Are you familiar with BV? For those of you who don't know, BV, or bacterial vaginosis, is a common vaginal infection that accounts for more than three million cases a year. It occurs when there is a bacterial imbalance within the vagina between helpful good bacteria and harmful bad bacteria. Symptoms include itching, pain, and a foul smelling fishy discharge. If it reoccurs more than four times a year, it receives the apt title of chronic, or recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
While it is more common in women that are sexually active, it is not a sexually transmitted disease and can happen as a result of anything that disrupts the balance of bacteria in your vagina, i.e. douching, dieting, and using some feminine care products.
For the better half (read: worse half) of my adult life, BV made her appearance both known and felt in my life, especially in my sex life. My pH balance was all the way off. As a result, any given month, I remember dreading the six to seven days of my period coming and going, and what it'd leave in its wake. The metallic smell of blood, I could take. But the fishy aroma that would immediately appear in its absence was hella embarrassing.
BV was the bane of my existence and the fact that it seemed to come back just as quickly as it seemed to leave, made me think that something was wrong with me. Because, wasn't it?
My gynecologist thought so too. I would soon come to dread stripping from the waist down to put my feet into stirrups and be examined for the very thing I knew it was, just to do the same song and dance of a 7-day twice a day antibiotic treatment, followed by one to two doses of metronidazole for the yeast infection the antibiotics created.
Mostly, I dreaded it because it always felt like a temporary solution, and never the cure that would be the remedy to my recurring BV forever.
Ultimately, I didn't think that relying on antibiotics as a solution was beneficial and surprisingly, I was right. After a year or two of tried and untrue methods, I spoke with a holistic gynecologist that changed my perspective and understanding of vaginal health for the better. You can avoid certain health issues if you start at the root and begin within. Thus, I decided to work on what I put inside of my body and for the most part, allowed my vagina to do her own thing.
As a result, I can happily say that I haven't been BV-free ever since. (Knock on wood). Peep the 6 essentials below to learn how to curb BV and bacterial imbalances in a holistic way and thus, your pH balance on fleek.
(Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. The suggestions below are in no way to replace the expertise of a medical doctor, however these methods work for me. )
Get Your Water Intake Looking Right
I've gone from the girl who barely drank two glasses of water a day, to the woman that does three liters a day. Eventually, I hope to get to a whole gallon, but Rome wasn't built in a day. The recommended intake for women is two liters, which is half a gallon. That increases depending on how active you are, and other beverages you drink throughout your day. For example, for every cup of coffee, soda, or juice, try to follow up with a glass of water.
Start with a liter a day, and when that comes naturally, increase it to two liters. The important thing is to begin somewhere. Over time, drinking your recommended daily water intake is going to be the equivalent of breathing – just that easy.
Downloading a water app like my personal favorite, Waterlogged, will help you keep track of how much water you're consuming on any given day and will help you keep up with your goals.
Take A Shot Of Apple Cider Vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar doesn't include The Mother for no reason. The all-in-one vinegar can be used to remedy a lot of things, including sore throats, varicose veins, hyperpigmentation, dandruff, high blood pressure, weight issues, etc. Luckily for us, it can also assist with maintaining the body's pH.
Drink 1-2 shots of apple cider vinegar at the start of your day – be sure to dilute it with some water first. Likewise, you can take an ACV bath with some hot water and Apple Cider Vinegar. Soak for half an hour and consider yourself, balanced. Repeat the remedy up to three times a week.
Incorporate Fermented Foods & Drinks
In addition to fruits and veggies, adapt to a cleaner diet. Cook more, eat out less. Limit the junk food and reach for something healthy. Nowadays, I have decreased a lot of the sugar that I used to consume. I've learned that you can get your sugar tooth fix in other healthier ways, like the sugar from fruit. One of my favorite fruit indulgences lately are acai smoothie bowls. In addition to that, it's important to incorporate fermented foods and drinks into your daily diet.
Fermented foods and drinks include fermentation of bacteria strains that promote a healthy pH balance, which can do wonders for optimal vaginal care. Examples of fermented foods and drinks include:
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Kefir
- Yogurt
- Miso
- Pickles
- Tempeh
- Kombucha
Implement A Daily Probiotic Supplement
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If you find it difficult to have kimchi, yogurt, or kombucha on the regular, investing in a probiotic supplement to take daily will allow you to get the probiotics that you need without relying too heavily on a diet that might be inconsistent at times. It's always recommended to get your nutrients or benefits from food sources first, but if you can't, that's where probiotics supplements come into play.
