Your bladder is the hollow organ in your pelvic bowl that stores urine prior to voiding. Your bladder, also called the urinary bladder, is an expandable muscular sac that may hold over 350 mL of urine. Your bladder is a common location for urinary tract infections. Natural nutritional supplements may be helpful in resolving your bladder problems, although you should always be judicious in your use of these supplements.
Bladder Problems
Bladder diseases and dysfunction are common among Americans. Muscles in your bladder may lose their tone, causing incontinence, or the unwanted leakage of urine from your bladder. Bladder infections, or cystitis, are another common bladder-related health problem. Interstitial cystitis and bladder cancer are two other possible bladder-related problems. Most bladder problems can be successfully treated if they are diagnosed early and treated appropriately.
Natural Nutritional Supplements
Numerous natural nutrition supplements have historically been used in treating bladder problems. However, there typically are few randomized controlled studies examining the effects of these substances in treating this health problem. According to master herbalist Ed Smith, author of "Therapeutic Herb Manual," juniper, horsetail, uva ursi, corn silk and goldenrod are natural nutrition supplements that are urinary tract tonics. Natural nutrition supplements that may help break up stones in your urinary tract include burdock seed, celery seed and hydrangea root.
A Popular Supplement
Horsetail is a popular natural nutrition supplement in treating bladder problems. According to Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic phsyician and author of "Plant Medicine in Practice," horsetail is a urinary astringent, or a substance that tightens and tones the tissues of your urinary tract, including your bladder. Horsetail, notes Mitchell, may also help expel detritus and small gravel, or stones, from your bladder. The whole plant is used in natural nutritional supplements.
Additional Information
Bladder problems should always be treated by a licensed healthcare professional. Some bladder conditions, especially bladder cancer, can be life-threatening if they are not treated in a timely and appropriate manner. Natural nutritional supplements have long been used in treating bladder problems, but you should avoid using supplements in place of other treatments your doctor recommends. To better understand the role of natural supplements in treating your bladder problems, meet with a clinical nutrition specialist.
References
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Urinary Bladder
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Your Urinary System and How it Works
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Plant Medicine in Practice"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
