You want fast relief without making anything worse. Here’s the honest take: a few simple at-home steps can ease symptoms and prevent dehydration, but they don’t replace diagnosis or antibiotics when those are needed. I’ll show you what actually helps, what to skip, and when to call a clinician-so you feel better and stay safe.
Who is this for? People searching for quick, safe ways to calm intestinal (tummy bugs/diarrhoea) and vaginal symptoms (itching, discharge, odour) while they arrange proper care. Expect practical recipes (like oral rehydration), exact doses where evidence exists, and crystal-clear red flags. UK readers: I’ll flag NHS-specific tips.
Jobs you probably want done right now: 1) Stop dehydration and calm gut symptoms; 2) Soothe vaginal irritation without causing harm; 3) Choose evidence-backed options over internet myths; 4) Know doses/recipes; 5) Decide when to self-care vs seek treatment.
TL;DR: What works, what to skip, and your 10 remedies
- Fast relief: Oral rehydration solution (ORS), proven probiotics, gentle foods, and rest help intestinal infections. For vaginal symptoms, avoid irritants, consider specific probiotics, use soothing sitz baths/barriers, and reserve boric acid for confirmed recurrent BV/yeast with professional guidance.
- What to skip: Douching, intravaginal tea tree oil/garlic/yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and random antibiotics. These can worsen infections or delay proper care.
- Red flags: Bloody stool, high fever, severe dehydration, pregnancy, severe pelvic pain, new partner with STI risk, or discharge with strong odour/green colour. In the UK, use NHS 111 for urgent advice.
- Evidence anchors: WHO (ORS, zinc for children), Cochrane (probiotics for acute diarrhoea), NICE/ACOG (vaginal infection diagnosis), CDC (STI guidance). Home measures ease symptoms; they don’t cure bacterial/STI causes.
- Your 10 practical home remedies: (Intestinal) 1) ORS, 2) Evidence-backed probiotics, 3) Zinc (kids), 4) Ginger for nausea, 5) Gentle diet reset. (Vaginal) 6) Irritant-free care & breathable fabrics, 7) Warm sitz bath + barrier for comfort, 8) Specific oral probiotics (GR‑1/RC‑14), 9) Boric acid (carefully, not in pregnancy), 10) Sexual rest/condoms until symptoms settle.
Step-by-step: Safe home care for intestinal infections (nausea, diarrhoea, tummy cramps)
Most acute intestinal infections are viral and last 1-3 days. The main risk is dehydration, not the bug itself. Your goal at home: keep fluids and salts balanced, reduce nausea, and avoid triggers that keep the gut irritated.
1) Mix and sip an oral rehydration solution (ORS)
- Recipe (WHO standard): 1 litre clean water + 6 level teaspoons sugar + 1/2 level teaspoon salt. Stir until dissolved. Taste should be “not too salty, not too sweet.”
- Sip small amounts often. Adults: 2-3 litres/day as tolerated. Children: small frequent sips; use a spoon or syringe if needed.
- Add potassium if available (a banana, or a splash of orange juice) once you can keep food down.
2) Use evidence-backed probiotics
- What helps: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) or Saccharomyces boulardii. Meta-analyses show they can shorten acute infectious diarrhoea by about a day.
- Dose guide (adults): Aim for 10^9-10^10 CFU daily for 2-5 days. For S. boulardii, common OTC doses are 250-500 mg twice daily.
- Who should NOT use probiotics: People with severe immunosuppression, central venous lines, or critical illness-speak to a clinician first.
3) Zinc (especially for children)
- WHO recommends zinc for children with diarrhoea: 10 mg/day if under 6 months; 20 mg/day if older, for 10-14 days. It reduces duration and future episodes.
- Adults may consider short-term 10-20 mg/day if diet is poor, but the strongest evidence is in children.
4) Calm nausea with ginger
- Ginger tea: Steep 1-2 g fresh ginger slices in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Sip warm.
