Vaginal Discharge : Causes and Home Remedies

Vaginal discharge is term given to biological fluids contained within or expelled from the vagina. Most women experience vaginal discharge at some point over the course of their lives. Some types of discharge are caused by normal bodily processes, while others can be a sign of infection. Abnormal vaginal discharge can generally be recognized by a change in color or consistency that makes it look different from the normal discharge a woman is used to seeing.

Causes

Hormonal changes can cause vaginal discharge dryness and irritation in older women. You may need a prescription cream if the symptoms bother you. Any change in the balance of normal bacteria in the vagina can affect the smell, color, or texture of the discharge. These are a few of the things that can upset that balance:

.antibiotic or steroid use
.bacterial vaginosis, which is a bacterial infection more common in pregnant women or women who .have multiple sexual partners
.birth control pills
.cervical cancer
.chlamydia or gonorrhea, which are sexually transmitted infections
.diabetes
.douches, scented soaps or lotions, bubble bath
.pelvic infection after surgery
.pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
.trichomoniasis, which is a parasitic infection typically caused by having unprotected sex
.vaginal atrophy, which is thinning and drying out of the vaginal walls during menopause
.vaginitis, which is irritation in or around the vagina
yeast infections


Home Remedies

You should consult your gynecologist for the right cause of vaginal discharge. Once you are aware of the cause, you can plan to go for home remedies that can help cure various vaginal problems.

. Keep the vagina clean by washing regularly with a gentle soap and warm water.

. Take a tampon and dip it in yogurt. Insert in the vagina, twice a day. Continue this remedy for an extra day after your symptoms go away.

. Crush an aloe leaf and extract two tablespoons of the juice. Have it thrice a day with honey for two weeks after the periods are over.

. The recommended way to consume raspberry leaf is to pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 to 2 tsp. of the raspberry herb and steep it for 10 to 15 minutes.

. Dong quai can be taken orally by consuming powdered or dried root/root slices, fluid extracts, tinctures and dried leaf preparations.

. The recommended amount of fenugreek is 20mg taken three times a day with meals.fenugreek helps to relieve excessive vaginal discharge by stimulating the uterus and balancing out hormones

. Add a tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar, with honey to taste, to a glass of hot water. Drink it first thing in the morning.

. Insert 1 or 2 capsules of boric acid into the vagina and keep it there overnight for several nights. For some women the boric acid may cause burning and discomfort for the first few days.

. Take a tablespoonful of the dried rind of pomegranate. Boil it in half a liter of water. Strain and use as a vaginal douche.

. A few drops of tea tree oil poured on a tampon and inserted in the vagina can provide some relief.

. Dissolve 1 tbsp of potassium sorbate in 1 cup water. Insert a tampon into the vagina and pour this solution inside to be absorbed by the tampon. Keep it there overnight. Repeat this for several nights.

. Mix the juice of basil leaves and honey in equal proportion and take it in the morning and evening for two weeks.

. Boil a few guava leaves in one litre of water till the water is reduced to half. Cool it and strain it. Use the water for vaginal douches twice a day.



~sources :

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Breast Pain in Women : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies

Breast pain or breast tenderness is a common complaint among women. You might describe your breast pain as chronic tenderness, sharp burning or tightness in your breast tissue. The pain may be constant or it may occur only occasionally.

Some women have severe breast pain, occurring more than five days a month, Severe breast pain may even persist throughout the menstrual cycle. Postmenopausal women sometimes have breast pain, but the symptom is more common in younger, premenopausal women and perimenopausal women.

