Intimate Hygiene
Intimate cleansers with the correct pH
These notes were written in consultation with a top Cape Town gynaecologist. He requested alternative products for his patients to maintain a healthier vaginal environment. This research work was undertaken over ten years ago. I suggested a vaginal cleanser that would be acidic so that the mucous membranes would not be challenged by alkaline soaps. Our rooibos and tea tree intimate cleansers were the result.
They have now been upgraded, with alternatives to PARABENS, SLES / SLS due to public demand. The rooibos cleanser is enriched with 15 strains of probiotics and this is essential to maintain yeast problems. If there is a deficiency of probiotics, yeast proliferates. The yeast becomes pathogenic when it converts to mould and fungal forms, called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins migrate to other parts of the body, especially breast tissue.
Personal lubricants with a pH correction
I received a call from the gynaecologist who had a patient complaining about KY jelly. It was causing a “ sticky” effect and she found sex to be painful. Our formulation is pH 3.5 and is a water based product. We added tea tree oil to help control infections. It soon became a popular lubricant and a comforting gel for vaginal irritations. The tea tree variant has been used by doctors to treat vaginal candidiasis. They recommend inserting a tampon that has been coated with the tea tree lubricant. The PROBIOTIC – 15 solution can also be included.
Are parabens the bad guys?
The presence of parabens in breast tissue causes alarm, but in fact, parabens are substances present in many natural foods such as mangoes, granadillas, vanilla, cocoa, etc. Parabens are not estrogenic in any way. They are part of the benzoate group and they help to protect us from pathogenic forms of microbes, especially mycotoxins. Over 90% of the parabens that are present in our body come from the natural plant-based food that we eat. People tend to react to the word “parabens”, thinking that they are xenoestrogens that can cause cancer. This is not true.
After using antibiotics we are advised to replace beneficial bacteria also known as gut flora that are killed unintentionally. However, there are natural antibiotics that can adversely affect our resident population of beneficial microbes. Anything “natural” that destroys bacteria will also need probiotic compensation if it is used in large, repeated doses.
Bacterial infections (successfully) treated by: Echinacea, propolis, goldenseal, oregano extracts and even excessive doses of garlic will wipe out the good bacteria that need to be replaced. If not, you remain vulnerable to dysbiosis and especially mould-based infections that cause cancer or weaken the immune system.
Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that live in the gut and make up over 80% of the immune system. Low levels of gut flora cannot control the growth of candida-based yeasts that then proliferate and causes over 72 types of infections.
Lactic acid in Nature Fresh PROBIOTIC-15 has nothing to do with milk. It is a strong sterilizing compound. It suppresses harmful micro organisms and breaks down and ferments the fibre we eat such as lignin and cellulose. It also produces antibacterial compounds that are known as bacteriocins that attack pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
Probiotics neutralize toxins, remove heavy metals and create vitamins in the gut.
They help to speed up the elimination of toxic waste in the bowel and naturally bulk up the stool and balance the water content as do laxatives and fibre supplements.
They also keep cholesterol and triglyceride levels in check.
Probiotics break down excessive hormone levels to control oestrogen dominance.
A plant-derived combination of ingeniously versatile probiotic strains provided by EM (effective microbe) technology has inspired two new products. 25 years of research and development in Japan created this new EM technology and it has now been introduced to South Africa. Our formulation includes colloidal silver. The Spray version has an additional 10% colloidal sliver. It is quick and convenient to use directly onto affected areas such as sore throats, Candida, etc. It can be used on foods such as lettuce.
Vegan-friendly PROBIOTIC-15 concentrated liquid with selenium
PROBIOTIC-15 is a liquid concentrate of the three basic families of probiotic strains: lactobacillus, phototropic probiotics (similar to blue-green algae) and beneficial yeasts that do not cause candidiasis. These beneficial microbes consume the trouble making candida! When we take antibiotics and even large and frequent doses of herbs like goldenseal, oregano oil, echinacea or propolis we kill off the beneficial gut microbes as well. In other words, we compromise over 80% of the immune system and that is why we suffer from candida and constipation!
