Treatments at home: do they work?
NO one likes being sick and if it happens, no one likes the thought of popping pills on a timed basis to clear up their symptoms. As such, an entire industry revolves around natural care with things you can find in your home or garden. But before you go hunting through your backyards or herbal stores, Dr Orlando Thomas of Thomas Medical in Old Harbour reminds women that just having a healthy diet is significantly important to their gynaecological and reproductive health.
“The same old advice we give for every condition is usually underestimated, but it works. Ensure you are doing the basic things —exercising, eating right, getting fresh air, sunlight and adequate rest,” he said.
Below Dr Thomas explains some natural treatment methods that can, to an extent, or fully, assist with gynaecological issues.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for yeast infections
Herbalists say ACV is considered to be a natural antibiotic that fights against bacteria, viruses, fungi and other disease-causing organisms. However, Dr Thomas said while ACV has acidic properties and yeast doesn’t thrive well in an acidic environment, it may have some effect on a yeast infection. But for him, garlic is a better antibiotic.
2. Garlic for yeast
According to Dr Thomas, garlic definitely works in early or severe yeast infections. He said you should take a clove, peel off the natural white paper shell, leave the clove intact, tie a string around it to aid in removal, and at bedtime place the clove in the vagina. However, in the morning you should remove the clove and flush it down the toilet. You should continue this for one or two days till the itchiness is gone. But if your yeast infection is in the late stage, a higher dose of garlic is needed. However, he warned against cutting the cloves as this will burn the vagina.
3. Using parsley to induce menstruation
Dr Thomas said this can be done by either steeping the parsley leaves to make tea or by inserting the parsley into the vagina. He explained that the parsley causes the uterus to contract and brings the onset of an overdue period as it delays ovulation. But he explained that the instances in which this is required are not very common. He said the parsley should be avoided by pregnant women as it can cause a miscarriage.
4. ACV for bacterial vaginosis:
Herbalists say ACV is slightly acidic and has the power to alter the pH of the vagina to allow good bacteria to thrive and prevent bad bacteria from growing. They advise women to do this by having a vinegar bath, a vinegar douche or drinking the vinegar in a diluted form. But Dr Thomas said bacterial vaginosis has multiple causes, some of which ACV might not be able to help. “Various types of bacteria can cause bacterial vaginosis, and while ACV might be useful against the milder ones, it may not be effective against some of the more severe organisms such as trichomonas. You may get mixed results, so I wouldn’t recommend ACV unless you’re sure of what is causing it. You diagnose based on symptoms, which may not give you the specific germ, so I’d stick with the traditional route of going with an antibiotic,” he said.
5. Red raspberry leaves for PMS, cramps
Dr Thomas said this leaf is effective in treating PMS and menstrual cramps as it has a relaxant effect on the muscles of the uterus. He added that it also seems to help women going into labour by making the process easier. “It’s a natural remedy that’s very free of side effects,” he said.
Dr Thomas said based on research, he has found that alcohol and coffee tend to have negative consequences for female and reproductive health, and cautioned women having issues in these areas to avoid such drinks.
