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Please read our Golden Rules of self help before considering the information on this page.
Cystitis
So many women and girls suffer from cystitis that they are almost resolved to it. Every so often, the familiar burning feeling occurs and no matter how much you wish it away, it’s here to stay. Infection easily occurs because of the female anatomy: the opening to the bladder (the urethra) is close to the vagina and the anus and therefore bacteria can easily travel up the urethra. Oral contraceptives, bruising during intercourse (sometimes called ‘honeymoon cystitis), stress and diet can also be the causes of cystitis.
Whatever the cause for infection cystitis is a painful and debilitating condition. The treatment from your GP is usually antibiotics and a urine alkaliniser. However, in case of repetitive cystitis, the whole cycle of infection-antibiotics-drugs infection-antibiotics can be extremely exhausting and depressing. This is therefore a job for Super Granny!
Bladder and urethra are lined with a mucous membrane, aside from killing bugs it is very important to build up this mucous membrane so it becomes more resistant to bugs and does not get inflamed so easily. Here are a few remedies.
Fenugreek tea
Fenugreek is easy to get from your healthfood shop or even from your supermarket.
Prepare your brew at night: bring one litre of water to the boil. Add four teaspoons of fenugreek seeds boil for just one minute more then turn off the heat and let the tea cool down. Do not strain until you are ready to drink the tea. It is important to drink this brew first thing in the morning in order to line the plumbing, then drink at least two or three more mugs during the day. You can add honey if you wish (not sugar) and it is quite normal for the seeds to go gluggy: it is the gluggy bit that soothes the walls of the bladder.
Barley Water
Is another gluggy substance that is great for the mucous membranes.
Bring to the boil two litres of water and add 1/3 of a cup of barley (preferably organically grown, but don't worry if you are desperate), simmer for 1/2 an hour -don't boil the hell out of it, just simmer. Let it rest until completely cold, strain, add the juice of two lemons and honey to taste. Drink freely (three to four glasses per day) at room temperature - if you keep the barley water in the fridge, add a splash of hot water to take away the chill.
Cranberry juice
Yes what you read was true, cranberry juice is great for kidneys and bladder but make sure you get real cranberry juice, so read your label and don’t have any with sugar added. Have two to three glasses a day.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile is wonderful to take spasms away from the lower abdomen and to reduce inflammation. Drink three to four cups a day.
“That’s over twelve drinks in a day!” I hear you gasp. Bravo! You have been paying attention. This is the best way to ‘flush’ the bladder. Swallowing gallons of water will not do the trick because you need to repair the bladder, not just flush it. Besides, tap water can actually irritate the bladder more because of its chemical content. Another chemical to not put in your bladder when you have an attack is alcohol, because it increases the acidity of urine and makes it all more razor blade-ish.
For specific medicinal herbs, it is better to see a naturopath and herbalist who will also attend to your immune system and stress levels.
Vitamin A (found in cod liver oil) and E (abundant in wheatgerm and apricot kernel oil) are very important for repair and so is vitamin C. However do no have huge amount of vitamin C until after the attack has passed.
Tips to avoid recurrence:
Bladder infection is very common in smokers because of the bladder is an important metabolic site for nicotine and its metabolites. So here is another good reason for kissing those fags good bye.
A lot of little girls get cystitis because they wipe their bottoms from the front and this is how a lot of cross infection occurs. It is important to teach little girls the art of wiping their bums: from the back only!
Finally here is a very, very old tip from the Middle East: urinate soon after intercourse, the flow of urine (which is itself sterile) flushes away any bug which might be thinking of doing a bit of climbing. You will be surprised how effective the Post Coital Pee is!
For a personalised treatment please contact me here.
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