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Bladder
Inflammation/Infection Care PlanIn order to use herbal medicines to cure a bladder inflammation or especially an infection it is crucial to engage a dual purpose plan. You must create in your urinary tract an environment that is hostile to bacteria at the same time as you soothe your inflamed tissues. It is also very important to be wise about your effectiveness- if you don’t see significant and steady improvement within 24 hours of beginning this treatment, we will consider antibiotic therapy, because a kidney infection is worth avoiding! The herbs we use work in a few different ways. Some kill bacteria, some prevent the bacteria from clinging to the bladder walls so they can be washed out as you urinate. Some will alter the pH of your urine to make bacterial reproduction less likely and others soothe and ‘cool’ the swollen, inflamed tissue. We use concentrated tincture, a way of delivering more powerful doses of especially the antibiotic elements, and teas, to provide fluid volume and especially the soothing elements. POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THIS TREATMENT IS THAT YOU TREAT AROUND THE CLOCK. That is, you must wake up at least every 3 hours through the night to empty your bladder and drink another cup of the treatment tea. This is the single most important factor that will allow you to treat successfully with these gentle helpers rather than use antibiotics which may be problematic in terms of follow-up yeast vaginitis. So plan to prepare at least 2 quarts of tea per day and have enough ready at bedtime to allow a 6 ounce dose every three hours through the night. You will drink this tea, 6 ounces every 3 to 4 hours all day, interspersed with plain water and unsweetened cranberry juice, so you are swallowing at least 4 ounces of helpful fluid per hour while awake. _____Tincture: Echinacea augustifolia and purpurea; Chimaphilla; Barosma; Mahonia; Arctostaphylos uva ursi; Zea mays; Althea; Ulmus fulva; Equisetum; Galium; Hydrangea Dose: 20 drops every 2 hours (every 3 hours at night) for 24 to 48 hours, then 1/2 to 1 teaspoon 3 to 4 times daily until symptom free for 48 hours _____ Tea: Arctostaphylos uva ursi; Chimaphilla; Barosma; Zea mays; Taheboo; Ulmus fulva; Althea; Petroselinum sativum Dose: Shake mixture to distribute the different textures and types of herb; Measure 4 heaping tablespoons into a pot (non-metal if possible) add a quart of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain. Drink 6 ounces (hot of cold) every 3 to 4 hours all day; every 3 hours thru the night, with a dose of tincture added to each cup at night |
