Written By: Tom Hale | IFLS
Originally published June 2017
Health experts are cautioning against a dangerous and unscientific practice that involves using oak galls in the vagina as a way to clean, heal, and tighten it. This practice, touted as “organic,” is both unfounded and potentially harmful.
The product was being sold by a Malaysian “health shop” on Etsy, with instructions to boil the oak galls and use them for feminine hygiene. It also recommended ingesting boiled oak galls for 40 days to “restore elasticity of the uterine wall.”
Oak galls, formed by gall wasps, are known for their antimicrobial properties and are sometimes used in certain cultures. However, there is no scientific evidence to support their use for vaginal health.
A certified gynecologist, Dr. Jen Gunter, has dismissed this practice as dangerous, explaining that it could cause dryness, alter the vagina’s natural pH, and disrupt healthy bacteria. This could lead to increased risk of infections and HIV transmission.
Similar pseudoscientific products, such as “herbal tampons,” have also been debunked, highlighting the misinformation and misconceptions surrounding women’s sexual health.
It’s important for women to be cautious of such practices and seek advice from qualified medical professionals for safe and evidence-based vaginal care.
Shared with permission from our friends at IFL Science
