Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Herbal Remedies
Cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is inflammation of the bladder wall that causes intense irritation. According to popular medical websites, the bladder can become inflamed for a variety of reasons:- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
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- Even if your doctor claims that you do not have a UTI and even if you have taken an at-home UTI test, you may still have bladder irritation due to colonization of the kidneys or bladder by certain pathogens that aren’t showing up on the UTI test strips.
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- Bladder Irritation
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- Bladder irritation can be caused by pressure on the bladder by other organs such as the intestines, the uterus, the prostate gland, etc.
- Bladder irritation can also be caused by tension on the ligaments and fascia that hold the bladder in place. This tension might be caused by stress or trauma from something that happened in the distant past.
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- General inflammatory response in the body
- Stress / Trauma
- Hormonal changes
- Candida infection
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- Other reasons that have not been acknowledged by modern medicine yet including
- Parasite infection (schistosomiasis and other types of parasite)
- Toxins like bromide / bromine that’s sprayed on food as an insecticide in the agricultural industry, administered to swimming pools as a toxic alternative to chlorine, found in common over-the-counter drugs like cough syrups and foods like bread products, bottled beverages, etc.
- Other reasons that have not been acknowledged by modern medicine yet including
- Fluoridated water
Below we discuss herbal remedies for painful bladder syndrome that address an underlying UTI that might be causing the problem, herbs that reduce bladder irritation naturally, herbs that reduce a general inflammatory response in the body, herbs that treat parasite infection and Candida, and herbs that detoxify the body in a general way.
Note that bromide / bromine and fluoride / fluorine detoxification is often a huge part of the cure for painful bladder syndrome / cystitis. Click here to read more about detoxifying the toxic halides bromide and fluoride.
Click here to buy Lugol's iodine 2%.
Recurrent UTI and Cystitis
A lot of patients go back again and again to the doctor’s office thinking that they have a UTI that gets diagnosed as cystitis / painful bladder syndrome. This was my story when I was younger and I felt really frustrated about having to spend time in a doctor’s office to get a diagnosis for a disease / disorder that was “untreatable”. If you’ve had this experience, take note that often, cystitis is caused by a bacterial colonization of the kidneys or ureters and that it is treatable with other systems of medicine but there are no pharmaceuticals in conventional medicine that can treat and cure cystitis.UTI Antibiotics
When cystitis is the result of a bacterial infection, it is referred to as a Urinary Tract Infection or UTI and it can, in theory be treated with antibiotics from a doctor, but many antibiotics that are prescribed today can’t kill all of the bacteria that are causing a UTI and the bacteria seek shelter in an area of the body where the antibiotics can’t reach them. This leads to bacterial colonization which can cause recurrent UTI. This is one of the most compelling reasons why it’s good to avoid antibiotics from the doctor’s office to treat recurrent UTI and cystitis because the antibiotics can actually cause and perpetuate the underlying problem.Recurrent UTI Natural Treatment
If you believe you may be suffering with recurrent UTI that is being misdiagnosed by your doctor, you can work with natural treatments for UTI at home. These treatments work differently than antibiotics, so you should expect a different trajectory of healing as you work with them. For example, your symptoms of urinary tract infection may initially worsen if you have a colonization with bacteria living, let’s say, in your kidneys. As the bacteria die and then end up in your bladder as tiny rotting bacterial “corpses”, they release toxins that can irritate the bladder.D-Mannose for UTI
D-Mannose powder, cranberry juice, and herbs like Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) can be used together to treat a UTI at home naturally. Choose a cranberry juice product that does not contain sugars or any kind of sugar replacement. Sugars in the diet can make UTI symptoms worse by feeding bacteria so you want to avoid sugars as much as possible. That being said, D-mannose powder is a special kind of sugar that keeps bacteria from being able to bind to the walls of the bladder. If bacteria can’t bind to the walls of the bladder, they can’t cause a bladder infection because they get washed out of the bladder with urine when you pee. As such, regular D-Mannose use is an important natural way to prevent chronic urinary tract infections as well as treat them. D-mannose works very well even if the UTI isn’t responding to antibiotics. Take 1/2 teaspoon of D-mannose powder twice daily to prevent urinary tract infections naturally.
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Herbal Remedy for UTI and Cystitis
There are a number of herbs for cystitis and UTI that work very well to get rid of urinary tract infection without harming the gut flora. I have worked with herbal remedies for cystitis, bladder infection, and kidney infection when all else has failed and I can say that these remedies work very well as long as the person taking them is not nutrient deficient in minerals such as iodine. One or more nutrient deficiencies can cause treatment with herbs for cystitis to take longer, so be sure to click here and work with the Lugol’s Iodine Protocol if you’ve had chronic cystitis for a long time.When I was younger and I struggled with constant cystitis and recurrent UTIs, I tried working with herbs, but never figured them out. I hadn’t really studied herbalism so I worked the herbs in the same way that a person might work with antibiotic pills and this was my failing. Often, you have to take much higher doses of herbs than what’s listed on bottles to get the proper medicinal effects to cure cystitis, UTIs and other infections. Below we’ll discuss dosing and how to administer these herbs properly to get rid of bladder irritation, kidney infection, bladder infection, and more.
