Normal frequency of urination varies from 4-7 times to 6- 10 times a day for each individual. Frequent urination is the condition where you tend to pass urine more frequently than what’s normal for you. It may occur either only during night time for some individuals or may be both morning and night time. Ayurvedic treatment for frequent urination employs, medicines, diet and lifestyle.
Causes of Frequent Urination
- Urinary tract infection.
- Certain medications which increase urine production.
- Excessive consumption of certain beverages and fluids.
- Diabetes mellitus and insipidus.
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy in males.
- Pregnancy in females.
- Overactive bladder.
- Stones or calculus.
- Abnormal kidney functioning.
- Mental disturbance like anxiety, unusual fear, etc.
- Urinary incontinence due to muscular or neural weakness.
When to see your doctor?
These are alarming call for a person with frequent urination to consult a doctor.
- Is there blood in your urine?
- Is your urine dark yellow or brown?
- Do you have pain while urinating?
- Don’t you have control over your bladder?
- Do you have fever?
- Do you wake up more than twice on the night to urinate?
Ayurvedic view of frequent urination
Atimutrata is the term used for increased frequency of urination. It may be referred to as the excessive secretion of urine (polyurea) or the excessive elimination. The pathogenesis according to ayurveda varies in these two condition which changes the treatment pattern completely. It is considered as vitiation of apana vayu (apana vayu vaigunya) in the channels that carry urine (mutra vaha srotas). The mutravaha srotas has its root at the kidneys and the path extends upto the urethra via the ureter and urinary bladder.
- When it is due to excessive secretion, it is a pathology in the kapha dosha and the water element (drava dhatu) of the body.
- When there is no excessive secretion, it is the vitiation of vata dosha along with the water element (drava dhatu) of the body. It may or may not be associated with kapha.
- In the symptoms of prameha(a group of urinary disorders that includes madhumeha/diabetes), excessive urination (prabhuta mutrata) is mentioned as a cardinal symptom.
Ayurvedic Treatment for frequent urination -Protocol
Ayurvedic treatment for frequent urination (atimutrata) includes the following:
- Snehana-swedana (oleation and fomentation) followed by snigdha virechana (purgation) in case of retention of urine (mutraghata).
- Enema procedures such as Asthapana basti, anuvasana basti and uttara basti are helpful.
- Medicines causing movement of vata in a normal direction (Vatanulomana and udavarta hara) and those which help in voiding of urine (mutrala) are helpful.
- Tub bath (avagaha) with herbal decoctions of varuna, gokshura, Brihati, shatavari punarnava are helpful.
Ayurvedic treatment for frequent urination
- Sukumaram kashayam is a herbal decoction that is helpful in this condition.
- Chandraprabhavati tablets relieves symptoms of urinary retention, Urinary tract infection and BPH.
- Ayurstate tablets are exclusively used in the treatment of BPH, urinary retention and Prostate cancer.
Treatments for frequent urination
- Kegel exercises: These are floor exercises that can be performed by both men and women that will improve the muscle tone of the pelvis. Results are observed as early as two weeks when performed properly. It is known to reduce incontinence and over active bladder.Learn how to perform kegel excercises here.
- Bladder training: This involves holding the urge for a certain amount of time, setting time intervals for passing urine. This technique is known to change the bladder habits.
- Changing diet: avoiding foods that irritate the bladder or act as a diuretic, for instance caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, spicy foods, artificial sweeteners. Eating high-fiber foods can help reduce the constipation that worsens an overactive bladder.
Home remedies in ayurvedic treatment for frequent urination
- The fruit rind of pomegranate is ground and 1 tsp of this paste is taken with water in the morning and evening before food daily. This is known the cure the urinary frequency.
- Fenugreek seed powder consumed with a pinch of dry ginger in the early morning and at night relieves this condition.
- Intake of jamun seed powder with raw honey on an empty stomach is known to cure frequent urination. It is also an effective remedy to reduce blood sugar levels.
- Intake of sesame seeds with jaggery thrice a day controlls frequent urination.
- Intake of coconut water relieves the UTI symptoms and cures frequent urination.
- Intake of Curd helps in reducing frequent urination. Curd is known to have the property of withholding the liquids (grahi) and thus cures the problem.
- Intake of juice of one amla with honey and a banana along with it will take you out of this problem. It can be taken three times in a day and is beneficial for all age groups and in pregnant women.
- Reetha powder (soapnut) – 1/2 tsp with a glass of water will relieve the symptom in a week.
- Powder of pumpkin seeds with water cures the problem.
Diet to control frequent micturition
The following food habits is known to help along with the medicines is employed in the ayurvedic treatment for frequent urination:
- Juice of pomegranate, aloe vera juice, tender coconut water, cranberry juice and gooseberry juice is helpful.
- Intake of apples, bananas,apples, sweet potatoes, grapes, raspberries, beans, bananas, brown rice, and cherries.
- Add cumin, fennel seeds, jaggery, cinnamon and fenugreek seeds in your diet.
- Include curd and buttermilk in your diet.
- Take a lot of spinach,pumpkin and plantain stems.
3 foods to avoid:
- Artificial sugar
- Alcohol
- Fried food, junk food and pastries.
3 Yoga poses for controlling frequent urination
There are a few yoga poses just like kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor.
1.Triangle Pose(Trikonasana):
Stand with your feet very wide apart so your legs make a triangle to the floor. Turn your right foot 90 degrees. Align the center of the right heel with the center of your arch of your left foot. Inhale deeply. As you exhale, bend your body down from the hips to the right. As you bend down keep your back straight, place your right hand down by your right foot (you may place it on your shin, foot or on the ground beside your foot for balance) and point your left arm up to the sky. Breathe deeply while you are in this pose. After you’ve done some deep breathing, inhale and come up. Bring your arms down to your sides and straighten your feet.
2. Squat Pose(Malasana):
Stand with your feet a little wider than hip distance apart. Pivot your toes so they are facing outward and are wider than your heels. Bend your knees deeply until your hips are lower than your knees. Bring your hands palm-to-palm and place your elbows at the inner parts of your knee. Push your elbows into your knees to open up your hips. Attempt to raise your heart up to the sky to stretch your back and spine. Hold for 30 seconds. To release, sit back on your buttocks or push up to stand.
3.Chair Pose (Utkatasana):
Stand with your feet facing forward hip-width apart. Inhale as you face your palms forward moving them above your head. Exhale and bend your knees, while squatting down. Move your hips into the floor, almost like you are sitting in a chair. Bring your weight to the heels of your feet and do not lower your bottom to lower than your knees. Keep your knees pointing straightforward. Press your shoulders down and try to arch your spine. Breathe for roughly three to six minutes. To release this pose, inhale and slowly straighten your legs. Reach your arms up and stretch as you exhale and place your hands by your side.