This
particular potion to tighten the vagina consists of wasp nests or oak galls
which are ground into a paste and placed in the vagina until it dries up like a
face mask. It purports to rejuvenate and restore the elasticity, firmness and
shape of the organ due to daily wear, age or childbirth.
Some
sites which swear by the effectiveness of wasp nests even cite studies from The
National Center for Biotechnology Information and also the Indian Journal of
Pharmacology on the effectiveness of the active components in wasp nests.
Due
to the hype, many online sellers including Etsy are selling
oak galls.
Oak
galls are formed when a wasp infests an oak tree bud producing round formations known
as oak galls. The galls are actually nests made by the oak tree itself in response to the wasp laying eggs. The galls serve as shelter and food for the growing wasp larva until it turns into an adult.
Photo: Arousa/Getty Images
However,
the hype invoked the ire of many gynecologists and obstetricians claiming that
the remedy is dangerous. These doctors are similar in their medical
opinion that ground wasp nests have no proven medicinal value. When applied to the vagina it may
dry up its protective mucous lining, kill off good bacteria and lead to abrasions. In worst cases it
may cause infections and increase the risks of contracting HIV.
In
spite of the warnings, it seems that there are commercial preparations of
vaginal tighteners which contain extracts of wasps nests, witch hazel and other
organics. These beauty products are far less unsightly and more fragrant than
stuffing some wasp nest paste down there.
