If you test GBS positive during pregnancy, you will be offered antibiotics during labor. If that is not your cup of tea, know there are natural remedies for GBS. Some report great results with them.
Natural Remedies for GBS: Nutritional
- Foods rich in probiotics promote a healthy colon and digestive tract: yogurt, kefir, fermented foods, kombucha, etc.
- Here are useful links:
Again, you can eat probiotics and lots of them. Some also suggest putting some yogurt in the vagina. Two in vitro studies showed promising results. (1) (2) One in vivo study on non-pregnant women also showed good results. (3)
- You can also take a good quality probiotic supplement.
- Raw garlic and/or garlic capsules:
You can eat raw garlic and take it as a supplement. Some also recommend inserting a raw clove inside the vagina. Is there evidence to show that garlic is effective at killing GBS. Yes…in a petri dish. (4) Garlic placed with GBS in a dish is able to kill the bacteria in 3 hours. So there is no evidence to show that garlic would do the same in vivo BUT there is also no evidence to show it would not. In 2009 (5), Cohain said he successfully treated 8 non-pregnant women with a half clove of garlic. Garlic has been known as an antibacterial for centuries (6), it is cheap, easily found, and it will not harm you nor your baby so why not try it? (7)
- Raw apple cider vinegar
Some say that taking a bath with 1/4 cup raw ACV works great. I could not find any scientific evidence on that. There is, however, evidence that ACV is great for many health related ailments. Will it harm? No. So why not give it a try?
- Vitamin C
- For vitamin C rich foods and more information about vitamin C click here
We don’t know yet the optimum level of vitamin C or the best recommendation for supplements, but it has been proposed that 300 mg to 500 mg is probably needed. (8)
- The recommended amount is anywhere between 300 mg per day to much larger amounts. An “overdose” of vitamin C will make you have runny stools.
- Coconut oil
I could not find any studies but there is some anecdotal evidence (9).
Natural Remedies for GBS: Herbs and Supplements
- Grapefruit seed extract
I have seen 15 drops per day as a recommendation but again this is anecdotal evidence. (10) (11)
Mothering.com notes that ½ oz. of echinacea and ½ oz. of burdock root may be steeped in 4 cups of boiling water for approximately 2 hours. Beginning at 32 weeks gestation, pregnant women may drink 1 cup of this infusion per day.
- Astragulus (13)
When used for GBS, take 1/2 teaspoon of tincture.
- Colloidal silver ~ no study could be found to show about the effectiveness of this remedy and some advise against its use in pregnancy.
Natural Remedies for GBS: Essential Oils
As usual, we only recommend Young Living essential oils.
Take a double “O” capsule 3 times daily with these oils:
- 5 drops Lemon
- 3 drops Oregano
- 5 drops Mountain Savory
Additionally, you could also do the following (although I personally would hesitate to use any tampon):
Soak an ORGANIC tampon with:
- 15 drops Lemon
- 9 drops Oregano
- 15 drops Mountain Savory
- 1 teaspoon carrier oil ~ coconut oil being an awesome choice!
Leave soaked tampon in overnight.
Note: Our YL account numbers – Alisha’s 958919 and Florence’s 910945.
Natural Remedies for GBS: Chlorhexidine
Some research shows this protocol to be effective. Alisha used it with success (she retested negative). Some recommend using it during labor (14). However, Alisha used it before labor. Further references: 15, 16, 17, and 18. However, a Cochrane study concluded this:
Not enough evidence to show that washing the vagina with chlorhexidine during labour reduces group B streptococcal infections in babies. (19)
Alisha’s protocol:
- 1 tablespoon of chlorhexidine to 1 pint of water.
Do this twice a day for 3 days then once a day for 3 days.
Retest.
Conclusion: As with anything else, we encourage you to do your own research. Blessings!
Sources for Natural Remedies for GBS:
- (1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16869901
- (2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15900833
- (3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16752267
- (4) In vitro activity of an aqueous allicin extract and a novel allicin topical gel formulation against Lancefield group B streptococci.
- (5) Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2009 Sep;146(1):110-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009.05.028. Epub 2009 Jun 23.
- (6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10594976
- (7) http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/archive/mdd/v05/i04/html/04news4.html
- (8) http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/timely.asp
- (9) http://coconutoilinformation.com/preventing-group-b-strep-with-coconut-oil/#.U7RZjPldXG8
- (10) http://www.earthclinic.com/Supplements/grapefruit_seed_extract.html
- (11) http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new010research.html
- (12) http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new010research.html
- (13) http://www.livestrong.com/article/487220-herbs-to-eliminate-group-b-strep/
- http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/gbsAlt.html
- http://www.mothering.com/forum/228-birth-professionals-archive/102051-info-alternative-treatment-gbs.html
- (14) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15266490
- (15) http://apps.who.int/rhl/reviews/langs/CD004070.pdf
- (16) http://apps.who.int/rhl/pregnancy_childbirth/childbirth/routine_care/ccucom/en/
- (17) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2727736/
- (18) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2386993/
- (19) http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003520/vaginal-chlorhexidine-during-labour-to-prevent-early-onset-neonatal-group-b-streptococcal-infection
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