Top Natural Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies

Okay ladies so here is my update since my last post. I've been doing research for weeks about yeast infections and BV because I believe I have one or the other. I was already prescribed diflucan and used monistat cream for a yeast infection, but neither of those helped. I'm convinced that this is BV and not a yeast infection. I've had symptoms such as mild to severe itching, excessive yellowish discharge with a slight odor, burning sensation when urinating, and swelling of the vaginal area. In the beginning when I thought this was a yeast infection, I started taking the acidophilus and was doing the warm sitz baths with apple cider vinegar. Those helped with the itching temporarily and didn't really have complete relief. I then started doing more research and found that I had to change my eating habits, restore the good bacteria in my gut, and build my immune system. As of right now, the burning has gone away completely; the itching has subsided tremendously; I can sleep at night comfortably now. The only thing I still have is this nasty excessive yellowish discharge, but the odor is not as bad and I still have this off and on swelling. This is what I have been doing based on continuous weeks of research and reading posts from other women sufferers of this issue.

November 30, 2009 I started a change in my diet, reducing my sugar intake and carbs, making sure I don't eat anything with yeast in it, with high amounts of sugar, and gluten-free. I eat more veggies, lean meats and proteins, and 6-8oz of plain, non fat yogurt every morning. I have cut out breads, pastas, starches, rice unless it's whole grain pasta or brown rice. I don't eat much fruit as this contains sugar as well, but i drink the no sugar added cranberry juice.

December 10, 2009 I started incorporating Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Garlic, and Echinacea/Goldenseal Supplements supplements with my diet.

12/10 - 12/15 I took the following per day:

1 Folic Acid 800mcg
1 Vitamin C 500mg
4 Echinacea/Goldenseal Herb Supp. 1800mg
4 Garlic Softgels 4000mg

12/16 to present I took the following per day

2 Folic Acid 1600mcg
2 Vitamin C 1000mg
4 Echinacea/Goldenseal Herb Suppl 1800mg
4 Garlic Softgels 4000mg

I've been doing more research and I'm going to change up a few things. I am looking to incorporate Acidophilus/probiotic supplements, Vitamins A,D, and B12(to take with folic acid to prevent deficiency), and grapefruit seed extract supplements. I am also going to change from garlic softgels to ones with enteric coating because I read that enteric coating allows the capsules/tablets to break down where it is needed(in the gut) where as softgels break down in the stomach(because of our acid) not reaching the infected area. Garlic, Echinacea/Goldenseal, Grapefruit Seed Extract are natural herbs that act as natural antibitiocs with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

I am really determined to beat this just as you ladies are and hope we can continue to help and educate each other with this problem as the doctors seem to not really care of offer up natural approaches. We all know this is because of money of course. Like I said before my issue I am still having is the discharge and the swelling and I would like to know any recommendations you ladies have with that and what all have you been doing to get rid of BV. Any tips are helpful.

Thanks!

Hi Dameimei,

I should clarify that the product I used specified ORAL use. I used 2 capsules a day orally, but added a third capsule in vag based on recommendations from others on this web site and from similar recommendations found on another site. I strongly suspect that the main factor responsible for my 5-day cure was the capsule inserted in vag. (a nurse I had consulted early on had recommended to use yoghurt in vag but I thought that was a messy solution...glad I found the capsules instead). If you don't find the product I used, I found an alternative product on the internet and it seems very promising: each capsule contains 5 billion live organisms, a mixture of:
lactobacillus rhamnosus and lactobacillus reteri.

In this case also the bottle specifies ORAL use but the web site hints that using in vag would produce faster results. Good luck!

Hi Simi,

I searched the web but I am not sure which product to get.. Does the capsule you use for vaginal insert has a vaginal use label on it? or is the same type you use orally? I can't find a probiotic for vaginal use contains as much as the one you use. I was at our local healthy food store for a hour today but I didn't find anything close to your neither (the contains of the probiotic). I know this site does not allow member to mention about the brand name so I know it's a bit tough to describe but I really need help. Thank you for all your advise, I really appreciate it!

Hi Simi,

Thank you for replying. You are right, I use the same capsule as the one I take orally. That must be the problem.. My condition was better for a day but then started to get worse.. Good thing I stop after one day. My vag is now swollen a bit and irritated. I need to find the right type for inserting. Once again, thank you!