Probiotics promotes better gut health, which in turn helps with your pH balance in addition to a wealth of other benefits like preventing and treating UTIs, improving digestion, and boosting your immune system.
Recommended: Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily
Choose Feminine Care Products Wisely
Cleanliness is next to godliness, but the great thing about a vagina is that she is naturally self-cleaning. You don't have to do all this extra stuff to clean her. Use a gentle wash externally, make sure it's completely dry before putting clothes on, and keep it moving. The sprays, the feminine washes, etc can mask themselves as feminine care products, but those products actually tend to be loaded with chemicals and parabens that irritate the vagina and throw off its natural balance.
If you feel like having a spray or a vagina-specific wash is necessary, stick to products with natural ingredients and remember the motto: the less fragrance, the better. The wash below is 100% natural and organic with a list of ingredients I can actually understand – extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, sea buckthorn oil, and beeswax. It's fairly odorless but still cleansing and moisturizing.
Recommended: Medicine Mama's Vmagic Feminine Wash
Treat BV with Boric Acid Suppositories
I know, I know the words "acid" and "suppositories" do not bring the best imagery to mind, but I promise you your vaginal health will love you for this addition to your self-care routine. Initially, I believed that it could only be used during an infection, but was told by my gyno to consider adding it to my routine on Sundays for maintenance. As it turns out, boric acid has been used to treat vaginal infections like candida and BV for hundreds of years. And since I added it to my lifestyle as a means of self-care, keeping up with it is easy.
I just simply insert it with a disposable applicator, and put on a pantyliner for the night, and call it a day. It's been a beautiful and seemingly effortless way to maintain my pH balance and restore the glory of my vaginal health.
Recommended:NutraBlast Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories
Your vagina isn't designed to smell like roses, but it isn't designed to smell like a fish market either. Luckily, by switching up your lifestyle in exchange for some of the aforementioned holistic health habits, your vagina will be feeling and smelling better than ever. No infection zone.
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Originally published on December 17, 2017
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Mercury enters Sagittarius on November 2, will be retrograde from Nov. 25 until Dec. 15, and will be in this sign until Jan. 8, 2025. Mercury in Sagittarius is bold and outspoken but, in retrograde, can come across as impulsive and brash. Thinking before speaking is important right now, and so is considering your values and interests before committing to something new. Since Sagittarius rules long-distance travel, this isn’t the best time to plan a new trip or to rush the ones already in place.
Consider where you want to be, and take your time getting there.
What to Expect from Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius
A little more than a week after Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, Mars goes retrograde in Leo. With these important transits happening in fire signs, energy can be misdirected right now. It’s about looking at the full picture and not overwhelming yourself with too many options or interests. Take your passions and align them with your heart and willpower, without confusing inspiration with ego. Emotions are running high, yet this activation is creating a breakthrough in personal development before the year ends.
Read below to see how this Mercury retrograde transit will be for you. Read for your sun sign and rising sign.
ARIES
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and you are focused on the bigger picture right now, Aries. With Mercury retrograde in your 9th house of adventure over the next few weeks, this is the time to expect the unexpected and to go at your own pace. Don’t rush the clarity that is meant to bloom for you right now, and take things one day at a time.
Even if you don’t have all the answers you need right now, there are still some important truths and insights to gain. You are in the process of reinventing yourself and your life, and the universe is helping you get the space in order to do so. If you are traveling over the next few weeks, remember to be flexible and to go over plans thoroughly.
TAURUS
Mercury goes retrograde, and you enter a time of change and rebirth, Taurus. This transit, for you, is an opportunity to gain balance, perspective, and empowerment. Your commitments and close partnerships are being addressed right now, and you are seeing where your needs are being met and where they aren’t. You are on a journey of letting go and allowing more, and this is the time to focus on being more flexible rather than controlling outcomes.
This retrograde could also be affecting your shared finances and earnings, and this is a good time to take another look at the money coming in and the money going out and make sure things are in order here. Trust your intuition right now, Taurus.
GEMINI
Mercury goes retrograde in your sister sign, Sagittarius, and you are ready for a fresh perspective in love. This retrograde will highlight your 7th house of partnership, connection, romance, and inner harmony, and your heart is figuring things out right now. Confusion or disagreements are more likely within your relationship dynamics, and this is the time to address what your partnerships need.
If you have been feeling out of balance when it comes to love, then this is the time to get things back on track.
This Mercury retrograde is helping you gain a new perspective and reminds you that you deserve the love you are looking for. Use this time to forgive, grow, and use better judgment regarding matters of the heart and the relationships you are building in your life right now.
