Bladder Infections

"If you let that fiery wise blood just sit there in your belly, great granddaughter," admonishes Grandmother Growth, "you'll get the urge to quench that heat. You'll get a tickle, a twinge, an urgent call. But you won't have the moisture you need. It's boiled away. It's gone up in steam.

"So I'll say it once more: circulate your wise blood, granddaughter. Spiral it around and up to your crown. Take action on your anger. Pleasure yourself. And you'll be one of those old crones, like me, whose eyes sparkle with mirth and flash with intention."

Step 1: Collect Information

Bladder infections are also known as cystitis, urethritis, and UTIs (urinary tract infections). When bacteria grow in the bladder, the resulting infection usually causes symptoms such as: a burning sensation during voiding, overwhelming urgency, frequent but minuscule urinations, incontinence, bloody urine, and pelvic pain. Up to 25 percent of bladder infections in post- menopausal women are silent or symptomless.

Bacteria enter the bladder in three primary ways: when feces are spread to the bladder opening (such as wiping from back to front after toileting), when the tube leading to the bladder is irritated or bruised (as from use of a diaphragm, pelvic surgery, or prolonged/vigorous vaginal penetration), or when there is an in-dwelling catheter.

The thinning and shrinking of reproductive and bladder tissues that may occur in the post- menopausal years contributes to bladder infections in older women, as does lessening of vaginal acidity.

Sometimes tiny ulcerations appear in the wall of the bladder; this is called interstitial cystitis (IC). Some of the remedies in this section are contraindicated for women with interstitial cystitis.

These remedies are substantially the same ones that delighted and aided the readers of my first book: Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year.

Step 2: Engage the Energy

• Flow, flow, flow. Head off that bladder infection by drinking a glass of water hourly as soon as you feel the first urgency or burning. It is tempting to stint on drinking if you find yourself unexpectedly incontinent, but don't. Bladder infections only make incontinence worse.

• Urine is ideally neutral to slightly acidic (pH 5.8?pH 7). Very acidic urine (below pH 5.5) encourages infections. An established infection gives rise to alkaline urine (pH 7.5 or higher), which causes stinging and burning. Test your urine with pH paper at any time except first thing in the morning. Cranberry juice lowers pH; vitamin C raises it.

• Cantharis is a homeopathic remedy for scalding urine.

Step 3: Nourish and Tonify

• Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain substances that kill bacteria and make your bladder wall so slippery that any escaping bacteria can't latch on and thrive there. Unsweetened cranberry juice (or concentrate) is the most effective form. (The sugar or corn syrup in cranberry cocktail-type juices and cran-apple juices can feed the infection.)

  Drink freely, at least a glass a day, up to a quart/liter a day for acute infections unless your urine's pH is already low.

• Pelvic floor exercises help prevent and relieve bladder infections too! Try this one: After urinating, close your eyes, relax, breathe out, and see if you can squeeze out an extra dribble.

• An overgrowth of vaginal yeast may be irritating your bladder or urethra. Eat one cup of plain yogurt 4-5 times a week.

Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate

• Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) is an old favorite for strengthening the bladder and ending chronic silent bladder infections. I prefer a hot water infusion of the dried leaves, but know women who have successfully used cold water infusions, tinctures, even vinegars. A dose is 1 cup/125 ml of infusion; 10-30 drops of tincture; 1 tablespoonful/15 ml of vinegar; 3?6 times a day initially, then 1?3 times a day for 7?10 days. In very chronic cases, eliminate all forms of sugar (even fresh fruit, fruit juice, and honey) for a month as well.

• Yarrow is a urinary disinfectant with a powerful antibacterial action and an astringent effect. A small cup of the infusion, once or twice a day for 7?10 days, tones up weak, lax bladder tissues. Combines well with uva ursi. Results may be felt within hours.

• In my experience, Echinacea purpurea and E. augustifolia are as effective as antibiotics in clearing bladder infections and do not contribute to vaginal yeast. (See Step 5b.) A dose is 1 drop echinacea tincture per 2 pounds/1 kilo body weight. (For 150 pound/70 kilo person, use 75 drops or three dropperfuls.) In acute cases, I give the dose every 2 hours. As the infection clears, I lengthen the amount of time between doses until I'm down to 1?2 doses a day, which I continue for another 2?10 weeks.