It is not about the amount of each microbe you need but more the variety of strains. Microbes grow by themselves so the latest trend is to provide a larger selection that will then take care of establishing a healthy population of beneficial bacteria. This creates a synergistic effect: more from less because they interact with each other to enhance our health in diverse ways. All we need is a liquid “seeding” concentration of the 15 species and they will grow on food, molasses, yoghurt or even a glass of water at room temperature. The TMA (total microbial action) of PROBIOTIC-15 liquid concentrate doubled within a few days when a teaspoon of it was left in a glass of water at room temperature. It just keeps on growing!
The daily dose is 5 – 15 ml. This also provides 200 mcg of selenium. In South Africa we are deficient in selenium – the antioxidant mineral that helps to prevent cancer and HIV / AIDS. Minute quantities of herbal extracts are introduced to work at a vibrational level: peppermint, hypericum and devil’s claw. Add 5ml per 500ml water to drink overnight or early morning.
PROBIOTIC-15 can also be diluted 5 ml per ½ litre and used on the skin, as a hair rinse, a vaginal douche or as an enema. Use it to soak and sanitize your fruit and vegetables and then tip the water onto your pot plants!
PROBIOTIC-15 spray 10% with colloidal silver and selenium
A spray-on version of the PROBIOTIC-15 liquid concentrate with: an additional 10% colloidal silver solution. According to research colloidal silver does not affect the beneficial microbes and it enhances its germ fighting effects. It is great for immune boosting, first aid, to sanitize chopping boards, toilet seats etc. It can be sprayed directly onto food, especially if you do not trust the salad! Treat raw fish, chicken, etc before storing or cooking. Food stays fresher and free of nasty gut bugs. Ideal for lettuce or raw food you eat when don’t trust it.
Symptoms of vaginal disorders and suggested treatment.
Disclaimer: this information is to provide some background information on intimate problems. It was compiled with the support and approval of a gynaecologist. The data should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment of a condition. It is the responsibility of a qualified health practitioner to examine and treat the patient and recommend a treatment.
Candida, discharges, rashes dryness and vaginitis have common causes but may be symptoms of more serious infections. Natural remedies are safe and soothing and can be used with medications. For a more comprehensive explanation, the following links will explain more about the problem.
BURNING, ITCHING, RASHES AND SWELLING OF THE VULVA
First check through the list of common causes and take the appropriate action. Then use these suggestions for relief:
CLEANSING: rinse the area in a weak solution of cider vinegar and salty water. Rooibos, Echinacea, hypericum, calendula or suitable herbal teas make excellent rinsing and douching agents, especially when acidified with a few drops of lemon juice, cider vinegar and a spoon or two of salt. Never use bicarb or alkaline soaps as the vagina must remain acidic. Special acidic cleansing solutions are available and Nature Fresh make a herbal vaginal cleanser with Tea tree Oil or a milder Rooibos formulation. It can also be used every day in the bath and shower for general use or diluted to 5ml per cup of warm water if a douche is required. You can buy a special apparatus from the pharmacy called a Whirling Spray, made by the manufacturers of Barium enema’s. If you cannot find one, a baby’s enema or a large syringe without the needle will have to do. Only douche the vagina if your practitioner recommends it. Ladies are often confused about using soap. Keep it away from the vaginal cavity, but it can be used on the vulva or outer region. If you are not sure, use a product that is compatible for both areas.
SOOTHING: Pat yourself dry and apply a natural Calendula or Vitamin E cream to areas that are red and sore. A natural lubricating gel can also be applied frequently to stop itching and chafing. Nature Fresh make a mild gel with Tea Tree oil for infected areas or use their hypoallergenic Natural Personal Lubricant. These gels can be used throughout the day for interim cleansing when applied to cotton wool and used after going to the toilet, especially during menstruation.
