VAGINA
This is the passage leading from the neck of the uterus, or cervix, to the exterior of the female body, the vulva. It is the passage in which sexual intercourse takes place and through which the menstrual fluid passes each month. During childbirth it forms a part of what is called the ‘birth canal’.
Vaginal health and hygiene are important. Some clear, odourless discharge from the vagina is perfectly normal and is required to keep the vaginal walls moist, clean and slightly acidic. However, when the discharge becomes discoloured and is accompanied by an unpleasant odour and/or itching, it is likely that an infection is present or that the acidity of the vagina has been altered, leading to a proliferation of a yeast fungus known as Candida albicans. This latter condition is quite common and known simply as Candida or thrush. It has a number of causes, including a diet too high in refined sugars and the taking of antibiotics. It is generally treated by increasing the acidity of the vagina to discourage the proliferation of the yeast bug. For natural remedies for Candida, see the separate entries in this book. Other more serious causes of vaginal discharge, itching or pain are venereal diseases such as gonorrhoea.
Dryness of the vagina is a problem which affects most women ocassionally and some women more often. It is a common side effect of menopause, when it results from falling hormone levels in the body. Not only can sex become uncomfortable, but the chances of developing vaginal infections increase during and following menopause. Take Vitamin E internally and apply calendula cream to both soothe and lubricate the vaginal walls. KY jelly is also useful for lubrication. Fortunately, regular sexual intercourse, possibly involving prolonged and gentler foreplay, helps to keep the vagina toned and healthy through the later years of life.
Vaginal prolapse can occur after childbirth but not necessarily immediately afterwards. It occurs when the ligaments supporting the uterus or bladder weaken or lose their tone allowing the uterus to drop down into the vagina. A lump is felt inside the vagina and pressure on the bladder and bowel is often increased. Prolapse the more easily prevented than cured. Women giving birth should do some regular form of exercise to strengthen the muscles of the
pelvic floor and disciplines such as the Alexander Technique are known to improve the posture and prevent muscle conditions such as hernias and prolapse. The widely recognised herb for strengthening the pelvic muscles is raspberry leaf, safely drunk as a tea throughout pregnancy. Poor absorption of mineral salts, particularly calcium fluoride, can cause the tissues to weaken. Take calcium fluoride as a tissue salt and increase your intake of Vitamins E and C.
Women’s vaginas vary in width and length but, generally speaking, any fears a woman has about the size of her vagina adversely affecting the sexual pleasure of either her or her partner are unfounded. Small vaginas swell when properly stimulated to accommodate almost any penis without injury and large vaginas will give as much satisfaction if muscle tone is maintained. Desired sexual positions may vary depending on your anatomy.
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SHIRLEY’S STORY: ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE USE OF ST JOHN’S WORT
A 50-year-old American woman writes to me as follows:
I first heard about St John’s Wort as a treatment for depression when I was reading about natural remedies for menopausal symptoms. I began taking 300 mg but did not find it all that helpful. This past summer my husband suggested I up the dosage to 600 mg and that was the magic amount for the summer Now that we have turned the clocks back again [at the onset of autumn] I am taking an additional 300 mg in the afternoon, which helps.
I have been in and out of therapy since I was 25. Therapy with the right therapist(s) is helpful, but it is also expensive and time-consuming. My employer has a cap on the number of hours of therapy a person can undergo, and I am getting closer to that cap every week. I am hoping that this next calendar year is my last year of needing therapy. I was not in therapy for several long periods of my life. Often, a tragedy such as a death in the family or major surgery would send me back in.
I prefer natural herbs to drugs wherever I can. I have refused to take Prozac or Lustral. I really don’t want to rely on a drug to control my mood.
Whether or not one agrees with Shirley’s opinions about psychotherapy, herbal remedies or anti-depressant medications, she does seem to embody the trend that Naisbitt mentions in his book. I do believe that she speaks for a very large number of people who are concerned about the cost of mental health care, interested in natural remedies and eager to take their lives into their own hands as much as possible. St John’s Wort provides a solution to all of these concerns. Relatively inexpensive, highly effective, safe and mild in terms of side-effects, it offers millions of people the opportunity to help themselves.
It is, of course, critical to know when self-care has reached its limit and when to seek the help of an expert. Shirley appears to be able to make this distinction. It is an important caveat for others to bear in mind as well.
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