Hello Dameimei,

I suspect that 1 capsule a day would do the job (at bedtime). The discharge I had seemed to be similar to yours (no smell, transluscent witish-grey color). It was all gone after 5 days of treatment with the probiotic capsules. You are probably not using the same type of capsules that I used (my bottle specified that they were for restoring vaginal flora).

Anyway, you're on the right track. Don't give up!

Hi Simi,

I have been suffering from yeast then BV for almost a week now. I think it started as yeast but turned into BV now. (I had to take some antibiotic a week before for urinary tract infection and then I started to have white chunky discharge). I also follow the remedies which suggested by many people on this site but it has not cleared (it has been 5 days now).

I am taking 1 garlic supplement, 2 L. Acidophilus capsules and 1 multivitamin (I use Folic Acid on the first 2 days but then slow down since my mutivatamin has folic acid). I also inserted 1 L. Acidophilus capsule two nights ago. The first morning after I tried the L. Acidophilus in vagina, I felt a lot better. I then insert another one few hours after I woke up and one later in the afternoon. I then started to have itchiness and irritation on my vagina. The white chunky discharge seems almost gone but I started to have light ivory color discharge. The discharge is more liquid form with a light smell. The smell is not fish at all, not like most people with BV. It is a very light smell. I think I may insert too frequanly. Did you have the similar discharge after you use the probiotic capsule in vag?

I stop insert it in my vag since I am not sure if I am actually making my condition worst by insert more bacteria. Please let me know if you also have discharge and how you feel during the treatment. Maybe I just need to limit to one at night. Thank you!

I am so grateful for this web site and the recomendations which helped me to cure my BV (bacterial vaginitis). I am 60 years old and have not had any symptoms for the past 10 years. My BV symptoms consisted of a sudden appearance of an abundant discharge on DAY 1 (Nov 7th). After 7 days of treatment for a yeast infection there was no improvement. Finally I found your site on DAY 20 and immediately bought 2 products at the pharmacy:

- multivitamin pills (which included 0.4 mg floric acid)
- 50 capsules of a probiotic mixture which caught my attention as I was looking in the store for acidophilus. Each capsule contains:
300 million bifidobacterium bifidum
300 million bifidobacterium longum
300 million lactobacillus acidophilus
5.1 billion lactobacillus rhamnosus

For 5 days I used the following remedy:
1 multivitamin
2 capsules of probiotic taken orally (morning and evening)
1 capsule of probiotic inserted in vag. (at bedtime)

On the 3rd day I observed a slight improvement
On the 4th day, I observed considerable improvement
On the 6th day I stopped inserting the capsule in the vigina. (and the discharge was negligeable the next morning)
I have had no discharge since then!!
On the 9th day I stopped taking the multivitamins
Very soon, I will reduce the probiotics to one a day orally (and replace with probiotic yougurt in my diet)

I hope this information can help others. I also switched to 100% cotton and only white underwear.
I had tried the diluted H2O2 wash twice a day, but soon gave it up, because I had a better cleaner feeling from using very mild unscented soap.

Yay for tea tree oil! Like many other people, I have suffered from BV for a year and was on several different antibiotics. As soon as I stopped treatment, the infection returned. Frustrated, I began to explore alternative treatments. I tried just about everything under the sun: hydrogen peroxide, apple cider vinegar, folic acid, acidophilus, garlic; nothing worked. Having read that everyone's body is different I kept at it, but it was a difficult process to find my miracle cure. Tea tree oil changed everything. I douche with it every couple days or as soon as symptoms start appearing. After one treatment the symptoms are gone. I use 15-20 mL of water and 12 drops of tea tree oil, but start with much less oil (1 or 2 drops) and see what you can handle, because it will burn, especially if the vagina is inflamed and sore.

