Urinary Problems
Disorders
of the urinary tract system, which includes the kidneys,
the ureter, and the urethras, can vary widely, and can
occur anywhere along the entire urinary tract, including
the kidneys.
Symptoms
Symptoms
vary, ranging from urinary tract infections, excessive
need to urinate, pain that radiates along the urinary
tract, difficulty urinating, and urinary incontinence
(see Bedwetting). Cloudy, pus-filled, and blood-filled
urine are other possible symptoms.
Types
Various
urinary problems can occur. They include:
- Nocturia
Nocturia is characterized by excessive urination during
the night and can be an indication of early diabetes,
kidney, heart, or liver disease. If not due to a serious
disease, it is usually due to obstruction, such as (in
men) an enlarged prostate gland.
- Straining
Straining changes in force of stream of the urine, and hesitancy
are other types of urinary problems and usually
indicate signs of bladder obstruction and are more common
in middle-aged to older men.
- Dysuria
Dysuria is characterized by pain or burning
sensations during urination, usually indicates suggests
inflammation or irritation of the bladder or the urethra
and is usually due to an infection from bacteria.
- Incontinence
Incontinence causes urination to occur without
warning, often after sneezing, laughing, running, or
coughing, is another common urinary problem.
- Painful
urination
Painful
urination is characterized by pain anywhere in the urinary
tract and which can also radiate to different areas
of the body, such as the low back, chest, pubic bone,
and the abdomen.
Causes
Urinary
problems can be due to a variety of factors. The most
common causes are bladder obstruction, benign prostate
hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), bacterial infections
within the urinary tract, stretching or aging of muscles
of pelvic floor, injuries from childbirth, cysts or
fibroids on the uterus that push down on the bladder,
excess stress, allergies, and a delayed reaction to
recent infections of the respiratory tract, the heart,
or skin, and kidney disease. All of these factors must
be screened for and treated before long-term relieve
of urinary problems can be achieved.
Self-Care
Tips
Aromatherapy
For urinary tract infections, use sandalwood,
bergamot, or juniper essential oils.
Diet
For urinary infections, organic cranberry
juice can help inhibit bacteria from sticking to the
lining cells of the bladder. For urinary incontinence,
avoid all beverages containing caffeine, as it has been
shown to cause the muscles around the bladder to contract
and exert additional pressure. The following foods and
additives can also irritate the bladder coffee, non-herbal
tea, artificial sweeteners, carbonated beverages, and
tomato-based foods. Also screen for and eliminate all
foods to which you are allergic. Otherwise, eat and
organic, whole foods diet.
Herbs
An infusion of equal parts of bearberry, dandelion
leaf, and nettle can be helpful for soothing irritations
along the urinary tract. Drink hot three times a day
or as needed. For blood in the urine, drink comfrey
root tea. For difficult or burning urination, a mixture
of fennel, horsetail, jasmine flowers, and licorice
tea is helpful, while buchu, burdock, coriander, cornsilk,
echinacea, goldenrod, juniper berries, marshmallow root,
and shave grass teas are useful for relieving symptoms
of urinary tract infections. Skullcap is recommended
for urinary incontinence.
Homeopathy
Aconite, Apis mel., and Cantharis
are useful homeopathic remedies for most types of urinary
problems.
Hydrotherapy
A cold sitz bath once a day can strengthen
the bladder.
Juice
Therapy
Organic cranberry juice.
Lifestyle
To address incontinence, contract the bladder
muscles 100-500 times throughout the day. This can greatly
improve bladder control.
Nutritional
Supplementation
Recommended nutrients include, vitamin B1, vitamin C,
and a complete multivitamin/multimineral formula. Adding
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to pure, filtered water can
help alkalize the body, thereby alleviating urinary
problems due to over-acidity in the body.
Caution
TB is contagious and requires immediate medical
attention.
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