- Evidence: Randomised trials support ginger for nausea (pregnancy/post-op/motion). It’s not a cure, but it often takes the edge off.
5) Gentle diet reset (skip fads)
- Small, frequent meals. Start with soups, rice, bananas, toast, plain yoghurt (if you tolerate dairy), boiled potatoes, eggs.
- Temporarily avoid: alcohol, caffeine, very fatty or spicy foods, and high-fibre roughage until stools start to form.
- BRAT-only diets are outdated-too restrictive. Include proteins and some fats as you improve.
6) Hygiene and isolation to prevent spread
- Wash hands with soap and water (20 seconds) after the loo and before food prep. Alcohol gel is okay but soap works better for some stomach bugs (e.g., norovirus).
- Disinfect high-touch surfaces and the loo. Don’t share towels while symptomatic.
- Stay home for 48 hours after last episode of vomiting/diarrhoea (UK public health advice for norovirus-type illness).
7) When to use (and avoid) over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeals
- Loperamide can help adults with non-bloody diarrhoea and no fever, especially to get through travel or sleep. Follow pack dosing.
- Do NOT use if you have bloody stools, high fever, suspected food poisoning with severe cramps, or possible C. difficile. These situations need medical advice.
When to seek help fast
- Signs of dehydration: very dark urine or barely passing urine, dizziness, racing heart, sunken eyes, very dry mouth.
- Blood in stool, severe abdominal pain, high fever, or symptoms >3 days not improving.
- Pregnancy, frail older adults, infants, or chronic conditions (IBD, heart/kidney disease). In the UK, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Step-by-step: Safe home care for vaginal symptoms (itching, discharge, odour)
Many vaginal symptoms need proper diagnosis because yeast (thrush), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and STIs can look similar but need different treatments. Home care can soothe symptoms and reduce triggers, but it won’t cure bacterial or STI causes. Don’t self-treat with random oils or acids-these often make things worse.
1) Go irritant-free and switch fabrics
- Underwear: breathable cotton, not tight synthetics. Change after workouts.
- Avoid: douching, scented soaps/wipes, bubble baths, vaginal deodorants. Clean the vulva with warm water; if you use soap, keep it mild and unscented, and only externally.
- Dry the area well after bathing. Moisture feeds yeast and worsens BV odour.
2) Warm sitz bath for comfort (external only)
- How: Sit in a basin of comfortably warm water for 10-15 minutes, up to twice daily. Plain water is best. If stinging is severe, some find relief with 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda in the water (especially if urine stings); stop if any burning or irritation.
- After, pat dry gently and apply a thin layer of a plain barrier (e.g., petroleum jelly or a zinc-oxide barrier) to the external skin if chafed. Not inside the vagina.
3) Specific oral probiotics may help reduce recurrence
- Look for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR‑1 and L. reuteri RC‑14. Evidence suggests they can help restore lactobacilli and reduce recurrence of BV/yeast when used alongside standard care.
- Typical use: follow product label for daily dosing for 2-4 weeks.
- Note: Probiotics won’t cure an active bacterial/STI infection. Think of them as support, not a stand‑alone fix.
4) Boric acid vaginal suppositories (targeted, careful use)
- Helpful for: recurrent BV or non‑albicans yeast after proper diagnosis. Common regimen: 600 mg intravaginally at night for 2 weeks. Some protocols add a maintenance phase.
- Do NOT use if pregnant. Never take by mouth. Keep away from children and pets. If you feel burning or rash, stop and seek advice.
- Best used after you’ve confirmed the diagnosis with a clinician. It’s a tool, not a DIY cure‑all.
5) Sexual rest or condoms until you’re sorted
- Friction and semen can worsen symptoms in BV. Condoms reduce exposure and lower STI risk while you wait for test results.
- If symptoms follow a new partner or you have pelvic pain, fever, or bleeding between periods, get checked for STIs. The CDC and UK guidelines stress prompt testing and treatment.
