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CYSTITIS, URETHRITIS & PROSTITIS
The burning, scalding pain after urination, which accompanies cystitis is familiar to many women due to the shortness of the female urethra and proximity to the rectum which render it a friendly site to bacteria. Sometimes Can also be a feature of candida, caused by a chill and if severe a fever can accompany. In men, though just as uncomfortable, it can be more serious and prostate investigations should be undertaken. Urethritis is an infection of the urethra and needs similar treatment to cystitis, but extra mucilaginous and soothing herbs are usually needed e.g. increase the amount of marshmallow or slippery elm. Protitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. Symptoms for most urinary problems include burning pain on urination, frequent need to urinate; excessive urge to urinate at night, foul-smelling or dark urine, lower abdominal pain.
Nutrition
Avoid highly acidic food and drinks (coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolate); instead use alkaline ones like fresh lemon juice in spring water. Drink lots of it.
Put 3 tsp of apple cider vinegar into apple juice and drink four times daily.
Drink barley water daily. Also drink unsweetened cranberry juice or dried cranberries soaked in water overnight.
Raw foods are alkaline so concentrate on these as they will also strengthen your overall immune system as long as you are not a 'cold' type of person and underweight. [Do have a professional evaluation]. If you have problems with excess roughage because of bowel problems consult a professional for suggestions, but raw juicing accompanied by nutritional ‘The Green Stuff’ would be one natural choice.
To help fight the bacterial infection your food choice, include garlic, thyme and carrot juice.
Keep your diet simple yet supportive with wholegrains, vegetables and fruits initially.
Natural Healing
Make sure your bowels are moving at least two or three times daily because the carefully selected fluid intake will disinfect and cleanse the bacteria from the system but if these harmful toxins are left to stay in the system too long, re-infection will occur and healing will be a slow process.
Avoid being cold and chilled, take time for yourself to heal, and spend time in bed if possible with natural fibre bedding.
Wear a long skirt or baggy trousers and no underwear if possible. Alternatively wear loose fitting cotton or silk underwear. Avoid tight constricting clothing made from man-made fibres.
Herbs
Every two hours drink a tea or take a tincture containing equal parts of; yarrow leaves, dandelion root, cleavers leaves and marshmallow root. Should there be blood in the urine, add corn silk because this will encourage rapid water release as well as soothing the inflammation and consequential bleeding. Juniper berries will help disinfect the area and act as a diuretic.
Take echinacea root tea or tincture (or olive leaf if auto-immune) for ten days and barberry root bark for three or four days, depending on the severity of the cystitis. In the case of prostitis add saw palmetto berries.
Have regular baths and showers to keep yourself clean. Apple cider vinegar in the bath water will help and a few drops of any or all of; cedarwood, eucalyptus, bergamot, lavender or juniper essential oils. Don't stay in the bath too long, keep the water warm rather than hot.
Herbal Formulae Suggestions
Echinacea tincture or Immune Support formula to support the immune system
Kidney cleanse & support formula for urethra and cystitis support
Male support formula or Saw Palmetto berries for prostate support
Water Balance herb tea
Red Zinger Immuno herb tea
‘The Green Stuff’ vitamin & mineral food concentrate
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