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.
View More Free Articles
Liver Brain Link Will Have You Rethinking Memory Loss
Here’s something that might surprise you… Your liver could be secretly sabotaging your brain health. We know that what happens in the liver doesn’t always stay in the liver. But now, groundbreaking research reveals just how deeply this vital organ’s health is connected to a critical aspect of aging… your memory and thinking skills. Scientists...
Nature’s Pharmacy Knocks Out Long COVID Symptoms
I’ve had many people ask me about Long COVID recently. It’s a big concern because it’s affecting more survivors than you might think. If you’re one of them—before you resign yourself to a life of lingering symptoms—there’s hope on the horizon… And it comes straight from Mother Nature herself. Recent data paints a sobering picture....
11 Hacks to Beat the Winter Blues
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, many of us find ourselves battling more than just the cold weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that strikes during fall and winter, affects millions each year. While the exact causes aren’t fully understood, experts say that seasonal changes disrupt our body’s circadian...
Mailbag: Halt Hair Loss Naturally
“I take a lot of vitamins, but my hair is falling out by the handfuls. I am 85 years old, but don’t have any major health problems that I know of.” – Hair Today Gone Tomorrow Hi Hair Today, I understand your concern about hair loss. Few things make us feel older than our years, quite...
5 Fall Foods to Supercharge Your Immune System
It starts with a tickle in the back of your throat… Or a little sniffle or sneeze—and before you know it, you’re knocked down for the count. Cold and flu season has arrived. If you’ve managed to escape these sneaky little viruses so far, let’s try to keep it that way. Because, let’s be honest,...
Common Chemicals Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep
Do you have trouble sleeping? Many of us blame common causes like afternoon coffee or evening screen time. But what if the real culprit is something you’d never expect—lurking right in your home? New research points to troubling evidence about how everyday chemicals could sabotage your shut-eye… Scientists have uncovered an alarming link between common...
The Forgotten Berry Your Bones Are Craving
Strawberries and blueberries rank first and second as America’s favorite berries. And, of course, cranberries shoot to the top of the list around this time of year. But there’s another underrated berry we should be giving a second look. Especially if you’re a senior concerned about your bone health. Because new research reveals this unassuming...
Gut Hack Helps You Avoid the Flu
Flu season hasn’t ramped up… yet. According to the CDC’s FluView, we’re still hovering at around one percent of the population testing positive for influenza. That’s fantastic news… but it doesn’t mean it’s time to rest. In fact, NOW is the time to prepare, because this is the calm before this season’s storm. As the...
Ditch “Calendar Age” to Live Longer and BETTER
“Age is just a number.” If we’ve heard that phrase once, we’ve heard it a thousand times. So, it’s easy to dismiss the thought. But the truth is, how old you feel is more critical than the number of candles on your birthday cake. Let me explain… Imagine the following scenario… Two 65-year-olds walk into...
5 Reasons to Eat MORE Pumpkin This Fall
When you think of fall, what comes to mind? Colorful leaves? Cozy sweaters? How about pumpkins? Sure, you probably carved one for Halloween, and you may bake a couple cans of it into a pie for Thanksgiving. But what if I told you that this humble squash could ALSO be your secret weapon for staying...