Bartholin Cysts
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Bartholin Cysts - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Jun 11, 2025
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Tea Tree Oil for Bartholin Cysts.

Bartholin gland cysts, often experienced by women when the Bartholin's glands near the vaginal opening get blocked and retain fluid, are a prevalent health concern. These cysts typically do not cause pain but can lead to discomfort and significant pain if infected or inflamed.

Many individuals turn to natural treatments for Bartholin cysts, seeking alternatives to traditional medical approaches like antibiotics, surgical drainage, or marsupialization. These natural methods are valued for their potential lower side effects and affordability.

Natural Remedies for Bartholin Cysts

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, the most popular remedy on Earth Clinic for Bartholin cysts, is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree and has been used for centuries for its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.  It is recommended to dilute tea tree oil with carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, before applying it to the affected area.

An Earth Clinic reader from Georgia shared her positive experience using tea tree oil to treat a Bartholin cyst. This was her second encounter with such a cyst; the first time, she endured a week of pain. Facing a road trip and unable to afford a long recovery, she acted promptly.

Starting on a Wednesday morning, she applied a combination of castor oil and tea tree oil on gauze, placing it on the cyst. This provided relief from pain, making it just an irritation. She continued the application through Thursday, even while at work. Though the discomfort increased, the pain remained manageable.

Later, she added turmeric powder to the castor oil, noting bleeding when removing the gauze, which she took as a positive sign. After an Epsom salt bath and applying more oil (including frankincense), she used a hot water bottle for heat therapy. By 2 AM, she noticed the cyst was draining.

Her experience highlights the effectiveness of combining natural remedies like tea tree oil, turmeric, and heat therapy to expedite the healing of Bartholin cysts, reducing a week-long ordeal to just two days of manageable discomfort.

Alkaline Diet

Susan, an Earth Clinic reader from Columbus, Ohio, advocates for an alkaline diet as the most effective cure for Bartholin cysts, based on her personal experience. She found that this dietary approach, focused on oxygenating and detoxifying foods, significantly reduced her cyst from the size of a golf ball to a pea in less than a week. According to her, sitz baths and topical treatments were ineffective.

Susan emphasizes that Bartholin cysts indicate a bodily imbalance and an accumulation of toxins. She believes in addressing the root cause rather than just the symptoms. The diet she recommends consists mainly of leafy greens, water with lemons and limes (for their alkalizing effects), soaked raw almonds, sprouted seeds, extra virgin olive oil, and flaxseed oil. She notes the difficulty in maintaining this diet but stresses its effectiveness in avoiding invasive medical treatments.

As a busy working mom, Susan also points out the impracticality of frequent sitz baths, which in her experience, led to additional issues like yeast infections. She firmly believes that Bartholin cysts are an internal problem that requires an internal solution, comparing external applications to spraying the outside of a mold-infested house while the real issue lies within. Susan's experience suggests that an alkaline diet might offer a holistic approach to managing Bartholin cysts.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is a natural oil derived from the seeds of the castor plant and has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a wide range of health conditions.

Charlotte from the UK shared her success story on Earth Clinic about using castor oil to treat a Bartholin cyst. Despite trying various methods, including antibiotics, garlic, tea tree oil, salt sitz baths, and other natural remedies like apple cider vinegar, turmeric packs, and hot flannels, she saw little improvement in her condition. Her cyst had become so large and infected that surgery seemed inevitable.

However, Charlotte decided to try castor oil as a last resort, applying it directly to the cyst multiple times a day. Remarkably, within just three days of consistent application, she noticed a significant reduction in the size of the cyst. After a week, the cyst had shrunk to less than the size of a pea, eliminating the need for surgery.

Charlotte's experience suggests that castor oil can be an effective, non-invasive treatment for Bartholin cysts, particularly when other remedies fail to provide relief.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E has emerged as a noteworthy natural remedy for Bartholin cysts, as evidenced by several user testimonials. These accounts highlight the potential effectiveness of Vitamin E oil in managing and reducing Bartholin cysts.

  1. Rapid Relief Experience (Kelsey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana): Kelsey shared that after a week of discomfort due to a Bartholin cyst, she found relief using Vitamin E oil. Despite trying other remedies like Epsom salt baths and castor oil, it was the application of Vitamin E oil that led to the cyst forming a head and starting to drain within just 3 hours.
  2. Successful Application for Daughter (HisJewel, New York): After reading about Vitamin E's effectiveness, HisJewel recommended it to her daughter who was suffering from a cyst. Her daughter applied the oil from a gelcap directly to the cyst, and within about two days, the cyst had disappeared.
  3. Long-Term Sufferer's Relief (Crystal, Tracy, California): Crystal, who had struggled with Bartholin's cysts for over 20 years, including a severe case requiring emergency room attention, found significant relief using Vitamin E oil. After applying it, she witnessed the gland drain before her eyes, and a ganglion cyst she had also reduced in size.
  4. Regular User (Laura, Ventnor, New Jersey): Laura regularly experiences Bartholin's cysts and has found that applying Vitamin E directly to the cyst helps to unclog the pores, reducing swelling and pain significantly over about 12 hours. She uses a high IU Vitamin E cream and suggests that dietary intake of Vitamin E might also be a factor to consider.

