Cystitis
Cystitis
Nearly half of all women will experience a painful attack of cystitis at some point in their lives.
What is cystitis?
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, and it can be the result of infection, irritation, or bruising, or even a combination of these three factors. Women are more prone to cystitis than men because the tube (urethra) that runs from the bladder to the outside of the body is much shorter (about 5cm/2ins) in women than it is in men (about 18cm/7ins). This means that bacteria can more easily travel to a woman's bladder than it can a man's. What's more, the opening to the urethra is close to both the anus and the vagina in women (in men, it's quite a distance away), which provides even easier access for bacteria to enter the urethra and to make its way up to the bladder.
What symptoms can you experience?
The symptoms of cystitis make the diagnosis crystal clear, and if you have ever suffered from cystitis in the past, you'll recognise them immediately. The two most common symptoms of cystitis are:
— An overwhelming urge to urinate every few minutes, normally with little urine to pass .
— Burning pain during urination.
Other symptoms may include:
— Dragging pains in the lower abdomen and back
— Nausea and vomiting
— A painful burning sensation at the outer end of the urethra
— Dark, often foul-smelling urine, which may also contain some traces of blood
— Fever, if there is an infection present
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What are your choices?
The natural approach to cystitis involves treating the underlying cause of cystitis while encouraging your body to heal itself. The fundamental aim is to help you restore your health so that you are less susceptible to future attacks of cystitis.
Supplements
The supplements recommended below have been studied in clinical trials and have been found to be effective in connection with cystitis. For best results you should take them over a period of three months, at the end of which you should be reassessed in order to monitor improvements and changes and then adjust the supplement programme according to your new condition.
The aim is to use supplements that have been found to have a beneficial effect in the treatment of cystitis – partly because they promote a good acid/alkaline balance and also because they try to prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary system and the bladder. The supplements are also designed to help restore your health, which will naturally encourage your immune system to eliminate any unhealthy bacteria.
Multivitamin and Mineral
A good quality multivitamin and mineral would form the foundation of your supplement programme to make sure that you are getting a 'little bit of everything'. You then add in those nutrients in slightly higher amounts which are known to be helpful for cystitis.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an important vitamin in all cases of infection, and it also helps to boost immune activity. Many studies have shown that vitamin C helps to increase immune function. In the case of cystitis, vitamin C has been shown particularly to inhibit the growth of E. coli. Buy the vitamin C in an ascorbate form (the label will read magnesium or calcium ascorbate). If the label says 'ascorbic acid', it will be too acidic for cystitis sufferers.
Beta-carotene
Vitamin A and beta-carotene (the precursor to vitamin A, found in brightly coloured fruits and vegetables) help to maintain healthy cells. By keeping cells healthy, you are more likely to prevent an invasion by bacteria. Vitamin A is also important for a healthy immune system.
Bromelain
This is a digestive enzyme that comes from pineapples. Bromelain is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been shown to have a beneficial effect on urinary tract infections, including cystitis.
Back toTop
Zinc
Zinc is an important mineral for the immune system and it needs to be taken both when an infection is present and to prevent a recurrence. It is recognised for it anti-infectious properties (in other words, it can help to prevent an infection from taking hold).
Lactobacillus acidophilus
This probiotic helps to restore the 'good' or 'healthy' bacteria (known as flora) in your body. When you have an attack of cystitis it may be beneficial to use a vaginal cream that contains acidophilus as well as taking it orally. Lactobacillus acidophilus is available in a variety of different forms, including tablets and live organic yoghurts. For best effect, you should try to incorporate all of these forms into your diet when you are suffering from an attack.
Cranberry
We've known for some time that cranberries help cystitis and that they significantly reduce the bacteria associated with urinary tract infections. It was originally believed that cranberry juice reduced the symptoms of cystitis by making the urine more acidic - obviously not a desirable effect, as it is the acidic urine that causes the burning sensation.
We now know that cranberries work in a complexly different way. It seems that certain substances called condensed tannins in cranberries can stop bacteria such as E. coli from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract.
For bacteria to infect your urinary tract, they must first stick to the mucosal (mucous membrane lining) walls of the tract. If they are unable to do so, they cannot multiply and are flushed from the body when you urinate. If you have had chronic cystitis in the past, it is worth using cranberries as a preventative measure.
Garlic
Garlic has often been called 'nature's antibiotic' and it has been found to control many bacteria which have been implicated in cystitis such as E coli, proteus, klebsiella and staphylococcus.
Back toTop
Herbs (see caution below)
Specific herbs are chosen to help reduce the amount of bacteria present, soothe the inflamed tissue and to boost your immune system to fight off this bacteria. The best approach is to use herbs that do both of these things at the same time.
Echinacea
In order to fight off infections without the need for antibiotics, and to prevent further infections causing cystitis, you will need to strengthen your immune system. Echinacea is the herb of choice here, as it has been shown to increase the white blood cell count and activity in order to effectively engulf bacteria and viruses.
Echinacea appears to be more effective when taken on and off. I suggest taking it for 10 days, then taking a break of three days before repeating for another 10 days.
Caution
You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertillity drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.
