Bladder Problems

Urinary Tract Infection

A Naturopathic Path

For those whose doctors or health professionals shy away from antibiotics, herbal echinacea has been used to good effect to battle urinary tract infections (UTI), both in the US and throughout Europe. It may not work in all cases, or by itself, so be sure to consult a physician. But echinacea is an ally worth considering if you suffer occasional bouts of UTI. In tincture form, 20 to 30 drops four times a day is a commonly suggested dose.

The Last Word on Cranberry Juice

People have argued for years about the purported value of cranberry juice in fighting minor urinary tract infections. Folklore or fact? The fact is that cranberries are an antiseptic for the urinary tract. Plus, they contain a substance that makes it tough for bacteria to adhere to the bladder itself. So, if you drink a lot of the juice, you can help fight the infection, if not cure it outright.

To make the fruity dose stronger than you'd get by drinking sweetened juice, use cranberry juice concentrate from the health food store mixed with plain or sparkling water (less sugar, more power). Meantime, increase your intake of water during the day and cut your intake of caffeine, a potential irritant.

Tea Tonic

Tired of people pushing cranberry juice on you? The next time you're faced with a urinary tract infection, try bearberry tea. With antiseptic properties, the tea can cleanse your bladder of the bacteria that causes the burning and discomfort associated with UTIs. Drink three cups a day until you begin to feel better. But if symptoms persist for more than three days, call your doctor.

UTI? Take C

At the first sign of a urinary tract infection, head for your kitchen or medicine cabinet for a super surge of vitamin C. The body cannot store excess vitamin C, so any extra in your system will be excreted from the body in the urine. And because vitamin C offers antimicrobial properties, the bladder and urinary tract will be cleansed in the process.

What amount do you really need? A dose of 2,000 to 3,000 mg of vitamin C per day is often suggested, until you begin to feel relief. Warning: Too much vitamin C in the system for long periods can cause kidney stones. (If you have kidney stones, check with your physician before beginning to treat a UTI with vitamin C.) Even without kidney problems, don't take high doses of vitamin C for extended periods.

Bladder Infections

Serious bladder infections usually require antibiotic therapy, but complementary approaches may cure mild infections and aid antibiotics in clearing up more serious ones. Persistent symptoms-or more worrisome ones, such as high fever or low back pain­should prompt a visit to a doctor sooner rather than later.

Get Your Greens

Parsley, boasting diuretic properties, can help clean out an infected bladder and flush out infection. Look for parsley capsules in your health food store and follow package instructions.

Or sample some parsley tea when battling bladder problems: Add a teaspoon of dried parsley to a cup of hot water and let the mixture steep for 10 minutes. Strain before drinking. Drink at least three cups daily throughout the course of a bladder infection.

Lemon Aid

For fast relief from a bladder infection, check your refrigerator. All you need is a lemon to create an acidic alternative to the time-honored remedy-cranberry juice.

Add the juice of one-half of a medium-sized lemon to a cup of warm water. Drink at least five cups of the lemon-water mixture a day during the course of an infection until symptoms subside.

Bee Better

Crushed bee-that's what apis, a homeopathic remedy for bladder infection, is made from. Take three 30C tablets every two hours at the first sign of discomfort, particularly burning and stinging.

One warning: If apis doesn't cure what ails you after three doses, it's not going to work, and you'll need to find another treatment.

Homeopathic Infection Fighter

Do you feel like you need to urinate every five minutes? That's one of the most irritating symptoms of a bladder infection. And one that may be cured by mercurius corrosivus, a homeopathic remedy. Take three 30C pills at the first sign of these symptoms. Repeat the dosage every two to three hours. You should notice an improvement after three doses. Otherwise, discontinue the use of mercurius corrosivus.

Soothing Sarsaparilla

To alleviate the burning associated with bladder infections, swallow some sarsaparilla. Otherwise known as wild licorice, a homeopathic dose of three 30C pills every two to three hours should clear up the symptoms-and clean out the infection. If you don't notice a change in your condition after three doses, don't continue the treatment. Check with your physician regarding another type of remedy.

