Natural Cures for Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder can make you feel as though you are losing control of your life. You refrain from leaving the house for extended periods of time, stop physical activities that may lead to urge incontinence and shy away from social events, fearing discomfort or public humiliation. Dealing with an overactive bladder is challenging but you can find control and cures through natural alternatives.

Exercise

• One of the reasons that an overactive bladder creates such a problem is that the muscles controlling the bladder are weak and unable to contain the urge to urinate. This results in urge incontinence. You can improve the strength of these muscles in a few ways. The first is to lose weight and improve overall muscle tone in the body. This reduces pressure on the bladder and can reduce urges. Additionally, you can train your bladder to hold for longer periods of time by holding for an extra five or 10 minutes to start with, and increase time as you build stamina and strength. Kegel exercises bolster the pelvic muscles that hold the urine in, helping prevent incontinence.

Herbal Remedies

• There are many herbal formulas that can help with overactive bladder, particularly some used for centuries in Asian medical practices. You can consult a Chinese herbalist who can provide you with pharmaceutical-grade herbs to treat overactive bladder.

  The herbs most often used in overactive-bladder formulas are alpinia oxyphilla (part of the ginger family that helps in absorption), Asiatic dogwood, panax ginseng, valerian and schisandra chinensis, known to help balance body functions.

Flotrol

• Flotrol is a natural concoction that helps reduce the symptoms of overactive bladder, strengthening the sphincter muscles that are used to start or stop urination. As these muscles get stronger, you gain more control over your bladder.

  Flotrol is a combination of soy-germ and pumpkin-seed extracts. Soy is thought to be beneficial in maintaining a healthy bladder, while pumpkin seeds have been used for centuries to promote a healthy urinary tract.