What about OTC treatments?
- Thrush (yeast): If you’ve had it before and recognise the same thick, white, cottage‑cheese‑like discharge and itching, UK pharmacies carry clotrimazole pessaries/creams. If you’re unsure, test first.
- BV: Usually needs prescription antibiotics. Home measures won’t cure BV, though they can minimise discomfort while you wait for care.
- Self-tests: UK pharmacies stock vaginal self‑tests that help differentiate thrush vs BV. Useful if you can’t see a clinician today.
Myths to skip (they can burn, disrupt pH, or mask symptoms): intravaginal tea tree oil, garlic, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and any douching “recipes.”
See someone urgently if: you’re pregnant; you have fever, severe pelvic/abdominal pain, foul or green/yellow frothy discharge, sores, or bleeding not related to periods. In the UK, call NHS 111 or contact a sexual health clinic.
Remedy recipes, doses, and the quick evidence snapshot
Here’s the practical stuff you can act on today, with the why behind it. Use this as your go‑to card on the fridge.
- ORS recipe: 1 L water + 6 tsp sugar + 1/2 tsp salt; sip steadily. This prevents and treats dehydration better than plain water because it replaces sodium and glucose, which drive absorption.
- Probiotics for gut: LGG or S. boulardii-start early in diarrhoeal illness. Expect a modest but real reduction in duration.
- Zinc: A must for children with diarrhoea; adult benefit is less clear. Don’t exceed safe upper limits long‑term.
- Ginger: Good for nausea; low risk. Avoid very high doses if you’re on blood thinners.
- Vaginal comfort: Warm sitz bath; barrier on external skin only; ditch irritants and tight synthetics.
- Targeted vaginal support: GR‑1/RC‑14 probiotics to help restore healthy flora; boric acid only for confirmed recurrent cases, never in pregnancy.
| Remedy | Use for | Evidence snapshot | Typical dose/recipe | Do not use if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) | Intestinal infection hydration | WHO-backed; gold standard for dehydration | 1 L water + 6 tsp sugar + 1/2 tsp salt; sip often | Severe vomiting unable to keep fluids; seek care |
| Probiotics (LGG) | Acute infectious diarrhoea | Cochrane: shortens illness ~1 day | 10^9-10^10 CFU daily for 2-5 days | Severe immunosuppression; central lines |
| Saccharomyces boulardii | Acute diarrhoea; antibiotic-associated | Multiple RCTs support benefit | 250-500 mg twice daily | Critical illness; immunocompromised-ask clinician |
| Zinc (children) | Childhood diarrhoea | WHO: reduces duration and recurrence | 10 mg/day (<6 mo); 20 mg/day (≥6 mo) for 10-14 days | Known zinc allergy; avoid long-term high dosing |
| Ginger tea | Nausea | Small RCTs show modest effect | 1-2 g fresh root steeped 5-10 min, sip warm | High doses with anticoagulants-check first |
| Gentle diet reset | Diarrhoea recovery | NHS advice; avoid restrictive BRAT-only plans | Soups, rice, bananas, eggs; avoid alcohol/fat/spice | Severe malnutrition-seek dietary guidance |
| Irritant-free care | Vaginal itching/odour relief | NICE/ACOG: avoid douching, fragrances | Cotton underwear; mild soap externally only | Open sores or severe pain-get evaluated |
| Sitz bath + barrier | External vulvar comfort | Common supportive measure | 10-15 min warm water; thin external barrier after | Burning with use; stop if irritation |
| Probiotics (GR‑1/RC‑14) | Recurrent BV/yeast support | Adjunctive benefit in studies | Follow label; 2-4 weeks | Immunocompromised-ask clinician |
| Boric acid suppositories | Recurrent BV or non‑albicans yeast | Supported as adjunct in guidelines | 600 mg intravaginal nightly × 14 days | Pregnancy; ingestion; keep from children |
What to absolutely avoid
- Douching of any kind (vinegar, peroxide, “herbal” mixes). Increases BV risk and can push infection higher.
