Overactive Bladder

Supportive Management

  • Have just adequate fluid intake (around 2 liters a day or 8 glasses of water a day) enough to produce light yellow – colorless urine.
    • Spread out fluid intake throughout the day, sipping water between meals.
    • Fill cup or glass half-way or use a smaller cup.
    • Sip, don’t gulp.
  • Limit intake of bladder irritants and diuretics such as coffee, tea, alcohol, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, tomato-based products, spicy foods, chocolate, and artificial sweeteners.
  • Perform bladder training.
    • Determine the typical time interval between urinations.
    • Add about 15 minutes to that time interval (set interval).
    • After urination, don’t void again until the set time interval is reached. Do Kegel exercises or simply wait if the urge to urinate appears before reaching the set time interval.
    • Gradually increase set interval by 15 minutes.
  • Perform Kegel exercises between 30-80 times daily for about 8 weeks.
    • Identify the muscles used to stop urinating.
    • Tighten pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for 5 seconds, and then relax for 5 seconds.
    • Gradually aim to keep muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, and relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.

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Herbal Medicine

Decoction of Corn Hair

  • Boil 7-15 tablespoons of chopped corn hair in 6 glasses of water. Take in 2 divided doses daily.

Pumpkin Seeds or Pumpkin Seed Oil Extract

  • Eat a handful of pumpkin seeds 3 times a week.
  • Take 10g of pumpkin seed oil extract daily (for 6-12 weeks for noticeable results).

Other Complementary and Alternative Therapy:

Acupuncture

  • This should be done under the guidance of a trained acupuncture practitioner.
  • It involves stimulation of the sacral vertebra through inserting fine needles in a specific acupuncture point in the body. This results in reduction of overactive bladder symptoms such as urge and stress incontinence.

Recommendation

Consult doctor

  • For appropriate diagnosis and management of the condition.

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Please note that the information provided by this tool is provided solely for educational purposes and is not a qualified medical opinion. This information should not be considered advice or an opinion of a doctor or other health professional about your actual medical state, and you should see a doctor for any symptoms you may have. If you are experiencing a health emergency, you should call your local emergency number immediately to request emergency medical assistance.