4 Research-Backed Home Remedies For Your Most Intimate Issues, From UTI to Yeast Infection

The pain caused by gynecological issues isn’t just physical. It can also often be emotional, leading to feelings of embarrassment and frustration. It’s important to remember that infections in your most intimate parts can actually be quite common, and thankfully there are many effective ways for you to take charge, eliminating symptoms and ultimately feeling more confident. So remember, when a below-the-belt issue flares up, you’re not alone, and you can easily try one of these natural fixes that relieve pesky symptoms quickly and effectively.

For Hemorrhoids: Use witch hazel and citrus compounds.

For instant relief, pat the area with a cotton pad soaked in witch hazel. Its astringent tannic acid shrinks swelling on contact, dulls pain, and speeds healing. For lasting relief, try a daily dose of diosmin, a citrus compound that improves blood flow, constricting overly dilated blood vessels. The payoff, according to a British Journal of Surgery report: It cuts symptoms by up to 67 percent within four days and it curbs the risk of future flare-ups by 50 percent.

For UTIs: Sip Hibiscus tea.

As the weather cools, you naturally drink less water, making your body less able to flush out bacteria. What can help: hibiscus tea. Its gossypetin is more effective than cranberry juice at blocking bacteria from sticking to bladder walls. Scientists say sipping the tea daily may calm an existing UTI and keep it from returning.

For Urinary Urgency: Drink water with baking soda.

Research in the International Urogynecology Journal found that women who sipped a cup of water mixed with a ½ teaspoon of baking soda twice a day felt less urinary urgency. Baking soda balances urine’s pH so it won’t irritate the bladder and trigger spasms. Have high blood pressure? Opt for potassium bicarbonate instead.

For Yeast Infections: Apply coconut oil.

Apply coconut oil three times daily, and you’ll begin soothing a fungal infection quickly. The oil’s caprylic acid can penetrate yeast cell walls, and Indian research suggests it may destroy the microbe C. albicans (the most frequent cause of vaginal yeast infections — one of the more common gynecological issues) better than an OTC cream.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.