Medicinal herbs for cystitis: how to use without harm to health

It just so happens that it is easier for a modern person to discuss problems of a sexual nature than to talk about diseases of the system, on the health of which the health of the whole organism largely depends. We are talking about the urinary system and one of its structural components – the bladder. The media on the big screen can talk for days about how easy it is now, with the help of numerous drugs, to cope with a painful male problem called “prostatitis”, which is in fact an inflammatory process in the prostate gland. But few people talk about a more common “female” disease associated with inflammation of the bladder, which brings no less painful minutes. It would seem that there is nothing to say, because antibiotics and herbs for cystitis are a long-tested treatment regimen, relevant even today. Nevertheless, a doctor who is a master at drugs does not always have sufficient information regarding folk remedies, which are very relevant in this situation.

What is cystitis?

When we hear the word "inflammation", an unpleasant feeling immediately appears in our soul, as if we are facing something alien and hostile. In fact, an inflammatory reaction is our own body's response to the impact of irritating and pathogenic factors. Cystitis is the body's reaction to the invasion of foreign microorganisms into the bladder area or the activation of our "own" opportunistic microflora due to a decrease in local and general immunity.

These neighbors peacefully coexist with humans for a while, populating the skin and mucous membranes, but, sensing weakness, they begin to actively reproduce. An increase in the "population" of opportunistic microorganisms leads to poisoning of our body with the products of their vital activity, which the immune system cannot allow, so it fights as best it can.

An inflammatory reaction can appear in any part of the urinary and related reproductive system, because microbes multiply and capture new "lands". Often, a person with cystitis has inflammation of the organs that are in direct contact with the bladder.

Inflammation, which implies hyperemia (redness) and swelling of tissues, is always associated with pain due to irritation of the sensitive receptors of the affected organ. It is not surprising that acute inflammation of the bladder is always accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, cutting pain during urination. The inflamed organ cannot effectively perform its functions. Irritation of receptors with the slightest load on the bladder causes frequent unjustified urges to urinate, although the amount of urine is insufficient.

The presence of bacteria in the urine is indicated by its turbidity, but the inflammatory process is indicated by a change in the acidity of the urine and an increase in body temperature. Similar changes can also occur with an inflammatory process in the urinary system of a different localization (for example, with kidney inflammation) or cause (for example, urolithiasis). But the localization and nature of the pain allows the doctor to assume cystitis, which is subsequently confirmed by diagnostic tests.

Cystitis can occur in acute and chronic forms. In the first case, the disease is accompanied by severe pain of a spasmodic nature, for the relief of which you can use both medications and herbs for cystitis. In the chronic course of the disease, herbs are even preferable, because the treatment of this form is long, and the chemicals in many medications can accumulate in the body and harm it.

At the very beginning of the article, we called cystitis a female problem. This is not entirely true. Yes, the prevalence of the disease among women is higher due to the structural features of the genitourinary system. A short and wide urethra (compared to a man's) predisposes to the redistribution of microorganisms that are always present on our body. There are especially many opportunistic, and sometimes pathogenic, sexually transmitted microbes in the anal and vaginal area. From here they easily move to the entrance to the urethra, and from there they rise to the bladder.

Insufficient hygiene of the genitals, hypothermia (especially in the genitourinary system, which often happens when wearing nylon tights in winter or during "sitting" on a cold surface), congestion that develops due to a sedentary lifestyle, existing or previously suffered diseases of the genitourinary system and some other factors contribute to the development of cystitis. The risk of getting sick is higher in women with an overly active sex life.

In most cases, cystitis is caused by a bacterial infection; much less often, the disease is non-infectious (for example, inflammation is caused by irritation of the bladder walls by stones, increased acidity of urine, etc.).

Women are predisposed to infectious inflammation of the bladder by the structure of the genitourinary system itself. They get sick more often than men, and therefore use herbs for cystitis more actively. In addition, many women are expectant mothers who care about the health of their offspring and prefer natural medicines.

The structure of the urethra in men is somewhat different. Bacteria that have settled in the groin and perineum can move towards the urethra and even penetrate into the urethra, where inflammation is usually localized. The narrow and long urethra does not allow for further travel towards the bladder. But microbes can get into it in other ways. For example, from the prostate (it is not for nothing that cystitis is considered one of the complications of prostatitis) or kidneys (with pyelonephritis).

