Home Remedies for Vaginal Itching
Vaginal itching is nearly always the result of candida albicans, a fungal yeast infection of the vagina. Having strong antibiotics often brings on an attack of candida albicans; this upsets the delicate pH balance – that should be on the slightly acid side. The antibiotics also kill off the good bacteria that helps to control bad bacteria that are normally present, but in such a small quantity that no infection results.
Other things apart from taking antibiotics can cause a yeast flare-up with its painful itching, and they are menstruation and pregnancy. The latter changes your hormone balance and provides more blood sugar for the candida to feast on. Diabetes that is not under proper control can also cause a yeast infection, as can illnesses or drugs that impair the body’s natural immune system. Stress is also a factor.
Very often the itching is more of a burning nature, and passing water will make it much worse. If a fever, discharge and pain are also present, then you should see a health care professional to treat the complaint, which can rapidly escalate into a serious kidney infection.
However, vaginal itching can also be present without any yeast infection. For a home remedy for mild vaginal itching you can’t go past a concoction made from water, garlic and apple cider vinegar. Dabbing this onto the affected parts will relieve itching and help to heal any rash. It will also help to heal the infection that caused the itch in the first place.
While some women believe regular douching is a good home remedy for vaginal itch, it is actually quite dangerous and can lead to infertility from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Only if you are sure that you have a yeast infection should you try a home remedy. Otherwise, go to the doctor.
Calendula, rosemary, cedar, goldenseal and myrrh are herbal treatments that often work because they have anti-fungal properties. So does garlic and this can be taken internally either as a capsule or raw, while the other products can be used as a douche or by apply by dabbing. Taking Echinacea and eating vegetables rather than fruit or other sugary foods will also help.
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a friendly bacteria that will help prevent further outbreaks. You can take it in capsule form to eat or insert as a suppository. Or you could buy fresh yogurt to both eat and apply.
To help prevent further outbreaks of yeast infections that cause itchy vagina, make sure you stay dry. Don’t remain in a wet swimsuit, dry properly after showering and wear cotton or bamboo underwear rather than synthetics that make you sweat.
Other home remedies for vaginal itch caused by a yeast infection are:
- Drink a glass of buttermilk each night.
- For overnight use, a cotton tampon dipped in a solution 15 gm of Potassium Sorbate in 1 pint of water is effective as a home remedy for vaginal itch. Alternatively it can be dipped into curd.
- Boric acid capsules inserted every night for several nights will also help.
- Wash with warm water and salt, or diluted apple cider vinegar.
For more information about vaginal itching remedies, see: