Your bladder is part of the urinary system. There are several disorders that may affect the health of your bladder and in cases of infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic treatment. However, there are also herbs available to help treat and aid in discomforts associated with bladder disorders. Before taking any herb or herbal supplement, you should consult with your doctor.
Bladder Information
Your bladder, a hollow muscular organ that is similar in shape to a balloon, is located in your pelvis. Ligaments attached to the bladder, as well as to the pelvic bone and other organs, keep the bladder in place. It swells when it fills with urine and can hold up to 2 cups for up to five hours. There are nerves in the bladder that tell the brain when it is full and to squeeze when urinating. There are several disorders that can affect the bladder. The most common is the urinary tract infection, or UTI, also known as cystitis. These infections are usually caused by bacteria and can be recurring if there is a partial blockage. Other common disorders include the loss of bladder control, or incontinence, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, which is the inflammation of the bladder wall, and bladder cancer.
Herbs for Urinary Tract Infections and Interstitial Cystitis
According to herbalist Michael Tierra, parsley root, marshmallow root and gravel root are all mild diuretics and contain chemical constituents that help the body relieve urinary tract infections, as well as dissolve and expel urinary stones. Uva ursi can be helpful in treating both UTIs and interstitial cystitis as it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Peppermint and juniper both have antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, while cornsilk is able to nourish the urinary system, dissolve stones and can treat several urological disorders, including UTI, urethritis and prostatis. The herb, plantain contains aucubin, which helps the kidneys produce uric acid. It also contains apigenin and baicalein, which have anti-inflammatory properties. These constituents can be helpful in treating bladder disorders such as a urinary tract infection or interstitial cystitis.
Herbs for Incontinence and Overactive Bladder
Raspberry leaf will help tone bladder muscles and prevent bladder leaks. Horsetail and cleavers are both commonly used to help urinary disorders including incontinence and an overactive bladder. If the condition is due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, then taking saw palmetto may help. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking saw palmetto in combination with nettles for the best effect in treating BPH.
Conventional and At-Home Treatments
When treating infections of the urinary system, physicians normally prescribe antibiotics, which can include amoxicillin, ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. These usually take just a few days before symptoms disappear. Drinking cranberry juice may be helpful in treating UTIs, though how it actually works is not yet known, notes MayoClinic.com. Avoid cranberry juice if you are taking warfarin as it can increase the chance of bleeding. Additional at-home treatments that may offer relief include drinking plenty of water to keep the urine diluted, avoiding bladder irritating substances such as coffee, alcohol and citrus based soft drinks and using a heating pad on your abdomen to ease pressure and discomfort.
Cautions
Before taking any herbal product, you should first speak to your physician to rule out any serious conditions. Plantain should be avoided by pregnant women and may cause allergic reactions in some people. Parsley leaves and roots are considered safe, but should also be avoided by pregnant women as large doses have emmenagogue and abortifacient properties, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Uva ursi in large doses may cause ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting and possibly death. Pregnant women should avoid it, notes MedlinePlus. There is no information concerning the safety of gravel root; therefore, it is important you speak to your doctor before taking this herb.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Your Urinary System and How it Works
- MedlinePlus: Bladder Diseases
- University of Michigan Health System: Urinary Tract Infection
- "The Way of Herbs"; Michael Tierra; 1998
- MayoClinic.com: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Drugs.Com: Complete Plantain Information
