You can strengthen the integrity of your bladder—and help prevent issues such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder stones—with a variety of herbs. Some herbs will even help you rid yourself of infection or bladder inflammation that already exists. It’s important to consult a doctor, however, if you have bladder issues before taking herbs meant to shore up bladder integrity. Some herbs can interact with drugs or are inadvisable if you are pregnant or have certain health conditions.
Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle is approved by Germany’s Commission E, that country’s regulatory body for herbs, to treat irritable bladder problems and urinary tract infections (UTIs), and to prevent bladder stones. A typical dose for this herb is 8 to 12 g of the flowering part of the plant or 4 to 6 g of the root, according to “The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide,” by George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox. This herb can cause allergic reactions or gastric irritation. This herb also may be used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia (BHP), but it’s important to use it under proper medical supervision, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Pregnant women should avoid stinging nettle because it can contribute to miscarriage. This herb also can alter your menstrual cycle. In addition, it can interact with blood-thinning drugs, blood pressure medication, diabetes medicines, diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Cranberry
Cranberry improves the integrity of your bladder by preventing bacteria from attaching to urinary tract walls, according to UMMC. This herb can be particularly helpful if you are a woman who suffers recurring bladder infections, say the experts at the center. It is not, however, very effective at treating infections that you’ve already contracted. You can drink 3 oz cranberry juice, take six 300 to 400 mg capsules in divided doses throughout the day or eat 1.5 oz fresh or frozen cranberries during the day to gain benefits. Cranberry may interact with blood-thinning medications. If you are diabetic and choose to use the juice, look for an unsweetened variety, advises UMMC.
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola traditionally is used to combat chronic interstitial cystis, in which the bladder wall’s integrity is harmed, according to “Complementary and Alternative Medicine Secrets,” by Wendy Kohatsu. Gotu kola may boost wound healing activity, stimulate collagen synthesis and improve your connective tissue matrix to help bladder integrity. It also can help prevent UTIs and help your body heal if it has ulcerations in the bladder, Kohatsu notes. This herb should not be used by pregnant or nursing woman, Kohatsu advises. Also avoid it if you take medication that promotes sleep or is meant to reduce anxiety because high doses of gotu kola can cause sedation, warns UMMC.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod theoretically will inhibit bacteria in your bladder and will increase your urine flow, according to UMMC. It also may help prevent bladder stones, according to the “Handbook of Medicinal Herbs,” by James A. Duke. UMMC advises that goldenrod had not been studied in humans as of 2010, however. You can use the dried herb in tea, with a recommended dose of 2 to 3 tsp steeped in a cup of hot water taken three times a day. You need to avoid this herb if you have heart or kidney disease or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Consult your doctor before use if you have high or low blood pressure or osteoporosis, advise the experts at UMMC. It can interact with lithium and diuretics.
Uva Ursi
Uva ursi can be used to treat cystitis, also called bladder inflammation, and to combat UTIs. It’s most effective if used at the first sign of an infection and when your urine is alkaline, according to UMMC. Though this herb is approved by Commission E for UTIs, you need to use it under medical supervision because it can be toxic. Do not take it for more than five days at a time.
References
- “The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Gude,” by George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox; 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Stinging Nettle
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Uva Ursi
- “Handbook of Medicinal Herbs;” by James A. Duke; 2002
- “Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Secrets;” Wendy Kohatsu; 2002
