Women who are most prone to vaginal discharge and yeast infections tend to be between the ages of 21-35. Generally, this is the time of our lives that is most indulgent converging with the very first waning of our vital substances and energy. We consider for the first time (especially guys) that we might not be immortal. Go figure.
What causes discharge and/or bacterial infections of the genitals?
As always, of course it is dampness, likely with the gut at its root, which is why some women are more susceptible in the week following their menses, when gastric fluids are deficient.
Deficient gastric fluids lead to imperfect metabolism, which leads to the production of more pathogenic dysbiosis than nutrients, and that dysbiosis has to find somewhere in the body to reside. Because men are more “yang,” it tends to get transported more outward towards the surface—think joint or muscle pains or various expressions of skin conditions. Since women are more “yin,” it tends in the opposite direction. Dampness sinks, from the gastrointestinal microbiome to the reproductive or urogenital microbiome and creates or perpetuates a pre-existing proclivity to bacterium.
The first line of defense is of course diet and lifestyle. Women with strong muscles tend to have stronger metabolisms and those with a healthy exercise routine are better able to purge and transform dampness. Sugar, alcohol, dairy, smoothies, and raw, uncooked foods are all damp-generating foods, so minimizing them should also aid in prevention. As for substitutes:
- Finding dairy-free milk has never been easier! As for vegan cheese, good luck. Your best bet is will power.
- For sweet-cravings I’d recommend taking the occasional spoonful of nut butters as needed, coconut yogurts, chunks of very dark chocolates, and Blue Stripes trail mixes.
- For raw foods I recommend following them with hot tea and/or accompanying with something cooked, and gradually getting used to eating only warm, cooked meals.
- For smoothies and/or alcohol the best thing to do is give the body breaks. In each week have more days not consuming them than consuming them.
The most important Chinese herb for “transforming dampness”—which is to say scouring trapped pathogenic fluids and turning them into functional ones to be transported elsewhere in the body is atractylodes root, or “Bai Zhu.”
Atractylodes is bitter, sweet, and warm. Its bitterness drains excess fluids—its sweet warmth helps to strengthen pancreatic function and irrigate other parts of the body. In its raw state it can reduce perspiration and transport functional fluids downward into the intestines to prevent constipation. When dry-fried it is called instead “cang zhu” and its chemistry is the opposite: up and outward to prevent diarrhea, promote sweating, and treat joint pains. It appears in several common gynecological formulas, including “Wan Dai Tang,” or “End Discharge Decoction.”
Do not self-prescribe. While herbal formulas such as Wan Dai Tang are proven to be effective in treating yeast infections and vaginal discharge, they can also be very drying, which means taxing of a woman’s blood if taken over time and/or without proper holistic customization.