- Intravaginal tea tree oil, garlic, yogurt, or apple cider vinegar. High irritation risk; not proven to help.
- Random leftover antibiotics. They mask symptoms, breed resistance, and can worsen outcomes.
Credibility markers you can trust
- WHO: Oral rehydration and zinc guidance (children).
- Cochrane Reviews: Probiotics for acute infectious diarrhoea.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries and ACOG: Assessment and management of vaginal discharge/vaginitis.
- CDC 2024/2025 STI Guidelines: When to test, treat, and notify partners.
Checklists, red flags, and quick answers (plus UK help)
Intestinal infection: 60‑second checklist
- Fluids: ORS on the go; goal is pale yellow urine.
- Food: small, simple meals; avoid alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods.
- Support: ginger for nausea; consider LGG or S. boulardii.
- Hygiene: wash hands; clean loo; no cooking for others while ill.
- Rest: take it easy 24-48 hours after symptoms stop.
Vaginal symptoms: 60‑second checklist
- Stop irritants: no douching, no fragranced products, switch to cotton.
- Comfort: warm sitz bath; thin external barrier for chafing.
- Clues: Cottage‑cheese discharge = likely thrush; fishy odour/grey = likely BV; green/yellow frothy or pelvic pain = consider STI-get tested.
- Support: GR‑1/RC‑14 probiotic orally; boric acid only if recurrent and diagnosed; never in pregnancy.
- Protection: sexual rest or condoms until diagnosed and treated.
Red flags-seek care now
- Intestinal: blood in stool, high fever, severe stomach pain, signs of dehydration, symptoms beyond 72 hours not improving.
- Vaginal: pregnancy with any symptoms, severe pelvic/abdominal pain, fever, sores, green/yellow frothy discharge, strong fishy odour with pelvic pain, bleeding after sex or between periods.
Mini‑FAQ
- Can home remedies cure BV or STIs? No. They can make you more comfortable while you wait for testing and treatment.
- Is yogurt inside the vagina okay? No. It’s not sterile, can irritate, and doesn’t restore the right species in the right place.
- Is apple cider vinegar safe down there? No. It disrupts pH and can burn.
- How long do stomach bugs last? Often 1-3 days. If you’re not improving by day 3 or you’re getting worse, check in with a clinician.
- Pregnant and have thrush‑type symptoms? Don’t self‑treat without advice. Get a diagnosis and use pregnancy‑safe options.
UK‑specific tips
- Call NHS 111 for urgent advice or if you’re unsure about red flags.
- Pharmacies can advise on ORS, probiotics, zinc for children, and safe OTCs. Many offer fast self‑test kits for BV/thrush.
- For sexual health testing, local NHS sexual health clinics offer confidential services, often same‑day.
Practical troubleshooting
- I can’t keep fluids down: Try 1-2 sips of ORS every 5 minutes, or use ice chips. If vomiting lasts more than 6-8 hours or you show dehydration signs, seek help.
- Diarrhoea every hour: Prioritise ORS. Consider S. boulardii. If fever, blood, or severe cramps-don’t use loperamide; call for advice.
- Vaginal itching worse at night: Sitz bath before bed, loose cotton sleepwear, cool the room, avoid pantyliners overnight.
- Odour returns after periods or sex: Book a test. BV often cycles; condoms may help. Probiotics can support prevention but won’t cure active BV.
- Recurrent thrush (≥4/year): Time for a formal plan with your GP or sexual health clinic. Ask about maintenance strategies; consider checking diabetes and medications.
If you’re the cautious type (good instinct), remember: short, sensible steps at home protect you while you get answers. Hydrate, soothe, don’t irritate, and don’t mask serious symptoms. That balance gets you better faster-without nasty surprises.
