Herbal Support for the Urinary System

Transcription

1 HERBAL TELE-TRAINING SERIES Herbal Support for the Urinary System with Julie Plunkett, Herbalist & Educator

2 A URINARY SYSTEM PRIMER! The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder, and a urethra. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of your fists. They are near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys remove metabolic wastes from the blood through tiny filtering units called nephrons. Urea, together with water and other metabolic wastes forms the urine as it passes through the nephrons and down the renal tubules of the kidney. From the kidneys, urine travels down two thin tubes called ureters to the bladder. The ureters are about 8 to 10 inches long. Muscles in the ureter walls constantly tighten and relax to force urine downward away from the kidneys. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ shaped like a balloon. It sits in your pelvis and is held in place by ligaments attached to other organs and the pelvic bones. The bladder stores urine until you are ready to go to the bathroom to empty it. Circular muscles called sphincters help keep urine from leaking. The sphincter muscles close tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder into the urethra, the tube that allows urine to pass outside of the body. When you urinate, the brain signals the bladder muscles to tighten, squeezing urine out of the bladder. At the same time, the brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax. As these muscles relax, urine exits the bladder through the urethra.

3 A URINARY SYSTEM PRIMER! The most common urinary system ailment is UTI, urinary tract infection. This is where bacteria colonize in the bladder, causing pain, inflammation and possible eventual kidney infection. Other common urinary system problems are: Kidney stones, where aggregating minerals (calculi) accumulate in the kidney, and cause pain and blockage Aging causing kidneys to filter less and less efficiently Loss of strength and innervation in the muscles and sphincters causing urine to leak out, known as incontinence BPH, benign prostatic hypertrophy, where enlargement of the prostate causes pressure on the urethra, in turn causing inability to void completely Kidney disease (kidney failure) caused by advanced diabetes or other illnesses, where the filtering capacity of the kidneys is compromised, and ultimately metabolic wastes accumulate in the blood. Drinking clean water in sufficient quantities is crucial to provide sufficient fluid for diluting metabolic waste and to make sufficient urine. Current recommendations for healthy water intake for the average adult at average weight and exercise level is 8 9 cups per day. Herbs and herbal compounds have so much to offer in the care and treatment of urinary system health lets take a look!

4 CRANBERRY LIQUID EXTRACT (Vaccinum macrocarpon) Supports Healthy Urinary Tract Function*! Liquid extract of Certified Organically Grown: Hand-harvested, carefully shade-dried, whole, ripe berries; extracted with certified organic alcohol to ensure thorough extraction of a broad-spectrum of bio-active compounds

5 ! CRANBERRY continued... ACTIONS: Pleasant tasting, sour, astringent Antioxidant-rich, nourishing (proanthocyanidins, catechins, ascorbic acid, etc.) Antimicrobial; anti-adherence action (mouth, GI, urinary system membranes); a UTI preventive Anti-scorbutic Mild diuretic Refrigerant (cooling) Antimutagenic

6 CRANBERRY continued... USES: A refreshing, nourishing beverage Provide source of naturally occurring antioxidants Prevent occurrence of UTI (urinary tract infection) Adjunct in treatment of UTI Prevention & treatment of Heliobacter pylori infection in gut Prevention of bacterial colonization in mouth & gums DOSE: Take drops in a little water, juice or tea, three to four times per day.

7 UVA URSI LIQUID EXTRACT (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)! Liquid extract of Certified Organically Grown or Custom Wildcrafted : Mature whole leaf, carefully shade-dried and promptly extracted with certified organic alcohol to ensure a broad-spectrum extraction of the bio-active compounds

8 ! UVA URSI continued... ACTIONS: Antimicrobial Antiseptic diuretic Soothing, urinary anti-inflammatory Uva Ursi flower Astringent USES: Urinary tract infection (E.coli, Staph.s., Klebsiella) Urinary pain or inflammation; chronic bladder irritation Cystitis (inflammation & spasm of the bladder) Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) Mucus or bloody discharge in urine (e.g., gonorrhea) Adjunct therapy in incontinence

9 UVA URSI continued... DOSE: Take drops in water two to four times per day. CAUTION: Consult qualified medical practitioner before taking in pregnancy and in kidney disorders; not to be taken while breastfeeding.

