Generally we do not pay much altention to proper maintence of the organs of Urinary system; at least not as much as the attention we pay to heart.
 Our Urinary system is very much prone to infections. The system consists of a pair of kidneys, Bladder, Ureters and Urethra. A common disorder that afflicts the Urinary tract is infection by the bacteria – Escherichia coli. Escherichia is a genus of Gram negative, rod like bacteria that have the ability to ferment carbohydrates with production of gas. They reside in the intestines of men. E. coli, under certain circumstances, causes infection of the Uro – genital tract. One such infection is Dysuria – difficult or painful urination. Dysuria is usually associated with frequent urge for passing Urine if the cause is due to “cystitis” or “Uretheritis”, cystitis is the inflammation of the urinary bladder often caused by E. coli. Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra due to gonarrhoea etc.
Causes
1. More than 85% of Urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused by bacteria. Cystitis is the common cause especially in women with UTI.
2. The other cause is Uretheritis – infection of the Urethera by bacteria, fungi or viruses. The sexually transmitted organism like Neisseri Gonnorrhoea can afflict Urethra. Chlamydia and the herps simplex Urius can also cause Urethritis.
3. Candidiasis caused by the candida fungi is also a UTI.
4. Parasites – and worms can also infect the urinary tract.
5. Stones in the kidney or bladder
Symptoms
1. Frequent urge to pass urine.
2. Scanty urine
3. Feeling of fullness in the bladder even after passing urine
4. Pain and burning sensation while passing urine
5. Feeling of pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, and in the urinary Tract.
6. Feeling of heaviness in the renal region and scrotum (Men).
7. Blood in the urine. On examination of urine, presence of puscells and blood confirms UTI.
8. Chills, fever
Urinary tract infections are much more common among women than in
men. The reason is women have shorter Urethra – 3.5 cm long and the urethra is closer to vagina and anus, where bacteria thrive. The bacteria easily travels up the short urethra and cause infections. Men’s urethra are longer – 20 cm long. Hence urinary infections are less.
Home remedies
1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water. This will benefit the kidneys. The water, at least 60% of it has to pass through kidneys, which filters out toxins and germs. Water eases the kidney’s functoning.
2. Drink a quarter glass of onion juice sweetened with 1 tsp of sugar. It relieves the urinary irritation. Try this daily till you obtain relief.
3. Mix 1/2 tsp of Jeera (powdered) with 1 tsp of sugar and consume, twice a day.
4. Drink 25 ml of Radish Juice twice daily
5. Mix 1/2 cup lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey with 1 cup of hot water. Drink this thrice a day for quick relief. Cucumber juice (1 cup) can also beadded for better effect.
6. Fresh tender coconut water is a sure remedy. Sugar cane juice also is beneficial.
7. Take 6 gms of Amla and Jaggery every day. This will provide essential vitamin ‘C’ to resist bacterial infection.
8. Barley water also helps smooth urination.
9. Intake of curd daily, curd has lactobacillus acidophilus that may inhibit growth of harmful bacteria
Other guide lines
1. Keep your body well hydrated.
2. Avoid hot, spicy food, coffee and tea.
3. Keep your genitals clean. As the bacteria exist along with feces, use the front – to – back washing of the anal region. Wash and wipe properly after urination.
4. Use cotton undergarments
5. Urinate before and after coitus.
6. Urinate as soon as you feel the urge.
7. Sitz batha alternating with hot and cold water once in a day for at least 2 months
Ayurvedic remedies
1. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a good home – remedy. Remove skin, take out the pulp, clean it and squeeze it to get the juice – extract. Add equal quantity of milk boil it till the mixture is reduced to half. Add sugar – candy and drink.
2. Grind separately choti elachi (E. cardamomum), Tail pepper (Piper cubeba) and Gokshura, into powder, in equal measures. Mix these powder and take one teaspoon of this chooranam followed by Tender coconut water. Urinary irritation will disappear.
3. Prepare sandalwood paste, dry it and keep. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this powder and add to 2 cups of milk. Boil the milk over a small flame till the quantity is reduced to half. Consume this, sweetened with sugar candy.
Good Ayurvedic medicines like chandanasavama kokshurathi chooranam, shatavari lehiyam, chandanathi vati, Eladdi choorana, Naga Bhasma etc etc are available – consult an Ayurvedic physician.
Urinary Incontinence
 The children and the elderly are commonly afflicted with urinary incontinence (bed – wetting).
Home remedy
1. Dry and powder ‘Jamun’ seeds. Take a teaspoon, mix in a cup of water and drink twice a day.
2. Take walnuts with 20 numbers of Raisins every day after dinner for 15 to 20 days.
3. Honey is a good cure for bed – wetting especially for children. It absorbs water. For kids less than 6 years old, give a teaspoon of honey before going to bed. For those over 6 years, 2 teaspoons of honey can be given.
Diet and lifestyle
1. One good exercise for the elderly with urine incontinence problems is the “Kegel exercise”. This exercise will strengthen pelvic muscles, primarily those around the recturn, urethra and vagina.
2. Alternate hot and cold fomentation of the abdomen may help.
3. Limit intake of tea, coffee and chocolates
4. Treat the children who wet the bed during the night, kindly. Do not abuse or insult them. This kind of harshness may aggravate the problems. Make them pass urine before going to bed.
5. Massaging with “Bala Aswagandha” Thailam may help.
6. Intestinal worms may cause urinary incontinence. Till the worms are eradicated, bed wetting can not be treated.