• Women who wash their vulva with soap and water are four times more likely to get vaginal and bladder infections. Douches, bubblebaths, tampons, nylon underwear, and pantyhose may also irritate the urethra and contribute to bladder infections.

• Known bladder irritants include: alcohol, black tea, coffee, sodas, citrus juices, chocolate, cayenne, and hot peppers. (An herbal tincture in an alcohol base won't irritate the bladder if you take it diluted in a glass of water or a cup of herb tea.)

• Urinating after love play flushes out bacteria and cuts down on UTIs. Urinating before love play increases your risk of a bladder infection.

Step 5a: Use Supplements

• Ascorbic acid wrings the kidneys, flushes the bladder, and raises urinary pH. Try 500 mg hourly for 6?8 hours. CAUTION: IC sufferers - avoid!

• Be careful about taking calcium supplements if you are prone to bladder infections. Calcium supplements increase bacterial adherence to the bladder wall, increasing bladder infections.

Step 5b: Use Drugs

Antibiotics are the standard medical treatment for women with bladder infections. But taking antibiotics frequently causes vaginal yeast overgrowth (which can lead to bladder infection). One - nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) - seems to cause microscopic scarring and ulceration of the bladder wall, precipitating IC.

Step 6: Break and Enter

Dilation of the urethra is expensive, painful, and causes tiny scars on the urethra, which may lead to interstitial cystitis. I have seen it referred to as "the rape of the female urethra". No controlled study has shown this procedure to be effective at limiting chronic bladder infections. Do pelvic floor exercises instead.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com

BBC News
Candidate Obama: A Less Risky Alternative
Center for Research on Globalization, Canada - 10 hours ago
Obama may be a better alternative than Sen. McCain, but his propensity to double-talk can be disconcerting. Let's say that he is possibly the least worst of ...
Can Obama pay the pump price? eTalkinghead
Obama Campaign Criticizes Rival McCain's Economic Proposals Bloomberg
all 123 news articles

Alternative take
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 26 minutes ago
THERE has been a progressive increase in world food prices, but in the UK the increase has been sudden and unexpectedly dramatic. We are being subjected to ...

Biofuel dumped: Greenwich drops alternative energy source as cost ...
Norwalk Advocate, ct - 16 hours ago
By Martin B. Cassidy GREENWICH - The town has dropped a plan to use a soy-based biodiesel fuel to power about half of its 300-vehicle fleet after the price ...

Dallas County considering alternative water sources
Pegasus News, TX - 7 hours ago
By Pegasus News wire As it stands now, Dallas Water Utilities supplies water to Dallas and 22 suburbs, and they've identified about ten alternative water ...

Kikwete to meet with UN boss over ‘alternative solution’
East African, Kenya - 8 hours ago
By PAUL REDFERN President Jakaya Kikwete is expected to hold detailed talks with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over the crisis in Zimbabwe next week. ...

Alternative Fuel Use is Increasing in the State
WLBT-TV, MS - 20 hours ago
With the price of oil and gas soaring, Ethanol blended fuel is becoming more popular here in the magnolia state. At least 43 fuel distributors across ...

Michigan stakes economic recovery on gasoline alternatives
Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com, MI - Jul 5, 2008
A variety of experts say alternative energy could power an economic renaissance in a state that desperately needs jobs and renewed hope for a brighter ...

Washington Post
Oil Is Steady Near Records as Investors Seek Stocks Alternative
Bloomberg - Jul 4, 2008
By Grant Smith July 4 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil traded little changed near records above $145 a barrel as investors purchased commodities as an alternative ...
Oil Rises for Second Week as Investors Seek Stocks Alternatives Bloomberg
all 1,873 news articles

Our view: Regional police pacts offer a better alternative
Chambersburg Public Opinion, PA - 17 hours ago
A state representative's plan to charge populous townships for Pennsylvania State Police coverage represents a good way to generate revenue, ...

KEEPING IT REEL: Residents find alternative to power mowers
Evening News and Tribune, IN - 17 hours ago
By TARA HETTINGER He had used the push mower as a kid, but once he got older he got a power mower, which required a mixture of gas and oil. ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Pendulum Dowsing: Easy To Learn Techniques