The term ‘cystitis’ refers to inflammation of the urinary bladder. The recurrence of cystitis may, in some cases, be associated with kidney troubles.
Causes and Symptoms
The patient complains of an almost continual urge to void and a burning sensation on passing urine. There may be a feeling of pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen. The urine may become thick, dark, and stringy. It may have an unpleasant smell and may contain blood or pus. 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 longer lasting, and without a fever.
Cystitis may result from infections in other parts connected with or adjacent to the bladder such as the kidneys, the urethra, the vagina, or the prostate gland. There may be local irritation and inflammation in the bladder if urine is retained there for an unduly long time. Cystitis may also result from severe constipation. Other conditions like an infected kidney, stones in the kidneys or bladder, or an enlarged prostate may also lead to this disorder.
Remedies
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 consi¬dered 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.
Dietary Considerations
At the onset of acute cystitis, it is essential to withhold all solid foods immediately. If there is fever, the patient should fast on water or tender coconut water for three or four days. If there is no fever, raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice, should be taken every two or three hours. Half a glass of carrot juice should be mixed with an equal quantity of water and taken at a time. For the next two to three days, only ripe fruits may be taken three or four times daily.
After the all-fruit diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits. The patient should avoid refined carbohydrates and salt with food and in cooking.
Other Measures
During the first three or four days of acute cystitis, when the Patient is on a liquid diet, it is advisable to rest and keep warm. Pain can be relieved by immersing the pelvis in hot water.
Alternatively, heat can be applied to the abdomen, by using a towel wrung out in hot water and covering it with a dry towel to retain warmth. This treatment may be continued for three or four days, by which time the inflammation should have subsided and the temperature returned to normal.
During the next two or three days of an all-fruit diet, cold compresses should be applied to the abdomen. While the hot compresses are intended to relieve pain, the use of cold water compresses is most valuable in relieving pelvic congestion and increasing the activity of the skin. Care should, however, be taken to ensure that compresses do not cause chilling.