Irritable Bladder

For an irritable bladder a paste is made in India from amalaki and saffron with rose water and applied over the pubic region. A milk decoction of gokshura or shatavari and gokshura is also used. Gokshura guggul is also effective.

Ayurvedic treatment of urinary tract infections

• To relieve symptoms of urinary tract infections the main herb used is gokshura.

• Turmeric, shilajit, pomegranate (Punka granatum), amalaki, varuna (Crataeva nurvala) and guduchi can also provide relief.

• Tillotson quotes a clinical trial in India using varuna (Crataeva nurvala). Of 84 patients studied, with urinary tract infections accompanied by dysuria, 55% were cured, 40% showed improvement, with a 5% failure rate.

Pitta:

• Since acute infections are usually due to Pitta, to treat them effectively children need to follow an anti-Pitta diet, avoiding all spices (except coriander), and all nightshades particularly tomatoes.

• Guduchi is one of the main anti-Pitta herbs cooling heat and inflammation. One to two ounces of fresh juice is taken with honey or milk three times daily. In this instance I use | tsp of the powder similarly.

• Sandalwood is also used for Pitta conditions with burning urination. It cools heat and has antimicrobial properties. It is often used as sandalwood compound (Chandanadi churna), which includes sandalwood, fennel, long pepper, long pepper root, black pepper and cloves. Its properties are diuretic, alterative, febrifuge and urinary antiseptic. It is generally taken in doses of 1-4 g, 2-3 times per day in water or warm milk.

• Amalaki with turmeric powder and honey can be taken in warm water.

• Triphala powder with ghee and honey will clear toxins and help resolve infection.

• Hot milk with ghee and raw sugar, and sandalwood powder with rice water and raw sugar followed by a drink of warm milk are reputed to bring fast relief in urinary problems such as cystitis.

• Rasayana churna is a powder containing guduchi, gokshura and amalaki which can be taken in warm water. I have used this in my practice with success on numerous occasions.

• Other useful remedies include shilajit, coriander, lemon grass (Cymbopogon spp.), fennel seed and punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa).

• Cranberry, coconut or pomegranate juice can be added to diet to soothe and flush out the urinary tract.

• Cucumber juice mixed with honey and fresh lime is a traditional home remedy for cystitis.

• Sandalwood powder mixed with ltsp of celery seed in a glass of water.

• Half a glass of barley gruel with half a glass of buttermilk.

• The juice of half a lime.

These are all considered excellent diuretics to cool heat and inflammation.

Vata:

Vata urinary tract infections tend to be chronic, low grade and irregular.

• A Vata reducing diet should be followed.

• Herbs should be taken to tonify the kidneys such as ashwagandha, bala and shatavari along with mild diuretics such as lemon grass and / or coriander seed.

• Gokshura guggul is also used in Vata cases.

Kapha:

For Kapha treatment, a Kapha reducing diet is recommended avoiding dairy products and fats.

• Helpful herbs include cinnamon, juniper berries and parsley as tea.

Anti-Kapha formulas such as trikatu can be taken along with shilajit.