CancerCoveteur
CANCER
This Mercury retrograde transit for you is a chance to gain some renewed clarity regarding your health, well-being, and work life. You could be feeling more pressure to perform and have it all together on the job, and there is a need to delegate, let go, and take care of your health more right now, Cancer.
This transit will highlight where some cracks are seeping, where you may need to build stronger foundations and healthier daily routines, and also how you can manage a better work/life balance. Your daily lifestyle may feel a little more difficult to find consistency in right now, and this is because new avenues and perspectives are waiting for you to grab ahold of. Overall, use this time to listen to your inner voice and do more of what feels right for you and your body.
LEO
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and this transit highlights your 5th house of romance, creativity, passion, and happiness, Leo. This retrograde is an opportunity for you to address what and who makes you happy and how you can show up more for these fortunate experiences in your life. You are looking at if you’ve been making your happiness as much of a priority as it should be this year and also taking a look at what sources help you align with that energy altogether.
This time is about being a little bit more flexible, doing things differently, and being open to a new perspective. Relationship developments are also providing your heart more clarity right now, and you are balancing your needs with the needs of your partnerships and creative ventures.
VIRGO
Your ruling planet Mercury goes retrograde before the year ends, and this is helping you rebuild your foundations, Virgo. Mercury will be retrograde in an area of your life that has to do with your home, history, family, and emotional stability- and you are getting a new grasp on things here.
Where you have been planting your seeds and building for your future are coming up for review during this time, and you are gaining clarity on which of these foundations is stable enough to continue to build upon. You could be feeling less secure than you would like to right now, and this change of pace is helping you reassess your goals and figure out what is worth it for you and the legacy you want to live.
LibraCoveteur
LIBRA
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and the focus turns towards your communication channels, Libra. Mercury retro is already a more chaotic time when it comes to communication, and with this retrograde also happening in your 3rd house of insight and communication, you may feel this heaviness a little more right now.
This transit, for you, is about taking your time getting your message across, being patient while traveling and running errands, and giving yourself space to gain some new clarity.
Meditation, journaling, and talking to someone who can support you are therapeutic, and know that your voice deserves to be heard. You are looking at ways you can take up more space and show up in the world without letting your insecurities keep you away from true connection, vulnerability, and understanding.
SCORPIO
This Mercury retrograde is happening in your 2nd house of income, values, assets, and self-confidence, and you are taking a step back to assess your current reality, especially financially, Scorpio. This is a good time to go over your spending habits and earnings, to find greater balance here, and to think about some of your financial goals moving forward.
Look at your resources, skills, and talents, and make sure what you are receiving is equal to or greater than what you have been giving. Less is more right now, and this isn’t the best time to overspend or overindulge, as you need more time to grasp your current stance on things, and how to increase your overall wealth and abundance.
SAGITTARIUS
With this Mercury retrograde happening in your sign, it’s hitting a little closer to home for you, Sagittarius. This is a good time to refine your goals and direction in life and how you want to show up right now. You deserve to be able to change your mind when you need to, and you are thinking about some of the things you have done and what you want to do moving forward.
Miscommunications are more likely while Mercury is in retrograde, but you can use this as a source of empowerment, knowing that you are living in your truth and allowing yourself room to grow in the process. Remember to be a little kinder to yourself during this transit and to give yourself the grace you need right now.
CapricornCoveteur
CAPRICORN
This Mercury retrograde for you, Capricorn, is about rest and taking care of your emotional world. You are being given the opportunity to spend more time alone, to gather your strength, and to heal before you enter the new year. A lot has happened, and there have been many changes in your world this year. This Mercury retrograde is here to help you find acceptance and closure.
You are in a preparation stage right now, and things can feel a little more lonesome in this energy, but with a different perspective, you can see just how much of this space your heart truly needs right now. The past is coming up for you to see things in a new light, and you are ready to gain some renewed insight, closure, and healing.
AQUARIUS
This Mercury retrograde highlights your friendships, community, and your hopes and dreams, Aquarius. You are being reminded of the importance of connection, but more significantly, of good connections. You are looking at who and what surrounds you right now and gaining clarity on whether this energy matches who you are and the things that you stand for.
Your social circle and the people around you are shifting as the power dynamics do, and you are finding your place and purpose amidst this change. It’s about identifying who and what makes you feel good and aligning things in your life to bring in more of that energy. Don’t be discouraged right now; find your people and ask for support.
