All about urinary health

Kidney model

This article is written by Steven Horne, a master herbalist.

If you haven’t thought much about urinary health, you’re not alone. Most people don’t think about this important bodily function until they have a problem.

But, a lot of people do have issues with the urinary system. Common problems include urinary tract infections (UTIs), interstitial cystitis, kidney stones, incontinence, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Not all urinary problems are obvious. Moderate urinary dysfunction can underlie many other health issues, including blood pressure, mineral imbalances, weakness of the bones and joints, osteoporosis, and more.

In this article, we will discuss simple and natural ways to support the urinary system and address various urinary problems.

Dilute and alkalize

Two of the most important things you can do to improve any urinary system problem are drinking enough pure water and balancing your body’s pH levels. If you’re experiencing any urinary health problems start by making sure you’re properly hydrated and alkalized.

Most people don’t drink enough water. They drink coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, fruit juice, milk, alcohol, and other beverages instead. However, when it comes to the health of the urinary system, most of these beverages aren’t going to help kidney function. Many, in fact, cause stress on the urinary system because they increase the acid load the kidneys must filter. This is particularly true of sodas and energy drinks, which are very acidifying.

It’s been said that “the solution to the pollution is dilution,” and drinking at least 6-8 cups of water daily is important for good health. That’s about one and a half to two quarts a day. If you’re a larger person, live in a hot, dry climate, or are exposed to a lot of chemicals you will need more. The most important key to determining if you’re drinking enough water is urine color, which should be pale yellow. If your urine is darker, you need to drink more water.

There is one exception to this rule. Certain nutrients, like B vitamins, will color the urine bright yellow if you take them. Even then, however, you should try to drink enough water to keep your urine a lighter color.

It also helps to adopt a more alkaline diet, which involves eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and a minimal amount of grains and sugars. Too much animal protein can also be acidifying.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, frequent use of antibiotics disrupts the friendly bacteria in the colon, weakening the immune system and making one more prone to future UTIs. Yeast infections can also lead to UTIs, and antibiotics are ineffective in those situations.

The first protection against UTIs involves cleanliness. Because women have a much shorter urethra, they are five times more prone to UTIs than men. Focusing on keeping that area clean can help prevent UTIs.

There are herbs that you can take to help prevent UTIs. Research shows that cranberries can inhibit bacteria from adhering to urinary passages, which helps prevent bladder infections. So, if you’re prone to frequent UTIs, consider drinking unsweetened cranberry juice daily or taking a herbal formula containing cranberry daily for prevention.

For active UTIs, cranberry doesn’t help much. Here, it’s best to use herbs containing arbutin or berberine. Arbutin is a substance that is changed in the kidneys to form hydroquinone, a powerful urinary disinfectant. It is most effective when the urine is alkaline. Uva ursi and pipsissewa contain this compound.

Berberine-containing herbs include goldenseal, Oregon grape, barberry, and coptis. Berberine itself can be taken as a supplement; it is an antibacterial agent that is excreted via the kidneys, disinfecting the urinary passages.

These herbs are usually combined with diuretics like juniper and buchu to fight infections. Look for a herbal formula that contains diuretics combined with infection-fighting herbs. Uva ursi works well as a tea. Drink about half to one cup a day.

Urinary Tract Inflammation

Several inflammatory diseases affect the urinary system. Interstitial cystitis (or just cystitis) is inflammation of the bladder, which can make the bladder irritable and cause a frequent urge to urinate. Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra, the tube that drains urine from the bladder. This can cause painful, burning, or scalding urination. The kidneys can also become inflamed, a serious condition called nephritis.

When urinary system inflammation is present, the urge to urinate frequently or pain while urinating causes many people to drink less water. This makes the problem worse, as the body needs water to dilute the irritants causing the inflammation and/or flush out the infection. So, drink more, not less water, when dealing with urinary inflammation.

Three of the best remedies to ease the burning or scalding sensations are cornsilk, marshmallow, and kava kava. Kava kava is especially helpful for painful urination as it is mildly analgesic. Cornsilk and marshmallow soothe the inflammation and burning. Stimulating diuretics like juniper and buchu are not good choices for urinary tract inflammation and should definitely be avoided in nephritis, but you can use some of the tonifying diuretics, like dandelion, goldenrod, and cleavers with these soothing urinary remedies.

