Last Updated on March 16, 2025 by admin
Leucorrhea, or excess white discharge, is commonly found in most adolescent girls in India. A certain amount of vaginal discharge is absolutely normal and is essential for maintaining vaginal health.
But excess thick white or yellowish discharge from the vagina with foul smell, irritation and weakness indicates an underlying health issue. Ayurveda says that dosha imbalance in the body is the major factor for having leucorrhea.
Incorporating herbs and dietary and lifestyle changes can balance the dosha in the body, strengthen the reproductive system, and reduce vaginal discharge.
What Is Leucorrhoea?
Vaginal discharge is the clear, whitish and odorless fluid that comes out from the vagina of a woman. It cleans and lubricates the vagina and even fights against bad bacteria and infections.
Leucorrhea is the excessive discharge of white sticky fluid with a foul smell coming from the vagina. It is a common condition observed in many women around the world. However, it is most common in adolescent girls.
In Ayurveda, leucorrhea is called Shweta Pradara. Here, Shweta means white, and paradara means excess discharge.
There are three main energies in Ayurveda: i,e vata, pitta and kapha. These three are responsible for maintaining good health. Ayurveda says that an imbalance in Kapha dosha in adolescent girls leads to leucorrhea.
Kapha dosha imbalance causes accumulations of toxins within the body, which further leads to excessive white discharge. Ayurveda focussed on balancing the kapha dosha and eliminating all the toxins to manage leucorrhea symptoms.
What Are The Types Of Leucorrhea?
There are three types of leucorrhea, which are underlined below.
1. Psychological Leucorrhea
It is characterized by clear and milky fluid because of hormonal problems.
2. Inflammatory Leucorrhea
It is characterized by inflammation in the reproductive organs. You will have itching and redness in the vaginal area.
3. Infections Leucorrhea
The vaginal discharge is green or yellow and has a thick and foul smell.
Symptoms Associated With Leucorrhea
- Excess thick white discharge from the vagina with a foul smell
- Weakness
- Constipation
- Calf pain
- Itching in the vagina
- Back pain in chronic cases
- Irritability
- Dark circles under eyes.
What Are The Causes Of Leucorrhea?
The causes of leucorrhea or Shweta Pradara in adolescent girls are listed below.
1. Poor Hygiene
Poor hygiene is one of the most common reasons for having leucorrhea. For example, excess intake of sweets and oily food with excess starch can increase Kapha dosha in your body.
An imbalance in Kapha dosha can lead to excess white discharge from the vagina accompanied by fatigue, constipation and low abdominal pain.
Lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the body can weak the immune system and contribute to excess white discharge from the vagina.
2.Sedenatry Lifestyle
If an adolescent girl leads a sedentary lifestyle, it leads to poor blood circulation. Food is not digested properly, which increases Kapha dosha. Kapha accumulation can cause leucorrhea.
3. Psychological Factors
Excess stress and anxiety can cause hormonal imbalances in the body of adolescent girls. It can lead to excessive white discharge from the vagina.
Simultaneously, emotional disturbance can disrupt the doshas in the body, which can cause leucorrhea.
Improper sleep can disrupt hormonal changes in the body and can cause leucorrhea.
4. Improper Hygiene
Improper hygiene can even lead to excessive vaginal discharge. For example, if you are not cleaning your genital area, it can cause infection and abnormal vaginal discharge.
Similarly, wearing unwashed or tight synthetic underwear can trap moisture, cause infections and may finally cause leucorrhea.
Usage of harsh soaps or scented feminine hygiene products can even be a cause of leucorrhea.
5. Medical Conditions
If you have excessive vaginal discharge with foul smell and discomfort, then it can be because of certain medical problems like urinary tract infections or anemia.
Thyroid disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome or menstrual cycle irregularities can cause excess white discharge from the vagina.
6 . Smoking And Alcohol Consumption
Excess smoking and alcohol consumption can even cause excess white discharge.
Diet And Lifestyle Changes For A Leucorrhea Patient
Ayurveda says that certain diet and lifestyle changes can reduce the symptoms of leucorrhea.
Dos
- You should consume foods like barley, chickpeas, lentils, apples, spinach, cow milk, meat broth, grapes, bottled gourd and dates.
- You should always eat easily digested food, fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Walk in sunlight for at least 30 minutes.
- Always try to get away from stress and anxiety.
- Abstain from sexual activities
- Increase fluid intake with soup, water, juice and milk. Drinking a lot of water can flush out toxins from your body.
- Include natural fiber in your diet.
- Clean your genital areas regularly.
- Practice stress reduction techniques, such as yoga and meditation, daily.
- You should wear loose and breathable clothes for proper air circulation.
Donts
- Avoid sleeping during the daytime
- Avoid staying awake at night.
- Do not overexercise.
- Do not suppress bowel movements or urination.
- Do not consume alcohol
- Avoid certain foods like sour curd, garlic, jaggery, spicy substances, brinjal and black gram.
