Natural Remedies for Vaginal Dryness

One day while visiting my mother during my bi-monthly home visit, she reluctantly asked me a question about female sexual anatomy that perplexed her. “Does every woman get dry as she gets older?”  As much as my mother tries to avoid discussing her personal sex life with me, she couldn’t help it. Sexuality is my career and going dry in the land below is something I know about all too well.

The subject of vaginal dryness is one that embarrasses many women and happens at some point in her life. It is a common thought that vaginal dryness is an issue only experienced by women who are nearing menopause or who have undergone hysterectomy or cancer prevention surgeries, but this is an issue that can be experienced by women of any age. Vaginal lubrication is often an initial sign of a woman’s sexual excitement, but the absence of natural lubrication isn’t necessarily an indication of a lack of sexual arousal.

Vaginal dryness is often a symptom of a deeper health issue. Physiological factors such as menopause and hysterectomies can lead to a drop in estrogen that can dry out the mucous membranes of the vagina. Other factors that may contribute to vaginal dryness are yeast overgrowth, diabetes over douching, the presence of STIs, overwork, stress and excessive exercise.

Psychological issues such as repressed memories of trauma, energy blocks and anxiety can also add to vaginal dryness during sexual activity. In the case of medical issues that need to be treated, women experiencing any of these ailments should consult their physicians to ensure proper treatment is in place. Treating physiological and psychological issues may help restore the vagina’s natural lubricated state, but there are also other holistic and natural ways to help with this issue.  

If you’re a woman who is healthy and has the desire to treat vaginal dryness naturally, take a look at these helpful pieces of advice pulled from the manual “The Sexual Herbal: Prescriptions for Enhancing Love and Passion” by Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.  

Diet

It is often said that you are what you eat and when it comes to your genitals the same rule applies. Drinking copious amounts of fluid daily will help to keep the vagina nice and flowing. Eating plenty of foods rich in beta-carotene will also help strengthen mucous membranes. Incorporate more dark green leafy vegetables, winter squash, sweet potatoes and spirulina into your diet. Oriental medicine attributes sexual function as a responsibility of the kidneys, so incorporate foods such as black sesame seeds and soybeans that nourish the organs.

Sitz Bath

Creating a sitz bath using emollient herbs such as comfrey leaf and marshmallow root will help soothe and protect the skin. Bring a quart of water to a boil and add a handful of the herb to the water and cover it. Let it steep for 20 minutes and strain the mixture into the sitz bath. Whichever herb you decide to use make sure it is in a raw, organic form.

Use an herbal suppository

To moisten the vaginal mucous membrane, use this recipe to create an herbal suppository that can be used at night to remedy vaginal dryness:

1 ounce cocoa butter

1 tablespoon powdered dong quai root

1 tablespoon powdered licorice root

1 tablespoon powdered wild yam

1 tablespoon powdered marshamallow root or slippery elm bark

2 tablespoons vitamin E oil

2 drops essential oil of rose (optional)

Directions: Melt the cocoa butter then add the powdered herbs and vitamin E oil. Add in a few drops of rose essential oil if you desire and roll into a suppository shape. Store in a glass container in the refrigerator and place inside of the vagina at night to encourage vaginal lubrication.

Use acidophilus

Yeast overgrowth is a common reason behind vaginal dryness and using acidophilus capsules inserted in the vagina can help inhibit yeast overgrowth and promote lubrication. Just make sure you’re not using enteric-capsules (coated) because they will not dissolve in the vagina.  You can use these as often as you need them.  Acidophilus capsules can be found at your local drug store.

Use lubricants

The most common way to bring moisture to the vagina is to use lubricant. You want to use a lubricant that will keep it slick over an extended period of time during sex.  A water-based lubricant such as Astroglide is a great version to use. Water-based lubricants can be revitalized with a few drops of water or saliva if it begins to dry up. There are a variety of water based lubes on the market so experiment and see what works best for you. Also, coconut oil is an excellent lubricant to use in moistening the vagina. The only drawback is that the oil can’t be used during sex where barriers exist because the properties in the oil will break down latex in condoms.

Please note that the suggestions listed here are not to replace the professional advice of a health care professional and are not intended as a cure or diagnosis. Consult your physician before using any holistic or homeopathic remedies.

Glamazon Tyomi is a freelance writer, model and sex educator with a deeply rooted passion for spreading the message of sex positivity and encouraging the masses to embrace their sexuality. Her website, www.sexperttyomi.com, reaches internationally as a source for advice and information for the sexually active/curious. Follow her on Twitter at @glamazontyomi and the all-new “Glamazon Tyomi’s Sex Academy” radio show here.