MAILBAG: Ease Bathroom Misses NATURALLY
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted September 27, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
“I’ve been dealing with urinary incontinence for a little over a year. Are there any natural remedies to keep it from happening?”
– Rosemary from Tallahassee, FL
Hi Rosemary,
Urinary incontinence (UI) can have many different causes. It’s essential to see a doctor to have UI properly diagnosed.
Before we talk about what has helped some folks manage their symptoms without drugs, let’s go over some of the most common triggers for this frustrating condition.
UI is often caused by an overactive bladder. When stimulated, the bladder releases a bit of urine. The question is, what’s causing the over-activity?
UI can be the result of certain health conditions, including…
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- nerve damage
- weak pelvic muscles (especially in women who have had children)
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
Certain medications can stimulate UI. These include…
- diuretics (water pills)
- muscle relaxants
- narcotics
- antihistamines
- some blood pressure medications (alpha-adrenergic antagonists)
Anyone battling urinary incontinence who hasn’t seen a doctor yet should make an appointment. Your doc can help you rule out medications and medical conditions to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.
Now let’s talk about a few drug-free solutions. Keep in mind no solution works for everyone, but you may find one or more of these simple approaches helps ease your own symptoms:
Kegel Exercises: Kegels are pelvic floor exercises. Contracting the muscles of your pelvic floor can help make them stronger.
The Mayo Clinic has some simple instructions for doing these easy-to-master exercises.
The key is to do Kegels regularly. They only take a few minutes and can dramatically reduce urinary incontinence.
Avoid Triggers: Many foods can irritate your bladder wall, stimulating urinary incontinence. This list includes caffeine (coffee, chocolate, and soda), alcohol, citrus foods/juices, spicy foods, artificial sweeteners, and sugar.
To find your own triggers, try an elimination diet. You remove each group of potential trigger foods one at a time for two to three weeks.
If there are any improvements, remove the offending foods permanently. If there’s no change, you can go ahead and add it back into your diet.
Double–Voiding: Double-voiding is just what it sounds like. You urinate, wait a few minutes, and then go again.
Double-voiding is a great technique to use before going to bed.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture certainly doesn’t work for everyone with UI. But for some folks, it’s a game changer.
So it may be worth giving this ancient practice a try to see if it helps ease your own symptoms.
P.S. Need a bit more help avoiding those bathroom dashes and unfortunate misses? Researchers say this crucial vitamin can help RELIEVE overactive bladder symptoms.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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