I have been dealing with I thought was a yeast infection then all of a sudden I noticed a foul smelling odor afterwards that was hard to get rid of, however; I just used the garlic gel pills that is 1,000 mg and inserted (2 pills) in my vagina for two days in between those days a discharged occurred but I guess it was normal for that to happen but I am now odor and discharge free. Why? did I do this because when you go to the doctor they give you pencillin and next to that if you can't afford the visit garlic is next in line to cure you. I read this site whereas everyone is using gel pills so I went home and inserted the garlic gel pills instead remind you I had this infection for about a good 3 months and it was getting worse now. I am cured. Just keep washing with dove unscented soap and keep a dry unscented pantiliner on day and night to keep yourself dry. Remember garlic eats yeast and purifies. I advise you all not to douche just keep your system flush with fluid because that vinegar/water douche by equate irritated me that caused this to happen.

Saywhat from Chandler. Sounds like a BV to me, I was in the same boat as you they thought it was a yeast infection. The Diflucan will giving abdominal cramping, especially if you take more than one does, plus it can give you a headache. I only have the slight discharge and burning from the BV. I do the hydrogen perioxide mix and a small syringe (no needle on it) and insert it slightly up in the va-ja area, then I also squirt a little around the outside area. I have been doing this for about 3 weeks now and am now only doing it about 4 times a week. Plus I take a folic acid and an acidophylius in the a.m. in the pill form with the rest of my vitamins.

Good luck with your BV and your other serious illness :)

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have read pages and pages of posts on this site. A week ago I was checked, as a last resort, for a yeast infection (I was sick but nobody could figure out from what so the vag check was a last resort). I had no itching, burning, oder, discomfort, or discharge but the Dr. said I had a small amount of discharge but it was "up there". He swabbed me anyway and sent it off to the lab but gave me a Diflucan in the meantime-which I took immediately. Two days later his office called and said the labs came back and showed BV and they had already called in a Rx for Flagyl (which I filled but never took--WAY too many side effects and I was already sick). It has now been 8 days since I took the Diflucan and I never felt like I had a yeast infection in the first place. I've been taking 5 billion CFU, multi-strain, probiotics w/ nutraflora (200mg) 2xday, 1000 mg vitamin C, and 1000 mg garlic daily for a few days now. I check everytime I go to the bathroom and there has never been the tale-tale smell of BV. Today though, I started feeling achy in my abdomen and my sunshine started to itch on the outside. Doesn't hurt to pee but it's uncomfortable feeling on the surrounding area. So, now what? Is this yeast, BV, or a mystery? The only thing I haven't done is take the folic acid and insert a capsule. Garlic will treat bacterial and viral infections but I don't think I'm up for shoving one up there, ya know? I can buy plain yogurt and folic acid tomorrow if anyone thinks that might do it. Thoughts, opinions, suggestions definitely welcome! Fortunately, I am not used to getting these infections but my PH (and everything else) has been off lately due to a serious illness. Thanks for everything!!!! LOVE this site!!!!

I have been suffering with BV on and off for about a year now. I am in my early twenties and newly married, so as you know this is very frustrating!

Antibiotics, both oral and gel, worked for me the first couple times, but now I am suffering constantly. There is a constant discharge and burning sensation when I urinate, almost like a UTI, but not quite. I have had cultures done for everything from a yeast infection to chlamydia with negative results to all of them. This means without a doubt that this "infection" I have had for the past FEW MONTHS has been BV.

I have been on this website almost everyday since I discovered it a couple weeks ago. I have tried a couple things with positive results to everything. I have been taking 2-6 400 mcg Folic Acid tablets a day in congunction with a popular wellness company's multivitamin (because you must take a vitamin b complex with the folic acid in order for it to work effectively) along with 28 million units of probiotics a day. All of this worked very well, but did not cure the BV completely.

I found that any time I ate something with added sugar the BV flared up. Also, not taking the above mentioned supplements regularly is useless-- it will just come right back. I have to say though, it DID help a lot. However, I want it GONE!

I just went to the local pharmacy and purchased Boric Acid and double zero gel capsules to try. I will let everyone know how it goes in a couple of days.

BV is seriously a curse and I don't wish it upon my worst enemies. I was about to give up and continue with the antibiotics but I searched the internet for hours looking for a natural remedy and I found this website. I am so grateful for this website and all of the people that have contributed their stories... especially the women being so open and honest about their vajayjays, that takes some guts! It is great to know I'm not alone.

WARNING!