Below we talk about herbal remedies for cystitis and UTI as well as kidney infection:
Cranberry Juice
The key to making cranberry juice for UTI work for you is to be religious about taking it and to be sure to get a product that does not contain sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sweeten your cranberry juice by combining it with blueberry juice that also does not contain sugar or artificial sweeteners. You can also sweeten cranberry juice with stevia or monk fruit, but make sure that these products do not contain alcohol or any other type of sugar or ingredient.Note that cranberry pills do not work as well as cranberry juice. In fact, I have never had any success working with cranberry pills. The juice is the best option in my opinion.
Drink about 2 shot glasses full of cranberry juice four to six times (every 2-4 hours) per day if you’re treating an active UTI, kidney infection, bladder infection, or cystitis. Add a few drops of a pure stevia product to the shots to make them less sour.
If you have blueberry juice, add 2 shot glasses of blueberry juice to the cranberry juice mix instead of stevia and follow the same dosing instructions.
Click here to buy Pure Cranberry Juice without Sweeteners.
Blueberry Juice
Like cranberry juice, it’s best to seek out a product that does not contain any added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Once again, while stevia or monk fruit are okay as sweeteners, be sure the product that you buy does not contain other ingredients. Blueberry juice is usually sweet enough that it can be used to sweeten other things and additional sweeteners are not necessary.Drink 4 shots of blueberry juice up to 6 times per day (every 2-4 hours). Ideally, you should combine blueberry juice with cranberry juice for cystitis and UTI.
Click here to buy Blueberry Juice without Sweeteners.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi / Uva Ursi
Uva ursi is a fairly well-known herbal cure for UTI and cystitis, but in order for this herb to work properly, you need to take a big enough dose of it. That being said, note that you shouldn’t take uva ursi for longer than 4 weeks at a time without taking 2 weeks off from this herb. As such, it should generally be used only if you suspect infection that causes cystitis.Administer the dried herb at a dose of 2000-4000 mg per day. Soak the herb (at a dose of 2000-4000 mg) in 8 ounces of water for 12 hours. Administer about 2 ounces of the uva ursi tea 4 times per day.
Click here to buy Uva ursi extract.
Althaea officinalis / Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root won’t necessarily cure painful bladder syndrome, but it can be effective at reducing symptoms of bladder irritation. If you combine the use of Althaea officinalis with other herbs, it can soothe inflamed and irritated bladder tissues which will make it easier for the other herbs to do their work at treating infection and getting rid of bacteria that might be worsening cystitis symptoms.As we’ve talked about elsewhere, it is vital for you to know that you can control cystitis symptoms as a first step in gaining confidence about finding a cure because often it takes a little time to cure cystitis permanently.
Marshmallow root should be administered as a cold infusion or as an extract. Click here to buy Althaea officinalis as an extract and follow the dosing instructions on the bottle.
Click here to buy Althaea officinalis as an extract.
Zea mays / Corn Silk
Corn silks, like marshmallow root, help soothe inflamed and irritated bladder tissues to reduce symptoms of painful bladder syndrome naturally, but this cystitis herb also works to detoxify the liver which in turn, supports kidney detoxification. And corn silks also get rid of bladder stones, urethral stones, blood in the urine, urinary retention, and painful urination. So this is a good herb to work with if you’re looking for an herbal remedy for painful bladder syndrome.Administer corn silks as a tea at a dose of 15 grams per day. Administer about 3 grams in 8 ounces of water up to 5 times per day. As an extract, follow the dosing instructions on the bottle.
Click here to buy Zea mays / Corn Silk extract.
Roasted Dandelion Root
It might be hard to believe that dandelion root is actually a powerful herbal remedy for cystitis and other serious health problems, but this herb is not to be trifled with. The key to making this herbal cystitis remedy work for you is to bring about 16-18 ounces of water to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer while putting the tea bags into the water to steep while the water simmers at a low heat for 20 minutes. This will create a powerful brew for cystitis treatment at home. Start with 4-6 bags of dandelion root tea and increase the dose up to 10 bags. Divide the 16 ounces of dark tea into 4 separate doses of 4 ounces each that you drink throughout the day.Artemisia annua / Artemisinin
Artemisinin is a substance found in the herb, Artemisia annua. Artemisia annua is known as Qing Hao in Traditional Chinese Medicine. For people with cystitis due to schistosomiasis, Artemisia annua and artemisinin are some of the most important tools for recovery. Artemisia annua works by releasing reactive oxygen species that have the ability to kill schistosomiasis parasites as well as other types of parasites, bacteria, viruses, and more.Artemisia annua is a powerful anti-malarial herb, but it is also one of the most powerful anti-cancer herbs that can be used to treat various types of cancer. Artemisia annua is extremely bitter. Take it as a tincture for best results.
