Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea, commonly known as whites, refers to a whitish discharge from the female genitals. The vaginal discharge plays an important role in healthy vagina The secretion are designed to flush out bacteria and other organism to prevent infection. Normal secretion is odourless and clear milky color. Normally the quantity of vaginal secretions varies throughout the menstrual cycle, peaking at ovulation and also increasing when under emotional stress.

Leucorrhoea is an abnormal condition of the reproductive organs of women. If not treated properly in the initial stages, it may become chronic. Recent investigations have shown that secretions from the uterus and upper part of the vagina flow down and are reabsorbed in the lower parts of the vagina. This is the normal constant flow within the female organs. The whitish discharge is, however, caused by the presence of infection in any of these tissues and a variety of other factors. Leucorrhoea condition may continue for weeks or months at a time.

Types of leucorrhea

There are two types of Leucorrhoea, Physiological and Pathological. In physiological Leucorrhoea, the discharge is normal due to excitement or other factors like nervousness. Such a discharge need not be worried about. It is found under following conditions:

• Seen in newborn baby for a week due to maternal oestrogen.
• Seen in girls during puberty due to hormonal changes.
• At the time of ovulation and in early pregnancy.
• During sexual excitement.

Treatment in Unani

• A warm vaginal douche with Triphala water is highly beneficial. Take 20 grams of Triphala powder, add to 2 litres of water and boil for 15 minutes-filter it and use as douche, when it is tolerably hot.
• Cold hip bath: Similarly a cold hip bath twice a day is also useful in removing the morbid matter.
• Washing and cleaning of vagina and internal parts with ½ tsp of Processed Alum powder with 500ml water .
• The decoction of bark of Lodhra is also used for the purpose of douching