Leukorrhea

What is Leukorrhea?

Leukorrhea, commonly known as whites, refers to a whitish discharge from the female genitals. It is an abnormal condition of the reproductive organs of women. If not treated properly in the initial stages, it may become chronic. Recent investigations have shown that secretions from the uterus and upper part of the vagina flow down and are reabsorbed in the lower parts of the vagina. This is the normal constant flow within the female organs. The whitish discharge is, however, caused by the presence of infection in any of these tissues and a variety of other factors. The condition may continue for weeks or months at a time. Leukorrhea is also known as Thick White Vaginal Discharge (Scientific Binomial Name), Leucorrhoea (Common English), (Unani), Lyookoriya (Hindi / Urdu), Leukorrhea (Tamil), Shvet Pradar / Dhupani (Marathi), (Sanskrit), Leukorrhea (Bengali), (Telugu), Blennelytria (Kannada), (Malayalam), Baidai (Mandarin / Traditional Chinese / Simplified Chinese), Leucorrea (Spanish).

Common Symptoms

In addition to the whitish discharge from the vagina, the patient feels weak and tired. She also suffers from pain in the lumbar region and the calves and a dragging sensation in the abdomen. Other symptoms are constipation, frequent headaches and intense itching. In the chronic form, the patient feels irritable and develops black patches under the eyes. Leukorrhea may occur during intermenstrual periods, due to thickening of the mucous membrane in the reproductive organs. Such a discharge is associated with painful menstruation and other menstrual disorders. In mature women, a profuse yellowish discharge, associated with burning on urination, may be caused by gonorrhoea. This is a serious infection which should be treated promptly. During the child-bearing years, from adolescence to the mid-forties, the infection may sometimes follow the birth of a child due to damage of the cervix during delivery. This is increased by prolonged ill-health, anxiety, neurosis, sedentary occupation and standing for long periods. If not treated properly, this infection may continue for months or even years and may spread to other areas of the genital tract. Leukorrhea may also result from a chill. A chill causes inflammation of the womb and vaginal membranes. Other common causes are the displacement of the womb and unhygienic conditions which attract bacteria to the genital organs.

Root Causes

Leukorrhea does not develop suddenly in an acute form. It denotes a devitalized and toxic condition of the system generally. The condition also involves one or many parts of the reproductive organs. Whenever the body is loaded with toxins due to wrong dietary habits and the eliminative organs such as skin, bowels, lungs, and kidneys are unable to eliminate the toxins, the body produces a profuse discharge or elimination through the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina in the form of leukorrhea. In the case of advanced, chronic inflammatory conditions of these organs, it leads to discharge with pus, offensive in odor and color varying from cream to yellow or light green. In young girls, leukorrhea may occur during the few years before and after the start of the menstrual flow . It may be due to an irritation of the genital organs caused by various factors such as dirt, soiled under garments, intestinal worms and excessive mental stimulation of sex or masturbation. Some excess secretion is normal when the girl reaches puberty, due to overactivity in her sex glands and organs. This usually disappears within a short time.

Leukorrhea Home Remedies for White Vaginal Discharge

1. Excellent Douche for Vaginal Discharges: Amaranth seeds and leaves makes an excellent douche for vaginal discharges of purulent matter. To make an amaranth tea, simply bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil. Then add 2 tsp. of seeds, cover and simmer on a very low heat for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. of leaves (if available) or else just let steep for 30 minutes. Use this tea for the douche.
2. Effective Remedy for Leukorrhea: An effective home remedy for leucorrhoea is lady’s finger. A decoction of this vegetable is prepared by boiling of 100 grams of the fresh capsules, cut transversely, in half a liter of water for 20 minutes and then strained sweetened. This decoction, given in doses of two or three ounces frequently, is highly beneficial in all irritable conditions of genito-urinary organs including leukorrhea.
3. Bayberry Bark- Natural Treatment: To make a tea simply bring 1 quart of water to a boil, then add 2-3 tbsp. of chopped bark, cover and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove and let steep for an additional 40 minutes. Strain. Two to three cups of tea per day, consumed orally or used as a douche, are of value in treating vaginal discharge.
4. Treat Itching and Burning: If you have a thick discharge from the genitals, along with an itching and burning sensation, try to do the douche with triphala tea. Boil 1 tablespoon of triphala powder in 1 pint of water for 5 minutes. Cool, strain, and use that tea for the douche. You will notice the healing effect quickly.
5. Coconut Shell – Ayurvedic Remedy: Dry an empty coconut shell in the sun for a week. Then break it into small pieces by smashing it good with a sledge hammer. Gather up the fragments and soak them in 1 qt. of vodka or Scotch for 11 days, shaking the solution twice daily. Strain, then bottle. Bathe the groin area as often as needed to get rid of jock itch. Douche regularly to eliminate vaginitis.
6. Herbal Alternative: White oak is a huge, stately tree whose bark is a powerful astringent and disinfectant. It is used as a douche for leukorrhea.
7. Best Home Remedy: Fenugreek seeds are another excellent home remedy for leukorrhea. They should be taken internally in the form of tea and also used as a douche. For a douche, the solution should be much stronger than tea. Two tablespoonful of fenugreek seeds should be put in a liter of cold water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. It should then be strained and used as a douche.
8. Borax Homeopathy Medicine: Borax is a remedy to use when you have a vaginal discharge that resembles egg whites or a white paste and have a feeling that warm water is flowing out. Vaginitis that responds to Borax often appears midway between the menstrual periods.
9. Cure Leucorrhoea With Water: Treatment through water is extremely beneficial in curing leucorrhoea. A cold hip bath twice a day for 10 minutes will help relieve congestion in the pelvic region and facilitate quick elimination of morbid matter. A warm vaginal douche at 30 to 40 C is beneficial to general cleansing and elimination of the purulent discharge. The procedure is to fill the douche can with 1 1/2 liter of warm water and hang it at a level of three feet above the body. The patient should lie with the hips slightly raised above the body and a special nozzle applied for this purpose should be oiled and inserted slowly into the vagina. The flow can be regulated by the small value at the nozzle. In severe cases of leukorrhea, the douche should be done daily.

Lifestyle Tips to Prevent Leukorrhea

1. Don’t use soap or very hot water to cleanse the vaginal tissues. If you do, you’ll remove healthy natural skin barriers that help to control bacterial growth.
2. Wear loose cotton clothing that allows your genitals to breathe. Avoid tight jeans and pantyhose with nylon crotches.
3. Refrain from using scented tampons, feminine deodorants, and douches. The chemical used to create pleasant fragrances can upset the delicate environment in the vagina and allow yeast to take over.
4. Also avoid perfumed dusting powders. Some women develop an irritation when using these powders and the additional irritation makes them more prone to infection.
5. Make a point of urinating after intercourse. Mucous membranes of the vagina normally are slightly acidic, but semen is alkaline. Urinating will help make the area less inviting to infectious growth.
6. If you go swimming, change out of your wet bathing suit quickly. Otherwise, you’ll create a breeding ground for bacteria.
7. Refrain from dusting your vaginal area with any product that contains cornstarch. Though cornstarch acts as a drying agent, bacteria feed on it.