Having genital warts is an embarrassing situation, and you may not want to discuss it with your doctor. After all, the condition is viral, so he may not be able to prescribe any medication to help your problem. Most genital warts will eventually go away on their own, but you may want to help things along with natural remedies.
Identification
If you’re going to treat genital warts with home remedies, you should be sure that you really do have genital warts. You’ll find them in all areas of the genitals. They could be on the vulva, the shaft of the penis or around the anus. Genital warts are gray or ashy colored. You may have just one bump, but more often, several will come together, forming a growth that many say looks like cauliflower. If you are uncertain, consult your physician.
Alternatives
Aloe has soothing properties and can help to soften the warts to help them fall off. Apple cider vinegar is another common home remedy for genital warts. Apply it regularly with a cotton ball. You can also make a mixture of castor oil, thuja and tea tree essential oils and vitamin E capsules, applying this to only the affected areas three times a day. Garlic and onions may also help.
Immune System
Genital warts are a viral-based infection, which means that the strength of your immune system plays a role in how quickly your body can fight them. Accordingly, you can also take measures to boost your immune system, such as taking echinacea, ginkgo biloba and goldenseal.
Time Frame
Even when you are using home remedies, it can take several weeks for your genital warts to go away. You may notice some initial relief in pain and discomfort after a few days, but expect to continue treatment for at least three weeks.
Expert Insight
The Mayo Clinic states that there is no clinical evidence that supports the idea of using these home remedies to cure genital warts. The infection will go away on its own eventually, and any correlation to the use of natural remedies may be coincidental.
Photo Credit
- onion image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