Herbal Detox

Ready for detox? Take the following herbal cocktail for relief from a current bladder infection three times a day for 10 days. It will provide an overall "detox" cleansing that could also prevent future infections from occurring.

• 1 teaspoon echinacea
• 3 capsules of Nature's Way KB (a kidney­bladder formula rich in juniper and parsley)
• 3 capsules of goldenseal root
• 3 capsules of cranberry
• 3 garlic tablets or a couple of cloves of garlic

Warning: If you're pregnant, you may follow this protocol but omit the goldenseal and KB formula, which contains herbs that should be avoided.

Relief for Honeymoon Cystitis

Searching for a homeopathic remedy for bladder infections induced by sexual intercourse? Staphysagria. Take three 30C pills every two hours at the first hint of any infection. According to experts, if a homeopathic remedy is going to improve a bladder infection, you have to begin treatment as soon as you can and you will see results within three doses. If you don't feel better, then discontinue the treatment and ask your physician for another form of treatment.

Bladder Infections Fly Away

If the main symptom of your bladder infection is a bothersome burning sensation, then cantharis (otherwise known as Spanish fly) is the homeopathic remedy of choice. Take three 30C pills every two hours as soon as you notice the signs of infection. If you don't feel any better after three doses of cantharis, then this medicine won't do the trick for your infection and another remedy will be necessary.

Corn Silk Tea-Safe, Sweet Solution

Finally, someone has figured out what to do with those thin, pale yellow strands that are found in the rows of fresh corn. Dry the corn silk (between paper towels), and use it to brew tea. Then, sip the corn-infused tea when you have a bladder infection, especially when pregnant, as you'll want to minimize your use of drugs. (It turns out the starches in corn silk are helpful diuretics.)

As you'd expect, corn silk from organic corn is favored by naturopaths over commercially grown corn; the sweeter and more aromatic the corn, the better for your bladder.

Saw Palmetto, for Women, Too

Although saw palmetto has received a lot of attention in recent years as an herbal aid for men's prostate problems, women with urinary tract problems have been using it for decades. In truth, saw palmetto berries, in tincture or tablet form, have an antiseptic effect on both men's and women's urinary tracts. Bladder infections (cystitis) and more serious kidney infections are simply more common among women.

As for dosage, 20 to 40 drops of the tincture in water should be taken three times a day. Saw palmetto is also increasingly available in pre-packaged form.

Healthy Bladder Tea

The following tea acts as a mild diuretic. Goldenseal has an antibiotic effect which helps to prevent bladder infections, and the ginger enhances circulation to the bladder by relaxing and dilating blood vessels.

To make healthy bladder tea:

1. Bring four cups of water to a boil.
2. Stir in one teaspoon parsley, one teaspoon grated, fresh ginger root, one teaspoon uva ursi and one teaspoon goldenseal.
3. Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat.
4. Serve, adding honey and lemon juice if you desire.

Interstitial Cystitis

Nutritional Therapy May Reduce Pain

Women who suffer from interstitial cystitis (IC) say that the pain is worse than everyday bladder infections-women liken it to having a persistent charley horse in the bladder, or worse. And the urge to void is relentless. In severe cases, women have to go to the bathroom 50 times a day. This disorder is recently recognized by the National Institutes of Health (with research grants of nearly $10 million awarded in the past few years to determine the cause). Treatments vary widely. Often, women are incorrectly diagnosed and treated for urinary tract infections.

One way IC sufferers have found relief is by dietary means: They avoid foods that are considered acidic, including grapefruit and orange juices, hot peppers, vinegar and berries.

Typically, patients will have to try several types of treatments before finding one that works.

FDA-Reviewed Drug Offers Hope

One moderately successful treatment for IC is Elmiron, an FDA-approved drug. When it works, it may take as long as three to six months to bring relief. In government studies, 37% of IC patients responded to Elmiron, which is among the most successful medications prescribed to IC sufferers to date.