Cystitis can be a consequence of urolithiasis, hypodynamia (stagnation in the organ), urethritis, sexually transmitted infections. Sometimes it is considered a complication after surgery on the pelvic organs. In some people, the disease develops against the background of systemic infectious diseases, especially if bed rest and drinking regimen are not observed.

As we can see, men also have many factors that can cause such an unpleasant disease. Even if statistics are more favorable to them, nevertheless, it would also be good for the stronger sex to be aware of the issues of which herbs can be used for cystitis in men, if suddenly the bladder is affected by an inflammatory process.

Treatment of cystitis with herbs

Cystitis can be discussed at length and at length. This insidious disease can suddenly catch a person, reminding of itself with unpleasant symptoms: frequent urges to urinate and painful urination, during which the unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen noticeably increase.

From 50 to 60% of women of reproductive age who do not suffer from physical inactivity and stagnation, and less than 1% of men, face this problem at least once. And this is despite the fact that the urinary system is designed to remove harmful substances from the body, and its dysfunction causes serious poisoning, affecting the work of other organs and systems.

The bladder is located inside the body, which means that it is not so easy to cleanse it of bacteria, their waste products and inflammatory elements. Antibiotics can destroy or reduce the activity of pathogens, but to avoid a relapse of the disease (reactivation of the infection), it is necessary to remove pathogens (or allergens) from the body.

This can be done artificially or naturally. In the first case, a rubber catheter is used, inserting it deep into the urethra, in the second, diuretics are used, allowing the body to actively remove all unnecessary things with urine and preventing stagnation. The second way is less traumatic, more pleasant, quite effective and quite safe if you use medicinal plants. Among the diuretics used for cystitis, there are many herbs and herbal infusions, the effectiveness of which is confirmed by traditional medicine.

There are many medicinal herbs that have a diuretic effect, and this is what is needed for effective natural cleaning (rinsing, rinsing) of the bladder. But even having removed the irritating factor from the organ, one cannot expect a quick recovery due to the fact that the inflammatory process itself cannot stop as if on command.

Treatment of cystitis with herbs will help to stop the inflammatory process in a short time without using medicinal chemistry. When the bladder is sick, the entire urinary system suffers. It is clear that the use of medications without extreme necessity will only aggravate the situation, therefore even doctors in this case prefer herbal preparations, i.e. herbal medicines with diuretic and anti-inflammatory action.

It should be said that some of the herbs that have the ability to soothe the mucous membrane and relieve inflammation have a certain antibacterial activity, but unlike antibiotics, they do not destroy the beneficial microflora. This property can also be used in the treatment of cystitis, which makes it possible to shorten the course of treatment with antibiotics or reduce their dosage.

It is clear that in case of a serious infection, you cannot rely on herbs alone, because their effect is weaker and mainly affects opportunistic microflora, reducing its activity. Many pathogens will not die, but will only hide in the bladder, waiting for the right moment, and the disease will thus become chronic, worsening with the slightest hypothermia and a decrease in defenses.

Chronic diseases are those that last for a long period of time with alternating periods of remission and exacerbation. They exhaust the body and make it easier prey for pathogens. It is very, very difficult to cure such a disease. It is important to prevent the infection from spreading to other organs, i.e. complications that arise as a result of weakened defenses.

Chronic disease will have to be treated for life, but by constantly using antibiotics and other medications (which are mainly excreted by the kidneys), we risk developing serious kidney diseases (and not only them). Medicinal plants with antibacterial and diuretic effects help to regularly cleanse the kidneys, bladder and other structures of the urinary system and restrain the activity of microbes that have not died, but have become dormant.

By taking other herbs that support immunity, we provide our body with protection from the outside and from the inside, since adequate functioning of the immune system helps to coexist normally with opportunistic microorganisms, controlling their activity.

Thus, treating cystitis with herbs is also a prevention of possible complications. Moreover, it is a safe prevention that can be carried out for a long time without harm to health, which is especially important in the case of a chronic course of the disease.

Read the publications:

• Diuretic herbs for cystitis
• Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial herbs for cystitis
• Herbal collections for cystitis
• Herbs for cystitis caused by viruses and protozoa
• Herbal remedies for cystitis

Where to buy herbs for cystitis?