For more information on which herbs to use with cystitis, see the rest of the Cystitis e-book at The Natural Health Practice chapter which you can download.
Tests
Tests are extremely useful, in that they can tell you what deficiencies you have at the moment and then for you to know what supplements would be useful to take to correct those deficiencies. You would then be re-tested after three to four months to monitor your progress and to adjust the supplement programme accordingly.
Mineral Analysis Test with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
This test measures the deficiency and excess levels of 7 different minerals and 5 heavy toxic metals that may be present in your body.
Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
The analysis of this comprehensive questionnaire will give you a three monthly supplement programme to help balance any vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may have.
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Cystitis options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
Back toTop
Plan of Action
Nutrition
Ensure you are getting the right nutrition:
Follow dietary recommendations outlined on The Foundation of Health page
And for more information on the special dietary recommendations for cystitis, see the rest of the chapter onCystitis e-book at The Natural Health Practice
Supplements
The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results
A good multivitamin and mineral supplement
Vitamin C at 500mg four times per day when the cystitis is present (use the calcium or magnesium ascorbate form of vitamin C, not ascorbic acid)
Beta-carotene ( 25,000 iu per day)
Zinc (30mg per day)
Bromelain ( 500mg, 3 times a day between meals)
Cranberry supplements
Acidophilus
Echinacea
At the end of three months you should reassess your condition and adjust your supplement programme accordingly.
Tests
The tests below have been specially selected to be the most helpful if you are concerned about cystitis.
Mineral Analysis Test with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Cystitis options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
The section above forms part of a larger complete e-book on Cystitis. In the rest of the e-boo you will learn what the medical approaches to cystitis are and how to combine them with the natural approach. This is called Integrated Medicine and is the way that healthier of the future is moving towards. You will also learn what medical tests will give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition and if you really need to have them. The medical treatments for cystitis are then examined which can include looking at either drugs or surgery. Each treatment is then discussed and the pros and cons of the options explained. The Integrated Approach to cystitis is considered in some detail so that if appropriate you can know how to combine the best of both conventional and natural medicine.
At the end of the e-book is a practical step by step summary of what you can do to help yourself.
If you would like to read the rest of this e-book click, Cystitis e-book at The Natural Health Practice and you will be given details of how you can download the whole e-book.
Nearly half of all women will experience a painful attack of cystitis at some point in their lives.
What is cystitis?
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, and it can be the result of infection, irritation, or bruising, or even a combination of these three factors. Women are more prone to cystitis than men because the tube (urethra) that runs from the bladder to the outside of the body is much shorter (about 5cm/2ins) in women than it is in men (about 18cm/7ins). This means that bacteria can more easily travel to a woman's bladder than it can a man's. What's more, the opening to the urethra is close to both the anus and the vagina in women (in men, it's quite a distance away), which provides even easier access for bacteria to enter the urethra and to make its way up to the bladder.
What symptoms can you experience?
The symptoms of cystitis make the diagnosis crystal clear, and if you have ever suffered from cystitis in the past, you'll recognise them immediately. The two most common symptoms of cystitis are:
— An overwhelming urge to urinate every few minutes, normally with little urine to pass .
— Burning pain during urination.
Other symptoms may include:
— Dragging pains in the lower abdomen and back
— Nausea and vomiting
— A painful burning sensation at the outer end of the urethra
— Dark, often foul-smelling urine, which may also contain some traces of blood
— Fever, if there is an infection present
Back toTop
What are your choices?
The natural approach to cystitis involves treating the underlying cause of cystitis while encouraging your body to heal itself. The fundamental aim is to help you restore your health so that you are less susceptible to future attacks of cystitis.
Supplements
The supplements recommended below have been studied in clinical trials and have been found to be effective in connection with cystitis. For best results you should take them over a period of three months, at the end of which you should be reassessed in order to monitor improvements and changes and then adjust the supplement programme according to your new condition.
The aim is to use supplements that have been found to have a beneficial effect in the treatment of cystitis – partly because they promote a good acid/alkaline balance and also because they try to prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary system and the bladder. The supplements are also designed to help restore your health, which will naturally encourage your immune system to eliminate any unhealthy bacteria.
Multivitamin and Mineral
A good quality multivitamin and mineral would form the foundation of your supplement programme to make sure that you are getting a 'little bit of everything'. You then add in those nutrients in slightly higher amounts which are known to be helpful for cystitis.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an important vitamin in all cases of infection, and it also helps to boost immune activity. Many studies have shown that vitamin C helps to increase immune function. In the case of cystitis, vitamin C has been shown particularly to inhibit the growth of E. coli. Buy the vitamin C in an ascorbate form (the label will read magnesium or calcium ascorbate). If the label says 'ascorbic acid', it will be too acidic for cystitis sufferers.
Beta-carotene
Vitamin A and beta-carotene (the precursor to vitamin A, found in brightly coloured fruits and vegetables) help to maintain healthy cells. By keeping cells healthy, you are more likely to prevent an invasion by bacteria. Vitamin A is also important for a healthy immune system.
Bromelain
This is a digestive enzyme that comes from pineapples. Bromelain is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been shown to have a beneficial effect on urinary tract infections, including cystitis.
