Your bladder health is something you might not often think about, until you have bladder issues, and then it becomes a pressing, often-painful issue. If you do indeed have bladder issues, you’ll know it. Here’s a look at some common complications to bladder health, and natural remedies which could bring relief.
A Word On Bladder Health
Your bladder works 24/7, primarily by storing and passing urine. As urine enters the bladder from the kidneys, the muscles of the bladder relax so that it is able to hold urine. When the bladder fills to a certain extent, nerves will send signals to the brain signaling an urge to urinate. When you urinate, the bladder muscles contract, the urethra relaxes, and urine exits the body.
Bladder issues are a relatively common occurrence. One of the foremost causes is aging. Urinary incontinence is a prominent problem for aging women, due to a decrease in estrogen after menopause, as well as giving birth. Other factors that can cause bladder issues include weight gain, chronic constipation, and frequent consumption of unhealthy beverages.
More than 25 million people experience bladder issues each day. These include:
- Stress incontinence: urine leakage caused by physical stress, such as coughing
- Bladder infection, which can caused increased frequency or urination, and pain & difficulties urinating
- Overactive bladder: frequent and sudden need to urinate
- Urinary retention: Inability to fully empty the bladder, causing leakage, bloating, & pain.
Natural Remedies for Bladder Issues
Certain natural herbs and remedies can help relieve issues of the bladder. While these are not a cure-all or a replacement for healthy lifestyle and diet choices, they could mitigate the symptoms of bladder dysfunction. Here are five natural supplements for bladder issues:
Cranberry concentrate can be a useful supplement for those experiencing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). A 2023 review of 50 studies gives strong evidence that cranberry concentrate can prevent recurrent UTIs in women and children who experience them. Cranberries are healthy in this regard because they contain A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), which could keep bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract. Concentrated cranberry in supplement form is ideal because it is free from sugar (whereas cranberry juice is full of sugar), and is packed with PACs.
Saw Palmetto is an herbal remedy that could help with bladder issues in men. First, there is evidence to suggest that supplementing with saw palmetto can decrease urinary retention when taken daily over a 6-month period. Urinary retention is often the result of an enlarged prostate. Saw palmetto could help relieve an enlarged prostate, hence why it can have a significant impact on urinary retention.
Collinsonia root is an herb which is usually associated with sedative and muscle-relaxing effects. Among other potential benefits, collinsonia root could help improve urine flow as a result of its relaxing effects. It does so by relaxing the urethra, and reducing spasms.
Pumpkin seed oil: Pumpkin seeds are cultivated and made into an oral supplement, which can help calm an overactive bladder. Pumpkin seed oil contains vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other natural, healthy compounds. This combination of compounds can positively affect bladder function, reduce frequency and urgency of urination in those with an overactive bladder. Pumpkin seed oil could possibly help with other urinary disorders as well.
D-mannose is a healthy sugar found in some fruits, and it can help combat UTIs. Studies have shown that supplementing with D-mannose can help reduce recurrent UTIs, and potentially reduce UTI symptoms in women experiencing an active UTI. Its effectiveness has been shown to be comparable to common prescription medications for treating UTIs.
If you are an aging man or woman who is experiencing an overactive bladder, urinary retention, or other bladder issues, then you should consider how the above natural supplements could bring relief. Some of these could have side effects in some people, so it’s recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider before taking one of these valuable supplements.