Leucorrhoea, commonly known as whites, refers to a whitish discharge from the female genitals. It is an abnormal disease condition of the reproductive organs of women. The condition may continue for weeks or months at a time. If not treated properly in the initial stages, it may become chronic.
Causes and 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 experiences 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.
Leucorrhoea denotes a generally devitalised and toxic condition of the system, caused by wrong feeding habits. Whenever the body is loaded with toxins and the eliminative organs such as the skin, bowels, lungs, and kidneys are unable to eliminate them, the body in women establishes profuse discharge or elimination through the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina in the form of leucorrhoea. In young women, leucorrhoea may occur during inter-menstrual periods due to the thickening of the mucous membrane in the reproductive organs. During the child-bearing years from adolescence to the mid-forties, infection may sometimes follow the birth of a child due to damage of the cervix during delivery of the baby. The other common causes of leucorrhoea are displacement of the womb and unhygienic conditions which attract the bacteria to the genital organs.
Remedies
Amaranth Root: Amaranth is considered an excellent home remedy for leucorrhoea. The rind of the root of this plant should be rubbed in 25 ml of water. It should then be strained and given to the patient daily in the morning as well as in the evening. The root of this plant is, however, very susceptible to moths. Hence, care should be taken to see that it is not moth-eaten. In case the root is not available, its leaves and branches may be similarly processed and used.
Lady’s Fingers: The use of lady’s fingers is another effective home remedy for this disease. A decoction of this vegetable is Prepared by boiling 100 gm of the fresh vegetable, cut transversely, in half a litre of water for twenty minutes. It should then be strained and sweetened. This decoction, given in doses of 60 to 90 ml frequently, is beneficial in all irritable conditions of genito-urinary organs, including leucorrhoea. fenugreek Seeds: Fenugreek seeds are valuable in leucorrhoea. They should be taken internally in the form of tea ^ also used as a douche. For a douche, the solution should be much stronger than tea. Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be put into a litre of cold water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. The decoction should then be strained and used as a douche.
Guava Leaves: The tender leaves of guava are beneficial in the treatment of this disease. An infusion of the leaves should be used as a douche. It acts as a powerful vaginal astringent
Mango Seed: Mango seeds are valuable in leucorrhoea. A teaspoon of the paste of the decorticated kernel of mango can be applied inside the vagina with beneficial results.
Walnut Leaves: The leaves of the walnut tree contain astringent chemicals. A decoction of the fresh leaves can be beneficially used as a douche in the treatment of leucorrhoea.
Dietary Considerations
To begin with, the patient should fast for three or four days on fruit juices for the elimination of the morbid matter. After a short juice fast, she may adopt an all-fruit diet for about a week, taking three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits. The patient may, thereafter, gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on wholegrain cereals, fresh fruits, and raw and steamed vegetables. She should avoid all forms of white flour, white sugar, fried and greasy foods, condiments, preserves, tea, and coffee.
Other Measures
Water treatment is extremely beneficial in curing leucorrhoea. A cold hip bath taken twice a day, for ten minutes at a time, will help relieve congestion in the pelvic region and facilitate quick elimination of morbid matter. A warm vaginal douche at 30° C to 40°C is beneficial for general cleaning and elimination of the purulent discharge. The procedure is to fill the douche can with one and a half litres 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 level, and the special nozzle applied for this purpose should be oiled and inserted slowly into the vagina. The flow can be regulated by the small valve of the nozzle. In sever« cases, the douche should be taken daily.