Home Remedies for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is referred to as uncontrolled urinary excretion, leading to the sudden leakage or involuntary loss of urine episode wise. It is a very common problem among men and women. According to the National Association for Continence (NAFC), this urological disorder generally affects about 25 million Americans.

Urinary incontinence is divided into three main parts:

Urge incontinence - when hyperactive bladder causes a sudden intense urge of urination.

Stress incontinence - when physical activities are performed like jumping, coughing, sneezing, vigorous exercise or even laughing. These activities put pressure on the bladder so it tends to release urine.

Overflow incontinence - it leads to the frequent urination such as the inability to completely empty the bladder.

Many other factors depend upon the incontinence like age, weakened pelvic floor muscles, surgery for child birth, menopause, enlarged prostate, nerve damage, urinary stones, constipation, and urinary tract infections. Not only this, but there are certain food items that cause involuntary releasing of urine, drinks and types of medications also stimulate your bladder and cause temporary incontinence.

It is a sort of extreme embarrassment and discomfort, especially when you are on your working hours in the office or somewhere in the public place. It would be harmful if urine is left in the bladder; it creates a breeding ground for the bacteria. Incontinence is not actually a disease but it is a symptom that shows urine disorders.

Whenever you are getting near to these symptoms, you first identify the underlying cause by testing your urine in the laboratory. In addition, you can try some simple homemade remedies to get rid of this problem. You would have to adopt different lifestyle by changing your habits to control the urine incontinence. Here the top 10 remedies briefly described below:

1. Pelvic Floor (Kegel) Exercises

If you are at the early stages of urine incontinence, you should do pelvic floor muscles exercises that would be great way to treat this problem. It actually helps in controlling the bladder’s involuntary actions for the sudden leakage in both men and women. Although it provides the less stress and urge incontinence.

Tighten up your pelvic floor muscles and hold them for a count of 8.

Now relax your muscles for a count of 8.

Repeat the exercise for at least 12 times.

Here you can find a simple way to know where actually the pelvic floor muscles located: when you have done urinating and your bladder is now empty, stop urinating in midstream then start again. The muscles you use to do this task are your pelvic floor muscles. You can also take help from a practitioner or physical therapist.

2. Magnesium

You can take magnesium to treat the urinary incontinence, especially when you are suffering with magnesium deficiency in your body, the signs and symptoms are leg cramping at night. Magnesium is a mineral content which is wonderful for muscle relaxation throughout the body. It also helps in reducing the bladder muscle spasms and allows your pelvic floor muscles to completely emptying the bladder.

After consulting your doctor, you can take 350 mg of magnesium hydroxide supplements two times daily for certain weeks.

You should include magnesium-rich foods like bananas, seeds, nuts and yogurt in your diet.

You can soak Epsom salt in your bath water for 20 minutes as Epsom salt is made up of magnesium sulfate so that it gets absorbed in your body.

3. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is also helpful in controlling the urinary incontinence as it maintains the muscle strength. According to the study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, women, who possess higher levels of vitamin D in their bodies are definitely at the risk of developing pelvic floor disorders includes urinary incontinence.

Sit on the sunlight at the early morning for about half an hour daily.

It helps your body to get vitamin D from the sunlight.

Eat foods that are rich in vitamin D such as oysters, fish, egg yolks, milk, and other dairy products.

You can take vitamin D supplements after consulting your doctor.

4. Yoga

Yoga helps in tightening up the muscles that can control the urethral sphincter thus gives benefits similar to kegel exercises. Yoga is good for relieving the stress and anxiety related to the urinary incontinence.

It is proved in the study published in the Journal Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery that yoga therapy program for 6 weeks help in controlling the urinary incontinence in women along with reducing the stress. The women who were willing to take part in the yoga program have been experienced overall 70 percent reduction in the frequent urination and leakage.

So yoga can be done in different poses, the best poses for control urine incontinence would be Root Lock (Mula bandha), Chair pose (utkatasana), Triangle pose (trikonasana) and Squat pose (malasana). Seek the help from an experienced yoga trainer that has knowledge regarding the pelvic floor health. Join yoga class to practice yoga.

5. Gosha-Jinki-Gan

Gosha-jinki-gan is a Chinese traditional herbal medicine that is used to treat the hyperactive gall bladder and incontinence. It is made by combining several other herbs.

Japanese researchers have studies that this herbal medicine is readily helpful in improving the urinary urgency, frequency and nighttime urination in those people who have overactive bladder. Take this Chinese herbal supplement after consulting your doctor for the proper dosage according to your condition.

6. Buchu

Short-leaf buchu (Agathosma betulina) is a great urinary tract tonic which helps in improving the overall urinary system. But it is specifically beneficial for the urinary incontinence disorder caused due to infection in bladder. Buchu contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties so it helps in reducing the infection along with strengthening the tissues associated with urination.

Steep 1 tsp of this buchu herb in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes.

Strain the solution and drink this tea few times daily until you get positive results.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is proved to be an excellent tonic for your health as it removes the toxic substances out of your body and fight against the bladder infections. It also helps in losing the weight because overweight men and women would definitely contribute the urinary incontinence. The fat around your hip and abdomen place extra pressure on your bladder.

Mix 2 tsp of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.

Now add a little amount of honey.

Drink it 3 times daily until you are satisfied with the results.

8. Cleavers

Cleavers is a traditional tonic which is used to treat the urinary problems. Particularly, it is used to treat the cystitis and overactive bladder. It forms a soothing coat along the bladder.

Steep about 3 tsp of cleaver herb in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes.

Strain the solution and drink this tea 3 times daily until you see the improvement.

9. Meditation

Meditation and guided imagery can help you to control your body in order to reduce the urinary incontinence. According to the study published in 2009 in Loyola University Health System researchers, found that guided imagery exercises and deep breathing are concerned with cognitive therapy to control the bladder to reduce the number of urge incontinence episodes per week from 38 to 12.

10. Acupuncture

According to the Chinese medicine, acupuncture is an exercise that helps in reducing the incontinence by strengthening the urinary system and improves the kidneys.

It helps in increasing the ability to hold urine. According to the studies, acupuncture therapy is beneficial in treating the urinary incontinence, but further related studies are still needed.

Seek a qualified acupuncturist to get your acupuncture from. There are some acupressure points present all over your body so for this urinary incontinence, some measure points are included like LI 11, ST 36, BL23, BL28, BL31, BL32, BL39, KI3, GV4, CV3, CV4 and CV6. Most of the important acupressure points for the urinary problems are located on the lower abdomen and lower back.

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