HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR URINARY INCONTINENCE

Urinary incontinence — the loss of bladder control — is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that's so sudden and strong you don't get to a toilet in time.

Though it occurs more often as people get older, urinary incontinence isn't an inevitable consequence of aging. Urinary incontinence occurs in all age groups , the young, the old, males and females.

Causes

Urinary incontinence isn't a disease, it's a symptom. It can be caused by everyday habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems. A thorough evaluation by your doctor can help determine what's behind your incontinence.

Temporary urinary incontinence

Certain drinks, foods and medications may act as diuretics — stimulating your bladder and increasing your volume of urine. They include:

·         Alcohol

·         Caffeine

·         Carbonated drinks and sparkling water

·         Artificial sweeteners

·         Chocolate

·         Chili peppers

·         Foods that are high in spice, sugar or acid, especially citrus fruits

·         Heart and blood pressure medications, sedatives, and muscle relaxants

·         Large doses of vitamin C

Urinary incontinence may also be caused by an easily treatable medical condition, such as:

·         Urinary tract infection. Infections can irritate your bladder, causing you to have strong urges to urinate, and sometimes incontinence.

·         Constipation. The rectum is located near the bladder and shares many of the same nerves. Hard, compacted stool in your rectum causes these nerves to be overactive and increase urinary frequency

Persistent urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence can also be a persistent condition caused by underlying physical problems or changes, including:

·   Pregnancy. Hormonal changes and the increased weight of the fetus can lead to stress incontinence.

·   Childbirth. Vaginal delivery can weaken muscles needed for bladder control and also damage bladder nerves and supportive tissue, leading to a dropped (prolapsed) pelvic floor. With prolapse, the bladder, uterus, rectum or small intestine can get pushed down from the usual position and protrude into the vagina. Such protrusions can be associated with incontinence.

·   Changes with age. Aging of the bladder muscle can decrease the bladder's capacity to store urine. Also, involuntary bladder contractions become more frequent as you get older.

·   Menopause. After menopause women produce less estrogen, a hormone that helps keep the lining of the bladder and urethra healthy. Deterioration of these tissues can aggravate incontinence.

·   Hysterectomy. In women, the bladder and uterus are supported by many of the same muscles and ligaments. Any surgery that involves a woman's reproductive system, including removal of the uterus, may damage the supporting pelvic floor muscles, which can lead to incontinence.

• Enlarged prostate. Especially in older men, incontinence often stems from enlargement of the prostate gland, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Prostate cancer. In men, stress incontinence or urge incontinence can be associated with untreated prostate cancer. But more often, incontinence is a side effect of treatments for prostate cancer.
• Obstruction. A tumor anywhere along your urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine, leading to overflow incontinence. Urinary stones — hard, stone-like masses that form in the bladder — sometimes cause urine leakage.
• Neurological disorders. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, a stroke, a brain tumor or a spinal injury can interfere with nerve signals involved in bladder control, causing urinary incontinence.

Symptoms

Many people experience occasional, minor leaks of urine. Others may lose small to moderate amounts of urine more frequently.

Types of urinary incontinence include:

·         Stress incontinence. Urine leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy.

·         Urge incontinence. You have a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. You may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge incontinence may be caused by a minor condition, such as infection, or a more-severe condition such as a neurologic disorder or diabetes.

·         Overflow incontinence. You experience frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that doesn't empty completely.

·         Functional incontinence. A physical or mental impairment keeps you from making it to the toilet in time. For example, if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to unbutton your pants quickly enough.

·         Mixed incontinence. You experience more than one type of urinary incontinence.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of developing urinary incontinence include:

·         Gender. Women are more likely to have stress incontinence. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and normal female anatomy account for this difference. However, men with prostate gland problems are at increased risk of urge and overflow incontinence.

·         Age. As you get older, the muscles in your bladder and urethra lose some of their strength. Changes with age reduce how much your bladder can hold and increase the chances of involuntary urine release.

·         Being overweight. Extra weight increases pressure on your bladder and surrounding muscles, which weakens them and allows urine to leak out when you cough or sneeze.

·         Smoking. Tobacco use may increase your risk of urinary incontinence.