REDUCING THE SWELLING: Inflammation can be reduced by taking Cantharis Compound Drops by Weleda. It has an anti-histamine action. Take a few drops directly on the tongue or in a glass of water. The tissue salt FERRUM PHOS reduces inflammation. You can suck four tablets every half hour until the pain subsides and then take them at longer intervals. Follow the ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROGRAMME for long-term relief.
STOPPING THE PAIN: Some people find that ice packs help reduce the pain and swelling. Try wetting a sanitary pad, wrap it in a waterproof plastic bag and freeze it. If this works, make a few more so you can exchange them. Take a painkiller as a last resort or ask the pharmacy for a topical anaesthetic such as Xylotox or Lignocaine.
WEEPY SORES, OOZING PUS, AND VERY SENSITIVE LESIONS:
These conditions are due to infections which should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. In cases of recurrent Herpes, long-term treatment with cream containing L-lysine (an amino acid) seems to prevent the sores from appearing again in the same place. The whole area must be covered in cream daily especially if a new outbreak of sores is starting. Taking L-lysine supplements is recommended as well as following the ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROGRAMME. For weepy infected sores, use the medications that are given to you by the doctor. Herbal creams containing calendula can also help. Some people swab with diluted tinctures of calendula and echinacea or use herbal teas. Herbs like plantain (ribwort) , rooibos and comfrey are very soothing. Use the advice in the previous paragraph to treat pain and swelling and try not to wear tight pants and synthetic fabrics.
ABNORMAL VAGINAL DISCHARGES:
The shedding of vaginal tissue produces a residue on underwear. It can appear a few times a month, but if no unusual odour or colour is present and it is not profuse, the discharge is normal. Eating certain foods rich in amino acids can cause a different effect, especially: bean sprouts, alfalfa, garlic, chillies and certain curry spices. If you are eating a lot of these foods and stop for a few days, this unusual odour or discharge will disappear and there should be no more cause for alarm. If no itching, swelling, inflammation or redness of the vulva is present then a discharge is not abnormal or a sign of a serious infection.
The following discharges, accompanied by vaginal irritation indicate the presence of an infection:
1 Thick white clots that look like cream cheese: A creamy white discharge is known as leucorrhea. The Candida Albicans fungus is always present in vaginal mucous and if it proliferates, a white curdy type of residue may occur but it usually does not have a bad odour. If large amounts develop it may indicate a Candida infection known as Thrush where yeast like organisms begin to take over. This may happen after a course of antibiotics when friendly bacteria or probiotics have been eradicated. Candida can grow on the sides of the vulva, the vagina and the cervix as well as in other parts of the body like the mouth and digestive tract. Roots of this fungus grow into the upper layers of skin and mucous tissue, causing pain, inflammation and itching.
2 A profuse discharge: enough to require wearing a sanitary towel between periods. You may also be having griping pains, intermittent fevers, nausea and feel weak, depressed and listless.
3 An offensive discharge: with a putrefying smell and a change of colour to yellow or a darker colour. It may become foamy and be streaked with blood and be accompanied by vaginal inflammation, painful intercourse and difficulty in urinating.
These symptoms indicate the need for medical treatment. There may be a uterine infection or the presence of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). A number of tests are available for identification of the organisms that could be a virus, bacteria or protozoa. These infections should be caught in their early stages so that irreversible damage to the reproductive system and the rest of the body does not occur. Patent drugs and antibiotics are used to eradicate most of these conditions but some of the strains have become resistant to treatment. Special diets, herbal remedies and food supplements can also help. Many of these diseases can be prevented and a healthy immune system is the best line of defence along with taking precautions when having sex with a number of casual partners. One should not only rely on condoms as the AIDS virus is 70 times smaller than a sperm cell. STD organisms are also transmitted via blood and saliva in many cases and the herpes virus is extremely contagious.
