Cystitis Herbal remedies
Cystitis, also known as a urinary tract infection or UTI, is an infection of the bladder, although the term is often used to cover a wide range of infections and irritations of the urinary system.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include burning sensations or pain during urination, frequent urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, pain just above the pubic bone and bloody urine. Children under the age of five may have less obvious symptoms like irritability, reduced appetite, weakness and vomiting. Older women may also be asymptomatic except for fever, confusion, falling and weakness.
Causes
The most common cause is an infection from intestinal bacteria. This is especially common in women, since the urethra is so short. It can also be caused by friction or irritable bladder.
Cautions
See your doctor if cystitis lasts for more than a couple of days or if you have repeated occurrences. If you are pregnant, have blood in your urine, a vaginal discharge or you think the problem may be caused by a sexually transmitted infection, make an appointment as soon as possible.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Cranberry – a traditional remedy is cranberry juice. Drink the juice 2 or 3 times per day. The juice should be pure, unsweetened cranberry juice. It prevents the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder and creating a urinary tract infection.
- Corn silk – this herb is anti-inflammatory and a diuretic. Combine corn silk with yarrow, bearberry or couch grass to make a good remedy for UTIs. Experiment a bit and see what works best for you. To make an infusion, pour a cup of boiling water on 2 teaspoons of dried corn silk. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Take this tea three times a day. For a tincture, take 3 to 6 ml three times a day.
- Marshmallow – the root is used to treat UTIs and other maladies of the urinary tract. The mucilage that forms when wet protects the gastrointestinal tract. Marshmallow can be found as tea, extract, tablets, capsules, powder. The normal dosage for tincture is 1 to 4 ml taken three times per day.
- Pipsissewa – this herb is antimicrobial and antiseptic. While not a good candidate for long term use, it is good for an initial attack on cystitis. Pipsissewa can be found as a tincture, tablet, tea or extract.
- Agrimony – this herb is very astringent, and it is very effective for treating cystitis and other urinary tract infections.
- Birch – take birch leaf tea for cystitis. It is a powerful diuretic and kills off any harmful bacteria in the kidneys and urinary tract.
- Butterbur – this herb is a good remedy for fever, urinary complaints, asthma and colds. Take a decoction warm in a wine glass sized dose, repeated as needed.
- Dandelion – a natural diuretic, dandelion is rich in potassium, which most diuretics cause to leave the body.
- Oregon grape – this herb contains berberine, which kills many kinds of bacteria including E. coli. Berberine prevents bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder.
- Pine – this herb is a good remedy for afflictions of the bladder, kidney and mucous membranes.
- Shepherd's purse – a mild diuretic, this herb also provides potassium that may otherwise be lost through urination. Do not use this herb if you are on blood thinners.