herbs for STD's

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STD's

General characteristics

Sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STD's or STI's) are bacteria, viral or parasitical infections that are passed from human to human via sexual contact with an infected individual. The most common STD's include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV or genital warts), pubic lice (crabs), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), gardnerella and syphilis.

Symptoms vary considerably depending on the type of infection but often involve itching, soreness or redness in the genital area, smelly discharge, discomfort during sex, bleeding after sex or urination, sore throat or fever (syphilis) and a general feeling of being unwell.

Healing objectives are to raise the immunity and vitality, fight infection using healthy foods, herbs and natural healing and prevent re-occurrence either through abstinence, careful selection of sexual partners or barrier control such as condoms.

Diet and lifestyle

During an active infection keep the diet free from junk and processed food and drinks.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits, berries, dark leaves, vegetables and homemade soups, salads and fresh juices to provide vitality and a wealth of anti-oxidants and other health promoting nutrients.

Include plenty of garlic and onions in the diet for their anti-infectious properties.

Take a pinch of turmeric in herb teas or add to meals.

Avoid alcohol.

Useful herbs

See also immunity for other useful treatment ideas.

Make a decoction using a tablespoon each of burdock root, echinacea root, sarsaparilla root and barberry root and a teaspoon of prickly ash bark and liquorice root. Simmer in 1.5 pints of water for 30 minutes, strain off a cupful throughout the day until all the liquid is consumed. This will help raise the immune response of the body, cleanse the system generally and has an affinity with the reproductive area. The recipe is based on an historical remedy for syphilis from the Americas but will also help with most STD's.

A few drops of blue flag tincture in water 3 times daily can help to clear wastes and congestion from the area and speed up resolution. It has a good reputation in syphilis and other similar diseases.

For gonorrhoea make a tea using a teaspoon each of raspberry leaves, lady's mantle, pine needles, thyme and cleavers with a pinch of goldenseal powder and 5 crushed juniper berries added to each cup of tea. Take 3 cups daily.

Cornsilk tea is also very useful in gonorrhoea.

Neem leaves are effective against a range of sexually transmitted infections including syphilis and gonorrhoea.

Natural healing

All essential oils have anti-pathogenic activity of some from. Anti-bacterial, anti-viral or anti-fungal essential oils can be used daily as a wash or in the bath to help clear up infections or help prevent future infections. Essential oils such as sandalwood (a specific oil for STD's), lavender, tea tree and oregano can all help considerably. Use diluted with another oil if applying directly to the genitals.

To get herbal mixtures as close to the source of infection as possible women can follow the herbal formulas suggested (or invent your own) and soak a tampon in the herbs to insert into the vagina overnight or through the day, make a pessary from powdered herbs and cocoa butter (melt the cocoa butter and stir in the herbs, allow to cool and harden then shape to fit, refrigerate the rest) and insert into the vagina or make a tea and use as a douche. For men, a penis soak can be used by making a herbal tea and soaking the penis in it for 15 minutes or so, several times a day.

All bee products such as honey, propolis, pollen and royal jelly can help to raise the immune response and provide vitality to the whole body.

Take a teaspoon of cider vinegar with honey in a little water to help against STD's. Drink the mixture daily. Some people also find relief from genital warts by applying neat apple cider vinegar to the heads of the warts.