Vaginitis can be described as an inflammation of the vagina and vulva. It is a fairly common
problem with women. This can be avoided by taking proper treatment in the initial stages itself.
But women usually tend to hide this problem.
Changes in the activity of the vaginal
epithelium and in the vaginal secretion at different ages
have a profound influence on the defense against vaginal
infection. In the adult, the normal
vaginal moisture or secretion consists of mucous and discarded vaginal cells. This discharge
generally causes no irritation though the amount secreted and consistency vary. The variance is
also due to the periodicity of the menstrual cycle and psychological conditions. Normal healthy
women do not suffer from the sensations of the itching, burning, pain or irritation.
In unhealthy women and in abnormal conditions, the resident organisms (bacteria) multiply
rapidly and produce excessive waste products. It causes
tissue irritation in this region leading to
itching, swelling, and burning. There is increase in the frequency or discharge of urine which is
accompanied with an unpleasant order.
Symptoms
The
symptoms of
vaginitis are feeling of heat and fullness in the vagina, a dragging feeling in the
groin, increased urinary frequency and vaginal discharge, that is,
leucorrhoea. The clear or white
secretion becomes purulent and yellow. The severity of
leucorrhoea depends upon the degree of
bacterial
infection.
Causes
The main causes of
vaginitis are irritation of vagina by external factors like cuts, abrasions in this
region, constant wearing of tight-fitting clothes and wearing unclean clothes, using dirty or
infected water and lack of hygiene.
Certain medications and treatments can increase susceptibility to
infection. These include the
use of antibiotics, hormones and excessive douching. Susceptibility is greater in cases of
pregnancy,
diabetes and certain psychological conditions as well as during the later half of the
menstrual cycle. Irritation from contraceptive devices can also lead to this condition.
Unhygienic conditions combined with wrong dietary habits increase toxemia thereby lowering
body resistance. According to the nature cure philosophy, whenever the body is loaded with
toxins or morbid matter, it tried to eliminate it through the eliminative organs. In women, this
elimination is established in the form of profused discharge, that is
leucorrhoea, initially, in later
stages, the discharge can become offensive in cases of chronic inflammation.
Treatment
Maintenance of hygienic conditions is the most important factor in the treatment of
vaginitis. It is
only after disease achieved that morbidity and consequent inflammation and discharge can be
prevented.
Another important factor is diet. The patient should be made to fast for three or five days.
Depending Ponte condition, the fasting period may be extended. During this period, she may
take juices of lemon and other sub-acidic fruits. This will give the system an opportunity to divert
its vital energies to check inflammation and
infection.
After the juice fasting, the patient may adopt restricted diet, consisting of raw vegetable salads,
fruits and sprouts. This will ensure minimal mucous secretions. This restricted diet should be
continued for 10 to 15 days. It will help reduce inflammatory conditions. Boiled vegetables which
are easily digestible and wheat chappatis may be added gradually to this diet. Later, rice,dal,
vegetable soup or butter milk may be taken for lunch and an uncooked diet for dinner.
The patient should avoid coffee, tea and other stimulants as well as sugar, fried and refined
foods.
Hydrotherapy
Treatment through water plays an important role in overcoming
vaginitis. The patient should be
given an enema with lukewarm neem water to cleanse the bowels and prevent the
constipation
which increases the toxemic condition, inflammation and
infection in the genital organs. For
general cleansing and elimination of purulent vaginal discharge, neem water vaginal douche at35 o C - 40 o C followed by cold douche will be highly beneficial.
In persistent cases, cold vaginal irritation provides relief. This treatment is best administered with
a fountain syringe, containing water. The syringe should be placed two or three feet above the
patient and water injected into the vagina. The patient should lie upon her back , with hips
elevated and water should flow out of the vaginal canal.
A decoction of the herb chebulic myrobalan has proved very useful for vaginal irritation and
inflammation. It should be used as an external douche to wash the vulvar parts. When there is a
thick white discharge, washing the part with decoction made with neem leaves and chebulic
myrobalan fruits will greatly help.
A moderately prolonged cold hip bath accompanied with a hot foot bath is also helpful. The level
of cold water must be 34 inches in height. The patient should sit in the tub in such a manner that
legs remain out of the tub. This bath can be given for 20 to 30 minutes.
Another mode of treatment considered beneficial is the wet girdle pack for about an hour. For
this treatment, a thin cotton underwear and another thick or woolen underwear are required. The
thin underwear should be wrung in cold water and worn by the patient. The thick dry underwear
should be worn above the wet underwear. If the patient feels chill, she should be covered with a
blanket. This treatment helps reduce inflammation.
A cold douche on the perennial region for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day helps reduce
vaginitis. A
mud pack on the abdomen for 10 minutes twice daily also helps reduce inflammation.
Chromotherapy can also be used to treat this complaint. Blue light treatment given to the
afflicted region for an hour accompanied with vaginal irrigation using green coloured charged
water helps reduce the
infection.
After recovery, it is essential to adopt correct eating habits and hygienic living conditions. Proper
rest and exercise are also important.