Vaginitis
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 at 35°C - 40°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.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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