back to normal.

 

5. Figs

The fig acts as a laxative or bowel movement medicine which helps relieve the body and remove toxins or bacteria.  You can either drink it or use it as a vaginal wash. To use it as a vaginal wash, you can cut the fruit open and rub it on your vagina. It is best to do this while in the shower so you do not make a mess.

 

6. Cranberry Juice

You remember how your mother tells you to drink cranberry juice because it will ward off yeast infections and urinary tract infections? It actually does remove the wrong bacteria from your vagina allowing it to not attach to your wall. You can drink cranberry juice daily to see results.

7. Okra

Okra is both a fruit and a vegetable.  The good thing about okra is that it helps to reduce your vaginal discharge.  You can drink it or eat it to see results.

 

8. Indian Lilac

Indian lilac is also known as neem or margosa.  It is used for treating the itching, and other discomforts that appear during your vaginal discharge. Use as a vaginal wash for best results. To use this as a vaginal wash, boil some need leaves in water until the water changes color. Allow the water to cool before rinsing your vaginal area with.

 

9. Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate is a fruit which is good for treating your discharge.  You can drink pomegranate juice or use it as a vaginal wash. Either way, make sure you are using 100% pomegranate juice. Do not use juice with added sugars, especially if you are using it as a vaginal wash. This will only make problems worse. To ensure the juice is 100% juice, try making your own juice with a juicer at home.

 

10. Ginger Tea

Ginger is good for yeast infections and treating vaginal discharges. Try drinking ginger tea up to three times a day to see results. This tea also treats inflammation, which can treat a number of STD and STI symptoms as well.

 

11. Basil

Basil helps that discharge lessen and is considered to be antifungal.  You can use basil in a couple of different ways. One of the simplest ways to use this home remedy is to chew on a basil leaf or add basil to your meals.

Another way to use basil is to make basil tea. To do this, take a couple of basil leaves and put them in hot or boiling water until the water changes color (it will turn a yellowish color). Once the color changes, take out the leaves and allow the drink to cool. You can either drink this tea or use it as a vaginal wash.

 

12. Yogurt

Yogurt is with of healthy bacteria, which can help to get rid of the bad bacteria in your vagina, as well as helps you maintain a healthy balance in your stomach.  For this home remedy, it is essential that you use plain yogurt with no added sugars. Soak your tampon in the yogurt and then insert it into your vagina and then take it out after a couple of hours. Once removed, rinse the vagina with water or take a shower. Do this every day to see results.

 

13. Mango

Mango seeds are a good form of bacteria fighter. To use this as a home remedy, you can either eat the seeds or make a tea from the leaves, as you would with basil leaves. Like the basil tea, you can use mango leaf tea as a drink or a vaginal wash.

 

14. Chamomile Tea

If you like teas then drink chamomile tea as a form a fighting power against vaginal discharge. Simply drink the tea a few times a day to see an improvement in the thickness, color, and smell of your vaginal discharge.

 

15. Garlic

Garlic is a root used to treat many conditions and vaginal discharge is included among them. Simply put them inside your food and eat.

 

16. Underwear Tips

You should wash your panties daily in an antibiotic solution and then air dry them. Don’t wear tight or dirty underwear, as this can cause or make strange vaginal discharge worse.

17. Special Soap

Wash your vagina with medicated soap; you should wash twice a day. it is best to avoid soaps that are scented. Sometimes, women are allergic to certain scents, and an allergic reaction can make vaginal discharge change. So, simply changing your soap may solve the problem of strange vaginal discharge.

 

18. Wipe Carefully

Wipe front to back when going to the bathroom. Wiping the other way can get feces and other bacteria into your vagina, which may cause strange vaginal discharge. Wiping your bum correctly after using the toilet can work to both cures and prevent strange vaginal discharge.

To recap- vaginal discharge or leukorrhea as it is called is a problem that many women face as stated previously above.  In fact, it can be a non-serious issue as well as a serious STD issue. There are different types of discharges. There is the normal discharge of a healthy vagina which is just its way of cleaning itself.  

There is the discharge that is because you have candida or a yeast infection also known as the cottage cheese discharge.  You could also have the smelly yellow or green discharge which could signal a sexually transmitted disease or just the clear, thick or thin discharge of leukorrhea.  

Whichever vaginal discharge you have you can find treatment over the counter or in your own house and not have to go to a doctor. But what you may want to do is to go to your doctor just to get a verbal and diagnostic verification so you are definitely sure of what you are dealing with.  If after you have done that you don’t wish to use prescription medication then inform your doctor of same and proceed with some of the eighteen home remedies listed above.

Picture Credit

The cover photo was originally made by Michiel1972 and later edited by Saibo. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0.