WISE
WOMAN WAYS for PREVENTING AND CURING BLADDER INFECTIONS excerpt
from Wise
Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun S.
Weed.
Chapter 2: During Pregnancy (pp.44-45)
Bladder Infections
The blood volume increases 50 percent during pregnancy. Your
kidneys, responsible for cleaning the blood, are called upon
to work correspondingly harder, and your entire urinary system
becomes more vulnerable to stress and infection. As you enter
the last trimester of pregnancy, be alert for warning signs
of bladder, or urinary tract, infections: an urgent and frequent
impulse to urinate (often with little result), a burning sensation
during urination, and a mild cramping and aching in the abdomen.
Prompt treatment of early symptoms, and preventative action,
are the safest course for bladder infections during pregnancy,
as both herbs and medicines strong enough to cure these infections
increase the stress on the kidneys and have other undesirable
side effects. Non-symptomatic bladder infections discovered
during routine prenatal urine sampling can be successfully
treated with the stronger remedies listed last.
Preventing Bladder Infections
° Wear cotton underwear or no underwear; avoid tight polyester
pants and pantyhose; bacteria thrive in the moist heat trapped
by synthetic fibers.
° Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and urinate
as soon as you feel the urge; bacteria breed more easily and
rapidly in concentrated and held urine.
° Wipe from front to back, and urinate after intercourse;
bacteria are easily transferred to the bladder from rectum
and surrounding tissues.
° Avoid bubble bath, bath oil, bath salts; bacterial growth
is aided by the resulting change in normal acid/alkaline balance.
° Drink 5-10 cups of Nettle tea or infusion every week
during the last trimester to strengthen the kidneys.
Remedies for Bladder Infections
° Unsweetened cranberry juice can stop a bladder infection
that is just developing. The keys to successful use are 1)
the juice must not be sweetened at all (no sugar, dextrose,
corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, etc.); 2) the juice must be
consumed liberally (an 8 ounce glass every hour for ten hours
is not excessive); and 3) the juice must be started as soon
as the first twinge or suspicion of infection occurs. Buy
unsweetened cranberry juice or concentrate in health food
stores, or prepare your own "juice" by blending
a handful of fresh frozen berries with a cup of water in your
blender. Sour!
Vitamin C is helpful in acidifying the urine
and "washing" out the bacteria. Doses of up to 500
mg per hour may be used. CAUTION: Large doses of vitamin C
may cause loose stools.
Uva Ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi kills bacteria
in the bladder. I have seen it clear up chronic bladder infections
resistant to antibiotics and standard allopathic medicines.
Because it is a strong diuretic, Uva Ursi requires cautious
use during pregnancy. Brew one ounce of Uva Ursi leaves in
a quart jar of boiling water for eight hours. Drink one cup
of this infusion every twelve hours for the first two days,
or in severe cases, one cup every four hours. Continue with
at least one cup daily for another three days, even if the
symptoms disappear sooner. Do not use Uva Ursi for more than
ten days.
Yarrow The astringency, antibacterial effect,
and diuretic potency of Achillea millefolium is called for
if Uva Ursi alone does not clear the bladder infection within
five days. Use one half ounce Yarrow flowers and one half
ounce Uva Ursi leaves in one quart of boiling water; steep
8 hours. Drink two or three cups daily for no more than five
days.
CAUTION: Juniper berries, Horsetail/Shave Grass,
and Buchu are contraindicated during pregnancy due to the
stress they place on the kidneys.
excerpt from Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year
by Susun S.Weed
available at www.wisewomanbookshop.com
dear visitor, please take a look at the table of contents
below and then send us an email to let us know which section
you would like to see featured in the March 2004 eZine - write
to www.wisewomanbookshop.com
Wise
Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun S.Weed
Table of Contents
FOREWORD xi
INTRODUCTION xiii
USING THIS BOOK xv
USING HERBS SAFELY xvii
1. BEFORE PREGNANCY 1
Fertility Promoters 2
Herbal Birth Control 5
Teratogens 12
2. DURING PREGNANCY 17
Tonics 18
Morning Sickness 24
Miscarriage 26
Varicosities 29
Constipation 33
Skin Discoloration 34
Anemias 35
Muscle Cramps 36
Backache 37
Heartburn 40
Fatigue, Moodiness 41
Bladder Infections 44
High Blood Pressure 46
Pre-eclampsia 49
3. CHILDBIRTH 55
Breech Presentation 56
False Labor 57
Premature Rupture of Membranes 58
Unripe Cervix 59
Initiating Labor 60
Stalled Labor 61
Rigid Os 65
Exhaustion 66
Pain 67
Elevated Blood Pressure 68
Expulsion of Placenta 69
Hemorrhage 71
Shock 74
4. AFTER PREGNANCY 77
Perineal Tears 78
After-pains 80
|
Child-bed Fever 81
Depression 82
Exhaustion/Tension 83
Lactation 84
5. YOUR INFANT 95
No breath 96
Umbilical Care 96
Circumcision 98
Postpartum Eye Care 98
Eye Infections 99
Pinkeye 100
Jaundice 101
Colic 106
Thrush 109
Diaper Rash 111
Cradle Cap 114
Infections and Fevers 114
6. HERBAL PHARMACY 121
Meeting
the Plants 122
Picking Herbs 123
Drying Herbs 124
Foraging Problems 124
Buying Herbs 125
Making Herbal Medicines 126
Water Bases 127
Making Herbal Infusions 128
Herbal Decoctions and Syrups 130
External Uses of Infusions 132
Spirit Bases 133
Tinctures 134
Oil Bases 137
Making Infused Oils 138
Trouble Shooting Infused Oils 138
Making Ointments 139
APPENDIX I 144
Herbal Sources of Vitamins 144
Herbal Sources of Minerals 145
APPENDIX II 147
GLOSSARY 158
INDEX |
Click
here to see all of Susun S. Weed's books
Click here to order by credit card. Or order via mail:
Ash Tree Publishing PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498