·         Family history. If a close family member has urinary incontinence, especially urge incontinence, your risk of developing the condition is higher.

·         Other diseases. Neurological disease or diabetes may increase your risk of incontinence.

Complications

Complications of chronic urinary incontinence include:

·         Skin problems. Rashes, skin infections and sores can develop from constantly wet skin.

·         Urinary tract infections. Incontinence increases your risk of repeated urinary tract infections.

·         Impacts on your personal life. Urinary incontinence can affect your social, work and personal relationships.

Prevention

Urinary incontinence isn't always preventable. However, to help decrease your risk:

·         Maintain a healthy weight

·         Practice pelvic floor exercises

·         Avoid bladder irritants, such as caffeine, alcohol and acidic foods

·         Eat more fiber, which can prevent constipation, a cause of urinary incontinence

·         Don't smoke, or seek help to quit smoking

HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance  at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When urinary incontinence  is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

ALFALFA Q--Frequent urge to urinate in elderly persons.  Kidneys are weak  - Increased elimination of urea indicant and phosphates. Polyuria , especially in diabetic patients.

ALUMINA 30—Frequent desire to urinate in old people with slow flow. Difficult starting . Fears he will wet the bed.  Muscles of bladder paretic, must strain at stool in order to urinate. Pain while urinating. Feeling weakness  in bladder and genitals.

BARYTA CARB 30—Incontinence, especially in old people. Urging to urinate, cannot retain the urine.

CANTHARIS 30—Incontinence with constant desire to urinate. This is from cystitis. Much burning, scalding with cutting pains and intolerable urging.

CAUSTICUM 200—Involuntary passage of urine, on coughing, walking , blowing nose, sneezing. Involuntary during first sleep at night, also from slightest excitement . Paralysis of bladder from long retention of urine and consequent incontinence.

CINA 30—Incontinence  in children, especially due to worm troubles. Bed wetting worse every full moon. Urine turbid, white, milky or turn milky on standing.

CLEMATIS ERECTA 30--- Urine stop or starts or dribbles after urination. Has to strain for passing  few drops , then full stream follows.

EQUISETUM HYEMALE Q---Incontinence , especially in children. Bed wetting in children with dreams or night mares when passing urine. Obliged to rise several times at night to urinate. Incontinence in old women, also with involuntary stools.

GUAIACUM OFFICINALIS 30---Irritable bladder in women. Constant desire. Continuous urging even after urination. Sharp stitches while or after urination.

IPECACUANHA  30—Passage of urine while coughing.

KREOSOTUM 30---Bed wetting , especially in the first part of night. Urine very offensive. Bed wetting in children. Urination , hurried and involuntary. Must hurry when desire comes to urinate.

LILIUM TIG. 30—Frequent urging. Constant pressure on bladder with constant desire to urinate with a sensation as of a ball in rectum. Complaints from uterine prolapse.

NATRUM MURIATICUM 30—Involuntary urination on coughing, laughing , sneezing, walking, sitting.

PAREIRA BRAVA 30---Constant urging, great straining, pain down thighs during efforts to urinate. Can emit urine only when he goes on his knees, pressing head firmly against the floor.  

SARSAPARILLA 30—Can pass urine only when standing. Urine dribbles while sitting.

SECALE CORNUTUM 30---Bed wetting due to incontinence in elderly people.  Paralysis of bladder. Retention of urine with unsuccessful urging.

SENECIO AUREUS 30---Great heat and constant urging to urinate. Heat in neck of bladder and constant urging with kidney pain.

SEPIA 200---  Slow urination with bearing down sensation above pelvis. Bed wetting during first part of sleep. Involuntary urination , worse coughing , sneezing, laughing, hearing sudden noise, fright or inattention, especially in women.

STAHYSAGRIA 30—Ineffectual urging to urinate in newly married women. Frequent urging to urinate with scanty or profuse discharge of watery urine, urinates in thin stream or drop by drop.

SULPHUR 200---Frequent urination, especially at night. Bed wetting , especially in scrofulous , untidy children. Painful ineffectual effort to urinate, retention, even cold settles in the bladder.

ZINGIBER OFFICINALIS 30---Frequent desire to urinate. After urinating, continues to ooze in drops.