Picture of Goldenseal
GoldenSeal roots
Goldenseal, Herbal Remedy for Skin diseases and ulcers. Possible remedy
against Vaginitis.
Picture of Goldenseal
GoldenSeal roots
Common Names--goldenseal, yellow root
Latin Name--Hydrastis canadensis
Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.
To use an herbal product as safely as possible:
Consult your doctor first
Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends
Take it under the guidance of a trained medical professional
Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
List of Herbs at a glance
Why should I use herbal products? The decision to use herbs to improve your
health is, as with all health decisions, a personal one. There are, however,
many good reasons to consider herbal products to complement your own
health care methods. One of the best reason, however, may be the fact that
herbs and herbal products, continue to provide real health benefits while
maintaining a remarkable safety profile. Readily available natural
substances were the first medicines used by humans. Primitive and ancient
civilizations as well as contemporary cultures throughout the world have
always relied on herbs to provide the benefits that have been observed with
their use. In fact, the World Health Organization has estimated that 80
percent of the world's population continues to use traditional therapies, a
major part of which are derived from plants, as their primary health care
tools. In our own time and culture, most herbs are available in the form of
"herbal supplements." These products are found in the form of teas, tablets,
capsules, liquid extracts, and others. We now have ready access to products
that bring the herbal traditions from all over the world in a variety of
convenient forms. In addition, scientific inquiries continue to develop our
knowledge of the benefits of plants, and often validate the observations
made over the past centuries. Are herbs safe? Plants that enjoy broad culinary and
therapeutic usage are generally safe. We can flavor our food with any number
of herbs to make a meal more flavorful. We can appreciate a delicious cup of
peppermint leaf or ginger root tea, or benefit from the soothing properties
of marshmallow root or the bark of slippery elm. We can take an herbal
supplement containing dandelion root or saw palmetto berries, or any number
of the other herbs. Although allergies and reactions have been recorded for
a few herbs that are widely used in foods and supplements, such individual
concerns are also seen with many foods, and do not diminish the safety
profile of the many herbs that are generally recognized as safe. On the
other hand, and as everyone knows, there are any number of plants that are
highly toxic, even deadly. view
Vaginitis
What is vaginitis?
Vaginitis is a term for any infection or inflammation of the vagina.
What are the symptoms of vaginitis?
In general, vaginitis may cause itching, irritation, or abnormal vaginal discharge.
There are a several different kinds of vaginitis, each with their own causes and symptoms:
Candida or “yeast” infections – Yeast infections of the vagina are probably the most familiar form of vaginitis. They occur when too much of the fungus Candida grows in the vagina. Yeast infections produce a thick, white discharge from the vagina that can look like cottage cheese. The discharge can be watery and often has no smell. Yeast infections usually cause the vagina and vulva (the area outside the vagina) to become itchy and red.
Bacterial vaginosis – Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age. It is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that are usually present in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis will often cause a thin, milky discharge from the vagina that may have a “fishy” odor. Many women with bacterial vaginosis have no symptoms and only discover they have it during a routine gynecologic exam.
Trichomoniasis – Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a single-cell parasite. It can cause vaginal itching, burning, and soreness of the vagina and vulva, as well as burning during urination. Many women with trichomoniasis do not develop any symptoms.
Non-infectious vaginitis – This form of vaginitis is usually caused by an allergic reaction or irritation from vaginal sprays, douches, spermicidal products, soaps, detergents, or fabric softeners. It can cause burning, itching, or vaginal discharge even if there is no infection.
What are the treatments for vaginitis?
The key to treating vaginitis is knowing which kind you have. The treatment must be specific to the type of vaginitis present.
Yeast infections are usually treated with an anti-yeast cream or suppository placed inside the vagina. A health care provider can write a prescription for most yeast infection treatments.
Although you can also buy medicine to treat yeast infections over-the-counter, it is a good idea to see a health care provider the first time you have symptoms of a yeast infection. Because this medicine will not cure other types of vaginitis, it is important to be sure you actually have a yeast infection before using these treatments.
Bacterial vaginosis is treated with an antibiotic that gets rid of the “bad” bacteria and leaves the “good” bacteria. There is no over-the-counter treatment for bacterial vaginosis, so it is important to see your health care provider for a prescription.
Sexually transmitted forms of vaginitis need to be treated by a health care provider right away. It is important to avoid sexual contact until you have been treated to prevent spreading the infection. A woman’s sexual partner(s) will need treatment as well.
Trichomoniasis and Chlamydia are both treated by antibiotics. Neither genital herpes nor HPV can be cured, but both can be controlled with the help of your health care provider and medications.
Non-infectious vaginitis can be treated by stopping the use of the product that caused the allergic reaction or irritation. Your health care provider may also be able to provide medicated cream to help reduce the symptoms until the reaction goes away.
It is important to remember that each type of vaginitis has a different treatment. Therefore it is very important to see a health care provider to be sure you are using the right treatment for your condition. Also, some kinds of vaginitis have no symptoms so it is important to have regular gynecologic exams.
Can I prevent vaginitis?
There are some things you can do to lower your chances of getting vaginitis.
If you often get yeast infections, you may want to avoid clothes that hold in heat and moisture, such as panty hose without a cotton lining, nylon panties, or tight jeans.
Avoid douches and vaginal sprays because they can kill “good” bacteria or cause irritation.
Practicing safe sex can help protect against sexually transmitted forms of vaginitis.
Information gathered from the National Institute of Health