PISCES
Your career and ambitions are the focus during this Mercury retrograde, Pisces. You have a lot to address here, and you are gathering your skills and talents and reminding yourself that you are worthy of your dreams. Miscommunications and setbacks are more likely within your professional world, but they are here to ask you if what you are striving for, is really what you need right now.
You are thinking a lot about how you show up in the world, what you want to be known for, and what successes you still want to obtain. This isn’t the time to let anyone’s idea or vision of you define who you are; rather, define that for yourself. Show up as you want to be seen, and don’t count yourself out right now, Pisces.
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Hell, it can be stressful just thinking about how to enjoy sweets, shop for everyone, stay up half of the night watching throwback holiday films, and still have your skin looking healthy at all times. That’s why I decided to hook you up with seven ways that the holiday can potentially wreak havoc on your skin along with some bona fide tips to prevent it from happening. (Thank me later!)
7 Holiday Habits That Can Wreck Your Skin—And How To Fix It
1. Stress Can Increase Inflammation
Okay, so let’s do it this way: since one reputable study revealed that only 10 percent of individuals profess to experience zero stress during the holiday season, that is why I decided to lead with stress being a leading skin issue around this time of the year. And just what does it do to your skin exactly?
Well, according to skin experts, when you’re stressed out, that accelerates the adrenaline in your system which can cause your skin to experience inflammation — and that can manifest in a myriad of ways, including potential hives, a breakout of psoriasis or eczema (if that is something that you already deal with), rashes, itchiness and/or skin discoloration.
What to Do About It: When I say that nothing is worth stressing out over, I mean it — and especially not something like the holidays. So, first up, decide that you are going to not try to control what you cannot (person, place, thing, or idea), that you aren’t going to wait until the last minute to get things done, that you are going to have A BUDGET and that you will do things that will encourage you to slow down like pray, meditate, exercise and rest.
Also, prioritize participating in various activities for the sheer pleasure of it. You’d be amazed by how many people end up having a not-so-great holiday season because they were out here making sure that everyone else BUT them enjoyed themselves — and their skin shows it.
2. Alcohol Can Cause Dehydration
Did you know some studies say that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, alcohol consumption goes up a whopping 33 percent? And here’s the thing — since it’s considered to be a diuretic, if you’re tossing too many cocktails back, you could end up dehydrating your skin as well as ending up with inflamed skin (since alcohol triggers the production of antihistamines in your system), dark circles, a dull complexion, and fine lines and wrinkles due to the sleep deprivation that alcohol may cause too.
What to Do About It: The moral of the story here isn’t that you can’t enjoy alcohol during the holidays. Just make sure that you consume it in moderation, which is no more than one drink a day for us and two drinks a day for men; if you do more than this, “chase it down” with a glass of water, and that you proactively keep your skin hydrated.
You can do this by washing your face and body in warm (not hot because it strips skin of moisture) water, that you apply a moisturizer that has water as the first listed ingredient along with humectants such as honey, glycerin, and/or hyaluronic acid; that you do this while your skin is still wet (in order to “trap” the moisture in), and that you sleep with a humidifier in your room.
Photo by 3. Sugar Can Reduce Collagen Levels
Even though the American Heart Association recommends that men have no more than nine teaspoons of sugar a day and women consume no more than six, the average American actually takes in 23 damn teaspoons daily — and that number rises during the holiday season. There are a billion reasons why this is problematic; however, as far as your skin goes, this isn’t good because not only does too much sugar also lead to inflammation, but it can speed up the aging process of your skin as well.
How? Well, two things that help to keep your skin full of elasticity and youth are collagen and elastin. Unfortunately, when sugar gets into the mix, it can affect how (and how much) both of these things are produced which can lead to sagging skin, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even some hyperpigmentation.
What to Do About It: I’m pretty sure it goes without saying that one thing that can help to keep sugar from wreaking total havoc on your skin is to eat (and drink) less of it. That said, though, by no means do I think that you should make yourself miserable by not indulging in some hot chocolate, caramel cake, and the cutest turkey legs (made out of Rice Krispies) that I stumbled upon recently (here).
Just don’t overdo it; drink water while you’re eating “it;” increase your antioxidant intake (because that helps to fight off the free radicals that sugar can produce) which means eating more dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, apples, beans, and cranberries; wear sunscreen (the sun also shines in cold weather) to offset potential collagen breakdowns; apply skincare products that contain collagen and — I think that you’ll actually like this one — eat some dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is also loaded with antioxidants; just make sure that it’s the kind that contains at least 60 percent cocoa. In other words, this isn’t a license to go overboard on any leftover Halloween candy, y’all.