It is SOOOOO important that you go to the doctor and get tested for BV or STDs!!!! I was going to Planned Parenthood for a very long time. I was getting exam after exam and every time I went in there, they told me I had BV and gave me meds that never worked. So finally I decided enough was enough and went to my Gyno doctor, where she told me I did not have BV but I have PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE! This can cause infertility and pregnancy complications that can cause death! Please please get to the doctor before you self medicate yourself! Some of the symptoms of BV are similiar to PID and if you have any pain what so ever, get to the doctor and get checked out!

It has been 8 days since my last post on B6. It is definitely a "YEA"! I highly recommend it to anyone who probiotics (in and out of the vagina), folic acid, hydrogen peroxide, yogurt (in and out of the vagina), olive leaf extract, B-complex vitamins, etc.... did not work for. I don't know if my hormones were out of whack for being on birth control pills for 20 years or what, but nothing has worked like 100 mg of vitamin B6 in addition to my multivitamin. I even had sex a couple of days ago and no sign of BV, which is awesome because it comes back usually the day after! One woman on another site reported being cured after one day and another about three days. Just be careful because you can overdose on B6, but 100mg in addition to your multivitamin I was told was safe. Good luck, ladies.

It has been 5 days since I started taking 100mg of vitamin B6. The first 3 days I still had a yellowish discharge but the ammonia smell started going away. The 4th day same discharge, and still less of an ammonia smell. Today I haven't had any discharge yet and it's after 2:00 p.m. I have no odor whatsoever either! If I have to take vitamin B6 forever I will do it just to keep BV away! It sure beats having to insert stuff in your vagina all the time! Thank you all!

I wrote to you about olive leaf extract a few weeks ago. The relief was short-lived and a day after taking it, I started my period and got BV again. I continue to take it for other benefits, but I am writing to say that I was reading a site today and a guy was telling about his wife suffering from BV for about seven years. He researched and was desperate to find a cure for her and claims he found one! He linked alot of BV problems seemed to be hormonal problems and had her to take 100mg of vitamin B6 a day along with her multivitamin and she has been BV free for some time. I hope this is the answer I started taking the B6 this evening. Only time will tell. Thank you for your posts!

I have been dealing with yeast and bacterial vaginosis every month for over 4 years. I am finally getting relief. I have tried soooo many different things from natural remedies to antibiotic pills, cremes, and gels.

I haven't tried the folic acid/B vitamin yet, but that is on the top of my shopping list. I wonder if Vitamin A would help, I've read that they recommend that for helping with genital warts...

Your immune system needs your help to fight this off! Weren't antibiotics just invented in the 20th century? How did they cure everything before then? Antibiotics just seem to keep the cycle going by killing off your good bacteria and fighter cells, leaving one infection just to start up another infection.

Medicinal Douching (with herbs) is recommended, but the influx of that much water just seems to make it worse for me, so I apply small amounts with a Q-tip.

Here are things that made drastic differences for me for both bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections:

BEST ONE SO FAR FOR YEAST: Candida Cleanse-type pills, taken first thing in the morning EVERY DAY to ensure best absorption on an empty stomach

***All of the following are diluted w/purified water and applied internally to the vagina with a Q-tip***

I keep the diluted mixes in the fridge in new/clean jars or glass bottles with lids.
-Apple cider vinegar (diluted)
and/or
-Tea Tree oil (one drop is strong enough when diluted w/water)
and/or
-Colloidal Silver Tinctures
- Hydrogen peroxide (diluted or full strength).

Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced in the vagina as part of the cleaning process, and acidophilus is a naturally present health helper in the vagina, but overuse of peroxide is no fun for your vagina

-Acupuncture has helped a great deal in combination with the all of the above

I ALWAYS ALTERNATE THE ABOVE METHODS WITH Applying acidophillus powder mixed with water

Emotional stress makes my symptoms worse. Cut back on sugar, as this taxes the immune system and also feeds yeast cells. Bulk up your immune system on a regular basis with Vitamin C, Folic acid, and a good brand of Acidophilus

I've been suffering from bacterial vaginosis for more than five years. I've been trying everything suggested by everyone such as acidophillus pills, yogurt, folic acid, hydrogen peroxide... you name it. I recently went to a health food store and the lady working there suggested I use Olive leaf extract because it killed viruses and bacteria. I only started taking it yesterday but haven't seen any discharge or smell today. I pray this is the answer for me and anyone else the other remedies haven't worked for. I bought a bottle of 60 capsules and it says to take 3 times a day after a meal. I hope this helps someone!

