Leucorrhoea or leukorrhea is a very common condition where the discharge from the vagina changes in color (white or yellow) or consistency (gets thicker). It is foul smelling vaginal discharge. This is experienced by women of all ages. This condition is very natural. Female genitals are highly prone to infections because of being moist and covered most of the time.
Leucorrhea is of two types: physiological and pathological leucorrhea.
Physiological leucorrhea is the discharge from vagina due to physical factors like excitement and nervousness. This can happen during puberty in girls, during ovulation, during intercourse, in early pregnancy or after delivery due to changes in hormones and also seen in newborn baby girls due to presence of mother’s hormones. It can be treated by balancing the estrogen levels.
Pathological leucorrhea is the discharge from vagina associated with lack of nutrition and poor health. It can be due to dysfunction of the genital tract, congestion or inflammation or infection within the vagina or cervix. It can also occur if there is irritation of the membrane lining.
Leucorrhea may also be categorized as cervical leucorrhea or vaginal leucorrhea depending on where the discharge originated from.
In Ayurveda, Leucorrhea is known as Shveta Pradar where Shveta stands for white and Pradar stands for discharge.
Causes of Leucorrhea:
The cause of leucorrhea could be sexually transmitted disease and increase in toxins in the body due to unhealthy eating habits.
Other causes could be use of contraceptives, sprays, lubricants, jellies etc by men or women which could cause irritation.
Injuries to the vagina, womb or cervix can lead to leucorrhea .Infections mainly urinary tract infection leads to increase in discharge. Infections could be either bacterial or fungal infections.
Even being anemic or diabetic can also leads to vaginal discharge.
Hormonal imbalance and poor genital hygiene are the leading causes of leucorrhea along with stress and anxiety.
According to Ayurveda, the root cause of leucorrhea is imbalance of Kapha energy due to improper diet which includes. Excessive intake of heavy, oily, cold, sweet foods. Milk and dairy products like butter, cheese leads to this discharge. Overindulgence in sex and history of repeated abortions or miscarriages often leads to leucorrhea. Increase Kapha impairs the Rasa dhatu or nutrient plasma in vaginal tract leading to vaginal discharge. The other reasons to get leucorrhea according to Ayurveda are taking long walks, riding vehicles for long time, day sleep, heavy weigh lifting, intake of alcohol etc.
Symptoms of Leucorrhea:
It is an uncomfortable condition which leads to the following symptoms:
The discharge may be dark, bloody, yellow, greenish or white in color. It could be accompanied by pus in some cases.
The discharge has foul or sour smell.
The consistence of discharge can be thick, watery, sticky or frothy.
There could be itching and dryness in vaginal region.
There could be headache, pain the stomach, pain in calves and lumbar region , fatigue or weakness, constipation and other digestive problems .
The patient may get black patches on the skin under the eyes.
There could be spotting on the underwear.
One may experience severe irritability due to leucorrhea. There could be pain during intercourse.
Frequent urination along with burning sensation is very common. The patient experiences lower back pain.
Diagnose of Leucorrhea:
A vaginal swab is done to diagnose the infection before starting the treatment.
Treatment of Leucorrhea:
Ayurvedic treatment for leucorrhea focuses on cleaning the body of the accumulated Ama or toxins and thus balancing Kapha. The treatment also involves toning of the overall female reproductive system. Thus there is nourishing treatment or Brimhana to improve the strength, nutrtion and immunity of female body and blocking treatment of Stambhana to stop excessive flow from the vagina.
Planet Ayurveda offers an effective treatment for Leucorrhea in the form of Leucorrhea Care Pack which comprises of four products: Pradrantak Churna, Female Health Support , Gandhak Rasayan and Pitta Balance. These medicines taken together works towards balancing the doshas by simulating the digestive fire.
Pradrantak Churna: This herbal formulation in the form of powder is an excellent medicine to get rid of excessive yellowish white discharge. It is a combination of herbs like lodhra, Ashoka, Udumbur and Arjuna. The powder balances the aggrevated kapha dosha , stimulates the digestive fire and balances the physiological functions of the body by excreting toxins out of the body. This medicine is effective in treating all gynecological problems in women.
Female Health Support: These are pure natural herbal capsules made using a combination of herbs like ashok, lodhra and shatavari. The herb Ashok relieves all kinds of menstrual disturbances; the herb loddhra strengthens the reproductive system and can even fight cancer. This herb acts as an astringent. The herb Shatavari improves overall female health.
Gandhak Rasayan : This is a herbal supplement obtained from Shuddha Gandhak also known as purified Sulphur. It is used for rejuvenation, to improve immune system. It is great for all skin problems as it purifies the blood, by removing toxins from the body . This medicine has anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties.
Pitta Balance: As the name suggests, this product helps in balancing the pitta and related problems. It is a combination of ingredients like praval pishti, akik pishti, jawar mohra pishti, kamdudha ras, mukta pishti and giloy satva. The combination works towards enhancing the immunity and managing various ailments to balance pitta dosha. The medicine is excellent source of calcium.
Along with the leucorrhea care pack, Planet Ayurveda also offers medicines like Kumari Saar, Kaishore Guggul, Neem Capsules etc to help in the treatment .
Home Remedies to Cure Leucorrhea and Natural Tips to Prevent the Problem
The most common home remedy is to clean the vaginal area with fresh lemon juice and water.
One is advised to include ripe bananas in diet and drink fresh cranberry juice atleast once a day.
A mixture of turmeric and garlic may be taken in any form to treat leucorrhea at home.
Soak one teaspoon of coriander seeds in a cup of water overnight. Next morning, chew the seeds and drink the water.
Complete rest and proper sleep are very important to overcome this problem. Good hygiene and good exercise is highly recommended.
To increase blood circulation in the vagina, hydrotherapy or hip bath also known as cold sitz bath is very effective. Aromatherapy with oils like rosemary, oregano and sandalwood can be done.
It is advised to avoid sanitary napkins, deodorants or sprays during treatment.
It is very important for females to avoid contaminating the vaginal area by always wiping from front to back after bowel movements.
Wash undergarments with antibiotic solutions and let them dry in the sun.
Diet recommended:
A well balanced diet that includes lots of fruits like bananas, cranberries, oranges, lemons, black plums is recommended.
Vegetables like ladyfingers, onions, brown rice/red rice, and herbs like garlic, ginger, fenugreek and coriander are advised. Date fruits, red spinach, gooseberry, green gram and even cows ghee are beneficial. A diet rich in fiber, proteins and carbohydrates should be taken. Intake of supari or betel nut after meals is very beneficial.
The patient needs to avoid eggs, meat, bread, mushrooms etc. Spicy and junk food needs to be avoided. Avoid coffee and tea too.
The patient is recommended not to keep her stomach empty for a long time.
Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water per day is very important to flush out the toxins from the body. Increase liquids like soup and juices in diet.