Blog Category
This category extends the coverage of our Bladder section into more specific bladder disorders — including interstitial cystitis, bladder prolapse, and conditions affecting bladder control and function. These are often chronic, significantly impacting quality of life, and frequently undertreated or poorly understood in mainstream medicine. Herbal medicine can offer meaningful supportive care — soothing an inflamed bladder lining, reducing urgency and frequency, supporting the connective tissues that maintain bladder structure, and addressing the hormonal and nervous system components that influence bladder function. The articles here are written with the understanding that these conditions deserve both clinical accuracy and genuine compassion.
ASOHM News
15 December 2017
Hypericum is one of nature’s best herbs for the entire nervous system. This herb (also known as St John’s wort) has received much medical attention and recognition, particularly for its use in mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Clinical trials have now shown that hypericum is as effective as some prescription antidepressants, but does not […]
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ASOHM News
22 September 2017
Cranberry’s fame as a natural remedy for urinary tract infections (UTIs) came from German chemists in the 19th century, who discovered that, after eating cranberries, people pass urine that contains a bacteria-fighting chemical known as hippuric acid. About...
Read article →Bladder disorders are among the most common reasons people seek complementary care, and herbal medicine — used thoughtfully and alongside medical management — has a genuine role in improving quality of life for those affected.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) — also known as bladder pain syndrome — is a chronic condition characterised by bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain, without bacterial infection. The cause is poorly understood; current thinking involves a compromised bladder epithelium and neurogenic inflammation. Herbs that soothe the bladder lining — corn silk, marshmallow root, slippery elm (taken as a mucoprotective gel) — are most appropriate. Anti-inflammatory herbs may reduce the neurogenic inflammatory component. Dietary triggers (caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods) should be identified and minimised.
Incontinence has several types — stress incontinence (from pelvic floor weakness), urge incontinence (from overactive bladder), and overflow incontinence (from bladder outlet obstruction, as in BPH). Pelvic floor exercises are the cornerstone of stress incontinence management. For urge incontinence, antispasmodic herbs — corn silk, cramp bark, pumpkin seed — may reduce urgency. Herbal support complements physiotherapy rather than replacing it.
Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is demulcent and soothing for the bladder mucosa — it creates a protective coating that reduces irritation. Corn silk is gently anti-inflammatory and diuretic. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. These are best taken as teas for maximum mucosal contact — cold infusions of marshmallow root (cold-prepared to maximise mucilage content) are particularly effective.
The bladder is richly innervated and its function is significantly influenced by the nervous system. Stress, anxiety, and nervous system hypersensitivity are frequently implicated in overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, and pelvic pain syndromes. Nervine herbs — passionflower, lemon balm, skullcap — that calm the nervous system may therefore help reduce bladder reactivity. This mind-body connection is one of the most clinically important insights in bladder health.
Bladder prolapse (cystocele) results from weakened pelvic floor and vaginal wall tissues. Herbal medicine cannot repair prolapse — this requires pelvic floor physiotherapy and, in significant cases, surgical correction. Herbs rich in silica (horsetail) and those supporting collagen synthesis (gotu kola, vitamin C-rich herbs) may support connective tissue integrity preventatively. Phytoestrogenic herbs can maintain the health of pelvic tissues in post-menopausal women.
The decline in oestrogen at menopause causes thinning and reduced elasticity of the urethral and bladder tissues — increasing susceptibility to UTIs, urgency, and stress incontinence. Topical vaginal oestrogen (prescribed) directly addresses this. Phytoestrogenic herbs offer a gentler systemic alternative — red clover isoflavones and black cohosh being most studied. See also our Menopausal Problems category.
The urinary system in all its complexity — including the bladder conditions that so many people quietly manage — is covered thoroughly in Lesson 4 of our course. View lesson packages and enrol today.