Urinary Incontinence

An uncontrollable leakage of urine from the bladder results, when a person loses voluntary control of the urinary sphincter muscles, such leakage can occur even when the loss of control is even for a second. Urinary incontinence is very common in the form known as stress incontinence, which can also occur while laughing, or when coughing or sneezing and as the name suggest, when a person is faced with a tense or a dangerous situation which is very stressful. Urinary incontinence due to stress can also occur when a person is lifting heavy loads as this physical strain may momentarily cause a leakage due to loss of control. Another form of urinary incontinence is the form known as the urge incontinence which can affect a person quite suddenly and comes on because of a sudden or overwhelming urge to urinate; resulting in spontaneous urination wherever the person happens to be at the time. Overflow incontinence occurs when the urge to urinate has been suppressed for too long, during such cases, the bladder is completely full, but for some reason it cannot be emptied properly; it eventually leaks out involuntarily. The presence of an abnormally weak urine stream when urinating combined with an occasional leakage or urine even when the urge is suppressed are the typical symptoms for the form of urinary incontinence known as overflow incontinence. Though it is not considered to be an inevitable part of aging and its related effects, bladder incontinence is by and large fairly common in the elderly, when they are taken as a demographic group. In the more serious and severe cases any form of urinary incontinence is often accompanied by the presence of physical symptoms such as numbness and pain in the urinary system of the affected person.

There are a number of underlying reasons for the development of urinary incontinence as a condition. The most common causes for the condition are a possible problem with the nervous system, another could be a condition affecting the urinary bladder or the presence of some physical problem which is putting some undue pressure on the urinary bladder, and lastly but not least the cause could be a muscular weakness in the urinary sphincter or in the muscles controlling the floor of the pelvic region. In women the weakening of pelvic muscles following the birth of a child is often the cause of urinary incontinence. A uterine prolapse can occur in some women when the uterus presses on the bladder and this leads to urinary incontinence. The presence of undue pressure on the urinary bladder, combined with a weakness in the sphincter muscles controlling the bladder is the typical cause for stress incontinence. Urinary incontinence can also occur because of an extra strain on the bladder due obesity or excess weight or due to persistent constipation experienced by the individual. On the other hand the presence of another condition such as an irritable bladder or a bladder infection comes out symptomatically in the form of urge incontinence. This form of urinary incontinence can also result because of nervous tension and due to stress or other psychological states; these same factors also cause an easily excitable bladder leading to urinary problems of other types.

Senile dementia, weak muscular control of the urinary bladder and other nervous factors such as poor or weakening signals from the bladder to the brain, can all combine to bring about urge incontinence in aging individuals. Another likely reason for the development of urinary incontinence in some individuals is the use of certain medications which can affect the urinary system directly or indirectly. In addition to this, many men with some form of prostate problems are more susceptible to overflow incontinence. A spinal injury must be immediately suspected where the urinary incontinence is accompanied either by paralysis or numbness and pain, such cases need immediate medical attention as a slipped disk or a stroke could be the real underlying cause for the condition. Depending on the ability of the wound or defect to heal and on the severity of the underlying condition the urinary incontinence experienced in such cases can become permanent but in the majority of cases such incontinence is of a temporary nature. All leakage of urine is not necessarily due to urinary incontinence as in some young girls, urine may enter the vagina this can leak out slowly later on and such cases have no bearing on the condition of urinary incontinence at all. The prevention of some forms or types of urinary incontinence can be achieved by simple habits such as keeping the legs wide apart while urinating.

Supplements and herbs

The weakened sphincter muscles can be strengthened by supplements of a variety of vitamin types and many kinds of minerals, these supplements can also aid in improving nerve transmissions when nervous problems are the reason for the urinary incontinence. The weakened muscles in particular are greatly benefited through supplementation with the essential minerals like the magnesium and specific vitamins like the vitamin E. The health of the nervous system is also boosted by the use of supplements containing both the essential minerals magnesium and calcium. With particular relevance to stressful situations and to many forms of nervous disorders, the use of the B vitamins is particularly pertinent and these vitamins are required for the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Make use of the following herbal teas, herbal baths and hot compresses; in particular to relax and heal the weakened muscles especially the weakened muscles of the urinary system - all the herbs given below can be used for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

