Well, the indignities of aging keep piling up, yet I continue to look to herbs for assistance with any new "senior" developments.
Women often ask what to do about urinary incontinence. Rather than an embarrassment, and not necessarily indicative of anything seriously wrong, let's consider how we got to the moment in our lives where a loud laugh, a sneeze, or a cough suddenly causes a urinary leak (stress incontinence).
Have we been standing on this planet for a few decades? Gravity exerts a powerful pull on us, easily evidenced by the condition of our skin as time passes, but noticeable also through changes to the muscles of our pelvic floor and the organs it supports.
The pelvic floor consists of a group of muscles, shaped like a sling, underpinning our pelvic organs. As such, the pelvic floor becomes our center of gravity upholding the bladder, urethra, rectum, uterus, and vagina.
By governing the opening and closing of the urethra (the tube that excretes urine), the pelvic floor muscles regulate continence. Gravity can shift the position of our pelvic organs as it reduces the integrity of the pelvic floor muscles. Undue pressure may then be placed on the bladder, weakening normal control over urination. Over time, the manner in which our life plays out can also contribute to a loss of strength in the pelvic floor muscles, giving gravity an even greater hand in negatively impacting their supportive role.
High-impact exercise, heavy lifting, chronic constipation, excessive coughing, pregnancy and childbirth, surgery, menopause, aging, and heredity are examples of contributors to the breakdown of competency of the pelvic floor and organs. Thus, our lifestyle choices, medical conditions that arise, the act of growing old, and our genetic background can circumscribe their health.
We can begin our effort to resolve incontinence by paying attention to our bladder signals and not postponing going to the bathroom. Consider also re-training and strengthening your bladder by scheduling regular trips to the bathroom, remaining as consistent as possible with your timing. Gradually stretch the length of time between visits, and one day you may find your bladder better capable of holding more urine and voiding less.
Practice kegels - the clenching and unclenching of your pelvic floor muscles - a toning and strengthening exercise that can be performed anywhere, anytime, without anyone knowing.
Honoring bladder signals, timing urination, and practicing kegels have the potential to help resolve incontinence.
Using herbs, too, can further our attempt at controlling incontinence. We want to nourish, tone and tighten, moisten and soothe, and calm the bladder.
Nettle Leaf - is nourishing to the bladder. Make an infusion of the leaf (add a little Horsetail Herb) and drink a quart or two each week to strengthen the bladder.
Dandelion Root - has a toning and tightening effect on the bladder sphincters, which aid the bladder in holding urine.
Corn Silk, Marshmallow Root, Mullein Leaf, and Plantain Leaf - are herbs that can soothe the mucus lining of the bladder, easing irritation and pain and aiding in restoring its ability to resist infection.
Linden Flower & Leaf, Oatstraw, Passionflower Herb, and Scullcap Herb - calm bladder nerves helping to normalize the bladder's function.
Should you experience chronic, low-level bladder infections (that can be detrimental to bladder function), please consider Cheryl's Herbs Cornsilk KB Liquid Extract Combination, a product designed to assist in resolving the infection and its discomfort and restoring better health to the bladder.
In the absence of any serious medical conditions underlying incontinence, the application of natural remedies may be all we require to slow down that dash to the bathroom.
SOURCE: Susun Weed's Down There
FOR A BLADDER INFECTION
At Cheryl’s Herbs, our liquid extract combination products each contain multiple herbs and are sold in one-ounce, two-ounce, and four-ounce dropper bottles. These products are for internal use.
The intention behind Cornsilk KB Liquid Extract Combination is to offer support to the urinary system. The product consists of 8 herbs:
Corn Silk - is used to support the urinary system when a bladder infection is present. It has, as a demulcent, a soothing effect upon the mucus membranes of the urinary tract.
Hydrangea Root - is well known for its ability to support us when gravel and stones are present in the urinary system, assisting in their dissolution and passage.
Horsetail Herb - is a nourishing diuretic that supports the mucus membranes of the urinary tract helping to ease burning pain.
Cleavers Herb - can assist in remedying bladder infections and stones and can assist in promoting urination.
