Summary

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina commonly caused by a bacterial (bacterial vaginosis) or fungal (yeast or Candida) infection.  Two lesser encountered causes of vaginitis are vaginal atrophy which may occur after menopause with reduced estrogen levels and trichomoniasis (trich).  Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a parasitic infection.

Closely related to vaginitis is vulvitis.  Vulvitis is an inflammation of the external female genital organs.  This infection can also be a bacterial, fungal, or parasitic in origin.

Most women (75%) will experience vaginitis in their lifetime.  A symptom of bacterial vaginosis is a discharge, most commonly grey or white, with an unpleasant odor.  Not all with bacterial vaginosis will experience this. Discharge may also be a symptom of a yeast infection but the discharge will be thick and white, almost the consistency of cottage cheese and without odor.  Intense itching in the vulvar or vaginal area is also common.

 

[Search help: Gardnerella vaginitis, atrophic vaginitis, vulvovaginitis, Gardnerella vaginitis, Candida albicans, gonorrhea, Candidiasis, Trichomonas vaginalis.]

Oils, blends & products recommended:

Oils & Blends:  frankincense, lavender, melaleuca

Essential oils based products: GX Assist/PB Assist

Also consider: cypress, eucalyptus, rosemary

Suggested protocols:

For a fungal infection - see protocols under Candida to address the infection.  Consider lavender topically to sooth discomfort.

For a bacterial infection - 2 - 5 drops each of lavender and melaleuca added to 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and soak into a tampon.  Use nightly for a full week.  Also consider frankincense.

For Trichomonas vaginalis infection - some in the literature have suggested peppermint and melaleuca.  Medical treatment uses a strong antibiotic.  Possibly consider oregano for its strong antibacterial properties.  Dilute to avoid burning sensation.

Experiences and Testimonials of others

also see information under the Especially for Kids tab

Anonymous - I don't like to share my history, but I desperately need some help.  I have been broken out in some sort of an infection pretty much 90% of time for the last two months.  In the past I have had from yeast infections, to herpes breakouts, but I think this may actually be bacterial vaginitis.  Any suggestions to help me feel better would be greatly appreciated!!!

Mindy - probiotic probiotics probiotics... and take a tampon and use the coconut oil with a few drops of melaleuca, 1 lavender and dip a tampon in that.  Put it in at bed time every night for a week. You should be feeling relief by the first morning.  This is what i did to finally kick a bacterial vaginitis a few months back.  The coconut oil carrier is key though.  It is just as effective as the melaleuca in killing bad bugs and fungus.

Jessica – Here are experiences I have had:

•  Woman #1 - is allergic to almost every anti-biotic known to man...(genuinely allergic!) and had "bacterial vaginosis". Her doctor basically said, sorry, live with it.  We used a eucalyptus, rosemary,  melaleuca blend with 5 drops of each oil in 10-15 ml of coconut oil for a  tampon.  She treated herself for 20 days and her doctor retested and found no bacterial vaginosisl!

•  Woman #2 – was a difficult pregnancy with cervical scar tissue.  I made her 10 coconut oil tampons.   5 of them, I added frankincense, sandalwood, helichrysum, cypress, geranium, approximately 5 drops of each in  10-15 ml of EVCO.  In the other 5 I added 3 drops of clary sage, geranium and 1 drop of rose and lavender. I also added the oil from 3 Evening Primrose capsules.   She used all ten tampons the scar tissue blend first, then labor blend. And we prayed.   She had a 6 hour, powerful, beautiful, empowering, FIRST BIRTH, with no complications.  So wonderful!

•  Woman #3 – she had a horrible yeast infection and wanted to avoid pharmaceuticals.  We made 20 coconut oil tampons with 10 drops each of melaleuca and rosemary in 15-20 ml coconut oil tampons.  She used them for 20 days consecutively.   On reexamination there was no yeast . also no Monistat., no Nystatin, no Diflucan, no proplyne glycol.

•  Rosemary is my favorite vaginal awareness oil... and every so often, when I get to that place...I make a capsule of rosemary and grab a "coconut oil tampon"  (see my recipe below!) and I then put in a non bleached cotton tampon and put on a pad and go to bed. the next morning you remove pad and tampon and go about your day...refreshed and clean!