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

.You have breast pain that persists daily for more than a couple of weeks
.Your breast pain is localized to one specific area of your breast
.Your breast pain seems to be getting worse over time
.Your breast pain interferes with daily activities


Symptoms of Breast Pain

The most common symptoms include related pain in the breast and surrounding area. The other symptoms might include lumps and cyst or blockage ok nipples which would eventually result in pain. Some times breast pain also occurs due to fullness of breast with milk, when the milk produces is not feed to taken out accordingly. The common symptoms are

·Pain
·Sensitivity is increased when touched, or pressure is applied
·Aching feelings
·Discomfort when accompanied by movement
·Soreness in breasts
·Swelling of breasts
·Heaviness
·Discomfort when accompanied by movement


Causes of Breast Pain

Many things can cause pain or tenderness in your breasts. Here are some of them:

.Hormone changes during your period
.Water retention, which may happen during your period
.Injury to your breast
.Pregnancy
.Breast-feeding (nursing)
.An infection in the breast
.Breast cancer (not a usual cause of breast pain)

If you have breast pain that lasts for a long time or keeps coming back, it's probably a good idea to talk to your doctor about it.


Treatments and Home Remedies for Breast Pain

Even though there is little formal research to show the efficacy of these self-care remedies, they help many women manage their breast pain. Some may be worth a try:

. Wear a firm support bra, fitted by a professional if possible.

. Wear a sports bra during exercise and while sleeping, especially when your breasts may be more sensitive.

. Experiment with relaxation therapy, which can help control the high levels of anxiety associated with severe breast pain.

. Limit or eliminate caffeine.

. Decrease the fat in your diet to less than 20 percent of total calories, which may improve breast pain by altering the fatty acid balance.

. Use a pain reliever (analgesic), such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), to alleviate breast pain.

. Watch your intake of sodium. Sodium increases water retention, which causes your breasts to swell. Be especially careful to keep a cap on your salt consumption starting about two weeks before your period.

. Include soy food such as soybeans, soy milk, soy burgers and other soy products in your diet.

. Fish eating specially the ones with omega 3 fats like the Solomon fish, trout and sardines are highly recommended.

. Mix together cod liver oil, vitamin E, ground bark of white oak and garlic tempered oil to a pasty consistency and apply on sore nipples. This paste will help reduce any inflammation in the breast region.

. Stuff your bra with leaves from the head of a cabbage when your breasts feel tender and painful.

. Brew some tea from red raspberry, and drink it everyday. Red raspberry tea is rich in anti-oxidants and helps prevent cancer.

. Apply warm castor oil on pain effected area, by applying it with a cloth soaked in it and placed on the breast.

. Primrose oil gentle massage has been useful in relieving the breast pain. Rub it in and around the breast, it helps to reduce pain.

. Take flaxseeds with yogurt ( 2-3 spoons) is also very helpful.

. Apply a warm compress for 15-20 minutes on your breast, by using a heated towel or a heating pad to get relief from breast tenderness.

. Take a bag of ice, crushed ice is best, wrap the bag of ice in a towel and place on your breasts.

. Take dandelion in capsule form, or make a tea using powdered dandelion root. Simmer two to three teaspoons of the powder in a cup of water for 15 minutes. Drink three cups a day.

. Use ground flaxseed in your food or drink. Add about 1 tsp. of the ground flaxseed in anything you eat or drink.

. Apply Vitamin E oil to the breasts daily to ease the pain.

. Ginkgo biloba reduces breast pain because it reduces inflammation and increases circulation. It can be taken as a daily supplement.

. You can also take calcium supplements 1200mg per day. This helps in easing breast tenderness.

If you experience severe breast tenderness and soreness, see a doctor immediately. This could be cause for alarm because you may have fibro cysts or breast cancer.



~source:

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Menstrual Cramps Home Remedies|Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps|How to Reduce Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps are pains in the belly and pelvic areas that are experienced by a woman as a result of her menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are not the same as the discomfort felt during premenstrual syndrome (PMS), although the symptoms of both disorders can sometimes be experienced as a continual process. Many women suffer from both PMS and menstrual cramps.

Menstrual cramps can range from mild to quite severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of short duration sometimes felt just as a sense of light heaviness in the belly. Severe menstrual cramps can be so painful that they interfere with a woman's regular activities for several days.

