Expert: Judy Frayne - 3/1/2011

Question
QUESTION: Is it true that tea tree oil and lavender oil can be used to treat vaginal bacterial infections? If mixed together then diluted can it be used to douch with every other day for 7 to 10 day!

ANSWER: Hi there. Thank you for your question. I have known a few examples of this being done with great succes. However there are some key points to remember.

You should always check with your doctor first. The oils may not react well to any other medication you may be applying.

You rightly say the oils should be diluted. Use no more than one or two drops of tea tree, and two or three drops of lavender.Dilute with water ( shake up really well) or vitamin e oil.

You need to test carefully to see if the tea tree oil causes any discomfort. It can be a skin irritant and should not be under estimated. Limit to one drop if two is too much.

I think you should use this every day. It may take a little while to clear, possibly up to six weeks. But with the oils, little and often is usually best. You can also, if appropriate, use a tampon that has your diluted oils soaked into it.


Good luck

Judy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Judy thanks for answering my question! Your input is very useful but now my question is I purchased the essential oils that are already mixed it's tea tree and lavender oil in one. Would you suggest using a premixed oil or two separate oils? And if I was to used a soaked tampon how long should it be soaked before I applicate or insert it? And would it be safe to use during my mentral cycle?  And you said the douching should be done every day. Do you mean everyday for 7 to 10 days? You suggested it could take up to 6 weeks before it clears up. So would you suggest following the 10 days of douching with one drop of tea tree and two drops of lavender and once a week after for six weeks to be certain the infection had cleared up completely?

Answer
Hi there
I am always wary of buying premixed oils as you never know the actual content. Lavender and Tea tree are best bought as pure essential oils and then mixed together in a carrier oil or base. However if you are sure that the ingredients are only pure essential oils in a carrier there would be no harm in using them. The main problem with premixed oils is there often significantly less content of essential oils than if you mix them yourself in a similar amount of carrier.
The tampon simply needs to soak up a small amount of fluid which includes your oils. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. You should be able to do this at any point during the month.
There are no hard and fast rules as to how long oils will take to have effect. Everyone has a different reaction rate. I would try every day until you notice a difference and then, as you suggest, maybe lessening the dose gradually. For anyone who is completely clear of any infection it will never harm to use the oils say once a week to guard against infection and help build up the immune system.
Good luck,
Judy.