Click here to buy Artemisia annua / Qing Hao Tincture.
Pau d'Arco / Tabebuia impetiginosa for Cystitis Caused by Candida Infection
NOTE: Be sure to use only products that contain the inner bark of the Tabebuia impetiginosa tree because other types of Pau d'Arco won't work to treat cystitis, UTI, Candida albicans in the urinary tract as well as systemic Candida, or other issues. Pau d’Arco / Tabebuia impetiginosa is a powerful herbal cure for Candida infections and as such, it is an excellent choice as an herbal remedy for cystitis in people who think that their bladder irritation may, at least in part, be caused by yeast. Note that often, people who have parasites, get rid of their parasite infection and find that they then have Candida. Pau d’Arco can also kill parasite infections and as such, it is a good herbal remedy to start with to cure cystitis. NOTE: It's important that Tabebuia impetiginosa / Pau d'Arco be properly prepared in order to extract the medicinal agents that kill Candida naturally. A lot of people go wrong with this herb by preparing it incorrectly. To prepare Pau d’Arco, add 2 tablespoons of Pau d'Arco bark for every 3 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil before adding the Pau d'Arco. After the water boils, reduce the heat to a simmer and add the Pau d'Arco, allowing it to simmer for 20 minutes before shutting off the heat. Drink 2-3 mugs of Pau d'Arco per day. NOTE that T. impetiginosa in doses above 2 to 3 cups per day can interfere with normal vitamin K activity in the body, which basically means that it causes the blood to thin similar to the drug warfarin.
Click here to buy Pau d’Arco / Tabebuia impetiginosa
Turmeric and Boswellia / Frankincense to Reduce Inflammation Throughout the Body
Administer 2 capsules of turmeric / Curcuma longa, Ginger / Zingiber officinale, and Boswellia serrata twice daily to reduce general inflammation throughout the body. The key to making this herbal remedy work for you is to administer it with a fat or an oil, otherwise it won’t be properly absorbed and used by the body. One of the easiest ways to combine this herbal supplement with a healthy fat or oil is to take it along with 1 teaspoon of lemon-flavored cod-liver oil which contains all of the fat-soluble vitamins that also promote health tissues and reduced inflammation.This herbal remedy for inflammation works well with the Lugol’s Iodine Protocol. The Boswellia serrata promotes iodine absorption while the other herbs contain nutrients that reduce inflammation. If you have general inflammation in the form of something autoimmune disease or cancer, you need to work with the Lugol’s Iodine Protocol.
Click here to buy a Turmeric and Frankincense supplement.
Herbal Remedy for Cystitis Caused By a Parasite Infection
If you ask your doctor about the possibility of a parasitic infection, he (or she) will probably laugh at you. There are only a few diagnostic tests on the market to test for parasites of any kind in the lab and the ones that do exist are unreliable. In less restrictive countries outside of the U.S. (Mexico, for example), anti-parasitics are sold over-the-counter right next to the aspirin and ibuprofen. In these countries, everyone knows that if you don't do a bi-annual parasite cleanse that you'll end up with some major health issues! But in the U.S., we're told that we aren't likely to have parasites. As though Americans are immune to them! HA! But if this is new to you, don't worry. You can treat yourself for parasites at home even if you just suspect that you have them, but you aren't 100% sure. The fact is, a few parasites are desirable for healthy gut flora. Without them, people are crippled by allergies. When we discuss parasites and infections, we're not talking about getting rid of all parasites. Infection means that you have a "heavy worm load" that's squeezing out the other good gut flora. The goal is to restore balance by doing annual or bi-annual parasite detox programs. By taking herbs like wormwood, black walnut, and cloves. Click here to buy a combination tincture that contains the proper proportion of all of these anti-parasitic herbs. If you've never done a parasite detox and you're old enough to be reading this, chances are you'll need to either do an ongoing herbal detox with wormwood, black walnut, and cloves for 6 months to a year or you'll need to do 3-day (1 dose per day) detoxes once a month for 6 months to a year before you start to feel a sense of balance and restoration of health. This will be true for you unless you begin doing the Lugol’s Iodine Protocol at the same time that you begin working with antiparasitic herbs. The Lugol’s Iodine Protocol will restore your immune system back to a normal level so that your body becomes much more resistant to parasite infections as well as other forms of infection like UTI.
Click here to buy Wormwood, Black Walnut, and Cloves Extract.
