Home Remedies For Digestive And Urinary Problems

The digestive and urinary systems are your body's power plant and your body's waste-disposal mechanism. Your digestive system starts at your mouth. First you put food in your mouth and start chewing. As you're chewing salivary enzymes convert starches to sugars. In your stomach, digestive enzymes and gastric juices reduce the rest to liquid. Sugar and alcohol go directly into your bloodstream through your stomach walls. In your small intestine, pancreatic enzymes, intestinal enzymes, and liver bile will complete the digestive process. All of your digestive food will be absorbed into your circulatory system through your intestinal walls. Your kidneys will filter all the waste material from you bloodstream and then transform it to urine. Which is then carried to your bladder. The urine is then passed from your body. All of the indigestible solid waste is passed to your large intestine where it is then excreted from your body.

Many digestive and urinary problems can be self treated. You should consult your doctor if you are having problems and your over forty years old, you have a family history of cancer, you drink or smoke a lot, you have difficulty swallowing, or you have unexplained anemia or weight loss.

Constipation

Constipation is usually the result of unhealthy lifestyles and bad eating habits. Certain medications can also slow digestion and bowel movements. If you think your medication is causing you problems then you should speak to your doctor about it. If you take laxatives regularly your body can become dependent on them and your body may not be able to function without them. If you have problems with constipation you should avoid eating red meat, chocolate, fried foods, processed foods, breads, cheese and other dairy products, and iron and calcium supplements. These foods can be binding.

Exercising can help with constipation. It will help speed up all the processes of digestion. You can also eat lots of raw fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and bran. Bran in any form should be accompanied by lots of water. Eating foods that are high in fiber is another thing you can do to help with constipation. Some foods that are high in fiber include asparagus, beans, lentils, and most dried fruits. Also eating fresh cucumbers and watermelons can act as a gentle laxative.

Herbal and Folk Remedies- Globe artichokes, rhubarb, chicory, fiddlehead, ostrich ferns, olive oil, and dandelions can help to relieve constipation. Some helpful herbs include peppermint, garlic, milk thistle, marigold, lavender, linden, yarrow, yellow dock, and gentian. You can also sprinkle one to two teaspoons of psyllium or flax seeds on your salad or cereal to help soften your stools. Just make sure you drink a glass of water after eating these seeds. In Russia they put two tablespoons of honey in a cup of boiling water and take it once a day for constipation.

You should call a doctor if the constipation lasts for more than a week or two, there is bleeding, distention or pain, or if laxatives cause you to vomit instead of evacuate. These could be symptoms of a bowel obstruction or other serious medical condition.

Diarrhea

You will sometimes get diarrhea after a virus, the flu, food poisoning, or food allergies. If it's a mild case it's usually best to let it run its course. If you have diarrhea you should limit your diet to rice and bananas because they are both binding. If you have cramps you should eat clear gelatin and drink only clear fluids such as broth or soup. This will give your bowels a rest. You can get dehydrated if you have prolonged diarrhea so it's very important to drink lots of fluids. The best fluids to drink are water, gatorade and similar sports drinks.

Herbal and Folk Remedies- Charcoal can absorb the toxins that cause diarrhea. If you don't have any then you can eat a piece of burnt toast. Goldenseal is also good to take. Put a 1/2 teaspoon in a cup of boiling water. Don't use this if you're pregnant or have high blood pressure. Green tea is an ancient Chinese remedy for diarrhea. Dried blueberries and blackberry brandy are also good to take for diarrhea.

If your diarrhea is sever and lasts for more than a couple of days, is accompanied by fever, or you have blood in your stool you should see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if you frequently have diarrhea because it could be a symptom of a serious condition.

Intestinal Parasites

Children are more likely to get worms than adults. They usually get them from playing in the dirt, then transferring the eggs to their mouths. Once a child gets them they can spread to the whole family. Make sure you practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of infection. Wash your clothes in hot water and germicide and make sure everyone washes their hands frequently, especially before eating. A bitter aperitif before a meal can help to discourage intestinal parasites.

Herbal and Folk Remedies- Infused wormwood is effective against intestinal worms. Steep one to two teaspoons of the dried leaves in a cup of water for ten to fifteen minutes. Then sip a cup three times a day. Raw garlic has also proved effective against intestinal parasites.

Urinary Problems

Your kidneys filter waste products from your blood. You should drink plenty of water to help flush your urinary system of impurities and bacteria.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are caused by toxins, excess mineral, and certain acids. They can accumulate in your kidney and form gravel and stones. The best thing to do is drink plenty of fluids. People who are susceptible to kidney stones should avoid nuts and cheese.

Herbal and Folk Remedies- Cranberry juice, nettle leaves, and dandelions can help prevent kidney stones. Columbine root, birch leaf tea and hawthorn berries may help to break up the stones. You can also make a decoction out of gravel root (joe pye-weed). Take about 1.4 cup of dried herb to about 1 1/2 pints water and take three times a day.

Urinary Tract Infections

If you feel the need to frequently urinate but have little outflow, pain, or burning then you may have a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections are usually treated with an antibiotic. If you have a mild infection or the infection is in its early stages it can sometimes be cleared up with folk remedies or herbs. You should still get a professional diagnosis first. The best thing to do is drink plenty of water and avoid coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods.

Ways you can avoid urinary tract infections is to empty your bladder before and after sex and make sure you wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.

Herbal and Folk Remedies- One of the best herbal remedies is bearberry leaves. Soak the leaves in cold water for twelve to fourteen hours to avoid releasing tannin. It should be one teaspoon to one cup water. Dont' take more than two to three cups a day for no longer than a week or two. Barley water is a Scottish remedy for urinary tract infection. Take a cup pearl barley and cover it with two quarts of water. Bring to a boil, cover, then simmer until the barley is soft. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and drink cold.

If you've seen your doctor and he diagnosed your urinary tract infection as interstitial cystitis don't drink cranberry juice because it helps the bacteria adhere to your bladder wall.

None of these home remedies are intended to replace the advice of your doctor. It's never a good idea to act as your own physician. If you still have symptoms after a few days then you should see your doctor. You should also let your doctor know when you are using home remedies, especially if you are already taking medication.

If you have allergies you should test your reaction to an herb by first taking a small quantity followed by lots of water. If you are applying the herb to your skin you should first apply it to a small area to see if you have an allergic reaction.