Herbs for Bladder Problems

Urinary tract infections can be an uncomfortable and recurring problem, and Western medications often have side effects that are harsh and worse than the infection itself. Herbs offer a safe and gentle alternative treatment for bladder problems. Coupled with a healthy regimen of extra water, herbal treatment can help quickly soothe and heal your bladder problems. However, if the infection does not clear up within a day or two, see your doctor.

How to Take Herbs

• Though most commonly found in powdered form, most herbs are most effectively taken by droplet in an oral tincture. A tincture is an alcohol solution of the herb extract. Powdered herbs in capsules are effective and are more common and more affordable then herbs in tinctures, but herbalists consider tinctures to be more effective. The number of droplets you need will vary depending on the type of herb and concentration of the tincture.

Cranberry

• Cranberry is a fruit that is often recommended by Western doctors to patients who complain of urinary tract or bladder problems. In herbal medicine, an herb can be a fruit or a vegetable and can sometimes contain animal parts such as deer antler.
  When taken orally, herbs are most effective when prepared in a tincture, even cranberry. If a tincture is unavailable, you can take cranberry in juice, as dried cranberry or as the cranberry sauce you relish during the holidays. The most healthful way to take cranberry juice to heal your bladder is to drink pure cranberry juice with no added sugar or other juices mixed in as a blend. Cranberry juice cocktail can often have a lot of sugar, and excess sugar can feed an existing infection.
  If you are taking cranberry to heal your urinary tract, the treatment will be most effective if you also drink 10 to 12 glasses of water per day until your bladder feels better.

Grapefruit Seed Extract and Acidophilus

• According to "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook" by Tillotson et al., if you suffer from frequent bladder infections, you should prepare a solution of five drops of grapefruit seed extract in four to six ounces of water, and use the solution to wash your genitals, especially before and after having sexual intercourse. Grapefruit seed extract has powerful antibiotic properties that can help clear up any external infections that might be triggering urinary tract difficulties.
  "One Earth" recommends taking an oral acidophilus supplement along with your grapefruit seed extract wash regimen. Acidophilus is an active culture that you can get from the right yogurt. If a yogurt has acidophilus in it, it will state that it contains active acidophilus cultures on the label.

Lemon Juice

• A urinary tract infection can result if your body's pH is out of balance. "One Earth" recommends four ounces of lemon juice per day to "increase urinary citrate levels and lower urinary calcium secretion." This can reduce the formation of urinary stones, which can damage your bladder and increase the chance of infection. You can enjoy the lemon juice as six glasses of lemonade with artificial sweetener, which will provide plenty of bladder-healing water and keep the infection-breeding sugar to a minimum.

Uva Ursi

• Uva ursi is a diuretic that can help heal the bladder of infection. Uva ursi should be used with care because it can become an irritant at higher doses. The University of Maryland guide to uva ursi suggests a dosage of two to four grams of dried leaves per day.
  According to "The Pharmacy Guide to Herbal Remedies" by Jan de Vries, uva ursi is often combined in a blend with echinacea, which stimulates white blood cells to fight infection. Uva ursi is not for children, and you shouldn't take uva ursi if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.