Early symptoms of common sexually transmitted diseases are:
AIDS(Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome) Headache, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, swollen lymph glands, fever, diarrhoea, lung infections.
CHLAMYDIA: a white discharge, pain when urinating, itching and painful intercourse.
GENITAL HERPES: Genital itching and burning, a watery discharge, painful urination and weepy sores in the vulva or vagina that take a few days or weeks to heal. The nerve endings around these ulcers become inflamed and there is a lot of pain. Chronic herpes upsets the nervous system, resulting in anxiety and depression as well as frustration and a feeling of low self-worth.
GENITAL WARTS: Single clusters of warts caused by the papilloma virus grow around the vagina, anus and vulva. It is believed that the same virus is responsible for cervical dysplasia whereby abnormal tissue is formed in the cervix. It may be a precancerous condition of the cervix.
A pap smear or sample of cervical tissue should be undertaken to establish a diagnosis.
GONORRHEA: Frequent and painful urination, cloudy vaginal discharge, abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic inflammation and vaginal itching. Females often show no symptoms and usually transmit this disease to unsuspecting males especially without the protection of a condom.
PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE(PID): A purulent vaginal discharge with fever and lower abdominal pain.
SYPHILIS: Sores in the vulva or vagina, a rash, patches of flaking tissue, a fever, sore throat and sores in the mouth or anus. It is contracted through physical contact such as kissing.
TRICHONOMIASIS: Vaginal itching and pain, with a watery foamy greenish or yellow odourless discharge.
BREAKTHROUGH BLEEDING AND SPOTTING
Should you be alarmed by a discharge of blood between periods?
The release of blood from the uterus into the vagina at an unexpected time is known as spotting or breakthrough bleeding. It is reported that most women immediately think they have cancer but fortunately they can be put at ease. Unless the discharge of blood is accompanied by symptoms such as pain, debility, cramps, inflammation and it also contains cervical tissue, mucous or offensive smelling debris, there is no cause for alarm.
CAUSES: 1 HORMONAL IMBALANCES. The sudden withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone triggers the blood and nutrients in the endometrium or lining of the womb to be released. This happens at the beginning of every menstrual cycle. This process can be set off at other times by too much or too little estrogen or progesterone as the release of blood in the uterine lining is dependent on hormonal instigators. Estrogen contains a blood clotting factor and this is why a menstrual flow will only start when the estrogen level drops. There are many causes for differing hormonal levels and every time estrogen or progesterone is given as a supplement, breakthrough bleeding may occur if the blending is incorrect. This type of bleeding often occurs when ladies take too much progesterone as it displaces estrogen that contains the clotting factor. Even “natural” progesterone creams are not exempt from causing this alarming condition and the bleeding is an indication that too much progesterone is active. Especially in cases where “natural” is masquerading as a synthesized progesterone supplement .
HOW TO REMEDY THE SITUATION: If the bleeding is heavy and lasts longer than a day, your gynecologist or doctor will have to determine the exact cause of the problem and estrogen (usually PREMARIN: from mares’ urine) is given in high doses every four hours to stop the bleeding. Futhermore, a D & C (womb scraping) and tissue or blood tests may be recommended. Although estrogen is used to clot the blood, the sudden surge of estrogen may cause the patient to gain weight, have swollen breasts and feel bloated because levels of the hormone prolactin may also be raised. This weight is difficult to remove and does not respond well to diet and exercise. An alternative approach may be to try and balance the hormonal levels in a gentler way, using estrogen active substances like: flax seeds, soya and a hormonal balancer such as agnus castus, which helps to lower levels of prolactin, thus helping to ease the resultant gain in weight. Unfortunately most natural techniques take a long time and often we need a “quick fix.”
Special note: This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health practitioner first if you are: pregnant, breastfeeding or epileptic or if you have a serious health condition. You are responsible for your own health and safety.