Cystitis - Causes, Symptoms And Home Remedies For The Treatment of Cystitis

What is Cystitis ?

The term 'Cystitis' refers to 'inflammation of the bladder'. It is a most common complaint in women. Escherichia coli infections are considered the primary culprit in cystitis. The female anatomy makes it more convenient for ie. coli bacteria, which normally inhabit the colon, to travel from the rectum to the vagina, up the urethra and into the bladder. This condition is rarely dangerous but it is generally a forerunner to more serious troubles. The reoccurrence of cystitis may in some cases be associated with kidney troubles.

The kidney and bladder are the, principal structures in the urinary system. The kidneys are situated on the back of the abdomen, one on each side of the spine at about the level of the lowest rib. The bladder is situated in the lower abdomen, in the pelvis. The body is relieved of the greater part of the waste matter, resulting from the complex working of the whole body's vital processes by means of these two organs.

Symptoms of Cystitis

Cystitis is characterized by symptoms which may cause great discomfort. The patient complains of frequency and burning on urination as well as an almost continual urge to void. There may be a feeling of pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen. The urine may become thick, dark and stingy. It may have an unpleasant smell and may contain blood or pus. The scalding sensation on passing urine indicates that the inflammation has spread to the urethra. Some pain in the lower back may also be felt in certain cases. In an acute stage there may be a rise in body temperature. In the chronic form of cystitis, the symptoms are similar but generally less severe and without a rise in temperature. The persistence of the chronic form of the disease indicates a process of deterioration, almost invariably due to wrong treatment of the acute form by suppressive drugs.

Causes of Cystitis

Cystitis may result from infections in other parts adjacent to the bladder such as the kidneys, the urethra, and the vagina. Local irritation and inflammation of the bladder may be caused if urine is retained there for an unduly long time. It may also result from severe constipation.

Continual draining of pus and germs from an infected kidney may injure the epithelial lining of the bladder. Trouble may also arise from the presence of a stone in either bladder or kidney. Childbirth injuries and major surgical procedures within the pelvis bladder cannot hold the normal amount of urine. Germs may then find their way into the bladder and bring about chemical changes in the urine. Calcium or lime may thus be deposited in the wall of the bladder. Increasing the patient's discomfort.

Natural home remedies for the treatment of cystitis.

• Cucumber Juice :- Cucumber juice is one of the most useful home remedies in the treatment of cystitis. It is a very effective diuretic. A cup of this juice, mixed with one teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of fresh lime juice, should be given three times daily.
• Drumstick Flowers :- Fresh juice of the flowers of drumstick is another effective remedy for cystitis. For better results, a teaspoon of the juice, mixed with half a glass of tender coconut water, should be given twice daily. It acts as a diuretic in the treatment of this disease.
• Radish Leaves :- The juice of radish leaves is valuable in cystitis. A cup of this juice should be given once daily, in the morning, for a fortnight
• Lady's Fingers :- Fresh lady's fingers are useful in cystitis. A decoction made of 100 gm of lady's fingers and 200 ml of water should be taken twice daily in the treatment of this disease.
• Spinach :- A quantity of 100 ml of fresh spinach juice, taken with an equal quantity of tender coconut water twice a day, is considered beneficial in the treatment of cystitis. It acts as a very effective and safe diuretic due to the combined action of both nitrates and potassium.
• Lemon :- Lemon has proved valuable in cystitis. A teaspoon of lemon juice should be put in 180 ml of boiling water. It should then be allowed to cool and 60 ml of this water should be taken every two hours from 8 a.m. to 12 noon for the treatment of this condition. This eases the burning sensation and also stops bleeding in cystitis.
• Barley :- Half a glass each of barley gruel, mixed with buttermilk and the juice of half a lime, is an excellent diuretic. It is beneficial in the treatment of cystitis, and may be taken twice daily.
• Sandalwood Oil :- The oil of sandalwood is also considered valuable in this disease. This oil should be given in doses of five drops in the beginning and gradually increased to ten to thirty drops. The efficacy of this oil can be increased by the addition of one teaspoon of ajwain mixed in a glass of water, or ten grams of ginger mixed in a cup water.