Herbal Remedy for Cystitis Caused by Candida albicans
Candida albicans can cause vaginal yeast infections as well as systemic infection throughout the body. Most women are familiar with yeast and vaginal infections, but some women may not realize that yeast can cause all kinds of grief in the urethra and bladder too. If you regularly have vaginal Candida infections and you use over-the-counter medications to treat them, you may have noticed that the medications aren't working as well as they originally did. If that's your story, I'd recommend purchasing some bentonite and garlic cloves.
Click here to buy edible bentonite.
Choose an edible bentonite clay that can be mixed with water and taken internally. Mix the bentonite thoroughly with water before drinking so you don't aspirate on the powder. If you find that you're suffering from chronic cystitis, it's time to start drinking 3 daily doses of bentonite per day to get Candida under control in your intestines. Controlling systemic Candida overgrowth is one of the most important first steps you can take toward treating chronic vaginal yeast infections and the corresponding bladder infections and cystitis that’s caused by yeast too. You drink doses of bentonite, but you can also do a douche with a light concentration of bentonite dissolved in it to get rid of a vaginal yeast infection that causes cystitis. The bentonite has a magnetic charge that pulls Candida into its microscopic holes and traps it so it can be removed from the body. Douche with a very light concentration of bentonite and follow that up by inserting a garlic clove into the vagina overnight as a herbal cure for Candida. The garlic travels throughout the body when you insert it into the vagina which means that the garlic will also help with yeast overgrowth in the bladder. (You can test this out for yourself. Shortly after you insert the garlic clove vaginally, you'll begin to smell garlic on your breath).A Candida infection can cause a lot of serious health problems if it goes untreated. For me, when I was younger, Candida infection was one of several reasons why I would get cystitis. Candida don’t register on a UTI test strip and doctors won’t necessarily notice that you have a yeast infection and know that this could cause extreme bladder irritation. You have to put these pieces together yourself.
For years, my doctors would prescribe things like diflucan or they’d tell me to go buy an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment kit like miconazole and use these treatments every month. I followed their instructions, never realizing how these medicines were destroying my health. I didn’t know then (though I learned later) that the most powerful, most reliable, natural way to kill Candida systemically throughout the body as well as in the vagina and bladder is The Baking Soda Protocol.
As I’ve mentioned in several other places throughout this discussion, The Lugol’s Iodine Protocol is the thing that really makes a difference for people over the course of time. Combine The Lugol’s Iodine Protocol with The Baking Soda Protocol to treat cystitis caused by yeast infections.
Yin Care for Vaginal Yeast Infection
In addition to garlic and bentonite, The Lugol’s Iodine Protocol, and The Baking Soda Protocol for a vaginal and systemic yeast infection, you can also purchase some Yin Care, a vaginal yeast treatment that's also administered via douche. The Yin Care will help treat the vaginal yeast infection and it will also significantly diminish the discomfort of dealing with a vaginal yeast infection. This is an herbal treatment for vaginal yeast infection and it’s very helpful. It has a very cooling effect on itching and it lasts for a log time.
Cystitis and Iodine
Iodine supplementation is not a small topic. If you're American, you probably think you get plenty of iodine by eating salt, but salt is a terrible carrier for iodine. The iodine starts to evaporate out of the box the second the salt is opened which is why bread used to be fortified with iodine prior to the 1980s. Sadly, today, instead of iodine, bread contains bromine. Indeed, bromine is everywhere. And bromine causes all kinds of health problems because it competes with iodine in the body. As health coaches, we've worked with dozens clients who have had tremendous success using Lugol's iodine as a cure for cystitis and many other health issues.
The AlivenHealthy Iodine Bible - Everything you need to know to get started taking iodine and more!
Again, iodine supplementation and the role of bromine in causing iodine deficiency is a HUGE topic. I refer you to the article I wrote on the strong connection between iodine deficiency and breast cancer and other reproductive cancers. Read the article even if you don't have cancer so that you can understand the bromine-iodine connection and how a lack of iodine can cause a wide range of health problems while a toxicity of bromine in the body can cause yet additional health problems including obesity and weight problems.
When you start to take iodine as a supplement, your cystitis may get worse at first. In fact, bladder irritation is one of the detox symptoms that almost everyone experiences as they purge bromine from the body and start replacing iodine. But iodine changes people's lives! If you suffer from foggy-headedness, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, cystitis, breast cancer, fibrocystic breasts or just about any "reproductive hormone problem" as a man or as a woman then you need to consider iodine. And frankly, even if you suffer from none of these issues, but you live in the United States, you need to consider iodine supplementation. The U.S. is the only country in the world that still allows the use of bromine as an ingredient in pesticides which means that you're exposed to this toxic element even through the air that your breathe! Taking iodine as a supplement will change your mood and your energy level as well as clear up health issues that seemed to have no origin. Allow up to 6 months for a full detox.