These testimonials suggest that Vitamin E oil can be a valuable and effective remedy for treating Bartholin cysts,

Sitz Baths

One of the most commonly recommended home treatments for Bartholin cysts is a sitz bath. This involves sitting in a few inches of warm water several times a day, usually for 10 to 15 minutes. The warmth can help the cyst drain and ease discomfort.

Warm Compress

Applying a warm compress to the affected area can promote circulation and drainage, potentially reducing swelling and discomfort. This method is often recommended for mild cases and as a supportive treatment.

Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is a natural remedy used for centuries to alleviate aches and pains. The warm water helps to increase blood flow to the affected area, while the Epsom salt acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and pain.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel, a natural astringent, is used for various skin conditions. Applying witch hazel to the cyst often helps with inflammation and irritation.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil is derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree and has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Conclusion

To conclude, Bartholin cysts, while often a cause of significant discomfort, can be effectively managed with a variety of natural remedies. The methods we've explored here, drawn from both traditional practices and personal experiences shared by individuals, offer a range of options for those seeking alternative or complementary treatments. It's heartening to note that many have found relief through these natural approaches, as evidenced by the numerous success stories from Earth Clinic readers. This compilation of remedies is a testament to the power and potential of natural healing methods in addressing Bartholin cysts.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Epsom Salt

Posted by Kim (Montreal, Canada) on 09/22/2021
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I discovered I had a Bartholin cyst two weeks ago. It was the size of a grape. I read up on DIY home remedies and tried several things like applying a clay paste, apple cider vinegar compresses castor oil with tea tree essential oil massages and sitz baths. These seemed helpful at first because the swelling seemed to reduce during the night but suddenly, the cyst got really hard and painful. (Now I realize that it must have been in its way to bursting which is the goal) I did more research and decided to try epsom salt baths and magnesium sulfate paste application. That did the trick. After my first sitz bath with half a cup of epsom salt followed by an application of the paste, the cyst burst a couple of hours later. Then I took another bath to disinfect and applied more paste.

The cyst is gone but there is still some hardness or tension in that area. I'm not sure If it's the gland or just ligaments. Hopefully, my gland will heal, the duct will be unclogged and the infection will subside.

Castor Oil

Posted by Charlotte (Uk) on 09/19/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Bartholin Cyst:

I used just castor oil not even on a pack. Just repeatedly applied it throughout the day maybe 4 times or more depending on when I went to the toilet. My cyst had got so big and infected it was going to need surgery to have it removed. It had gone solid. It couldn't be drained. I took antibiotics the doctor gave me for 2 weeks and used garlic, tea tree and salt sits baths for 3 weeks with next to no change... but pain had lessended. then I decided I had 2 options... castor oil or cbd oil. I read that also works well.

The moment I got home from being told I needed surgery I started applying castor oil and stopped the other treatments. (I was trying everything too, Apple cider vinegar which burnt me. Turmeric packs, silica and raspberry leaves. As well as the sits baths and hot flannels) I also had to deal with thrush from antibiotics which I cured with creme and natural yogurt.

Within 3 days of starting the castor oil it went down dramatically and after a week it almost went. It still hasn't completely returned to normal after but I'm in no pain and don't need surgery anymore. It's less then a pea now. Even if it stays like this it's still 100 times better then the plum size it was before. I also noticed my emotional well being had a part to play in the healing process. When emotional or over whelmed it would be uncomfortable and seemed to be inflammed again or more. But when happier and in a good energy space I seemed to heal better and faster. I hope this helps in anyways or I hope you find a remedy that works for you. Xx

Turmeric

Posted by Suzanne (Norman, Ok) on 03/13/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Tumeric for Bartholin cyst

Take 1,000 mg turmeric capsules orally daily until swelling subsides. It took about 5 days for me and the cyst is almost gone.

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Brooke U (New York) on 07/29/2016
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Bartholin cyst: I had a marsupilzation done in November. After this terribly painful procedure I believed the cyst would not come back, it came back ten folds about four days ago. I did not want to go back to have this done again, so I googled natural cures and found Earth Clinic. This was the best thing I could have done!

I started with the tea tree oil rubbing it on the cyst with a cotton ball, then taking baths with Epsom salts. I stayed in the bath for about an hour due to the severe pain I was in. I put castor oil on a wash cloth, plastic over that( it did does stain) and boiling water in a water bottle, and propped my butt up on a pillow, applied the washcloth, then the plastic and then the water bottle to the cyst and went to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I was in severe pain. I took another Epsom salt bath, and then rubbed the castor oil right on the cyst, and covered it with medicated white tape. I suggest letting this come off in the shower or bath. It's quite painful to just rip it off.