The deterioration of the urinary mucus membranes can be restored through the use of the herbal tea made from the horsetail herb, the tea as well as the juice can be used in this regard, this herb is also effective in strengthening the connective tissues in the body and can restore the functioning of the urinary system. Either the juice or the herbal tea can be taken daily in dosages of about three cups of the tea or a single tbsp. of the herbal juice. Excess fluid production in the body can be regulated by the use of the oil of the cypress plant. This oil can also serve as a relaxant in muscular tissue and possesses astringent properties. A topical treatment can also be used, this is prepared by mixing together about twenty-five drops of the cypress oil along with a tbsp. of almond oil, use this combined herbal massage oil to topically rub the lower abdomen thrice a day during the treatment period. This combination of herbs can also be used to prepare a herbal tea, the tea must have four parts of the root of the valerian herb, two parts of the lemon balm, one part of thyme, two parts of tormentil, a single part of the leaves of the uva ursi herb. Once the combination is done, take a tsp. of the mixture and boil this mixture in a cup of water, let the herbs steep for ten minutes, strain the liquid and drink two cups of this herbal tea everyday once in the morning and once in the evenings. Weakened muscles can also be treated using topical methods where compresses made from moistened and hot hayflower is applied directly onto the regions of the kidney and the bladder and in general the lower abdominal area. Other methods such as taking regular hot sitz-baths can also prove beneficial, such baths contain herbs such as the horsetail, the oat straw and the chamomile, these baths stimulate the circulation of blood in the urinary system and can be taken every evening during the treatment period to promote health. Typically the sitz-bath must contain about three to five quarts of herbal infusion to be effective. It is important to remember to keep the bathroom hot as the whole body should be kept warm at all times, this can also be achieved by covering the tub with towels.

Homeopathy

For children with urinary incontinence problems the following homeopathic remedies can be used at 30th strength before bedtime especially for treating habitual bed wetting behavior. Gradual and stable results can also be obtained using the same strength and some other correct homeopathic remedy; this can be used once every day for a treatment period of several weeks. To strengthen the functioning of the urinary bladder, equisetum can be used; traditional use of this remedy has been made in the form of a tincture or in low potency doses to cure bladder problems, use about five to ten drops of equisetum two times each day to reinforce bladder muscles and to strengthen them.

