Cystitis – A Few Herbal Tips

Cystitis is the inflammation of the bladder. Most of the time, it is caused by a bacterial infection, but it may also occur as a complication of another illness or as a reaction to radiation therapy, potential irritant factors (such as spermicidal jellies or the use of a catheter) or certain medications. The symptoms of mild cystitis usually clear up within a few days without treatment, but if it’s a bladder infection, the symptoms can be quite painful, and, should the infection spreads to the kidneys, it can become a much more serious health problem. That’s why it’s always a good idea to treat cystitis even in its mildest form (of course, if the symptoms are severe or they last for more than five days, or if you have cystitis more than three times in a year, you should check with your doctor for further investigations).

Among the herbs you could use to treat cystitis there are:

• Buchu (powder, capsules 350 mg)

1 capsule, with plenty of water, during a meal, 2 times a day

• Cranberry (dry extract, capsules 400 mg)

1 capsule, with plenty of water, 2 times a day

• Cranberry (fresh juice)

500 ml, 2 times a day

• Dandelion (powder, capsules 300 mg)

1 capsule, with plenty of water, 3 times a day

• Garlic (powder, capsules 300 mg)

1-3 capsules a day

• Goldenrod

Add 5 g of dried plant in 1 l of hot boiled water and let steep for 5 minutes. Drink 1-3 cups a day.

• Corn silk (tincture 1:5 with alcohol 25%)

5-15 ml in a glass of water, 3 times a day

• Birch (tincture 1:4 with alcohol 25%)

15 drops in a glass of water, after a meal, 3 times a day

• Bearberry (tincture 1:1 with alcohol 25%)

2-4 ml in a glass of water, 3 times a day

• Marsh mallow

Add 2-3 g of dried root in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 10 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups a day.