Home remedies

Home remedies for incontinence – Encyclopedia for Medicine & Health

Home remedies for incontinence

Urinary incontinence is when the bladder suddenly empties without your own influence. Even losing a drop of urine is medically referred to as incontinence, which can be temporary or chronic and is often based on urinary tract infections, drainage disorders or excessive internal pressure in the abdominal cavity. In addition to targeted training of the pelvic floor muscles, home remedies such as pumpkin seeds or cranberries are particularly suitable for successfully treating incontinence.

What helps against incontinence?

The classic home remedies for urinary incontinence include pumpkin seeds from the medicinal pumpkin, which are equally suitable for treating men, women and children.

Not to be confused with the commercially available vegetable pumpkins, the seeds of the medicinal pumpkin have a particularly high concentration of phytosterols, which have a positive effect on the urological metabolic process. The pumpkin seeds support the bladder and prostate system in their function and alleviate bladder weakness by strengthening the bladder muscles. The daily intake of a heaping tablespoon of pumpkin seeds is recommended, whereby the therapy should take place over a longer period of time.

The bark of the spice sumac, which is known to many as the women’s bush, also has a high content of phytosterols. Originally from North America, the plant has been used to treat irritable bladder, urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence for more than 120 years. The extract from the spice sumac is often found in combination preparations with the medicinal pumpkin to ensure an anti-inflammatory effect against bladder infections .

The active components of the real goldenrod are also available as a tea. Goldenrod tea has a diuretic and germicidal effect, flushing the urinary tract to flush out bacteria . Real goldenrod also has an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and pain-relieving effect. Real goldenrod is often offered in combination with stinging nettle, horsetail and hops as bladder and kidney tea. This tea should be drunk at least once a day and for several weeks as a preventive measure.

Quick help

A special bladder and pelvic floor training helps to prevent incontinence in everyday life . During bladder training, the lower abdomen should be carefully stroked with the hand and lightly tapped at intervals of about three hours. With a little practice, this can trigger a reflex that results in the bladder being emptied. This training is helpful before having to leave the house and no toilet is available on the way.

In addition, the bladder itself can also be specifically trained. First of all, it should be ensured that the bladder always empties at certain times. It is recommended to keep a diary in which the respective intervals are noted in order to document successes or failures.

The intervals between urinations are then gradually lengthened. Even if there is an urge to urinate, it should be “held” for a brief moment. This automatically trains the pelvic floor muscles, which helps regain bladder control. More targeted exercises for the bladder and pelvic floor can be learned in various courses at educational institutions.

Alternative remedies

The berries and leaves of the cranberry are among the most well-known alternative remedies for incontinence, cystitis and bladder weakness .

The tannic acids and arbutin contained in the lingonberry leaves help against urinary tract infections. Another effective alternative is bearberry leaves with the same mode of action. A tea made from cranberry leaves also prevents bacteria from settling in the bladder and kidneys and should be drunk up to three times a day. The cranberries, on the other hand, can be helpful fresh, dried, cooked or as a juice.

Rich in vitamins A , B and C, cranberries are known for their astringent, antibacterial and diuretic effects. Here, too, an effective alternative can be considered with the cranberry.

In general, fluid intake should never be restricted with urinary incontinence or urinary infection. On the contrary, fluid intake should be increased to benefit from the flushing effect of the bladder. Blisters that are painful and cramped due to inflammation can be relieved and relaxed in a sitz bath with the addition of chamomile. For a sitz bath, either fresh chamomile blossoms or tea bags are added to the bath water, whereby the bath temperature should not exceed 38 degrees Celsius.

Lisa Newlon
Website | + posts

Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.