Health experts warn the public about a new type of "womb detox" that involves inserting herbal balls into the vagina. The product promises to cleanse the uterus, but for health professionals, it may only cause irritation and the deadly toxic shock syndrome.
The product called "herbal womb detox pearls" are being sold online by U.S. company Embrace Pangaea. The firm claims that the herbal balls can correct foul odor, bacterial vaginosis, fibroids, endometriosis and yeast infections.
"Herbal womb detox pearls are designed to cleanse the womb and return it to a balanced state," the company's website states.
Experts are alarmed at the products' increasing popularity. Aside from not buying the shop's promises, some doctors think that the pearls are hazardous to women's health.
"The vagina is designed to clean itself with natural secretions and should not require a 'detox,'" says Dr. Vanessa Mackay from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In fact, the vagina is said to have good bacteria that perform protective functions.
When there is a problem in the vagina, it produces excess discharge signalling that there might be an infection, irritation or lack of good, normal bacteria.
Embrace Pangaea recommends inserting the balls into the vagina for at least three days for best results. For ob-gyn and a pain medicine physician Dr. Jen Gunter, the entire idea and process is not only pointless but also harmful to women's health.
Gunter explains that leaving the herbal balls for three days inside the vagina can promote the growth of bad bacteria and subsequently cause infection.
Gunter also wrote that putting stuff inside the vagina for too long of a period may cause toxic shock syndrome, which has already claimed the lives of many. This is also one of the reasons why women are instructed to not leave tampons inside the vagina for more than eight hours.
Airing Embrace Pangaea's side is its owner Tamieka Atkinson. "Our product is not a drug by any means, and we make no claims of curing, diagnosing, or treating disease," she says.
Atkinson says their product is only a natural herbal remedy that women can opt to use after a conscious and informed decision. She adds that they inform all their customers that their company is not run by medical professionals. They also advise clients to seek their doctor's assistance.
When asked about experts saying that their product can cause more harm than good, Atkinson said they have clients who have positive feedback.
The herbal balls are actually perfumed herbs wrapped in a mesh. Customers may opt to buy one or two-month packages. Each pearl retails at $15.
