	Health Information
	HealthDay News
	Conditions
	Procedures
	Medications
	Medical Dictionary
	Wellness Centers
	Natural & Alternative Treatments
		Herbs & Supplements
		Conditions
		Drug Interactions
		Functional Foods
		Alternative Therapies
		Homeopathy
	Interactive Tools
	Consumer Resources

Natural & Alternative Treatments

Search for

Vaginal Infection

En Español (Spanish Version)

Related Terms

Bacterial Vaginosis; Candida; Candidal Yeast Infection; Gardnerella; Trichomonas; Vaginal Yeast Infection; Vaginitis; Yeast Infection Vaginal

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments

None

Other Proposed Natural Treatments

Boric Acid; Essential Oils; Garlic; Goldenseal; Probiotics; Solanum nigrescens; Tabebuia avellanedae; Tea Tree Oil; Vitamin C

Proposed Natural Treatments
References

There are three main causes of vaginal infections: the fungus (yeast) Candida albicans, the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, and the bacterial organism Gardnerella vaginalis.

Factors that can contribute to vaginal infections include antibiotics (which kill friendly bacteria, allowing yeast to grow), corticosteroids and HIV (which suppress the immune system), oral contraceptives and pregnancy (which alter the vaginal environment by changing hormone levels), and diabetes (increased sugar levels provide a friendly environment for yeast).

Conventional medical treatment for vaginal infections caused by candida include vaginal suppositories containing antifungal medications or, in some cases, oral antifungal medications. Women with diabetes often find that yeast infections are less common when their blood sugar levels are well controlled.

Trichomonas infections are treated with oral metronidazole, and gardnerella infections with oral or vaginal metronidazole or vaginal clindamycin. So-called nonspecific vaginitis is usually caused by gardnerella, but there are other causes.

Proposed Natural Treatments

There are some promising natural treatments for vaginal infections caused by candida and other organisms, but the scientific evidence for them is not yet strong.

Probiotics (friendly bacteria), such as acidophilus, are normally found in the vagina. When colonies of these organisms are present, it is difficult for unfriendly organisms, such as candida, to become established. Probiotic supplements can help restore a normal balance of vaginal organisms, which could, in theory, reduce the chance of developing a vaginal yeast infection.²⁴ For this reason, women who frequently experience yeast infections, or who are taking antibiotics, are often advised to consume probiotics. However, evidence that probiotics really help prevent vaginal yeast infections remains incomplete and inconsistent.^25-26 A fairly large study (278 participants) failed to find Lactobacillus helpful for preventing yeast infections caused by antibiotics.²⁶ Another kind of vaginal infection, called bacterial vaginosis, is most often caused by Gardnerella vaginalis. In a study120 women with a history of bacterial vaginosis, researchers found that vaginally inserting a daily capsule containing the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus, acidophilus, and Streptococcus thermophilus did reduce recurrence.³³ While this study found benefit, other studies have produced mixed results regarding the benefits of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis.^29-32

Tea tree oil, an essential oil from the plant Melaleuca alternifolia , possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties ⁷ and appears to spare friendly bacteria in the Lactobacillus family.⁸ Tea tree oil has been tried for various forms of vaginal infection, but again there is little scientific evidence as yet that it works. In an open trial, 96 women with trichomonal vaginitis were treated with tampons saturated in tea tree oil, which were left in the vagina for 24 hours, and then followed by daily vaginal douches with a tea tree oil solution.⁹ The researcher reported good results with this regimen in 3 to 4 weeks. However, because this was not a double-blind trial, the results mean little. (For information on why double-blind studies are so important, see Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies?)

A double-blind study of 100 women found vitamin C vaginal tablets (250 mg) at most marginally helpful for nonspecific vaginitis.²⁸

Boric acid is a chemical substance with antiseptic properties. A double-blind comparison study of 108 women with yeast infections found that 92% of those who used boric acid suppositories nightly for 2 weeks experienced full recovery, as compared to 64% of those given suppositories of the somewhat outdated antifungal drug nystatin.¹¹ However, there are safety concerns with boric acid. If taken internally, it is quite toxic. For this reason, it should not be applied to open wounds. In addition, it should not be used by pregnant women, nor be applied to the skin of infants.¹³

A single-blind trial, involving 100 women with candida vaginitis, compared nystatin suppositories against suppositories made from the plant Solanum nigrescens and found equivalent benefits.¹⁴ However, this plant can be toxic and should not be used except under physician supervision.

Test tube studies have found antifungal properties in numerous herbs, including the tropical tree Tabebuia avellanedae,¹⁶ garlic extracts,^17-19 the plant alkaloid berberine sulfate (found in goldenseal),²⁰ and essential oils of various plants, including cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemongrass, oregano, palmarosa, and peppermint.^21-23 However, it is a long way from test tube studies to proof of safety and effectiveness in people.

ElmerGW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA. 1996;275:870-876.

McGroarty JA. Probiotic use of lactobacilli in the human female urogenital tract. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1993;6:251-264.

