Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Ayurveda With Herbal Remedies
Abstract
Peeping through the windows of your picnic van listening to your favorite music awaiting adventures, all of a sudden you feel distracted. Your bladder is full, you cannot control the urge to pee and you feel reckless. Have you ever been through this ?? Don’t feel embarrassed it is just a symptom, not a disease
The liquid waste
Urine is the body’s liquid waste composed of water, chemicals and electrolytes. These are produced within the kidney as a result of the filtration of toxins and are excreted out through the urinary bladder. The bladder is lined by muscles that allow infrequent and controlled urination.
Overactive bladder (OAB)
OAB is the sudden, uncontrolled urge to urinate. The bladder muscles squeeze uncontrollably causing some urine to leak out.
OAB is characterized by
- Unintentional loss of urine
- Nocturia
- Frequent urge to urinate ie urinate more than 8 times a day
Causes
The bladder is controlled by a group of organs and muscles together. Overactive bladder results when the normal bladder function is disrupted. The involuntary bladder contraction releases the urine outside.
Other causes include
- Nerve damage
- Weak pelvic muscles
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Degenerative disc disease
- Urinary incontinence
- Medications
- Stroke
- Scoliosis
- DIabetes
- Urinary Tract Infections
- BPH
- Constipation
Complications
OAB can disrupt your daily life. It may lead to
- Emotional disturbances
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances
Treat the cause
Don’t isolate yourself or limit your social life
- Behavioral exercises
- Bladder training
- Pelvic muscle
- Medications
- Nerve stimulation
Mutra
Ayurveda considers tri dosha is vata, pitta, kapha and trimala i.e. urine, stool and sweat as tripods of life that sustains the body. Urine, which is the chief among trimala, should be avoided. It is one among non-suppressible urges and should not be forcefully ejected.
The cause might be
- Suppression of urges
- Trauma
- Incompatible food
- Malnutrition
- Infections
- Physical and mental strain
- Underlying diseases
- Smoking, alcohol etc
Mutravaha srotas and vikaras
Mutravaha srotas are those channels that carry urine outside, any injury or trauma to those can lead to
- Excessive urination
- Frequent scanty urination
- Obstruction
- Painful urination etc
Mutra Vaha srotas vikaras: care for cure
Out of the many available herbs around, urinary disorders can be cured by a group of drugs which includes :-
- Gokshura- Tribulus terrestris
- Jambu – Syzygium cumini
- Yashtimadhu – Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Punarnava – Boerhavia diffusa
- Chandana – Santalum album
- Varuna – Crataeva nurvala
- Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia
In Ayurveda, the holistic science, the balanced state of tridosha maintains equilibrium of the body and provides good health. The imbalance of these humors causes urinary disorders. The remedy for urinary tract illnesses involves cleansing out the blocked urinary tract, detoxification of the infections, and administering herbs that tone the kidneys and normalize the functioning of the apana vata.
Some include
1. Gokshuradi kashayam
This decoction calms tridosha and is effective in urinary disorders. These are a mixture of gokshura, ardraka , rasona etc.
2. Gokshuradi guggulu
It is a mixture of several drugs with beneficial properties. It contains gokshura which acts as a diuretic and has lithotrophic action. It also has guggulu which adds to the diuretic action and relieves pain and inflammation.
- Pashanbedhadhi kashayam
- Ikshu rasa
Panchakarma in mutravikaras
Panchakarma has always played a major role in dealing with urogenital abnormalities . The treatment modalities include
- Snehapana
- Abhyanga
- Swedana
- Enema
- Purgation
Herbal Remedies By Planet Ayurveda
Planet ayurveda is a GMP certified company offering herbal products all over the world. All these products are 100 % safe and prepared using the standardized extract of herbs. These formulations are prepared under the strict guidance of expert ayurveda physicians by following classical ayurvedic texts. Planet ayurveda experts give lots of formulations for overactive bladder , some of them are listed below
1. Shilajit capsules
Shilajit, being the most potent herbal mineral compound, has always remained a potent healer in most ailments since ancient times. Shilajit / Asphaltum which is a rich source of nutrients and minerals helps in preventing urinary disorders. Planet Ayurveda’s Shilajit cap is a pure extract of Shilajit resin and is completely organic. The diuretic action of it is attributed to the presence of humic acid and fulvic acid. These act on the tri dosha, being light and dry, these pacify kapha and vata dosha. The pungent taste and cold potency of the herb detoxify pitta. Shilajit has antibacterial properties too.