- Avoid sour food items like pickles and curd as much as possible.
- Nonvegetarian food should be strictly avoided.
- Avoid douching as much as possible because it disturbs the vagina’s PH value.
- Avoid fasting for longer hours.
Ayurvedic Herbs For Leucorrhea
Various Ayurvedic herbs can balance doshas and manage symptoms of leucorrhea. We list them below.
1. Amalaki
Amalaki is an excellent source of vitamin C. It provides relief from painful inflammation, internal bleeding and ulcers. It cleanses the vagina and protects it from infections.
Amalaki even balances all the doshas in the body. It’s available in the form of sweets, powder and decoction. You can take Amalaki churna with honey and water to get relief from leucorrhea.
2. Lodhra
Lodhra has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is useful in managing female disorders like leucorrhea. It also has astringent and hemostatic properties. Thus, lodhra can manage excess menstrual bleeding and PCOS symptoms.
Ayurveda recommends taking lodhra with either plain or rice water twice a day to reduce symptoms of leucorrhea or menstrual problems.
3. Ashoka
Ashoka, with its kashaya (astringent) properties, helps to reduce symptoms of leucorrhea. It even balances Kapha dosha in the body.
You need to boil the bark of the Ashoka tree in water. Continue boiling until the water reduces to one-fourth.
Strain the liquid and then store the Ashoka kwath in a clean bottle. To reduce white discharge, you need to take 8-10 tablespoons of Ashoka kwath daily.
4. Shatavari
Shatavari is excellent for the female reproductive system. It balances the hormones and reduces excess vaginal discharge. You can take one tablespoon of Shatavari powder with warm milk for the best results. Shatavari tablets are even available in the market. They are even effective in treating leucorrhea.
5. Guduchi
Leucorrhea can be caused because of a weak immune system. Guduchi is an excellent herb and will boost your immune system. It reduces excess vaginal discharge and strengthens your reproductive health.
6 . Triphala
Triphala is a combination of three fruits, i.e., amla, haritaki and bibhitaki. Taking Triphala daily will cleanse your reproductive system, enhance vaginal health and manage leucorrhea symptoms.
7. Yasthimadhu
Mulethi or yasthimadhu contain phytoestrogenic compounds, which can manage leucorrhea symptoms, mood swings and menstrual abnormalities.
8. Mustak
Mustak has analgesic, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be consumed with milk to treat menstrual problems and leucorrhea.
Ayurvedic Medicines for Treating Leucorrhea
1. Chandraprabha Vati
The vati consists of rock salt, Triphala, shilajit, guggul and 42 other ingredients. It balances hormones, strengthens the reproductive system and treats leucorrhea.
2. Pushyanuga Churna
It is made with various herbs like Lodha, Ashoka, musta and many more ingredients. This churna has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and reduces excess vaginal discharge.
3. Dashmoolarishta
It is made from Dashmoola,guduchi,dhataki and many more herbs. Taking dashmoolarishta tones the uterus and strengthens the immune system.
4. Kaishora Guggulu
Kaishora guggulu is made from various herbs like Guduchi, trikatu, cow ghee, Triphala and 18 more ingredients. You can take this vati with milk or water. This medication can treat anemia, skin diseases and leucorrhea.
Ayurvedic Remedies For Leucorrhea
Below, we list a few Ayurvedic remedies for treating leucorrhea.
1. Yoni Varti
Yoni Varti is made from a combination of various medicinal herbs, such as yasthimadhu,lodhra and madhu. It can even be made from neem, Triphala, and sphatika, with honey.
You need first to clean the vaginal area and then insert the varti. You need to insert varti inside the vagina for a few minutes, at least till you want to urinate. The procedure is usually done after 8-10 days of menstrual period.
You need to rest in the supine position for almost two hours after the yoni varti procedure.
2. Dhupana
The dhupana is prepared from various herbs like tila(sesame), barley, Guggulu and ghrita. It is applied in your vaginal area to treat leucorrhea.
3. Pichu
Pichu is a cotton swab dipped in various herbs like jatyadi taila, Karanja taila and many more. It is inserted inside the vagina and kept for a few hours, or at least the patient wants to urinate. Pichu softens the vaginal canal and manages leucorrhea symptoms.
4 . Prakshalana
It is a term used to denote douches. Here, various types of kwathas or churnas are used for cleansing the vaginal area and treating leucorrhea.
Nimbapatra kwatha , Chandana kwatha or lodhra kwatha are given to the patient with leucorrhea symptoms mainly after 8-10 days of menstrual period.
Conclusion
Leucorrhea is caused because excess white discharge from the vagina. Ayurveda is a natural and holistic approach to managing leucorrhea symptoms.
Adolescent girls can take numerous herbs or follow certain procedures, such as dhoopana, Pichu or yoni varti, to treat leucorrhea symptoms.
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