Millions of people suffer from symptoms of a weak bladder, from urinary frequency and urgency to pelvic pressure and urinary leakage, states Dr. Leonard Marks of the Urological Sciences Research Foundation, or USRF. Many treatments are available to address the urinary leakage and frequency associated with having a weak bladder. The USRF offers non-invasive treatment plans using biofeedback, but more and more people are opting to strengthen their bladder through diet. An article published for Simple Bladder Control mentions that using herbs for bladder control usually results in less side effects than using pharmaceutical medication and that herbs are generally safe for the body's systems. However, the writers for the website Simple Bladder Control also recommend consulting with a health care provider if you plan on using herbal therapy to strengthen your bladder.
Cranberry Extract
Cranberry, or Vaccinium macrocarpon, extract can be taken to help strengthen the bladder and control urinary urges. The writers of Simple Bladder Control report that cranberry extract helps the bladder because it has anti-bacterial properties that helps to prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder, and also because of the antioxidant effect of cranberry extract. Simple Bladder Control recommends an intake of 300 to 400 mg of cranberry standardized extract, or drinking 8 to 16 oz. of cranberry juice daily to see benefits for the kidney and bladder.
Camelia Sinensis
The leaf of Camelia sinensis can be used to make herbal tea to help the immune system and for antioxidant effects, according to Simple Bladder Control. In order to see the health benefits, the writers of Simple Bladder Control suggest drinking 2 to 4 cups of herbal tea steeped with the Camelia sinensis leaf for 5 to 10 minutes, every day. For the tea to be potent enough, use 1 tsp. of herbal leaves to every cup of water.
Horsetail
Another herb recommended by Simple Bladder Control to help strengthen the bladder is horsetail, or Equisetum arvense. The writers of Simple Bladder Control claim that horsetail acts as a tissue-healing astringent, which can help heal the tissue of a weak bladder. Horsetail can be used in the form of dried extract in tea and should be consumed in 2 to 4 cups daily, with 1 tsp. of dried horsetail herbs per cup of water and steeped for 5 to 10 minutes.
