5 Home Remedies to Control Excess Vaginal Discharge and Odors
Vaginal discharge and odors are a normal and necessary occurrence in women. However, you shouldn’t be concerned when you notice discharge on your underwear. Instead, you should be keeping an eye out for any signs of dryness. But what should you do in cases of excess vaginal discharge or abnormal vaginal discharge?
The main reason why you should keep it balanced is because vaginal moisture helps protect your intimate area, preventing infections and fungi from developing. In addition, it’s important as an intimate lubricant.
Normal vaginal discharge is transparent and can vary slightly between white and yellowish tones. It usually doesn’t have a strong odor and is relatively unnoticeable. Sometimes, though, this fluid can suddenly and drastically increase or change colors or smells vert strong.
In the latter case, it’s likely due to a fungal infection caused by an alteration of your vagina’s natural pH balance.
The good news is that there are several natural treatments that can help reduce and improve these uncomfortable symptoms. However, don’t forget that they should complement the treatments prescribed by your gynecologist.
In this article, we discuss five of our top home remedies for excess vaginal discharge and bad odors.
Home remedies for excess vaginal discharge and odors
1. Fenugreek tea
Fenugreek is an herb with amazing medicinal properties. It’s highly recommended for women because it’s believed that it promotes a healthy hormonal balance and regular menstrual cycles.
You should also read: 5 Tricks to Be Happy and Healthy During Menopause
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds (10 g)
- 1 cup of water (200 ml)
Instructions
- Grind the fenugreek seeds (using a mortar, if possible.)
- Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the seeds.
- Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.
- Drink this tea twice a day for 10 days.
- You can also use it as a douche.
2. Plain yogurt
Plain yogurt is one of the best natural ways to fight the fungus and bacteria that can cause vaginal discharge and odors, as well as vaginal infections. This is greatly due to its high concentration of lactobacilli, which is a healthy bacteria that regulates vaginal flora and alters the environment to make it unfriendly to pathogens.
The best way of using yogurt to keep infections and fungi at bay is to consume at least half a cup of plain yogurt every day.
If you want to apply it topically, you should consult your doctor first. If they say yes, let it act for 10 minutes in the vagina and then rinse. You can reapply up to three times a day for as long as you need to make the infection go away.
3. Garlic
Garlic is considered one of the most powerful natural antibiotics around. Its active compounds are antibacterial. However, there’s no evidence that consuming it can eliminate odors. You can try including it in your menu anyway:
Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 cup of water (200 ml)
Instructions
- Crush the garlic and add it to the warm water.
- Let stand for 10 minutes and drink as a tea.
- If possible, do this every day on an empty stomach for at least two weeks.
4. Milk and turmeric
Its believed that a combination of milk and turmeric is a simple antibacterial treatment that helps to remove yeast while protecting the entire vaginal area. However, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to guarantee their safety regarding such claims. In fact, the use of turmeric could irritate the skin.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric (5 g)
- 1 cup of milk
Instructions
- Heat the glass of milk over the stovetop and add the turmeric powder.
- Drink warm and repeat daily for best results.
5. Guava leaf tea
Guava tree leaves haveanti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties that have been used for centuries thanks to their medicinal benefits. They’re ideal for fighting menstrual cramps in women. Also, they could be very helpful in relieving problems associated with excess vaginal discharge. However, there’s no medical evidence of these particular cases, which is why you should first consult a doctor.
This article may interest you: Remedies to Treat a Vaginal Yeast Infection
Ingredients
- 10 guava leaves
- 1 liter of water
Instructions
- Place the guava leaves in the water and heat it. Allow them to simmer over medium heat until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Remove from heat and let stand. Once cooled, rinse your vaginal area with the liquid.
- Repeat this treatment twice a day for a week.
In conclusion, it’s best to only choose one of the natural remedies for excess vaginal discharge we shared in this article, as opposed to combining multiple ones. This could lead to the development of even more adverse effects. Complement these treatments with good hygiene and, as always, do your best to lead a healthy lifestyle.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
Calvo-Muñoz, I., & Gómez-Conesa, A. (2012). Asociación entre las mochilas escolares y el dolor de espalda. Revisión sistemática. Fisioterapia, 34(1), 31-38.
