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
Normal Blood Pressure In 4 Weeks WITHOUT Drugs
High blood pressure affects millions of us. And these hypertension (high blood pressure) medications work, but they often come with unwanted side effects. However, we might have another option. A new study confirms that an often-overlooked root vegetable can help normalize blood pressure FAST… Research conducted by scientists at Queen Mary University of London revealed...
Spice Slashes Age-Related Vision Loss Risk
As you get older, the more likely you are to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In fact, one in seven people over 50 already have some evidence of this vision-robbing disease. That works out to about 1.5 million people. But you don’t have to be one of them. A small change you make starting today...
Four Medicine Cabinet Culprits Making You Fat
Picture this. You’re doing everything “right.” You’re trying to manage your weight by watching portion sizes, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. But the numbers on the scale won’t go down. Even worse, you realize they’ve been slowly CLIMBING. If this sounds familiar, the culprit could be hiding in your medicine cabinet. Keep reading to...
Why Age STEALS Your Sleep—And How to Take It Back
As we journey through life, we may find ourselves becoming unwilling members of the “tossing and turning” club. If you’ve noticed that restful nights are slipping further away with each passing year, you’re not alone. But why does this happen? Let’s shed some light on the causes of age-related sleep changes and explore how you...
Dodge Dementia with this Two Step Back-to-Basics Plan
You know the saying, “Everything old is new again,” right? Well, it turns out for dementia prevention, it’s spot on. In fact, new research supports two “old-school” solutions for protecting brain health. If you thought shielding yourself against dementia would be complicated, let me show you how simple it can be… When I counsel my...
Mailbag: Naturally Target Cholesterol
“I’m being treated for breast cancer. However, I was also recently diagnosed with atherosclerosis. My cholesterol is 249, and I was prescribed Lipitor. I’m on a plant-based diet and sometimes eat wild-caught salmon two to three times a week. What are the best natural ways to lower cholesterol?” -Naturally Cutting Cholesterol Hi Naturally, Your proactive...
Surprising Link Between Balance and Weight REVEALED
Think balance exercises are just for preventing falls? If so, think again. This often-overlooked aspect of fitness could also be the missing piece in your weight loss puzzle—especially as you age. Recent research suggests that improving your balance could be a game-changer for maintaining a healthy weight AND staying steady on your feet. And these...
These Common Kitchen Tools Could Triple Your Cancer Risk
Could you do me a favor? Take a look in your kitchen drawers. Do you spot any black plastic spatulas or spoons? If so, please keep reading… Because researchers have just discovered something about these common kitchen tools, you can’t afford to miss. They could literally be making you sick. Here’s why… A shocking study...
“Habit Stacking” Hack Helps New Year’s Resolutions Stick
We’ve all been there. January 1st rolls around, and we boldly declare, “This is the year I’m going to lose weight!” But by the second Friday of January, most well-intentioned resolutions are already gathering dust. There’s even a name for it… National Quitters Day. In fact, a report by Strava a few years ago shows...
Skip This Dangerous Weight Loss Shortcut
Let’s face it… at this point, the buzz about Ozempic and other weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro is practically deafening. These injectable drugs are hailed as miracle solutions for weight loss and blood sugar control. But this story has a dark side that’s not getting enough attention. Knockoff-brand versions of these drugs are...