I had originally posted on this board when I thought I found a cure for BV. I got BV about 4 months ago for the 1st time, and every month up to July, after. My dr. prescribed huge antibiotics which very much upset my stomach and the following month it was back again. That's when I decided to try a natural method.

I was using peroxide as a wash, taking acidophilus, and folic acid pills. But the day I stopped or missed my regiment it would come back. I even went so far as to insert the acidophilus capsules. It helped the smell but it was totally inconvenient for me. Gave me a strange discharge (from the pills dissolving) and (after that) made my own moisture a slightly grainy consistency that was not nice during intercourse.

***So I gave up on that. I have been taking 3 ounce shots (drinks) (1-3/day) of apple cider vinegar and eating yogurt (you know the kind marketed to help your digestive track) everyday. I'm not really a fan of yogurt but I get the drinkable ones and pretend it's a treat. Ive been using regular brand ACV and it worked to clear infection, tho I am sure the organic unfiltered stuff works best.

I can say its been gone now for long enough time to vouch for this method.

There was one weekend I didn't have any yogurt or ACV and I started to notice a very slightly off odor. So on Monday I had 2 yogurts and 1 shot of ACV, and it was gone that day.

The treatment I would recommend would be 2-3, 3 ounce drinks (shot glass) of apple cider vinegar (orally) for a week for 10 days to cure infection. And from now until forever; eating yogurt every day. It sounds like a lot but yogurt is easy to find, pretty cheap, has calcium, and tastes ok. I would recommend the drinkable kind as you can throw them in your purse on the way to anywhere and drink it quickly. Also try to drink cranberry juice (not cocktail) when you can. I feel like that helps to prevent re-infection.

Best of luck

Hi all,

I had bv for a long time...n it was really bad.....but i am extremely happy to say that now its been completely cured... as i had read in a lot of articles that yogurt, curd, buttermilk contain probiotics that help body regain its natural microbial flora, I increased my daily buttermilk intake...thus, i recommend a glass of buttermilk, per day for getting rid of bv....

If you do not get ready buttermilk, you just have to take two spoons of yogurt, mix well and add drinking water to make a glass full of buttermilk..

This is really an effective way, rather than taking tablets and other medications.

Hello everyone, I am estatic. I am so pleased with this natural remedy for BV that I will continue to use this if this issue ever arises again.

I bought vinegar/water douche and a bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide. I poured half (1/2) of the ready made douche into a clean cup and then filled the douche bottle with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). I laid down on my back and used the douche as instructed. I held the mixture inside of my vagina for about 5 mins and then released the mixture into the toilet. Then I rinsed the outside of my vagina with the remaining douche mixture I poured into the cup. I did this once daily for a week. I had no irritation from this.

I also took one garlic supplement and one folic acid approx 400mcg daily for a week.

There is no smell or discharge coming from my vagina. I also continued to have sex. If necessary I douched afterward. I personally recommend that if you can avoid sex please do during the process.

peroxide/water douche and 10ml of plain yogurt cured my frequent recurring bacterial vaginosis

I just wanted to reply to Lus: Did you get the copper IUD or the plastic IUD with hormone? About a year ago I had a copper IUD removed that I had for over 6 years. I didnt have any problems with bacterial vaginosis though. There is a time limit to how long a woman can have an IUD so I got mine removed. I talked to my mother in law and she said she had the copper IUD and never had any problems so I went that route. I didnt want to try anything with hormones. I hope this helps

Hi ladies I have to say thanks for all of your input. I thought I was the only one in the world struggling with this problem. I've also researched that if you have an IUD that may be the cause of the BV as well. I've been taking one garlic pill twice a day. One in the morning and one at night. I've also been drinking a probiotic drink that has lots of bacteria that's similar to yogurt. I consume one every morning. So far for about a month, I've noticed some changes. I have little to no odor after intercourse and after my cycle. The discharge has decreased significantly! Hardly any at all.