Linda Migdal
September 1, 2025 AT 03:28Let’s cut through the fluff - this is exactly the kind of evidence-based, no-nonsense guidance we need when Big Pharma wants you hooked on antibiotics for everything. ORS is a godsend, and probiotics like LGG? Non-negotiable. If you’re still douching with apple cider vinegar, you’re not just wrong - you’re a public health liability. 🚫
Dennis Jesuyon Balogun
September 1, 2025 AT 08:30There’s a metaphysical layer here - the body as a microcosm of ecological balance. Douching isn’t just medically unsound, it’s a violation of the body’s innate wisdom. The vaginal microbiome isn’t a garden to be weeded - it’s a symphony. When you introduce tea tree oil or yogurt, you’re not healing - you’re conducting a cacophony. The real remedy? Stillness. Listening. Letting the system restore itself - with gentle, informed support. Boric acid? Only as a last-resort conductor, not a savior.
Lucinda Bresnehan
September 1, 2025 AT 12:03OMG this is so helpful!! I had that weird discharge last month and almost tried the garlic thing bc a TikTok said it worked 😅 but then I read this and was like NOPE. ORS recipe saved me when I had food poisoning last winter - I made it with tap water and it was fine! Also GR-1/RC-14 probiotics are now my daily ritual. Thanks for the NHS tips too!! 🙏
Eric Vlach
September 3, 2025 AT 09:07Probiotics for gut and vagina? Yeah that tracks. I’ve been taking LGG since I got back from Mexico and my stomach hasn’t thrown a fit since. Also ditched the synthetic underwear - switched to cotton only. Game changer. Sitz baths are underrated. Just warm water. No magic. Just science. And patience. Also don’t use loperamide if you’re running a fever. Been there. Don’t be that guy.
Souvik Datta
September 4, 2025 AT 07:43Let me tell you something - in rural India, we’ve been using ginger tea and oral rehydration for generations. My grandmother didn’t need Cochrane reviews to know that sugar and salt in clean water saves lives. This post just confirmed what our ancestors knew: simplicity + evidence = power. Zinc for kids? Absolutely. And boric acid? Only if you’ve been properly diagnosed. Don’t turn your vagina into a chemistry lab. Stay humble. Stay informed.
Priyam Tomar
September 4, 2025 AT 19:44Wow. So you’re telling me I shouldn’t pour yogurt into my vagina because some guy in a lab said it doesn’t work? Newsflash - my aunt did it for 30 years and never got BV. You think science is the only truth? Where’s the data on traditional wisdom? You’re all just overcomplicating what our grandmothers fixed with turmeric and prayer. This post is corporate sanitization of folk medicine. Pathetic.
Jack Arscott
September 5, 2025 AT 06:14ORS recipe = life saver 🙌 I made it during a 48-hour stomach bug and didn’t even need to go to urgent care. Also probiotics - I swear by the refrigerated ones. And NO to douching. Like… why do people still do this? 🤦♂️ Also boric acid? Only if you’ve got a script. Otherwise just chill. 🧘♀️
Irving Steinberg
September 6, 2025 AT 04:53So basically you’re saying if I don’t want to pay $200 for a doctor visit I should just drink salt water and wear cotton underwear? Wow. Revolutionary. I guess my 3 years of medical school didn’t prepare me for this level of genius. Also I’m pretty sure that ginger tea thing is just placebo. But hey, if you wanna feel better while your infection spreads, go ahead. 😴
Lydia Zhang
September 7, 2025 AT 18:40Interesting. I’ve had recurrent BV. Tried everything. This seems legit. I’ll try the probiotics. That’s it.