• Causticum
  Causticum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals afflicted with some form of urinary incontinence in which physical symptoms such as bedwetting or enuresis can occur especially during early stages of sleep in the night time. Other physical actions such as the act of coughing, ordinary acts such as laughing, moderate actions like walking, actions like sneezing, becoming excited or being physically strained can all bring about bouts of incontinence which can be very inconvenient and sudden in appearance. The weakening of the bladder is such that it may feel paralyzed and unresponsive. Other physical symptoms can include urination which dribbles out instead of coming in a flow the person consequently feels better of he or she urinates sitting down; this necessarily takes a lot of time. Physical symptoms can also include spasms originating in the bladder which seem to radiate out into the rectum in periods immediately following the act of urination effected by the person. Such forms of incontinence can often come about as a chronic result of grief felt by the person, perhaps when dealing with a lot of emotional events involving a large number of people. The condition of the patient tends to rapidly worsen towards the hours of the evening, in the hours of the morning, around 3 to 4 a.m., and in weather that is dry and cold, or when the person is physically stooping down to do something. The condition of the patient tends to improve if some warmth is experienced as a result of the weather or because of the use of warm clothing. The appearance of one or more of these symptoms calls for the immediate use of Causticum as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of urinary incontinence in an individual.
• Equisetum
  Equisetum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals suffering from urinary incontinence, in which the symptoms can include with enuresis, or bed wetting behavior especially in children, such incontinence can come about in the young child because of habitual action and the bed wetting typically occurs during the first stage of sleep at night. The episodes of bedwetting exhibited by the child often occur when the child is dreaming of crowds or when the child has nightmares. This form of urinary incontinence can also affect people with weak bladders; it also tends to affect the elderly, and is the form of incontinence that is present in many old women. The person affected with this form of urinary incontinence tends to be awakened several times in the nighttime because of an urgent need to urinate. Other physical symptoms that the person may experience may include a feeling of fullness and the presence of a persistent dull pain, urination does not bring any relief from these symptoms. The color of the urine is dark. Psychological symptoms include feelings of anger and the person may always be given to frowning. The condition of the patient rapidly worsens when the person is moving about, when he or she is sitting down, when pressure is applied or the person is touched; the patient may also feel discomfort following urination. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the immediate utilization of Equisetum as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of urinary incontinence in a person.
• Eupatorium
  Eupatorium is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of children suffering from enuresis, and frequent bedwetting that occurs when the child has a nightmare. Such urinary incontinence can also affect individuals who make it a regular habit of holding their urine for long periods of time. Physical symptoms of this form of urinary incontinence can include an irritable bladder. The person always feels full and the bladder is under pressure, the urge to urinate is also frequent. Other symptoms can be uneasy sensations and aches. This homeopathic remedy can also be used for the treatment of urinary incontinence in certain groups of people, thus it is effective in dealing with conditions that afflict women, it can also be used for all forms of urinary incontinence that can arise during pregnancy, the treatment can also be used in cases of urinary incontinence that affects the aged, the forms of incontinence that occurs postpartum, the forms of incontinence that afflicts children. Some other physical symptoms that affect such patients tend to be the enlargement of the prostate in men, psychological ones like homesickness and a fear of illness. The condition of the patient can rapidly worsen when the person undertakes any sort of motion and when he or she is riding a car. The presence of one or more of these symptoms and conditions in the patient calls for the immediate use of Eupatorium as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of urinary incontinence in the affected individual.
• Pulsatilla
  Pulsatilla is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals suffering from any form of urinary incontinence in which the symptoms of the condition can include problems such as involuntary urination during the first stage of sleep at night, sudden urination can also occur when the person is sneezing, when he or she is coughing, when he or she is passing gas, when the person is laughing, and in the periods during which chills or colds affect the person. This form of incontinence can also affect the person following an attack of measles, and in woman the condition can develop during pregnancy, some discomfort can also result immediately after the person has passed stool, or can result from the person feeling some sort of excitement such as nervous reactions to sudden and loud noises. Such a form of urinary incontinence can also result when the person has made it a habit of resisting the normal urge to urinate repeatedly over a long period of time, this form of urinary incontinence can also come along with digestive problems and can develop as a result of such unrelated conditions. The patient may find it very hard to suppress an urge to urinate, and in most instances feels its necessary to concentrate very hard in order to hold it in. The urine actually dribbles out even when the person is sitting or walking about. This form of incontinence in young girls brings out a sudden and inconvenient desire to urinate, thus adding to the discomfort of the person. Psychologically the patient can become very gentle and mild, and can display weepy moods. The person does not feel thirsty at all. Another physical symptom is that the person feels cold at most times of the day and night. The condition of the patient can rapidly worsen when the person is in a warm room, during cold weather, in the autumn, and when the feet are wet. The condition of the patient can improve if the person is exposed to the open air out of doors. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the use of Pulsatilla as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of the urinary incontinence.
• Sepia
  Sepia is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of urinary incontinence affecting children and the symptoms can include bedwetting especially during the first stage of sleep at night. Such children are very hard to wake. This form of incontinence seems to affect light complexioned boys more than it does other children. The physical symptom can include an extremely weakened bladder and sudden urination. Other affected patients can include women with uterine displacement or those suffering a prolapse, such women often have a sense of things bearing down on them. This form of urinary incontinence also includes incontinence triggered by stress and physical movements like coughing, laughing or sneezing. The condition of the patient can rapidly worsen when suffering from cold, and in women the condition is aggravate during menopause and pregnancy, the patient may also deteriorate when menstruating. The condition of the patient improves though regular and consistent exercise, it can also improve when the person keeps warm and stays busy with other activity. The presence of one or more of these symptoms calls for the immediate use of Sepia as a homeopathic remedy in the treatment of urinary incontinence in person.

Additional things you may do

Utilize various massage techniques during the treatment period, take hot and cold foot baths in an alternating basis to treat cold feet, techniques like lower abdomen massages may also be helpful and the use of rising temperature baths and massages to the connective tissue in the region of the lower abdomen are suggested. To strengthen the lower abdominal area and to boost bladder functioning the use of various water therapies is also suggested and these should be carried out regularly. The feet must be kept warm at all times of the day and night. Repeat this exercise several times a day, exercise the sphincter muscle in the bladder by contracting it and holding it contracted for five to ten seconds, relax it then repeat again; this exercise strengthens the sphincter in the bladder and gives you greater ability in holding urine in the bladder for longer periods. This technique can be carried further by starting and stopping urine whenever you find yourself urinating. Incontinence can also be greatly alleviated by the practice of pelvic muscle-strengthening exercises; the pelvic muscles must be strengthened to enable you to control urination. These muscles are the anchoring muscles that are found along the legs and around the anus and vagina in humans, these muscles also anchor such organs like the uterus and other lower abdominal organs in place. Because of the strain put on them during pregnancy, these muscles can sometimes weaken to a great degree; thus leading to the development of urinary incontinence in the woman. By the simple expedient of contracting them and then relaxing them several times through out the day, the restoration of strength to these pelvic muscles can be achieved. These exercises involving contractions and relaxation should be carried out in the periods before delivery and in the time following childbirth, these have a preventative effect when carried out during the term of pregnancy.

Usual dosage

• Vitamin B complex, 100 mg a day.
• Vitamin E, 400 IU a day.
• Magnesium, 250 mg two times a day.
• Calcium, 1,000 mg a day.

Other beneficial herbs

• Agrimony
• Cardamom
• Epimedium
• Morinda

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