Many people today are familiar with the disadvantages and effects of synthetic drugs and antibiotics on the body, so they are very reluctant to use them, leaning towards herbal medicine. But the question arises: where to get these very healing herbs?

Herbs for cystitis can be collected independently, but this requires certain knowledge: which part of the herb has the desired effect, when and how it should be harvested, what conditions should be observed, etc. In addition, only those herbs that are collected in ecologically clean places, far from roads and industrial enterprises, not exposed to radioactive irradiation, are valuable. In Ukraine, herbs do not grow in such conditions everywhere. In addition, some medicinal plants do not grow in our regions at all.

When buying herbs and herbal mixtures at the market from old herbalists, you also risk getting a dishonest supplier. It is good if a person has the necessary knowledge and responsibility to buyers, otherwise you can buy a low-quality product and harm your health.

It is best to buy herbs for cystitis in a pharmacy or drugstore. Most of these are certified and tested products, which means you can be sure that all requirements for collecting and dosing herbs are met. The packages also indicate the method of use, possible contraindications, expiration date of the raw materials used and the conditions for their storage.

By the way, in pharmacies you can buy not only herbs, but also herbal medicines, which are actively prescribed by doctors for diseases of the urinary system.

Use during pregnancy

Expectant mothers usually put the health of the child first, and then take care of their own. But cystitis, especially in its acute form, is a disease that simply cannot be ignored, so the woman and her doctor have to choose medications that will help the mother without risking her baby.

Among the herbal pharmaceutical preparations there are those that are prohibited during pregnancy (for example, Cyston), but Kanefron is quite acceptable for pregnant women. The instructions for most preparations indicate that they do not have a toxic or teratogenic effect on the fetus, but during pregnancy, medications can only be taken with the consent of a doctor.

Herbs for cystitis during pregnancy should also be taken with special caution, considering not only their effect on the fetus, but also the effect on the uterine muscles, because the preservation of pregnancy depends on this. Many herbs can cause contractions of the uterus, which is especially dangerous in the early stages, when the fetus is not yet firmly attached inside it and the risk of miscarriage is high. In small doses, such herbs usually do not provoke termination of pregnancy, but the therapeutic effect in this case may be insufficient to stop inflammation of the bladder.

Most of the medicinal herbs used in the treatment of cystitis have a bitter taste, which affects the taste of breast milk. Some herbs are not advisable to give to a small child, even in small doses noted in breast milk (most often due to possible allergic reactions). This means that when breastfeeding, you should be very careful about treating cystitis with herbs and not use such treatment without consulting a doctor.

Conclusion

Herbal medicine is a very popular trend in folk medicine, which is being adopted by an increasing number of people. This is facilitated by the relative cheapness of herbs compared to medical drugs, including those based on plants, a minimum of negative impact on the kidneys and heart, a small number of contraindications and side effects.

Using herbs and their pharmaceutical analogues (combined herbal preparations, teas, medicinal infusions), acute cystitis can be cured much faster. Herbal treatment of chronic cystitis takes much longer, but it is a good opportunity to achieve stable remission without damaging the kidneys and heart due to taking medicinal "chemistry".

Reviews say that a course of effective herbal infusions for six months allows some patients to achieve such results that they do not remember the disease for several years to come. Not all medications give such results in the treatment of chronic cystitis, because chronic diseases are considered practically incurable.

Let's not just claim that herbal treatment of cystitis has only positive reviews. It is not for nothing that doctors insist that therapy should be comprehensive, and herbal treatment is only one of its components. In the most common infectious form of cystitis, the use of only herbal remedies is fraught with serious complications, which is what many people mention.

Complications are also possible with non-infectious inflammation of the bladder, but any inflammation and congestion are fertile ground for the development of infection, which is always present in the body in a latent form. Therefore, even if the infectious agent is not detected in the tests, the possibility of treatment with herbs only should be discussed with a specialist.

The use of herbs for cystitis should be considered, taking into account all possible risks and consequences. Ideally, both drug therapy and herbal recipes should be prescribed by the attending physician, who often knows more about the patient than he does. There is no need to think that urologists are against folk herbal treatment. This would be nonsense, because they understand that nature allows us to effectively treat the disease of the system that most often suffers from the applied chemistry. Doctors welcome the use of herbs and medicinal plants, but within reasonable limits that do not contradict scientifically based approaches to the treatment of cystitis of various origins and forms.