Natural treatments for bedwetting
Natural treatments for bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, focus on addressing unintended nighttime urination in children older than five. While the condition often resolves on its own by puberty, some families seek alternative therapies when behavioral methods, such as limiting liquid intake before bed, are ineffective. Proposed natural remedies include acupuncture, hypnosis, and various herbs like juniper, marshmallow root, and cranberry, though scientific support for these treatments is limited. Hypnosis shows some promise, with studies indicating potential benefits, but overall evidence remains inconclusive. Additionally, dietary considerations, including the possible impact of food allergies, have been suggested, yet conclusive evidence is lacking. It’s essential to approach these natural treatments cautiously, as some herbs may have adverse effects or interact with medications. While exploring these options, families are encouraged to consult healthcare professionals to ensure safe and informed choices.
Natural treatments for bedwetting
DEFINITION: Treatment of unintended urination while sleeping.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: None
OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Acupuncture, Bach flower remedies, Chinese herbal medicine, food allergies, hypnosis, juniper, lobelia, magnet therapy, marshmallow root, parsley root, uva ursi, cranberry, magnesium,
Introduction
Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is defined as unintended nighttime urination in a child older than five. In most cases, there is no underlying medical cause; the condition is called primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE). When enuresis occurs due to another illness, it is called secondary nocturnal enuresis.
The adult bladder that becomes full during the night signals to the brain that this has occurred; in turn, the brain informs the bladder not to empty and begins the process, leading to wakefulness. The ability to carry out this process is not present at birth, but most children gradually develop this capacity and achieve it in full by age six years. However, 5 percent of ten-year-olds and 1 to 2 percent of fifteen-year-olds continue to have trouble. Nearly all children with primary nocturnal enuresis will cease bedwetting by the time they reach puberty. However, PNE remains a problem for up to 1 percent of adults. It is also important to note that PNE is often underreported.
Enuresis occurs more commonly in boys than in girls. In addition, there is a strong genetic predisposition: if both parents have enuresis, there is a 77 percent chance that a child will; this decreases to 44 percent if only one parent has enuresis.
Nocturnal enuresis is not a disease, but it can lead to significant embarrassment and limitation of activities, and for this reason, treatment may be desired. The first step is a medical examination to rule out rare underlying causes, such as infection. Commonsense steps follow, such as not drinking much liquid near bedtime and urinating just before going to bed. It is recommended that the consumption of caffeine be limited as well. More specific treatment can be delayed as long as desired because, in most cases, nocturnal enuresis will eventually disappear. For older children who wish to accelerate the process, nighttime alarm systems that wake the child in response to moisture in the child’s underwear are often highly effective. Other methods include bladder exercises and a schedule of planned nighttime waking. Hypnotherapy or acupuncture may also be explored. If these behavioral methods fail, various medications may be considered.
Proposed Natural Treatments
Many parents turn to alternative medicine for the treatment of nocturnal enuresis if behavioral methods do not work. However, no alternative therapies have been proven effective for this condition.
Hypnosis has shown some promise for nocturnal enuresis. In one study, fifty children were given the drug imipramine or given hypnotherapy for three months. The results showed substantial and approximately equal benefits in the two groups. Subsequently, children in the hypnosis group practiced self-hypnosis for another six months, while those in the imipramine group did not utilize any special therapy. At the end of the six months, children practicing self-hypnosis had maintained their benefits to a much greater extent than those in the imipramine group. Other studies found benefits with hypnosis, too; however, these studies had significant design limitations. Overall, the evidence supporting hypnosis for nocturnal enuresis is not strong.
It has been suggested that food allergies may play a role in nocturnal enuresis. However, there is only incomplete evidence that allergen avoidance or other dietary approaches can help.
Herbs used for miscellaneous bladder problems are often recommended for nocturnal enuresis on general principles. These herbs include juniper, lobelia, marshmallow root, parsley root, and uva ursi. However, there is no evidence that these herbs help the condition, and some, such as uva ursi, may have toxic properties, especially when given for the long term. There are several herbs and foods recommended for the treatment of bedwetting based on Ayurvedic medicine as well. These herbs are suggested to be taken both topically and orally, and they have no meaningful scientific backing. Cinnamon, olive oil, cranberry juice, Indian gooseberry, and honey are all recommended treatments for bedwetting in Ayurvedic medicine. The mineral magnesium is sometimes recommended to patients with bladder issues, as it may relax bladder muscles and improve bladder control.
Acupuncture, Bach flower remedies, and Chinese herbal medicine are also sometimes recommended for nocturnal enuresis, but there is no reliable evidence that they are effective. One small study found little difference in children who were treated with acupuncture versus sham acupuncture to alleviate bedwetting. One reasonably well-designed study found evidence that a special form of chiropractic (the activator technique) is not effective for bedwetting. A small preliminary study suggested that using pulsed magnetic stimulation day and night for two months may be helpful in girls.
Herbs and Supplements to Use Only with Caution
Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat nocturnal enuresis, so people should be cautious when considering the use of herbs and supplements.
Bibliography
Banerjee, S., A. Srivastav, and B. M. Palan. "Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis in the Management of Nocturnal Enuresis: A Comparative Study with Imipramine Therapy." American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, vol. 36, 1993, pp. 113-119.
"Bed-wetting - Diagnosis and Treatment." Mayo Clinic, 24 Aug. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-wetting/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20366711. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
"Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis) Causes & Treatment." Cleveland Clinic, 20 Jan. 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15075-bedwetting. Accessed 25 Aug. 2023.
But, I., and N. M. Varda. "Functional Magnetic Stimulation: A New Method for the Treatment of Girls with Primary Nocturnal Enuresis?" Journal of Pediatric Urology, vol. 2, 2006, pp. 415-418.
Chauhan, Meenakshi. “Home Remedies for Bed Wetting, Natural Treatment.” Planet Ayurveda, 26 Apr. 2019, www.planetayurveda.com/library/home-remedies-for-bed-wetting. Accessed 25 Aug. 2023.
Egger, J., et al. "Effect of Diet Treatment on Enuresis in Children with Migraine or Hyperkinetic Behavior." Clinical Pediatrics, vol. 31, 1992, pp. 302-307.
Mellon, M. W., and M. L. McGrath. "Empirically Supported Treatments in Pediatric Psychology: Nocturnal Enuresis." Journal of Pediatric Psychology, vol. 25, 2000, pp. 193-214.
Park, Jun-Young, et al. "Magnesium and Bladder Discomfort after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study." Anesthesiology, vol. 133, no. 1, 2020, pp. 64-77, doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000003309.
Reed, W. R., et al. "Chiropractic Management of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis." Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, vol. 17, 1994, pp. 596-600.
Sparks, Dana. "How Can I Help My Child with Bed-Wetting?" Mayo Clinic News Network, 26 June 2019, newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-patience-to-reduce-bed-wetting. Accessed 25 Aug. 2023.