Herbal Remedies For Bed Wetting

Bedwetting, also known as enuresis, is a symptom, not a disease. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says bed wetting is fairly common among children and about 15 percent of children wet the bed after three years of age. If your child regularly wets the bed beyond the age of three or four, however, she may have an underlying kidney or bladder problem. Herbal remedies may help treat bed wetting, but you should always talk to your child's doctor before using herbs.

Bed Wetting

There are many possible causes of bed wetting. FamilyDoctor.org states that some of the most common causes of bed wetting include a small bladder, a family history of bed wetting, stress, unusually slow development of your child's central nervous system, hormonal factors, urinary tract infections and certain anatomical abnormalities. FamilyDoctor.org states that most children achieve complete bladder control by the age of six, although it is not unusual for bed wetting to occur after this age. Bed wetting is a common source of frustration among parents.

Helpful Remedies

Practitioners of herbal medicine and other health care providers have long prescribed herbal remedies to help treat habitual bed wetting in children. Phyllis A. Balch, a nutrition researcher and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that five herbs are often used for this condition, including buchu, corn silk, oat straw, parsley and plantain. Balch recommends taking these herbal remedies before 3:00 p.m. so that they have enough time to work before your child's bedtime.

Featured Remedy

Buchu is a frequently used herbal remedy for bed wetting and other health problems. Buchu leaves are used to help treat bladder infections, prostate conditions, digestive conditions and diabetes. Buchu is perhaps most well-known for its ability to control control bladder and kidney problems. The leaves of the buchu plant contain many important nutrients and plant chemicals that are beneficial for your health. Balch notes that you should not boil buchu leaves.

Considerations

Although bed wetting is common in children, persistent bed wetting may be cause for concern. If your child wets the bed on a regular basis, consider visiting your physician for advice about bed wetting treatment strategies. In some cases, behavior modification techniques may help train your child to stop wetting the bed at night. Before treating your child's bed wetting with herbal remedies, discuss the proper dosage with a qualified health care provider. Dosage for children is usually lower than for adults.