That is the question!
Should a healthy woman douche? Probably not, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that women don't douche. Douching can change the delicate balance of vaginal flora (organisms that live in the vagina) and acidity in a healthy vagina. One way to look at it is in a healthy vagina there are both good and bad bacteria. The balance of the good and bad bacteria help maintain an acidic environment. Any changes can cause an over growth of bad bacteria which can lead to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
When would douching be appropriate? Douching can be a great adjunctive treatment for yeast infections or vaginitis but it is best to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Over 70% of women who diagnosed themselves with a yeast infection did not actually have one!
But douching certainly isn't the only treatment us women can do down there...
Vaginal Suppositories such as with boric acid for the treatment of yeast infections
Vaginal Steams are a gentle way to bring herbs into the pelvis and can treat a variety of women's complaints
Sitz Baths are a common treatment for cervicitis and recommended by world-renowned naturopathic physician Dr. Tori Hudson
Here’s a guide to some of my favorite medicinal plants while forest foraging in the Pacific Northwest…