Uva Ursi Leaf - is an astringent and antiseptic so is helpful with bladder infections, bladder discharges, and when there is highly acidic urine.
Buchu Leaf - when there is highly acidic urine and a frequent desire to urinate with little or no relief, this herb is suggested.
Juniper Berry - purported to be of benefit where there is renal congestion, swelling, and back ache.
Marshmallow Root - a demulcent herb that eases the passage of stones, it also supports diuresis.
Overall, this product, as with any other of our liquid extract combinations, is a synergy offering more to us than any one of the individual herbs in it can offer, thereby supplying significant support to the urinary tract when there is infection. It is soothing to the mucus membranes when urine is highly acidic, helping to relieve burning pain; it helps promote urination; it has antiseptic action; and it can be used to dissolve stones and soothe their passage.
SOURCES: Matthew Wood’s The Earthwise Herbal, A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants
BOTANICAL SAFETY INFORMATION
Nettle Leaf, Urtica dioica, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Horsetail Herb, Equisetum arvense, organic
Avoid during cardiac or kidney disease. Use with caution if diabetic and monitor blood sugar levels. May lead to thiamine deficiency. The herb in powdered form is not recommended for children or for prolonged use due to the inorganic silica content. Teas and extracts contain mainly organic silica in colloidal form so are not problematic in this regard.
Dandelion Root, Taraxacum officinale, organic
Avoid during blockage of bile ducts, acute gallbladder inflammation, gallstones, and intestinal blockage.
Corn Silk, Zea mays, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Marshmallow Root, Althaea officinalis, organic
Take with additional water. Medication should be taken one hour before or several hours after consumption of Marshmallow root.
Mullein Leaf, Verbascum thapsus, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Plantain Leaf, Plantago major, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Linden Flower & Leaf, Tilia europaea, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately. Co-administration of iron-fortified bread and Linden flower tea reduced absorption of the iron.
Oatstraw, Avena sativa, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately. Some studies have indicated that moderate quantities of oats are safe for persons with gluten intolerance.
Passionflower Herb, Passiflora incarnata, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Scullcap Herb, Scutellaria lateriflora, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
BOTANICAL SAFETY INFORMATION
FOR CORNSILK KB LIQUID EXTRACT COMBINATION
This combination of herbs helps support the urinary system.
Use 5-15 drops, 1-2 dropperfuls, or as much as a teaspoon at a time. Dose frequency could be 1-3 times or several times a day as desired. Generally best to use large, frequent doses in acute situations. When more comfort is achieved, or the situation is less severe, doses can be smaller and less frequent. Dose recommendations are for adults. For a child, adjust the dose according to weight. For example, if a child weighs approximately half what an adult weighs, give half of any of the above dose suggestions.
Do not use herbal products to replace necessary care by a qualified physician.
Contains:
Corn Silk, Zea mays, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Hydrangea Root, Hydrangea arborescens, organic / wild crafted
Avoid long term use.
Horsetail Herb, Equisetum arvense, wild crafted
Avoid during cardiac or renal dysfunction. Has potential to lead to thiamine deficiency. Powdered form not recommended for children or for prolonged use due to the inorganic silica content, though teas & extracts contain mainly organic silica in colloidal form so are not problematic in this regard.
Cleavers Herb, Galium aparine, wild crafted
Safe to consume when used appropriately.
Uva Ursi Leaf, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, wild crafted
Avoid during pregnancy or lactation. Avoid with retinal thinning. Avoid with hypoglycemia. Avoid use with Lithium. Concomitant use with medication that acidifies urine may result in a decrease of effectiveness of Uva Ursi leaf, but some authorities disagree with this caution. Avoid use with kidney disorders and irritated digestive conditions. Not for prolonged use.
Buchu Leaf, Barosma betulina, regular
Avoid during pregnancy and kidney inflammation.
Juniper Berry, Juniperus communis, wild crafted
Avoid long term use and during kidney inflammation.
Marshmallow Root, Althea officinalis, organic
Safe to consume when used appropriately.