Some of the factors that increase the chances of suffering from menstrual cramps include:

• Reaching puberty at an early age, - 11 or younger
• Metrorrhagia, more commonly known as irregular menstrual bleeding
• Genetic factors, like a family history of dysmenorrhea
• Being below the age of 20 or never having been through childbirth
• Menorrhagia or heavy bleeding during periods
• Unhealthy habits like smoking, leading a sedentary lifestyle, consuming excess alcohol and taking illegal drugs


Menstrual cramps will affect most women at some point in their lives. The symptoms can annoyingly make your day unpleasant or become so severe that your regular routine is disrupted. To ease the pain and discomfort associated with this condition, consider the following home remedies for menstrual cramps:

. Do some mild exercise. Walk around the neighborhood, run on the treadmill, go ride your bike, or any other exercises you enjoy. This will increase blood flow which will help the cramps go away.

. Lie on your back with your bottom touching a wall and your feet resting above. Relax in this position when you have painful cramps and they will be alleviated.

. Try placing a hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen. This helps ease your muscles. A hot wash cloth or even just a warm blanket can also help.

. Try taking a hot bath or hot shower.

. Relieve your cramps with peppermint or wintergreen, especially when added to a tea. Drink one to two cups per day.

. Drink hot herbal tea or hot lemon when your pelvic region feels congested and cramped. It will increase your blood flow and relax your muscles.

. Blend and drink 75 milliliters of parsley, beet, carrot, and cucumber juice to treats painful cramping.

. Pound a piece of ginger and boil it in a cup of water for a couple of minutes. Sweeten the infusion with a little sugar and drink three times daily after meals.

. Take a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement, especially one that provides the body with calcium. Choose supplements that deliver small doses so that you can take one after each meal.

. Taking a magnesium supplement before and during your period will help your body effectively absorb more calcium.

. Add two tablespoons of basil leaves to one pint of boiling water. Cover tightly and allow the blend to cool at room temperature. Drink half to one cup of the basil tea every hour to ease your cramps.

. Sprinkle cinnamon on your breakfast foods or add to a tea. Cinnamon can ease the symptoms of menstrual cramping.

. Crush one teaspoon of fennel seeds to make a powder. Then, add one cup of boiling water. Let it steep for five minutes. Strain it and then drink it while it is still hot.

. Sprinkle ground flax seed over your salad, morning cereal, a cup of yogurt or in a smoothie. Women are usually advised to consume between one and two tablespoons of flax seed during the menstrual cycle.

. Make a simple mixture by taking about 2 tablespoons of some chamomile flowers and adding to a cup of water. This should be boiling water and the chamomile flowers should be allowed to steep in it for a few minutes. Add some honey to this mixture for added relief.

. Take 1 teaspoon of fenugreek powder with 1/2 cup water at the interval of every 3 hours till cramps subside.

. Take evening primrose oil in the form of capsules and the usual dose is 3,000 to 6,000 mg a day. This oil contains a substance that prevents uterine contractions and cramps.

. Drink red raspberry leaf tea at least once a day for 2-3 days before your period is about to start, and during menstruation. This is a great natural cure to muscle cramps and stress relief.

. Take 1-2 teaspoon of sesame seeds in a glass of water and boil it. Allow to stand for some time,then strain the mixture. Drink it 1-2 times a day.

. Eat unripe papaya. The unripe papaya helps the contractions of the muscle fibres of the uterus and is thus helpful in securing a proper menstrual flow.

. Eat a banana as soon as you feel the onset of menstrual cramps. Bananas contain both vitamin K and potassium which will help alleviate muscle cramping.

. Drinking dong quai tea or taking the herbal extract is also an effective remedy in the treatment for menstrual cramps.

. Drink a couple of cups of the juice from a coconut each day you are on your period (and eat the meat from the coconut as well).