Kay Lam
September 9, 2025 AT 15:37I really appreciate how thorough this is because honestly most of the advice out there is either dangerously oversimplified or terrifyingly pseudoscientific and I’ve spent hours scrolling through Reddit threads full of people recommending vinegar rinses and garlic suppositories and it’s horrifying and I just want to scream at my phone and then I found this and it was like a breath of fresh air because finally someone is talking about the actual evidence and not just anecdotes and I know that for some people this might seem too clinical but I think it’s actually the opposite - it’s the most human thing you can do when you’re scared and in pain is to give them clear accurate information without the noise and the fearmongering and the snake oil and I just want to thank you for taking the time to write this because I know it’s not easy and I know people will still ignore it but at least it’s out there and someone will find it when they need it and that’s what matters
Matt Dean
September 11, 2025 AT 10:49Let’s be real - if you’re Googling home remedies for vaginal infections, you’re probably already 3 days in and too embarrassed to see a doctor. This post isn’t for you. It’s for the people who actually care about evidence. The rest of you? You’re just delaying the inevitable. Go get tested. Stop trying to fix a bacterial infection with yogurt. You’re not a witch. You’re not a healer. You’re just someone who needs antibiotics. Get over it.
Walker Alvey
September 12, 2025 AT 01:12Wow. So the solution to modern medicine’s failures is… more science? Shocking. I guess I’ll just ignore the fact that 90% of medical guidelines are written by Big Pharma shills and believe that WHO and Cochrane are some kind of sacred text. Meanwhile, my grandma cured everything with honey and prayer. But sure. Let’s keep pretending that peer-reviewed journals are the only form of truth. 🤡
Adrian Barnes
September 13, 2025 AT 18:02While the recommendations herein are superficially aligned with current clinical literature, they exhibit a dangerous anthropocentric bias - reducing complex microbial ecosystems to mechanical interventions. The implicit assumption that the human body is a system to be optimized via pharmacological or botanical inputs is not only reductionist, but ethically precarious. One must ask: who benefits from this commodification of bodily autonomy? The answer is not the patient. It is the diagnostic-industrial complex. This post, though well-intentioned, is a Trojan horse for medical hegemony.
Declan Flynn Fitness
September 14, 2025 AT 10:56Just did the ORS after a wild night out - 1L water, 6tsp sugar, 1/2tsp salt. Tasted like sad soda but it worked. Didn’t get dehydrated. Sitz bath after - pure bliss. Also switched to cotton undies. No more weird itching. Probiotics are now part of my morning routine. This post is a 10/10. Save it. Print it. Frame it. 🇮🇪
Michelle Smyth
September 15, 2025 AT 11:08How quaint. A 2025 ‘evidence-based’ guide that still relies on WHO and NHS guidelines - as if those institutions haven’t been captured by pharmaceutical lobbying since 2010. The boric acid recommendation? A thinly veiled endorsement of pharmaceutical-grade interventions. And yet, you dismiss yogurt? Please. The real cure is ancestral wisdom - and you’re too busy citing Cochrane to notice that the body has been healing itself for millennia without a clinical trial. This isn’t medicine. It’s marketing dressed as science.
Patrick Smyth
September 15, 2025 AT 13:10Listen - I’ve had BV three times. I tried everything. Tea tree oil? Burned like hell. Yogurt? Made it worse. Then I went to the clinic. Got diagnosed. Got metronidazole. Fixed. All this home stuff? It’s nice. But if you’re bleeding, smelling, or in pain - you don’t need a sitz bath. You need a doctor. Stop being a hero. Go get tested. I’m not being mean. I’m being real. You’re worth more than your pride.
patrick sui
September 16, 2025 AT 06:05This is actually one of the most balanced, thoughtful posts I’ve seen on this topic. I love how it separates symptom relief from cure - that’s the key. Too many people think home remedies = cure. They don’t. They’re support tools. I’ve used GR-1/RC-14 for 6 months now - not to cure, but to prevent recurrence after antibiotics. And the ORS recipe? I shared it with my cousin in Nairobi - she used it during a cholera scare. Saved her kid. Science doesn’t have to be cold. It can be human. And this? This is human science. 🙏