Dosage: 2 capsules with lukewarm water twice a day.
2. Chandraprabha Vati
The most substantial anti-inflammatory drug in urinary disorders, chanderprabha vati is a combination of 37 vital ingredients. As the name implies it is effective as the aura of the moon and pacifies multitudes of diseases. Guggulu / Commiphora mukul and Shilajit- Asphaltum being the major contributors to the combination have Sugar, Karpoora – Cinnamomum camphora , Ativisha – Aconitum heterophyllum, Haridra – Curcuma longa, Vacha – Acorus calamu, Musta – Cyperus rotundus, Amlaki – Emblica officinalis, Haritaki – Terminalia bellirica, Vibhitaki – Terminalia chebula, Chavya – Piper chaba, Bhunimba – Andrographis paniculata, Vidanga – Embelia ribes, Devadar – Cedrus deodara, Dhanya – Coriander sativum, Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia, Chitraka– Plumbago zeylanica, Shunthi – Zingiber officinalis, Darvi – Berberis aristata, Maricha – Piper nigrum, Pippali – Piper longum, Pippali mool – Piper longum, Gaja pippali – Piper chaba, Sarjikakshara – Sodium carbonate, Yavakshar – Potassium carbonate, Saindhava Lavana – Rock salt, Suvarchala Lavan – Sodium sulfate, Vida Lavan – Black salt Swarna Makshika bhasma – Copper pyrites, Trivrit – Operculina turpethum,Danti mool – Baliospermum montanum, Dalchini – Cinnamomum zeylanicum ,Tejpatta – Cinnamomum tamala , Ela – Elettaria cardamomum , Vankshalochana – Bambusa arundinacea, Lauha Bhashma – Ferric ash as the remaining ingredients. Due to its pitta balancing effect, chandraprabha helps to control burning sensation. It helps in balancing vata and kapha. Chanderprabha helps in the prevention of toxins and removes them through urine.
Dosage : 1-2 tablets twice or thrice daily with lukewarm water
3. Tribulus power capsules
Tribulus Power, a distinctive product of Planet Ayurveda contains a unique blend of special herb Gokshura – Tribulus terrestris which are useful in many urinary tract disorders. Gokshura is known for its action on the urinary system. The antioxidants present in it prevent kidney damage. It is sweet in taste and cold in potency. Gokshura is a diuretic and can pacify tridosha.
Dosage: 2 capsules twice a day after food with plain water.
4. Ashwagandha capsules
Ashwagandha / Withania somnifera, is the most powerful herb in Ayurveda. It is rich in natural alkaloids and has diuretic action for which it is beneficial in urinary disorders. It keeps the excretory tract clean and disease-free.
Dosage: 1- 2 capsules daily with plain water after food.
Diet and lifestyle changes for urinary problems
- Reduce spicy foods
- Include fiber in the diet
- Limit exposure to the sun
- Do not suppress the urge to urinate
- Yoga therapy
Conclusion
Ayurveda has a holistic approach to dealing with every disease. Every person is treated individually based on his strength, symptoms and body constitution. In urinary disorders, the management is duly based on the unbalanced dosa. The vitiated dosa is taken care of with the help of medicinal herbs. Overactive bladder may seem overwhelming, but you’re not alone in this, Ayurveda provides a better solution to your problem. Your wonderful life shouldn’t be spent all day in a bathroom, running away from your favorites.
