Overactive Bladder: 17 Essential Natural Treatments

When someone has an overactive bladder, then this means he or she has problems with storing the urine normally. The most common symptoms of the overactive bladder include: needing to urinate several times throughout the night; experiencing leakage when you need to urinate; being unable to hold your urine; needing to go to the bathroom more often than usual. As time passes, these symptoms can affect your daily life. They can affect your sleep quality and it can make it harder for you to plan trips because this condition can cause unintentional disruptions during your work.

In one study is said that 33 million people in the United States have overactive bladder. This condition can be caused by many underlying conditions, such as kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or Parkinson’s disease. There are many natural treatments that can be used by people who suffer from overactive bladder, so they can get relief from their symptoms and improve the quality of their life.

It has been shown that about 70% of women who use natural treatments are satisfied with their results. You need to talk with your doctor if you suffer from an overactive bladder, so you will know if some of the below-mentioned home remedies can really help you without causing you side effects.

Here are some natural treatments for overactive bladder:

Eating to reduce constipation:

In some cases, it has been shown that constipation is a symptom of an overactive bladder and when people have this symptom, then it can put extra pressure on their bladder. You can prevent this symptom by including more fiber in your diet and exercising regularly. Some foods that are high in fiber include vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole–wheat bread.

You need to add them to your diet, so you will see improvements in your condition. In some studies are said that eating two tablespoons of a mixture of ¾ cup of prune juice, 1 cup of unprocessed wheat bran and 1 cup of applesauce every morning can help to promote bowel regularity.

Kohki tea:

This type of tea is extracted from a subtropical plant in southern China. This is sweet tea and it is sold over the counter in Japan and it is rich in antioxidants. Also, it has been shown that this home remedy has protective effects on the bladder. One study was found that the Kohki tea had an enormous protective effect on the bladder function and contractile responses in rabbits with partial bladder obstruction.

Cranberry juice:

There are many studies in which are shown that cranberry juice has bladder–friendly properties, so you can add it to your diet.

Pumpkin seeds:

This home remedy is rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids, which are possessing anti-inflammatory properties. One study was found that pumpkin seed oil can help to improve abnormal urinary function and it can help to reduce the symptoms of overactive bladder. One Japanese study was found that pumpkin seeds and soybean seed extract can significantly reduce incontinence. Participants in this study took 5 tablets of this processed food two times per day in a period of two weeks and three tables per day for the next five.

Avoid alcohol:

It has been shown that alcohol can worsen the symptoms of an overactive bladder. So, you need to avoid this beverage or if you drink alcohol, then completely forget about it.

Cleavers:

This type of herb is usually brewed into tea to treat UTIs. There are no scientific studies that can approve the usage of cleavers for overactive bladder, but some people believe that it can help.

Soda:

Many people love soda for its taste. But, when you have an overactive bladder, then you should not drink it no matter how much you like it. This beverage is not bladder–friendly, so it can worsen your condition.

Manage fluid intake:

It is essential to drink enough water. If you drink too little water, then this can lead to concentrated urine and this can irritate the bladder lining, increasing urgency. But, if you drink too many liquids, then this can worsen the frequency of symptoms. The fluid intake before going to sleep can lead to urinating during the night. One study done in 2016 was recommended limiting fluid intake to 6 – 8 glasses of water on a daily basis and avoiding liquids 2 – 3 before going to bed.

Quit smoking:

It has been shown that smoking can worsen symptoms in people who suffer from overactive bladder. Some smokers have cough as a side effect of this bad habit. Coughing can increase the episodes of leaking. So, you need to stop smoking as soon as possible.

Vitamin D:

In one study done in 2010 was found that higher Vitamin D levels were associated with a lower risk of pelvic floor disorders, such as bladder leaking in women. In another study was said that there is a link between low Vitamin D levels and episodes of bladder leaking in older adults.

Acupuncture:

In some studies are said that acupuncture has shown benefits for people who suffer from overactive bladder and it has improved its symptoms. These benefits can help to reduce the urgency and frequency of urination and this can help to improve the quality of their lives.

Corn silk:

This is a traditional medicine that is used for centuries for different conditions, including overactive bladder, nighttime incontinence, and bladder irritation. You need to talk with your doctor about the best way of using this home remedy.

Kegels:

Physical strengthening is one of the most important things which you can do to treat the overactive bladder because it can help you to have a stronger bladder. It is very important to get in the habit of exercising your bladder on daily basis with the help of kegel exercises. This type of exercise is helpful for stress incontinence which comes with the overactive bladder. When you are training exercises for overactive bladder, then you will set an urge schedule for your bladder and you will stick with it.

When the urge comes along, you need to force your bladder to wait just a little bit. It is known that exercises for overactive bladder are more passive, but just as targeted. The Kegel exercise may look uncomfortable at first, but soon you will find that you can hold in for an extra minute, then a few minutes, and eventually an hour.

Developing better bowel habits:

It is a known fact that the bladder and bowel work together and when one is not working correctly, then the other takes notice. Constipation is a very uncomfortable condition, but a full bowel will also press on the bladder, which makes the overactive bladder urgency and incontinence worse. You should start by increasing your soluble fiber and insoluble fiber intake because both of them are important for a healthy digestive tract.

You should add foods in your diet like beans, green veggies, fresh and dried fruits, whole grains like barley and oatmeal. The mentioned foods will bring you back on track, but if the diet does not do the trick, then talk with your doctor about taking laxatives.

Chinese herbal blends:

GJG (Gosha – jinki – gan) is a blend of ten traditional Chinese herbs. Many studies are shown that this herbal blend can help to inhibit the bladder and significantly improve the daytime frequency. In one study people who took 7.5 mg of GJG have reported better results on their IPSS, which records urinary symptoms. Also, there is another effective Chinese herbal medicine called HE (Hachimi – jio – gan).

This herbal blend is made of eight natural ingredients and some of them are also found in GJG. In preliminary studies is said that HE may have an effect on bladder muscle contraction.

Capsaicin:

This home remedy comes from chili peppers. In some studies are saying that it is an excellent and inexpensive home remedy for overactive bladder and highly sensitive bladders.

Reduce stress:

Many people have an overactive bladder as a result of anxiety. The nerves in our brain are connected to the nerves in our bladder, so anxiety can lead to hypersensitive bladder nerves. Many people deal with insomnia when their bladder problems have started and they have become obsessive about everything that could keep them up, the bladder is also included here. This is the reason why you need to reduce your stress as much as possible.

There are a lot of things which you could do to reduce your stress levels, such as doing things you enjoy or simply talking with your therapist. If you have problems with peeing at night, then you can do some relaxing things before bed, such as taking a bath.

References:

1. Slideshow: OAB — Helping a Confused Bladder. https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/ss/slideshow-overactive-bladder . Published June 4, 2019
2. Natural remedies for an overactive bladder. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317091. Published April 24, 2017
3. BLADDER WEAKNESS: CAUSES, RISK FACTORS, AND NATURAL REMEDIES. https://mobihealthinternational.com/2018/10/05/bladder-weakness-what-why-and-natural-remedies-2/. Published October 5, 2018
4. Natural ways to help calm an overactive bladder. https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Natural-ways-to-help-calm-an-overactive-bladder-482835101.html. Published May 16, 2018