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The Bladder - Nocturia & Paruresis (Shy Bladder)
an article by Susun S. Weed
Nocturia
Step
1. Collect Information
Waking to urinate more than twice a night
- nocturia - is considered a medical problem unless
you are menopausal, or over 80, when it is normal,
if not restful.
Menopausal women will want to consult New
Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way.
As we age, there is a natural shift in the
timing of urination. Instead of being most active
during the day, the urinary system gets into gear
at night, alas. To prevent falls, keep bathroom
access well lit and forego rugs or slippers that
slip and trip.
Hypertension, diabetes, prostate enlargement,
stroke, kidney disease, and even a tumor in the
bladder can also cause nocturia.
Step 2. Engage the Energy
Homeopathic remedies for those with nocturia include
homeopathic sulphur (Sulphura) and Ferrum phos.
Step 3. Nourish and Tonify
One of my favorite herbal remedies for menopausal
women troubled by night sweats and nocturia is nettle
infusion. Nettles' ability to rebuild adrenal and
kidney functioning is nothing short of miraculous.
I do not experience nettle as a diuretic; while
the initial response to drinking 2-4 cups of infusion
may be a need to urinate more often, this is due
to improvement of the kidneys, not stimulation,
and as they strengthen, frequency returns to normal.
Quercetin is a strong antioxidant found in
herbs and foods. It decreases urinary and pelvic
inflammation, and, most importantly, inhibits cell
damage in the kidneys. Find quercetin in oak bark,
cranberries, AND blueberries.
Step 4. Stimulate/Sedate
Limiting
fluid intake to a little water only in the four
hours before bed - no coffee, tea, alcohol, juice,
or soda - may help.
Step
5b. Use Drugs
Common drugs, such as blood pressure medications,
can increase urinary frequency. Eliminate them;
eliminate nocturia.
Desmopressin acetate, DDAVP, is a prescription
nasal spray that blocks the urge to urinate. Elders
may find it helpful in shifting the timing of urination
back toward daytime.[1]
On an average, men with BPH get up three
times a night to urinate, and many have a difficult
time returning to sleep. Of drugs tested, only doxazosin
made a significant difference.[2]
Paruresis - Shy Bladder
Step
0. Do Nothing
That's what most of those with a shy bladder do:
nothing. They don't talk about it. They don't seek
treatment. And in the worst case scenarios, they
don't leave home for fear that someone will be aware
of their urination.
Step 1. Collect Information
It is estimated that 20 million Americans, mostly
men, deal with shy bladder; for 2 million of them,
is incapacitating.[3]
Anxiety can cause the smooth muscles of the urethra
to clamp down, making it impossible to produce urine,
no matter how much you want to or how much you try.
The thought that someone may be watching or listening
or even aware of one's urination, can produce extreme
anxiety in the person with a bashful bladder. In
the mildest cases, men cannot void in a public urinal
with others watching. In worst cases, men cannot
void in any public facility and may have difficulty
at home unless they are totally alone.
Bashful bladder is different from the difficulty
in voiding that occurs when a swollen prostate narrows
the urethra.
Step 2. Engage the Energy
[A true tale] As the mind-altering effects of the
plant took hold of me, I suddenly became terrified.
I thought everyone was not only watching me, but
that they could read my mind as well. My guide laughed:
"They are only concerned with themselves. You
are invisible to them. Set aside your big ego and
your big wish to be the center of attention. You
are just another human, doing human business. Laugh
at your fear; send it away"
Step
3. Nourish and Tonify
Be kind to your shy bladder with corn silk
tea. If you canít get corn silk, the liquid
from canned corn will have a similar effect.
Be kind to your nerves with oatstraw infusion.
Regular use of 2-4 cups a day will rebuild the nervous
system, so you can handle far more stress with less
anxiety.
Step 4. Stimulate/Sedate
A bottle of anxiety-relieving motherwort tincture
in your pocket may make your bladder less shy. A
dose of 1-2 droppersful, taken on your way to the
toilet, will have fast results.
Step 5b. Use Drugs
More than half the men answering a recent survey
said they were unable to produce a urine sample
on demand for a drug test, especially if they were
under surveillance to prevent contamination or substitution.[4]
Resources: http://www.pruresis.org
Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock,
NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081
Visit
Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com
For permission to reprint this article, contact
: susunweed@herbshealing.com
Vibrant, passionate,
and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international
reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings,
and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges
conventional medical approaches with humor, insight,
and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine.
Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic
lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.
Susun is one
of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine
and natural approaches to women's health. Her four
best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists
and well-known physicians and are used and cherished
by millions of women around the world. Learn more
at www.susunweed.com
This
article is © copyright Susun
S. Weed 2004 - Republished here with kind permission.
Legal
Disclaimer: This content is not intended
to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions
made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or
symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided
by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare
practitioner with a specific formula for you. All
material on this website/email is provided for general
information purposes only and should not be considered
medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable
healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical
care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second
opinion. |
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