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What is it, causes and symptoms
Cystitis is a ‘acute infection of the urinary tract and, in particular, of the bladder. It is the most common infection among sexually active women and is caused by bacteria, in particular by Gram negative bacteria, less frequently by Gram positive. Women are more prone to suffer from cystitis for mainly anatomical reasons: in women, in fact, the urethra (ed. The duct that connects the urinary bladder with the outside) is shorter than in men and this facilitates the ascent of bacteria from the perineal area to the bladder. Furthermore, women cannot count on the antibacterial action given by prostatic secretions that protect the male urinary tract. Infections are then eased by any microtrauma of the vaginal mucosa that can occur following sexual intercourse, use of tampons or menstrual cups. To further favor cystitis there are then some conditions and pathologies including pregnancy, diabetes and the presence of kidney stones which reduce urinary flow. In most cases the infection occurs sporadically but sometimes cystitis can relapse.
Some women they have no symptoms during infection, while others suffer from increased frequency of urination with simultaneous reduction in the amount of urine, inability to hold pee, difficulty passing urine, pain and burning. Sometimes the urine may appear cloudy, foul-smelling, or may contain traces of blood, signs of an ongoing bacterial infection. In some cases, systemic symptoms may also occur including fever and gastrointestinal disturbances of variable intensity. Those who have the symptoms of cystitis know how annoying they can be and how much they affect the quality of life, especially when the infection recurs regularly. However, there are some natural antimicrobial remedies which prove to be useful and effective for treating cystitis and above all to prevent its reappearance.
Natural remedies
Lots of plants, owing defend in kind from parasites and diseases, they synthesize antimicrobial substances whose action can also be used to treat human infections including cystitis. Natural remedies against cystitis, to be effective, must contain molecules capable of reaching the bladder: once they reach the site of the infection, they can perform aantibacterial action direct and / or indirect, inhibiting the adhesion of microorganisms to the bladder wall. In addition to antimicrobial remedies, remedies are also used to treat cystitis stimulate the production of urine, to be taken in the form of herbal tea to carry out a sort of “washing” of the urinary tract.
Bearberry
L’bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is an evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family, widespread in Central Europe and North America. The leaves of this plant, leathery and dark green, contain phenolic glycosides, flavonoids and hydrolysable tannins responsible for the phytotherapeutic properties. Iridoid glycosides, in particular, exert antiseptic activity on the bladder. For it to be effective, a good balance of intestinal flora and a slightly basic pH in the bladder lumen are required. Uva ursina is used in recurrent and minor cystitis which do not require the administration of antibiotics and should not be taken during pregnancy and in the presence of kidney diseases.
American blueberry
The fruits of cranberry or cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are rich in organic acids, including benzoic acid, anthocyanins, condensed tannins, fructose and oligosaccharides. The active compounds found in cranberry prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls, preventing urinary infections and speeding up the healing process in case of cystitis. It is taken in the form of dry or liquid extract, both easily available in herbal medicine. Its use is not recommended in people suffering from kidney stones and if you are taking anticoagulant drugs. If cranberry juice is used, attention should be paid to whether it is presence of added sugars.
Natural diuretics
Although the most effective remedies are bearberry and American blueberry, there are other plants that are useful for treating the symptoms of cystitis. These are “aquaretic” remedies that favor the flow of urine. During cystitis infections it is advisable drink plenty of fluids, even better if herbal teas prepared with these herbs. In case of bladder infections it is possible to use, for example, horsetail, birch, asparagus and grass root, nettle and parsley. Other plants capable of promote diuresis they are the bean, the orthosiphon and the dandelion. You can contact your trusted herbalist for the preparation of one personalized herbal tea to be taken several times a day during acute episodes of cystitis, combining it with preparations based on bearberry and American blueberry to speed up healing.
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