•  I recently had a pretty major vagina surgery...and I used helichrysum in a coconut oil tampon internally a week postoperatively.   The result was very little scar tissue and a very speedy recovery.

How I make coconut oil tampons.

•  I use the tall skinny ice cube trays...the kind that are meant for ice in a water bottle.

•  I warm the coconut oil just enough that it is liquid.

•  I pour each ice cube about 1/2 full (the resulting "tampon " is about the size of a long OB tampon, if that helps)

•  I then add whatever oils I want to it.

•  I then freeze them till time to use.

Some other comments:

•  These can be used for both vaginal and anal applications.

•  I insert them followed by a non bleached cotton tampon and a pad. 

•  Also you can choose not to freeze the oils in the EVCO but add them to a 00 gel capsule and insert them separately followed by the coconut tampon. 

•  I use Extra Virgin Expeller Pressed coconut oil that I order it from the Philippines. It is the highest quality.

 

Amber - Help!  A good friend of mine just called and would like suggestions for what to do for a yeast infection.  I vaguely remember hearing something mentioned in one of the essential oils classes I attended, about using one or a combination of oils on a tampon.  Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Pat - The vaginal tampons with oil are for cysts and bacterial infections. The yeast can be controlled with the GX Assist. You will need this cleanse to control the yeast. You can also put 2-3 drops of frankincense on a tampon and insert it. Be consistent with the GX and drink lots of water to flush the toxins.

Carol - Inserting plain yogurt also helps along with washing with melaleuca.

Lisa - I have used 1 tablespoon plain yogurt, 3-4 drops each melaleuca and lavender in 1 quart of water as a douche 2 times a day.  This instantly cools the burn and tames the itching.

Marla - My Aunt uses melaleuca on a tampon for yeast infections and they clear right up. Hope this helps.

 

Amanda - I have yeast infection and am taking oregano, melaleuca and OnGuard in a pill form every 3 to 4 hours since Friday with about 5 drops in each pill.  I am not feeling much relief and don't know if i am just being impatient or if I should try something different.  I am trying to limit my sugars and am also taking 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar once a day.  I would think by now I would be getting relief.  For 2 days I also have been using an off brand of Monistat 3 and maybe that is working against the oils. I don’t know, I just know i am not seeing improvement and need help.  Thanks...

Arin - I have successfully used melaleuca and lavender as a vaginal insert to deal with yeast. Take 2 drops each and add to 1 teaspoon of coconut. Then you can soak a tampon in this mixture or take a syringe and fill it with the mixture. You then insert the mixture via whatever method you choose (do it before bed so gravity is on your side).  Maybe do it for 3-7 days until you experience relief. I have also used boric acid to treat vaginal bacteria. Have you had it tested to be sure of the infection?  Bacteria vs yeast?  It makes a big difference for the treatment.

Amanda – So what would you do for a yeast infection?

Pat - Stop everything but the oils. And I would be doing it every hour for one day, then every two hours the second day and then you will be feeling better.

Courtney - I recently had a yeast infection and here is what I did...put 3-4 drops each of rosemary, clove and lavender on a tampon insert every three hours  I used lavender in coconut oil on the location for relief.  It was gone in three days - hope that helps!

Amanda - I did stop everything I was doing and did just oregano, OnGuard and melaleuca in pill form and did lavender topically (which did wonders for me...much relief) it was done it 2-3 days.  Thanks for all your helps!!

Protocols folks recommend for children

Shay - My little girl who is 2 years old has been getting vaginitis for the last six months.  What essential oils will help?

Rob - With this type of infection, one thing some have found to be effective, is to put her in a bath with 4 drops of lavender and 4 drops of melaleuca.  Agitate the water often but don't let it splash in her eyes. Let her sit in the bath for at least a half hour.  Don't make the water too hot, in fact as cold as she will take it and still enjoy it.  If the water is too warm it will cause the oils to volatilize too quickly.  Add more drops if they seem to evaporate quickly.

Jessica - We have dealt with this with my girls as well. I make a blend of coconut oil and melaleuca oil and apply it to their bottoms.  I use about 50 drops of the melaleuca in 2 ounces of the carrier oil (coconut).  I also put two or three drops of melaleuca in their panties every day... voila' no more sore bottoms!

 

Diet and Nutritional complements to essential oils

 

What Science & Research are saying