10 CALM WATERS COMPOUND Urinary Incontinence Remedy! Liquid extract of Certified Organically Grown & Custom Wildcrafted : Fresh (undried) Corn Silk, fresh (undried) St. John s Wort flowering tops, fresh (undried) Plantain leaf, fresh (undried) Goldenrod flowering tops

11 ! CALM WATERS continued... ACTIONS: Soothing Anti-inflammatory Vulnerary (repairs injured tissue) Corn Silk Enhances neurological innervation to urinary sphincters Restores tone & elasticity to urinary tissues Mildly cleansing to urinary system USES: Urinary incontinence Bedwetting in children Urinary irritation & inflammation Weakness or over-relaxed sphincters

12 CALM WATERS continued... DOSE: Take drops in a little water, juice or tea, three to four times per day. Children s Dose: Give 1 drop for every 4 pounds of body weight; e.g., a 40 lb. child gets 10 drops in a little water, juice or tea, three times per day.

13 STONE BREAKER COMPOUND! Liquid extract of Certified Organically Grown & Custom Wildcrafted : Stone Breaker herb (Phyllanthus niuri), Hydrangea root, Celery seed, Burdock seed

14 ! STONE BREAKER continued... ACTIONS: Soothing diuretic Dissolves urinary calculi Cleansing to urinary system Stone Breaker herb USES: Prevent formation of kidney stones Dissolve existing kidney stones Cleanse urinary system General urinary system tonic

15 STONE BREAKER continued... DOSE: Stone Dissolving Therapy: Mix 50 drops of compound with a pinch of baking soda into 8 oz. of water and drink all at once; best between meals. Try this for two months; if there is no success in that time, the therapy is unlikely to be effective. Stone Prevention Therapy: Same as above, but with 40 drops, two times per day. Passing Stones: If experiencing discomfort or severe pain upon passing stones, take a combination of our KHELLA liquid extract, 40 drops, and our KAVA liquid extract, 40 drops, in water, several times per day until relieved. Khella dilates the ureters while Kava numbs.

16 URINARY SYSTEM SUPPORT COMPOUND Formerly Goldenrod / Horsetail Compound! Liquid extract of Certified Organically Grown & Custom Wildcrafted : Goldenrod flowering tops (fresh, undried), Corn silk (fresh, undried), Horsetail herb (fresh, undried), Uva Ursi leaf, Juniper berry

17 ! URINARY SYSTEM SUPPORT continued... ACTIONS: Diuretic Gently Cleansing Anti-inflammatory Disinfectant, antimicrobial Strengthening, toning Juniper USES: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Cystitis (inflammation of urinary bladder) Scalding urine Urethritis (inflammation of urethra) Cleanse urinary system Increase diuresis (urine output) General urinary system tonic

18 URINARY SYSTEM SUPPORT continued... DOSE: ACUTE: Take drops in 4 8 oz. of water two to five times per day CHRONIC, TONIC: Take drops in water two to three times per day. ADJUNCT THERAPY: In cases of UTI, add drops of SUPER ECHINACEA to each dose of above. CAUTION: UTIs can be serious and if persistent or associated with high fever or backache, seek qualified medical support.

19 MORE HERBS FOR URINARY HEALTH! BUCHU Liquid Extract (Agathosma betulina; leaf) Powerful antiseptic, cleansing diuretic, kidney tonic indicated in poor kidney function, sediment-laden urine, gonorrhea, cystitis. Take drops in a glass of water two to four times per day; not to be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding. BURDOCK BLEND Liquid Extract (Arctium lappa; root & seed) Cleansing to blood & urinary system; indicated in metabolic waste build-up or desire to cleanse whole body. Take drops in a little water or tea, two to four times per day CLEAVERS Liquid Extract (Galium aparine; whole, flowering herb) Soothing, cooling, cleansing diuretic indicated in metabolic waste build-up, ovarian cysts, BPH, psoriasis, etc. Take drops in a little water, two to five times per day. DANDELION Liquid Extract (Taraxacum offinale; whole plant - root, leaf & flower); potassium-chlorophyllrich diuretic, alterative, liver/gallbladder cleanser; indicated where simple, gentle cleansing is desired. Take drops in water two to four times per day. STINGING NETTLE BLEND Liquid Extract (Urtica dioica; fresh leaf, flowering tops and dried, mature seed); Gentle alterative, diuretic; inclusion of seed enhances action on cleansing metabolic wastes where kidney function is impaired. Take drops in water three to five times per day.