Hilton E, Isenberg HD, Alperstein P, et al. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidal vaginitis. Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:353-357.

Friedlander A, Druker MM, Schachter A. Lactobacillus acidophillus and vitamin B complex in the treatment of vaginal infection. Panminerva Med. 1986;28:51-53.

Hilton E, Rindos P, Isenberg HD. Lactobacillus GG vaginal supositories and vaginitis [letter]. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33:1433.

Reid G, Bruce AW, McGroarty JA, et al. Is there a role for lactobacilli in prevention of urogenital and intestinal infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1990;3:335-344.

Williams LR, Home VN, Zhang X, et al. The composition and bactericidal activity of oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil). Int J Aromather. 1989;1:15-17.

Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. In vitro susceptibilities of lactobacilli and organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil [letter]. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1999;43:196.

Pea EF. Melaleuca alternifolia oil. Its use for trichomonal vaginitis and other vaginal infections. Obstet Gynecol. 1962;19:793-795.

Lippert U, Walter A, Hausen B, et al. Increasing incidence of contact dermatitis to tea tree oil [abstract]. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000;105(1 pt 2):A127.

van Slyke KK, Michel VP, Rein MF. Treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with boric acid powder. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1981;141:145-148.

Jovanovic R, Congema E, Nguyen HT. Antifungal agents vs. boric acid for treating chronic mycotic vulvovaginitis. J Reprod Med. 1991;36:593-597.

Penna RP, Corrigan LL, Welsh J, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association; 1979:424.

Giron LM, Aguilar GA, Caceres A, et al. Anticandidal activity of plants used for the treatment of vaginitis in Guatemala and clinical trial of a Solanum nigrescens preparation. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988;22:307-313.

Zawadzki J, Suchy H, Scheller S. Use of propolis for treatment of vaginitis and cervicitis [in Polish; English abstract]. Przegl Lek. 1973;30:620-623.

Guiraud P, Steiman R, Campos-Takaki GM, et al. Comparison of antibacterial and antifungal activities of lapachol and beta-lapachone. Planta Med. 1994;60:373-374.

Sandhu, D.K. Warraich, MK Singh S. Sensitivity of yeast isolated from cases of vaginitis to aqueous extracts of garlic. Mykosen. 1981;23:691-698.

Ghannoum MA. Studies on the anticandidal mode of action of Allium sativum (garlic). J Gen Microbiol. 1988;134:2917-2924.

Hughes BG, Lawson LD. Antimicrobial effects of Allium sativum L. (garlic), Alliumampeloprasum L. (elephant garlic), and Allium cepa L. (onion), garlic compounds and commercial garlic supplement products. Phytother Res. 1991;5:154-158.

Kaneda Y, Torii M, Tanaka T, et al. In vitro effects of berberine sulphate on the growth and structure of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1991;85:417-425.

Pattnaik S, Subramanyam VR, Bapaji M, et al. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of aromatic constituents of essential oils. Microbios. 1997;89:39-46.

Quale JM, Landman D, Zaman MM, et al. In vitro activity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum against azole resistant and sensitive Candida speces and a pilot study of cinnamon for oral candidiasis. Am J Chin Med. 1996;24:103-109.

Singh HB, Srivastava M, Singh AB, et al. Cinnamon bark oil, a potent fungitoxicant against fungi causing respiratory tract mycoses. Allergy. 1995;50:995-999.

Reid G, Charbonneau D, Erb J, et al. Oral use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 significantly alters vaginal flora: randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 64 healthy women. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2003;35:131-134.

Jeavons HS. Prevention and treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis using exogenous Lactobacillus. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2003;32:287-296.

Pirotta M, Gunn J, Chondros P, et al. Effect of lactobacillus in preventing post-antibiotic vulvovaginal candidiasis: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2004;329:548.

Petersen EE, Magnani P. Efficacy and safety of vitamin C vaginal tablets in the treatment of non-specific vaginitis; a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2004;117:70-75.

Falagas ME, Betsi GI, Athanasiou S. Probiotics for the treatment of women with bacterial vaginosis. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2007;13:657-664.

Larsson PG, Stray-Pedersen B, Ryttig KR, et al. Human lactobacilli as supplementation of clindamycin to patients with bacterial vaginosis reduce the recurrence rate; a 6-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. BMC Womens Health. 2008 Jan 15.

Barrons R, Tassone D. Use of Lactobacillus probiotics for bacterial genitourinary infections in women: A review. Clin Ther. 2008;30:453-468.

Petricevic L, Witt A. The role of L actobacillus casei rhamnosus Lcr35 in restoring the normal vaginal flora after antibiotic treatment of bacterial vaginosis. BJOG. 2008;115:1369-1374.

Ya W, Reifer C, Miller LE. Efficacy of vaginal probiotic capsules for recurrent bacterial vaginosis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010;203(2):120.e1-6.

Last reviewed July 2012 by EBSCO CAM Review Board

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Community

Staff Login

For Patients

For Visitors

All Areas

Specialty Areas