Back toTop
Zinc
Zinc is an important mineral for the immune system and it needs to be taken both when an infection is present and to prevent a recurrence. It is recognised for it anti-infectious properties (in other words, it can help to prevent an infection from taking hold).
Lactobacillus acidophilus
This probiotic helps to restore the 'good' or 'healthy' bacteria (known as flora) in your body. When you have an attack of cystitis it may be beneficial to use a vaginal cream that contains acidophilus as well as taking it orally. Lactobacillus acidophilus is available in a variety of different forms, including tablets and live organic yoghurts. For best effect, you should try to incorporate all of these forms into your diet when you are suffering from an attack.
Cranberry
We've known for some time that cranberries help cystitis and that they significantly reduce the bacteria associated with urinary tract infections. It was originally believed that cranberry juice reduced the symptoms of cystitis by making the urine more acidic - obviously not a desirable effect, as it is the acidic urine that causes the burning sensation.
We now know that cranberries work in a complexly different way. It seems that certain substances called condensed tannins in cranberries can stop bacteria such as E. coli from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract.
For bacteria to infect your urinary tract, they must first stick to the mucosal (mucous membrane lining) walls of the tract. If they are unable to do so, they cannot multiply and are flushed from the body when you urinate. If you have had chronic cystitis in the past, it is worth using cranberries as a preventative measure.
Garlic
Garlic has often been called 'nature's antibiotic' and it has been found to control many bacteria which have been implicated in cystitis such as E coli, proteus, klebsiella and staphylococcus.
Back toTop
Herbs (see caution below)
Specific herbs are chosen to help reduce the amount of bacteria present, soothe the inflamed tissue and to boost your immune system to fight off this bacteria. The best approach is to use herbs that do both of these things at the same time.
Echinacea
In order to fight off infections without the need for antibiotics, and to prevent further infections causing cystitis, you will need to strengthen your immune system. Echinacea is the herb of choice here, as it has been shown to increase the white blood cell count and activity in order to effectively engulf bacteria and viruses.
Echinacea appears to be more effective when taken on and off. I suggest taking it for 10 days, then taking a break of three days before repeating for another 10 days.
Caution
You should not take any of the above herbs if you are taking, The Pill, Fertillity drugs, HRT or any other hormonal treatment or other medication unless they are recommended by a registered, experienced practitioner.
For more information on which herbs to use with cystitis, see the rest of the Cystitis e-book at The Natural Health Practice chapter which you can download.
Tests
Tests are extremely useful, in that they can tell you what deficiencies you have at the moment and then for you to know what supplements would be useful to take to correct those deficiencies. You would then be re-tested after three to four months to monitor your progress and to adjust the supplement programme accordingly.
Mineral Analysis Test with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
This test measures the deficiency and excess levels of 7 different minerals and 5 heavy toxic metals that may be present in your body.
Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
The analysis of this comprehensive questionnaire will give you a three monthly supplement programme to help balance any vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may have.
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Cystitis options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
Back toTop
Plan of Action
Nutrition
Ensure you are getting the right nutrition:
Follow dietary recommendations outlined on The Foundation of Health page
And for more information on the special dietary recommendations for cystitis, see the rest of the chapter onCystitis e-book at The Natural Health Practice
Supplements
The supplement programme below should be taken for at least three months in order to achieve best results
A good multivitamin and mineral supplement
Vitamin C at 500mg four times per day when the cystitis is present (use the calcium or magnesium ascorbate form of vitamin C, not ascorbic acid)
Beta-carotene ( 25,000 iu per day)
Zinc (30mg per day)
Bromelain ( 500mg, 3 times a day between meals)
Cranberry supplements
Acidophilus
Echinacea
At the end of three months you should reassess your condition and adjust your supplement programme accordingly.
Tests
The tests below have been specially selected to be the most helpful if you are concerned about cystitis.
Mineral Analysis Test with Supplement and Nutritional Assessment Programme
Online Personalised Supplement Assessment Programme
After three months you would then have a re-test in order to monitor your progress and adjust your supplement programme according to your new condition.
If you need help in obtaining any of the supplements, herbs or tests mentioned above, click, Cystitis options at The Natural Health Practice. They can supply all of them for you online or if you prefer to talk to somebody first you can also order by mail order on the telephone. The products supplied by this company are always of the highest quality.
The section above forms part of a larger complete e-book on Cystitis. In the rest of the e-boo you will learn what the medical approaches to cystitis are and how to combine them with the natural approach. This is called Integrated Medicine and is the way that healthier of the future is moving towards. You will also learn what medical tests will give you an accurate diagnosis of your condition and if you really need to have them. The medical treatments for cystitis are then examined which can include looking at either drugs or surgery. Each treatment is then discussed and the pros and cons of the options explained. The Integrated Approach to cystitis is considered in some detail so that if appropriate you can know how to combine the best of both conventional and natural medicine.
At the end of the e-book is a practical step by step summary of what you can do to help yourself.
If you would like to read the rest of this e-book click, Cystitis e-book at The Natural Health Practice and you will be given details of how you can download the whole e-book.
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