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Bladder Infection (Cystitis)
What is a bladder infection?
Bladder infections occur when bacteria invade the urinary bladder. Bladder infections are very common in women as ten to twenty percent of all women have urinary tract discomfort at least once a year. Recurrent bladder infections can be a significant problem for some women and can cause progressive damage, resulting in scarring and, in rare cases, kidney failure.
WARNING: Although most bladder infections are not serious, it is important that you be properly diagnosed, treated, and monitored. If you have symptoms suggestive of a bladder infection, consult a physician immediately.
What are the signs and symptoms of a bladder infection?
Burning pain on urination; increased urinary frequency (especially at night); cloudy, foul-smelling, or dark urine; lower abdominal pain are the typical symptoms. Urine analysis shows significant number of bacteria and white blood cells.
What causes a bladder infection?
Most bladder infections are caused by the E. coli bacteria. Many factors are associated with increased risk of bladder infection: pregnancy (twice as frequent), menopause, sexual intercourse (nuns have one-tenth the incidence), mechanical trauma or irritation, and, perhaps most important, structural abnormalities of the urinary tract that block the free flow of urine.
What dietary factors are important in a bladder infection?
The most important dietary recommendation is to increase the quantity of liquids consumed. Ideally, the liquids should be in the form of pure water, herbal teas, and fresh fruit and vegetable juices diluted with at least an equal amount of water. If you have a bladder infection, you should drink at least 64 ounces of liquids from this group, with at least half of this amount being water. You should also avoid such liquids as soft drinks, concentrated fruit drinks, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.
Cranberry juice is particularly beneficial in the treatment of bladder infections. Several clinical studies have shown consuming 16 ounces of cranberry juice per day produces beneficial effects in roughly seven out of ten subjects with active bladder infections. Cranberry juice appears even more effective in preventing bladder infections. Cranberry juice reduces the ability of E. coli to adhere to the lining of the bladder. In order for bacteria to infect, they must first adhere to this mucosal lining. By interfering with adherence, cranberry juice greatly reduces the likelihood of infection and helps the body fight off infection. Blueberry juice is a suitable alternative to cranberry juice in treating bladder infections.
What nutritional supplements should I take for a bladder infection?
Foundation Supplements. There are three products from Natural Factors that I think are critical in supporting good health:
- MultiStart (age and gender specific multiple vitamin and mineral formulas). Follow label instructions.
- Enriching Greens - a great tasting "greens drink" containing highly concentrated "greens" like chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, etc., and herbal extracts. Take one serving (one tablespoon) in 8 ounces of water daily.
- RxOmega-3 Factors - A true pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement. Take two capsules daily.
Calcium citrate. Minerals bound to citrate have a long been employed in the treatment of lower urinary tract infections. If calcium citrate is being used as the source of citrate, the dosage is 125 to 250 mg of calcium (citrate) three to four times daily.
Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi: bearberry or upland cranberry) is the most useful herb in most cases of bladder infection. It is especially useful in preventing bladder infections. In fact, it is more effective than cranberry juice in this regard. In one double blind study using a standardized uva ursi extract on recurrent bladder infections at the end of one year, five of the twenty-seven women in the placebo group had a recurrence, while none of the thirty women receiving uva ursi extract had a recurrence. No side effects were reported in either group. Use uva ursi extracts that are standardize to contain 10% arbutin at a dosage of 250-500 mg three times daily with a glass of water for maximum benefit.
Cranberry concentrates or extracts provide an easy and cost effective ways to take advantage of the benefits of cranberries in preventing or treating urinary tract infections is to take a cranberry extract in pill form. For example, UriSense from Natural Factors provides CranRich, a highly concentrated cranberry preparation. CranRich is made via a special proprietary process that intensifies the natural benefits of the whole cranberry, without the use of any solvents, preservatives, sugars, water, flavorings or artificial color. It takes about 40 pounds of whole, fresh cranberries to produce 1 pound of CranRich. The recommended dosage for UriSense is one capsule two to four times daily.
Comment:
The best treatment for recurrent bladder infections in my opinion is prevention by using natural methods. By effectively preventing bladder infections, we can go along way in reducing the need for antibiotics. There is a growing concern that antibiotic therapy actually promotes recurrent bladder infection by disturbing the bacterial flora of the vagina and by giving rise to antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli. One of the body's most important defenses against bacterial colonization of the bladder is a protective shield of bacteria that line and protect the external portion of the urethra. When antibiotics are used, this normal protective shield is usually stripped away or is replaced by less effective organisms. If you are a woman who suffers from recurrent bladder infections, or if antibiotics have been used, it is appropriate to reintroduce friendly bacteria into the vagina. The best way to do this is to use commercially available Lactobacillus acidophilus products. Use a product that is a capsule or tablet, and simply place one or two in the vagina before going to bed at night every other night for two weeks.
How do I know if the program is working?
Again, if you have symptoms suggestive of a bladder infection, consult a physician immediately. You will know the program is working when you cease to have symptoms. If you have chronic bladder infections, you will know the program is working if your infections become significantly less frequent.
Feedback:
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Condition Center Caution:
- Dr. Murray’s recommendations and protocols for nutritional support are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
- The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
- If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your doctor prior to using the recommendations given.
- Do not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor (N.D.), nutritionally oriented medical doctor (M.D. or (D.O.), or other health care specialist. Please go to www.naturopathic.org to find a qualified naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in your area to help you.
- Make your physician aware of all the nutritional supplements or herbal products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions with any drugs you are taking.
- If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you absolutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen.
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