That afternoon I was in so much pain I decided I had to go to the Dr, just as I was on my way out the door, the cyst started draining.I took a cotton ball and started pushing lightly all over my golf ball sized cyst, and it was instantly so much relief! I used the castor oil pack that night, and then again in the morning took another Epsom salt bath, only 20 minutes this time, and rubbed the castor oil right on it again. The cyst drained again. This was a miracle for me, way better then an awful procedure, at least 3 days of recovery, and in my case no sex for 5 weeks.

The natural cures took 3 days with none of the terrible after math. I do have a dr appointment in a few days just to make sure, but that's just a safety precaution. If I had done this the first day I had noticed the cyst instead of when it was awful, I could have avoided all the pain. I am so happy this information is available, and I do not have to go through torture every time I get one.

Sitz Bath

Posted by Annas (Littleton) on 06/23/2016
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Okay so I have had Bartholin cysts for about 10 years. One grew the size of a lemon because I didn't have insurance to get it treated. The one I just currently resolved I did completely on my own.

First I took 2 sits baths each day for two days.

Second I used a lavender salt scrub on the affected area before the site baths. After all this is caused by a clogged duct. What do we do to our faces when we have clogged pores from makeup? Anyways it sounded logical to me.

After the bath I would pat dry and then applied tea tree oil to the affected area. After just 1/12 days ( or 3 treatments of each) the thing ruptured and completely drained itself. It was much less painful than enduring the cyst or having the procedure done. Hope it's just as effective for you as it was for me. I also want to note that for two days after I rubbed tea tree oil on the site. Tea tree oil is a natural bacterial. The only side effect that I noticed from using it was a tingle down there.

Alkaline Diet

Posted by Susan (Columbus, Ohio) on 11/27/2014
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

The best cure for bartholin cysts is an alkaline diet. It is the ONLY thing that works for me and can take a golf ball sized cyst down to a pea in less than a week. No sitz baths or any topical treatment with this as that NEVER worked for me. When we get these nasty cysts it's because our body is completely out of balance and needs oxygenating food to remove all the toxins. A bartholin's cyst is our body's way of trying to release toxins, so instead of just trying to cure the symptom, you have to fix the main problem and cure the source of the ailment. I will admit it is hard to stick to this diet, but it is sooooooo worth it when you see such quick results and can avoid being sliced and diced by the docs and a catheter rammed up there, no thanks! Never again! The long and short of it is you want to eat tons of leafy greens, drink lots of water with lemons and limes (I understand counter-intuitive, but these fruits have a powerfully alkalizing effect on the body), soaked raw almonds, sprouted seeds, EVOO & flax seed oil, and that's about it for the first week. I'm also a very busy working mom, so I don't have time to sit in a sitz bath 7 times a day, and all it ever did for me cause a yeast infection too. I'm a firm believer that this is an internal problem and needs an internal remedy. Applying anything externally is like having a mold infested house which a person keeps spraying the outside, hoping it solves the problem. You have to get in there and clean the house!!! Hope this helps, good luck to everyone and God bless!

Vitamin D3, Colloidal Silver

Posted by Jimmychinga (Honolulu, Hi) on 02/28/2013
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My wife has been suffering from Bartholin Cyst for a couple of years. Flare ups that lasts for weeks multiple times a year.

Very very painful. Doctors only made things worse by cutting the cyst open then squeezing and cleaning. Followed by "just enough" anti-biotics for the cyst to flare up again in a few weeks. 4 operations and 3 doctors later... still the same. She couldn't walk, move... It was horrible. Each flare up would last about a month.

Then we finally visited a Naturopathic doctor who suggested using Vitamin D3 (10,000 IU) and Colloidal Silver (I think it was like 15 drops under your tongue twice a day) and a couple of Unda Numbers.

The very next day, less than 12 hours, the cyst sorta blew it self up and disappeard within in a few days never to return.

Wow. Just simply wow. It's been more than 3 years since and still cyst free.

Vitamin E

Posted by Crystal (Tracy, Ca) on 02/16/2013
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Oh my goodness. I have suffered from Bartholin's cyst for over 20 years. 15 years ago I had one reach the size of a grapefruit ended up in the emergency room with a marsupilization. I never had one again until about 2 years ago. The other side. Life is so cruel. 2 ruptured on own until I had enough. Another one. I called my OBGYN and told them I had an abscess. Unfortunatly it burst before I got there. When I arrived the on call student Dr. said she was concerned because it did not fully drain. She mentioned cancer. Saw my regular dr 2 weeks later she said not cancer keep an eye on it we will do surgery if needed. For one year I have had an uncomfortable not abcessed golf ball sized lump. Never went away. Dr. still insists surgury no cancer though. I am desperate feel like doctor knows less than I do about this.

I hit the internet. I have stuck tea bags in there bought essential oils epsom salt baths. You name it tried it. I found the post about vitamin e.

Only one of its kind no one has mentioned it. Poured vitamin E oil on it and the gland drained before my eyes. Not the usual burst but natural drain where the gland is. Meanwhile in the last two weeks I had a ganglion cyst (also an ailment) once again surface on my hand. I bought vitamin E capsules. Took them within 24 hours hand cyst gone. Bartholin gland 3/4 of size. Vitamin E!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU FOR POSTING!!!!!!!


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