Urethral Syndrome

What you need to know:

All the advice given for cystitis (*see below), in the kidney and urinary tract section, is appropriate for this condition.

*The most useful Herbs:

Uva ursa
Goldenseal

Both of them as tea or extracts - but not if you're pregnant

The most useful Supplements:

Vitamin C
Bioflavonoids
Potassium citrate
Zinc
Vitamin A - but not if you are, or think you might be, pregnant

Nutritional and lifestyle changes could be a key factor for this condition. Local trauma can make tissues more susceptible to infection. If necessary, use a lubricant before sex and always go to the loo as soon as decently possible afterwards. The latex in condoms can be a local allergen, so try the newer varieties made from inert plastics, like Avanti made by Durex.

Avoid irritant soaps, bath and shower gels, and add a few drops of Tea Tree oil to the bath.

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

Some essential dietary changes:

Drink at leat 2 litres of fluid every day, including 250ml of unsweetened Cranberry juice - always dilute 50/50 with water because it may be too acidic
Drastically cut down on sugar and refined carbohydrates
Don’t drink coffee, and stick to green or weak Indian tea
Dilute all juices 50/50 with water and avoid any foods you know may be allergic too
Eat plenty of the diuretic foods - celery, Parsley, Dandelion leaves - and make sure you take some of your fluid as home-made lemon barley water to relieve the burning and prevent the growth of bacteria. The commercial drinks, delicious though they are, do contain chemicals that could be irritant.

If you have cyctisis, it’s safer to make your own by:

Pouring 1 litre of boiling water over 75g of washed barley
Adding the grated rind and juice of an unwaxed lemon
Adding half a teaspoon of sugar
Leaving it to cool and drinking a glass three times a day

Other useful advice:

It’s also important to:

Wear cotton pants
Wherever possible, avoid tights unless they have a cotton gusset
Don’t wear tight jeans

Friction is also a cause of this condition, so during acute episodes you may need to give up sports like cycling or riding horses. Cystitis may also be aggravated by stress, so any form of relaxation helps - try meditation, bio-feedback, Aromatherapy.

Avoid all coloured toilet paper as the dyes may be irritant. From the earliest age, all girls should be taught to wipe their bottoms from front to back, using fresh paper for each wipe to prevent spreading bacteria from the anus to the urethra.

It’s also essential to pass urine as soon as you feel the need to. Delay may cause pressure in the bladder and force infected urine back into the kidneys, resulting in serious kidney infection.

Recurrent cystitis often goes together with thrush.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.