Medicinal herbs for cystitis: how to apply 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 sore male problem called “prostatitis”, which is actually an inflammatory process in the prostate gland. But few people talk about the 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-proven treatment regimen that is still relevant today. However, a doctor who is virtuoso in medicine does not always have sufficient information regarding alternative remedies, which are very relevant in this situation.

What is cystitis?

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

For the time being, these neighbors coexist peacefully with a person, populating the skin and mucous membranes, but, having felt weakness, they begin active reproduction. An increase in the "livestock" of opportunistic microorganisms leads to the 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 associated reproductive system, because microbes multiply and capture new "lands". It is not uncommon for a person with cystitis to have inflammation of the organs in direct contact with the bladder.

Inflammation, which implies hyperemia (redness) and tissue swelling, 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, pain during urination. The inflamed organ cannot effectively perform its functions. Irritation of the receptors at the slightest load on the bladder causes frequent unjustified urge 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 may also appear during an inflammatory process in the urinary system of a different localization (for example, with inflammation of the kidneys) or causes (for example, urolithiasis). But the localization and nature of pain allows the doctor to assume cystitis, which is subsequently confirmed by diagnostic studies.

Cystitis can occur in acute and chronic form. In the first case, the disease is accompanied by severe pains of a spasmodic nature, for the removal of which both medications and herbs for cystitis can be used. In the chronic course of the disease, herbs are even more preferable, because the treatment of this form is long, and the chemicals in the composition of 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 peculiarities of the structure of the genitourinary system. The short and wide urethra (compared to the male) predisposes to the redistribution of microorganisms that are always present on our body. Especially a lot of opportunistic, and sometimes pathogenic, transmitted during sexual contact, microbes in the anus and vagina. From here they easily move to the entrance to the urethra, and from there they rise to the bladder.

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

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

In women, the predisposition to infectious inflammation of the bladder is the very structure of the genitourinary system. They get sick more often than men, and therefore more actively use herbs for cystitis. In addition, many women are future 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 the urethra, where inflammation is usually localized. The narrow and long urethra is not conducive to further travel towards the bladder. But microbes can get into it in another way. For example, from the prostate (no wonder it is believed that cystitis is one of the complications of prostatitis) or kidneys (with pyelonephritis).

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

As you can see, men also have many factors that can cause such an unpleasant disease. Even if the statistics are more favorable to them, nevertheless, it would also be nice for the stronger sex to be guided in matters of what herbs can be used for cystitis in men, if suddenly the bladder becomes engulfed in an inflammatory process.

Treatment of cystitis with herbs

You can talk a lot about cystitis for a long time. This insidious disease can catch a person suddenly, reminding him of himself with unpleasant symptoms: frequent urges for small needs and painful urination, in which discomfort in the lower abdomen noticeably intensifies.

From 50 to 60% of women of reproductive age who do not suffer from physical inactivity and stagnant processes, and less than 1% of men, face such a problem at least once. And this despite the fact that the urinary system is designed to remove harmful substances from the body, and its dysfunction causes serious poisoning that affects 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 recurrence of the disease (reactivation of the infection), pathogens (or allergens) must be removed 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 case, they are treated with diuretics, which allow them to actively remove all unnecessary from the body with urine and prevent congestion. The second way is less traumatic, more pleasant, quite effective and quite safe if medicinal plants are used. Among the diuretics used for cystitis, there are many herbs and herbal preparations, the effectiveness of which is confirmed by traditional medicine.

There are many medicinal herbs that have a diuretic effect, and this is what is necessary for effective natural cleaning (washing, rinsing) of the bladder. But, even after removing 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 by a “command”.

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

It must 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 reduce the course of antibiotic treatment or reduce their dosage.

It is clear that in case of a serious infection, one cannot rely only on herbs, because their effect is weaker and applies mainly to opportunistic microflora, reducing its activity. At the same time, many pathogens will not die, but will only hide in the bladder, waiting for the right moment, and the disease will thus become chronic, aggravated by the slightest hypothermia and a decrease in protective forces.

Chronic diseases are diseases that occur over a long period of time with periods of remission and exacerbation. They deplete the body and make it easier prey for pathogens. To cure such a disease is very, very difficult. Here it is important to prevent the spread of infection to other organs, i.e. Complications arising as a result of the weakening of the protective forces.

It will take a lifetime to treat a chronic disease, but constantly using antibiotics and other drugs (and they are excreted mainly by the kidneys), we risk earning 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 inhibit the activity of microbes that have not died, but turned into a dormant state.

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

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

Read publications:

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• herbal remedies for cystitis

Where to buy herbs for cystitis?

Many people today are familiar with the shortcomings and effects on the body of synthetic drugs and antibiotics, so they are very reluctant to use them, tending to 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: what part of the herb has the desired effect, when and how it needs to be harvested, what conditions must be observed, etc. In addition, only those herbs that are collected in ecologically clean places, away from roads and industrial enterprises, that are not exposed to radioactive irradiation, are of value. In Ukraine, not everywhere grasses grow in such conditions. In addition, some medicinal plants do not grow in our regions at all.

Buying herbs and fees on the market from old herbalists, you also run the risk of falling into a dishonest purveyor. It is good if a person has the necessary knowledge and responsibility to buyers, otherwise you can buy low-quality goods and harm your health.

It is best to buy herbs for cystitis in a pharmacy or pharmacy kiosks. This is for the most part a certified and tested product, which means you can be sure that all the requirements for the collection and dosage of herbs are met. The packs also indicate the method of application, possible contraindications, the expiration date of the raw materials used and the conditions for its storage.

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

Use during pregnancy

Expectant mothers usually put the child's health first, and then take care of their own. But cystitis, especially in its acute form, is such a disease that it is simply impossible to ignore, so the woman and her doctor have to choose such medicines that will help mom without risk to her baby.

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

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

Most of the 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 suggests that when breastfeeding, the treatment of cystitis with herbs should be taken very carefully and not used such treatment without consulting a doctor.

Conclusion

Herbal medicine is a very popular direction in alternative medicine, which is joined by an increasing number of people. This is facilitated by the relative cheapness of herbs compared to medicines, including herbal preparations, a minimum of negative effects on the kidneys and heart, a small number of contraindications and side effects.

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

Reviews suggest that a course of effective herbal preparations for six months allows some patients to achieve such results that they do not remember the disease for the next few years. Not all drugs give such a result in the treatment of chronic cystitis, because chronic diseases are considered practically incurable.

We will not unsubstantiatedly assert that the treatment of cystitis with herbs has only positive reviews. It is not in vain that doctors insist that therapy should be complex, and herbal treatment should be only one of its components. With 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 stagnant processes 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.

It is necessary to use herbs for cystitis deliberately, taking into account all sorts of risks and consequences. Ideally, both drug therapy and herbal prescriptions should be prescribed by the attending physician, who often knows more about the patient than he does. It is not necessary to think that urologists are against alternative herbal treatment. This would be nonsense, because they understand that nature allows you to effectively treat the disease of the system that most often suffers from the chemistry used. Doctors welcome the use of herbs and medicinal plants, but within reasonable limits, not contradicting scientifically based approaches to the treatment of cystitis of various origins and forms.