Frequent urinary pain and urinary infections are difficult to treat with conventional medicine. I often see patients who have very little hope that they will ever get better. In reality, many of them make a full recovery. There are several factors that will contribute to chronic urinary infections and chronic bladder pain.
On of the most important factors to address with any pelvic problem, including urinary pain, is the digestive system. Nearly every case of chronic urinary pain and / or infection that I see will not resolve because there are digestive problems. Most frequently, the problem is constipation. Often times, relieving the constipation will substantially improve the body’s ability to handle the urinary problem. This may be because the body eliminates byproducts through the urine and bowels. When the bowels are blocked, the urinary system takes on most of the burden. It may also be because when the bowels are not moving, you probably do not have a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut. Proximity of the genitourinary system and the imbalanced digestive tract may contribute to frequent contamination and irritation of the otherwise sterile urinary system. I recommend treatments like triphala, magnesium, and konjac root to relieve chronic constipation. I suggest antifungal herbs like concentrated oil of oregano to kill off any unwanted bacteria. I also recommend a good strong probiotic. Remember that whenever you are using supplements and vitamins, it is a good idea to make sure you are getting them from a reputable source. Many stores carry products that do not contain the same ingredients or potency listed on the label.
In addition to balacing and moving the bowels, I suggest making some dietary changes. The diet has 2 important functions. One is to remove irritants. The other is to correct the digestive conditions that often contributed to the problem. Irritants are listed below. For a more personalized plan, consider making an appointment for a food test and a customized diet. Most patients with urinary pain also do well when they eat a diet that supports normal digestion, movement, and mircrobes. This means avoiding or eliminating flour, sugar, and simple carbs as much as possible. That means the diet is made up of meat, fish, fruits, veggies, nuts, fats, and beans. I recommend 2 fruits or less per day. I suggest that this diet is followed strictly for 10 weeks. At the end of 10 weeks, some exceptions can be introduced. Until then, be as strict as possible to allow the body to heal. Check out the Body Ecology Diet.
Foods to be Avoided
Alcohol, apples, avocados, bananas, beer, brewer’s yeast, cantaloupe, carbonated drinks, champagne, corned beef, cranberry (may still be used for UTI’s), coffee, chocolate, cheese, chili, fava beans, figs, grapes, guava, lemon, lima bean, aspartame, onion, pineapple, plums, prunes, raisins, rye, saccharine, strawberries, tomato, tea, vinegar, wine, yogurt
Other factors that can aggravate urinary pain include birth control pills, chemical exposures, chronic yeast infections, fragrances, hygiene products, and even stress. Stimulant medications almost always make urinary pain worse, so watch out for allergy medications, energy drinks and supplements, and anything with caffeine.
Over time, as your problem resolves, you will find that you can be much more flexible with your diet and lifestyle. In the meantime, there is hope, it just takes hard work and determination!