4. Dairy Can Trigger Breakouts
Three things that I think folks are gonna debate, diet-wise, at least for the rest of my lifetime, are veganism, caffeine, and dairy. What I mean by that is if you Google any of these topics, you’re going to find pieces that are very much “for” and then others that are totally “against” them. As far as dairy goes, although I do have a weakness for some New York-style pizza and ice cream, oat milk is my milk alternative of choice because I’ve researched what dairy has the potential to do to my system.
Skin-wise? One thing that a lot of health experts can agree on is it can throw your hormone levels off to the point where it could cause acne breakouts — and lawd, who wants that…especially during the holidays?
What to Do About It: If you’re the one who is going to be cooking or baking a lot of the meals, experiment with a milk alternative; these days, there are plenty of options to choose from (click here for a list of over 20 of ‘em). Consume foods that are high in fiber (like squash, collard greens, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and popcorn) so that you’re able to flush toxins out quicker. I will forever sing the praises of taking a magnesium-calcium-zinc supplement because it helps to calm your nerves, reduce stress, and give you a good night’s rest (all of which contribute to having clear skin).
And if you do see a pimple pop up,apply some tea tree oil directly to it. If you do that (and don’t pick at it), you should notice that it’s significantly decreased in size within a day or two. Oh, and if there is some scarring afterwards, vitamin C extract or batana oil can help to soften the appearance of it.
Photo by 5. Cold Weather Can Prematurely Age Skin
The thing about cold weather is it typically lacks humidity. As far as your skin is concerned, if it’s dry all of the time, that can prematurely age it. Aside from that, cold weather can irritate it and cause cracking of your hands, heels, and around your lips as well.
What to Do About It: If you tend to use lighter moisturizers during the hotter months, go with something that’s a bit thicker right through here. Certain skin butters are great (check out “What You Need To Know About Shea, Mango, Kokum & Other Body Butters”), especially when it comes to your body.
If you think that they will be too thick for your face, consider applying skin products that have ceramides in them; they provide a barrier to your skin that helps it retain moisture for longer periods of time. And definitely don’t go out without putting some lip balm on; the kind that has sunscreen in it is most ideal.
6. HVAC Can Cause Fine Lines and Wrinkles
One thing about the fall and winter seasons is you’re going to be spending more time indoors than you would during the spring and summertime. This means that you’re going to be exposed to dry air from your HVAC units which can dry out your skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles as a direct result. Plus, if you already deal with things like eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis, the hot, dry air could make them worse.
What to Do About It: This is another time that a humidifier is certainly going to come in handy. Aside from that, drink lots of water; make sure that you “seal your skin” (which means applying some type of oil to keep your skin moisturized) after getting out of the shower, and don’t spend all of your time indoors. Aside from the dry air potentially doing a number on your skin, indoor air pollution is 2-5 times higher than what’s going on outside.
For the sake of your skin and your overall health and well-being, enjoy some time in the cool air and snow before the turn of the new year (in moderation, of course).
7. A Lack of Sleep Can Result in Dullness, Dryness and Large Pores
One of the reasons why a lot of people find themselves super stressed whenever the holidays roll around is, that so much is going on that they don’t get the 6-8 hours of sleep that they need in order to rejuvenate themselves. Y’all, when you are sleep-deprived, whether it’s immediately or eventually, your skin is going to “tell on you” because it can cause your complexion to appear dull and dry, give you dark circles underneath your eyes, and, since less sleep equals more cortisol (the stress hormone that’s in your body), that can cause an overproduction of sebum which can lead to an appearance of larger pores.
What to Do About It: Try to at least get 6-8 hours in four days a week (if it’s impossible to do seven days right through here), get power naps in when you can; give your face a 15-minute massage a couple of times each week (to keep poor blood circulation from causing your skin to look blotchy); use tea bags on your eyes to reduce the appearance of dark circles and drink herbal tea to relax you, and consume some fruit-infused water throughout the day, so that the water and nutrients from your favorite fruits can combat any dullness and dryness that may have already occurred from the inside out.
Oh, and try to not drink alcohol or consume sugar or caffeine 2-3 hours before bedtime; that will increase your chances of not tossing and turning all night long.
___
Skin that doesn’t need a ton of makeup can be yours — yes, even throughout the holidays. All you need is balance and a plan. And hopefully, this holiday skin stress cheat sheet just gave you both. Enjoy!
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