Ways to use Apple Cider Vinegar for BV
Using Apple cider vinegar for BV is a very effective home remedy. Do you know what is BV? BV is the abbreviation of bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is a condition which causes excessive growth of bacteria which live as commensals within our genitalia normally.
The most common type of bacteria causing bacterial vaginosis is Gardnerella vaginalis. Apart from Gardnerella vaginalis, other types of bacteria can also cause bacterial vaginitis. Examples of such bacteria are Lactobacillus, Peptostreptococcus, and Fusobacterium.
The main reason for the sudden overgrowth of the normally inhabiting bacteria is the change in the pH value in the genitalia. This can be restored by using Apple cider vinegar for BV or bacterial vaginosis treatment.
There are many symptoms of bacterial vaginosis like excessive genital discharge which is thin, watery and grayish. The vaginal discharge has a foul smell or fishy odor. It also causes dysuria or painful urination and dyspareunia or painful intercourse.
The reason why Apple Cider vinegar for BV works:
- An alkaline pH in the genitalia helps in the growth of the bacteria and causing the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.
- So, we need to restore the acidic pH of the female genitalia to prevent the overgrowth of these bacteria causing bacterial vaginosis.
- Apple Cider vinegar has acidic nature. It makes the pH of the genitalia acidic and thereby helps in controlling the bacterial overgrowth.
How to use Apple Cider Vinegar for BV:
You people have read about the microbes causing BV or bacterial vaginosis and also about the symptoms of BV. Now, let us see the ways to use apple cider vinegar for BV cure or relief.
Adding Apple Cider vinegar to bath water:
We take bath every day. So, adding apple cider vinegar to bath water is one of the simplest and effective home remedies for BV. You just need to make sure that your bathtub is neat and hygienic without any dirt in it.
Fill your bathtub with lukewarm water until a level comfortable enough for you to take bath. The add 2 cups or 200 ml to 250 ml of Apple cider vinegar to the bath tub. Then mix it well with the water. Soak yourself or sit in the bathtub for about 30 minutes.
Then take bath and pat your genital area dry. Do this remedy every day until your BV symptoms subside. If you don’t have bathtub available at your home, you can add apple cider vinegar to a tub of warm water and then sit in it for half an hour.
Douching with Apple cider vinegar:
Many women have the habit of douching regularly. But, douching regularly is not recommended as it kills the beneficial bacteria in the genitalia and leads to many genital disorders. But, when you have developed the symptoms of BV or bacterial vaginosis, you can certainly douche with apple cider vinegar.
But, douching with Apple cider vinegar also needs to be within limits. Excessive douching, even with apple cider vinegar is harmful to helpful genital bacteria. In order to douche with apple cider vinegar, just add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 3 cups of warm water.
Then add the water mixed with apple cider vinegar in a douching bag or a squeeze bottle. First, clean your genital area with clean water. Then use this douching bag or squeeze bottle to rinse your genital cavity.
You can douche with apple cider vinegar once every day. Don’t do this more than one time a day as it can have detrimental effects on your genital health. You can douche with apple cider vinegar for a week or 10 days until your BV symptoms resolve.
Soaking Tampon in Apple cider vinegar:
Mix 1 cup of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Then soak your tampon in it. Then place the tampon in your female genital cavity.
You can remove the tampon after 6 to 8 hours. Alternatively, you can place the tampon inside genital cavity at night and then remove it in the morning.
Some other effective home remedies for BV or bacterial vaginosis:
Apart from apple cider vinegar, there are many other effective home remedies for the natural cure of BV. Let us look at some of the most commonly used natural cures or home remedies for BV.
Yogurt:
Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus. They help in restoring the pH and the normal bacterial flora of the genitalia. You can use yogurt in many different ways to treat BV. Just take a cotton swab or cotton ball and apply yogurt inside genital cavity with it.
You can also apply yogurt with your fingers directly inside the genital cavity. You can use gloves to apply the yogurt if you feel uncomfortable applying yogurt directly with hands. You also need to eat yogurt regularly as a part of your diet to promote the health of your genitalia.
Hydrogen peroxide:
Hydrogen peroxide has antibacterial properties. It can kill the bacteria which are growing excessively in the genitalia. Just add a tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a cup of water.
Then fill up your squeeze bottle or douching bad with it and then douche your genitalia with this hydrogen peroxide and water solution. You can also soak a cotton pad in this solution and apply it inside genital cavity using this cotton pad.
Tea tree oil:
Tea tree oil has very good antimicrobial properties. Add a teaspoon of tea tree oil to a cup of warm water. Then rinse your genital cavity with this mixture. Repeat this process once every day until you see a noticeable difference in your symptoms.
Garlic:
Grind 5 Garlic cloves and squeeze the juice out of the mixture. Then apply this Garlic juice inside your genital cavity. It helps to kill all the harmful bacteria and fungi inside your genitalia due to its antiseptic properties. You also need to incorporate garlic into your diet regularly.
Milk:
You have already seen how we have used yogurt containing lactobacilli to relieve the symptoms of BV. In the same way, milk also contains the helpful bacteria lactobacillus. So, just soak a cotton pad in a little amount of milk and then apply this cotton pad inside your genitalia.
Alternatively, you can soak a tampon in the milk. Then place the tampon in your genital cavity overnight and then remove it in the morning. You can repeat this method every day until you find significant improvement in your condition.
Fenugreek tea:
Fenugreek seeds boost your immune system and help you to fight the harmful bacteria that is causing the symptoms of BV or bacterial vaginosis.
Just add 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds to a cup of water. Boil it for 5 minutes. Then strain the water, add some honey and lemon juice to it and drink it. You can drink this fenugreek tea every day to see good relief from BV.
Rosemary tea:
You can prepare Rosemary tea, then dip a tampon in it. Then place the tampon inside your genital cavity for 6 to 8 hours. You can also leave the tampon inside overnight and then remove it in the morning.
You can also drink Rosemary tea to strengthen your immune system and fight the harmful bacteria causing BV or bacterial vaginosis.
You have some of the simple, quick and effective home remedies for BV. You have also seen the ways in which you can use Apple cider vinegar for BV or Bacterial vaginosis relief. What are you waiting for? Just try some of these remedies and get rid of BV very fast.