~source:

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Vaginal Dryness : Symptoms, Causes, Treatments and Home Remedies

Vaginal dryness is a common problem for women during and after menopause, although inadequate vaginal lubrication can occur at any age. Vaginal dryness is a hallmark sign of vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis) — thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to a decline in estrogen. Along with vaginal dryness, you might also have itching and stinging around the vaginal opening and in the lower third of the vagina.

Vaginal dryness can make intercourse uncomfortable. Most vaginal lubrication consists of clear fluid that seeps through the walls of the blood vessels encircling the vagina. When you're sexually aroused, more blood flows to your pelvic organs, creating more lubricating vaginal fluid. But the hormonal changes of menopause, childbirth and breast-feeding may disrupt this process.


Symptoms

Vaginal dryness may be accompanied by signs and symptoms such as:

.Itching
.Burning
.Soreness
.Pain or light bleeding with sex
.Urinary frequency or urgency


Causes of Vaginal Dryness

There are many factors that may lead to vaginal dryness. Some of them are:

.Diaphragms
.Condoms
.Tampons
.Drying soaps
.Douches
.Medications (antihistamines/decongestants, antidepressants, antibiotics)
.Chemotherapy and radiation
.Allergens (for example the fragrances and dyes in toilet paper)

While all of these may cause problems with lubrication, the main cause of vaginal dryness remains low estrogen levels.


Treatments and Home Remedies

The diagnosis of the causes for vaginal dryness is necessary, but home remedies for vaginal dryness can relieve the condition while treating any significant disease or psychological issues. There are some treatments and effective home remedies for vaginal dryness which are mentioned ahead.

. To keep body hydrated drink at least 10 glasses of water. It will help to relieve the dryness.

. Apply Vaseline on the external and also within the lips of the vagina. It helps with the itching, dryness, and also a great lubricant.

. Vitamin E oil is good too. Apply the oil with your finger into the inside wall of your vagina.

. Aloe vera if consumed with saffron, winter cherry and milk at night is known to increase vaginal lubrication.

. Use a cotton pad and dip in sesame oil. Massage the vaginal walls daily to help in restoring vaginal lubrication.

. Including yogurt, rice, barley and corn in everyday meals is also known to reduce vaginal dryness.

. Apply around ½ tsp of comfrey salve to your vaginal area daily after taking a bath. Comfrey contains allantoin which helps in soothing the irritated tissues and stimulates the growth of new and healthy cells.

. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is very important for you to have these foods as they keep the cells healthy and naturally cure infection.

. Consume flax oil several times a day as a regular treatment for vaginal dryness. You can also substitute the oil for one to two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseeds.

. Applying wild yams to the affected area can give relief. Typically, this is done with creams that are made with wild yam. Wild yam is a natural source of estrogen, thus, increasing the estrogen levels in the vaginal area.

. Local application of turmeric or tea tree oil is considered beneficial. Both, turmeric and tea tree oil are considered to have strong anti-bacterial properties which in turn can improve the infection.

. Eat more soy-based foods, such as soymilk and tofu, into your diet, Valuable options include tofu, soymilk, soy yogurt, miso and boiled or steamed soybeans.

. Other good natural remedies for the treatment of vaginal dryness include taking Kudzu. A study showed that healthy postmenopausal women that took a Kudzu capsule daily for 24 weeks showed improvements in vaginal dryness.

. Take a glass of water and add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and allow it to boil for 10-15 minutes.

. Herbs such as Dong Quai, a very well known Chinese herb helps to support balance of female hormones and to promote hormonal health. Available as a supplement at most natural health stores.

. Regularly drink fresh milk with 1 teaspoon of saffron in it. This will help to reduce vaginal dryness.

. Squeeze the oil of 6 vitamin E capsule into a cup. Add 5 teaspoon of black cohosh cream and mix. Apply it to the inside part as well outside of the vagina two or three times a day till relief.

. Take a cup of oat straw regularly to keeps the female reproductive organs in good condition and helps the skin glow.

. Try Kegel exercises since they may increase circulation to the pelvic area and thus help you keep vaginal tissue healthy and strong.



~source:mayoclinic.com~