Vaginal or genital itching can be embarrassing especially if you are at work, at a party, or away from some privacy. Genital itching can be caused due to many reasons, the most common being a yeast infection. Wearing tight clothes and a lack of hygiene may contribute to this unpleasant situation.
If you are too embarrassed to reach out to someone, you can try treating your genital problems at home.
10 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Vaginal Itching
1. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it an excellent home remedy to treat vaginal discomfort.1 It also helps to restore the natural pH balance of your vagina. Apple cider vinegar creates an acidic environment when used appropriately, killing bacteria.
How To Use
- Add 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water.
- Use this solution to wash your vagina twice a day for a few days.
2. Garlic
Garlic possesses antimicrobial properties due to the presence of allicin.2 Therefore, it can control any infection-spreading bacteria. You can ease your vaginal itching and other discomforts using garlic oil.
How To Use
- Add a few drops of garlic oil to a teaspoon of vitamin E oil.
- Apply this mixture on the vagina for about ten minutes.
- Rinse with warm water and make sure to pat dry.
- Alternatively, you can also chew 3 cloves of garlic every day.
3. Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, making it another good remedy for vaginal discomfort.3 Coconut oil can soothe itchy skin and can also fight infections.
How To Use
- Apply a layer of virgin coconut oil on the vagina and leave it to dry completely.
- Repeat this for a few days until you observe desired results.
4. Salt Water Bath
Salt has antimicrobial properties and can give you relief from vaginal infections and itching.4 A salt water bath not only improves the genital region but also relaxes the body. You can use Epsom salt or sea salt for this purpose.
How To Use
- Add half a cup of salt to lukewarm water filled in a bathtub.
- Sit in a squatting position in the tub for about 15 minutes.
- Bath normally and ensure you dry the region thoroughly.
- Repeat the process at least twice a day.
5. Yogurt
Yogurt has good bacteria that usually helps with digestion. Because of the presence of this yogurt bacteria, it can fight the bacterial infection that causes vaginal itching. It also gives relief from the burning sensation.
How To Use
- You’ll need a tampon for this purpose.
- Dip a tampon in yogurt and insert it into the vagina.
- Keep it in for a few hours, about 2 hours.
- Remove it, rinse with water, and pat dry.
- You can do this two times a day for effective results.
6. Honey
Like garlic and apple cider vinegar, honey also possesses antimicrobial properties and can give relief from vaginal irritation.5
How To Use
- Apply a layer of honey on the vagina.
- Leave it on for 30 minutes.
- Rinse the area with lukewarm water.
- Make sure the vaginal region is dried thoroughly.
- You can do this twice a day.
7. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that relieve vaginal itching and treat yeast infections.6
How To Use
- You can add a few drops of tea tree oil to a small bowl of water.
- Use this water to rinse your vagina and pat dry.
- Alternatively, you can add 4 to 5 drops of the oil 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
- Apply this on the vagina and the surrounding areas.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes.
- Rinse the area with warm water and pat dry.
- You can do this once every day until you obtain the desired results.
8. Cold Compress
A cold compress is good to reduce inflammation and the itching sensation.
How To Use
- Wrap a few ice cubes in a washcloth.
- Place this or any other cold compress on the vagina.
- After a few minutes, take a 30-second break and reapply this.
- Repeat the process for 15 minutes.
9. Indian Lilac (Neem)
Indian lilac has antiseptic properties and is also a good moisturizer. It is also a good remedy for vaginal discomforts.
How To Use
- Add a handful of Indian lilac leaves to 2 to 3 cups of water.
- Boil the mixture and allow it to cool down.
- Strain the mixture and collect the water in a bowl.
- Rinse the vagina with this water.
- Pat dry after the rinse.
- You can follow these steps once a day for a few weeks.
10. Boric Acid
Boric acid also has antiseptic properties that can help in relieving genital discomforts like itching and burning.7 It also inhibits vaginal yeast overgrowth.
How To Use
- Add a small amount of boric acid to some amount of water.
- Apply the solution in the vaginal area.
- Let it remain for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Rinse it off with warm water.
- Try this once daily to obtain significant results.
Apart from these remedies, you can also rinse the vaginal area with water that is boiled with rosemary leaves and basil leaves. Kefir, a fermented dairy product, contains probiotic bacteria that can help get rid of the bacteria causing the genital irritation.
Some Tips To Avoid Genital Discomfort
- Moisture in the vaginal area will cause bacteria to infect the area and cause genital discomforts like itching and burning. Make sure you keep the vagina and the surrounding areas dry at all times.
- Consider wearing loose clothes than tight fitting clothes. Wearing loose clothes allow air to pass and keep the vagina dry. Cotton clothes are better than other fabrics and can cause less irritation.
- Wash your undergarments daily and change them every day after a shower.
- Try not to use harsh soaps and other products in your sensitive area.
- It is recommended to avoid sex if you have any genital discomfort.
Home remedies may take more time than usual to work, so if you plan to use home remedies to treat your discomfort, be patient. If you don’t find any difference to your condition in two weeks, visit a doctor and follow the medications, if any.
References
| ↑1 | Brittany, Samons. Apple Cider Vinegar Recipes for Health. Mihails Konoplovs, 2013. |
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| ↑2 | Ankri, Serge, and David Mirelman. “Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic.” Microbes and infection 1, no. 2 (1999): 125-129. |
| ↑3 | Shilling, Michael, Laurie Matt, Evelyn Rubin, Mark Paul Visitacion, Nairmeen A. Haller, Scott F. Grey, and Christopher J. Woolverton. “Antimicrobial effects of virgin coconut oil and its medium-chain fatty acids on Clostridium difficile.” Journal of medicinal food 16, no. 12 (2013): 1079-1085. |
| ↑4 | Wijnker, J. J., G. Koop, and L. J. A. Lipman. “Antimicrobial properties of salt (NaCl) used for the preservation of natural casings.” Food microbiology 23, no. 7 (2006): 657-662. |
| ↑5 | Israili, Zafar H. “Antimicrobial properties of honey.” American journal of therapeutics 21, no. 4 (2014): 304-323. |
| ↑6 | Carson, C. F., K. A. Hammer, and T. V. Riley. “Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties.” Clinical microbiology reviews 19, no. 1 (2006): 50-62. |
| ↑7 | Ray, Debarti, Ravinder Goswami, Uma Banerjee, Vatsla Dadhwal, Deepti Goswami, Piyali Mandal, Vishnubhatla Sreenivas, and Narayana Kochupillai. “Prevalence of Candida glabrata and its response to boric acid vaginal suppositories in comparison with oral fluconazole in patients with diabetes and vulvovaginal candidiasis.” Diabetes care 30, no. 2 (2007): 312-317. |