Stress urinary incontinence is a condition that mainly affects women and is characterized by leaks upon laughing, coughing or during exercise. Stress urinary incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle fails to keep the bladder closed allowing a small amount of urine to leak out. A number of factors can weaken the sphincter muscle including childbirth, pregnancy, having a hysterectomy and being overweight. Stress urinary incontinence may be improved by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, watching fluid intake and losing weight. Some herbs may prove helpful for incontinence, but there is little scientific evidence to prove they work.
St. John's Wort
The University of Maryland Medical Center says that taking 300 mg of a standardized extract of St. John's wort two or three times daily may help incontinence. Results of a study published in July 2004 in the medical journal, "Urology" show that St. John's wort, a herb commonly used to treat depression, may inhibit the contraction of smooth muscle in the bladder and may be useful urinary incontinence treatment for depressed patients.
Cranberry
UMMC also cites cranberry as a possible supplement to support kidney health. Although there is no clinical evidence to show that cranberry can treat stress urinary incontinence, results of a study published in June 2002 in "The Canadian Journal of Urology" found that cranberry reduced symptoms of a urinary tract infection including urinary incontinence. Cranberry is usually taken as a juice but is also available as a dietary supplement. Cranberry is considered safe but it may cause gastrointestinal upset if consumed in large quantities.
Green Tea
Green tea may be a helpful herbal remedy for urinary incontinence, according to UMMC. There are no clinical studies showing that this herb can treat incontinence, however. Green tea is made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant and is commonly consumed as a beverage. It is also available as a dietary supplement. MedlinePlus notes that green tea is likely safe for adults. Drinking more than five cups per day, however, may cause side effects including irritability, tremor, dizziness and confusion.
References
- Netdoctor: Stress urinary incontinence
- UMMC: Urinary Incontinence
- PubMed: Inhibitory effect of the antidepressant St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum) on rat bladder contractility in vitro
- PubMed: A Randomized Trial to Evaluate Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Naturopathic Cranberry Products as Prophylaxis Against Urinary Tract Infection in Women
- NCCAM: Cranberry
- MedlinePlus: Green Tea