Prostatitis and BPH

In men, the prostate sits just under the bladder, surrounding the urethra. Prostatitis is when the prostate becomes inflamed and swells, making urination difficult. The prostate can also enlarge due to overstimulation by estrogens, a condition known as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Nettle root, pygeum bark, and saw palmetto can all help reduce prostate swelling or help shrink the prostate, thus aiding urine flow. Zinc and omega-3 essential fatty acids may also be helpful. Consider using a prostate formula containing these ingredients. For prostatitis, choose a formula containing diuretics and herbs that fight UTIs.

Urgency and Incontinence

Incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the bladder cannot retain urine. This can be caused by UTIs, constipation, or foods and substances that irritate the bladder such as spices, caffeine, alcohol, blood pressure medications, and muscle relaxants. It can also be related to a lack of tone in the sphincter muscle that controls urination.On the other hand, many people have problems with the frequent urge to urinate, followed by scanty urination. This is often because the person isn’t drinking enough water. Their urine is too concentrated and irritates the bladder.

Again, if you have these problems, don’t try to solve them by reducing water intake. Instead, drink the water you need and use herbal remedies to strengthen the sphincter muscle and ease irritation.

Avoid substances that irritate the bladder. To reduce the urge to urinate frequently, stay well hydrated and use soothing diuretics like cornsilk, marshmallow, and pipsissewa. Pipsissewa is very helpful for UTIs, cystitis, and irritable bladder.

For incontinence, it can be helpful to tone the urinary sphincter muscle with a urinary astringent such as uva ursi or horsetail. Both will work better when taken as tea and sipped frequently throughout the day. You can also use a tincture or extract and take ten drops with water every 3-4 hours.

Nighttime Urination

Bedwetting in children and the need to wake up frequently at night in adults are related conditions. Children wet the bed because they usually do not wake up to urinate at night, whereas adults who have developed more sphincter muscle control will wake up with the urge to urinate. The problem of bedwetting normally resolves itself as children get older, but for adults, it often gets worse.

Some specific herbs that can help reduce the urge to urinate at night include astragalus, schisandra, licorice root, and asparagus root. These herbs help the body hold onto moisture. Drinking more water during the day and less water in the evening also helps.

It’s also helpful to avoid sugary foods before bedtime in favor of a light protein snack. Giving children licorice root and magnesium may also help.

Edema

One of the obvious problems that can arise from poor kidney function is water retention, also called edema. The symptoms of edema are fairly obvious—swollen ankles, feet, hands, and puffiness under the eyes. If you suffer from chronic edema, first get a medical checkup to determine the cause, as water retention can be a sign of congestive heart failure and other serious diseases.

If the problem is kidney-related, herbal diuretics can be used in place of diuretic drugs to help promote better kidney function and reduce edema. This is one situation where herbs can actually work better than drugs. Potassium is important for healthy kidney function, but diuretic drugs tend to deplete potassium levels, while many herbal diuretics supply potassium.

There are two basic kinds of herbal diuretics: those that stimulate the kidney to produce more urine, and those that help to tone the kidneys and improve their function. Stimulant diuretics include juniper berry, buchu, and uva ursi. Tonifying diuretics include dandelion, parsley, goldenrod, cleavers, cornsilk, nettles, and eucommia bark.

Dandelion leaf is a better diuretic than dandelion root, because it is a better source of potassium, but both will aid urinary function. Parsley is also rich in potassium and is a gentle urinary stimulant, especially when eaten fresh.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are typically formed from calcium oxalate and result from an over-concentration of minerals in the urine.

Passing kidney stones can be excruciatingly painful, so it’s better to prevent them than to treat them. Prevention starts with staying well hydrated and keeping the system alkaline by avoiding acid-forming beverages and foods such as caffeinated and carbonated beverages. It also helps to avoid foods that significantly increase urinary oxalate including nuts (especially peanuts), chocolate, and tea. Magnesium and vitamin B6 are good supplements to take to prevent kidney stones.

If you get a kidney stone, you can help it to pass by taking lithotripic herbs such as hydrangea or gravel root. Lemon water also helps.

Here’s a good program: Mix the juice of four fresh lemons in a gallon of distilled water and drink this while fasting. Take four capsules of hydrangea every two to four hours. One capsule of kava kava can be taken with the hydrangea to relax urinary passages and ease pain. Marshmallow and/or cornsilk can taken to soothe urinary membranes while the stone is passing.

 

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash