-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
urinary system
Enuresis
Integrative Therapies

Home Care

About 12 percent of children wet the bed at age 5. This decreases to 5 percent at 9 years of age.

The following diseases can cause bedwetting and must be considered: diabetes, kidney disease, spina bifida, urinary tract infection, or emotional problems. SEE A DOCTOR IF THESE ARE SUSPECTED.


REGARDING THE DIET:

1. An important consideration is food allergies. Certain foods seem to be more likely to cause or aggravate bedwetting. Eliminating these foods from the diet is a good way to determine if one or several of them are responsible for the problem.

After eliminating all of the foods from the diet, and the symptoms have gone away, one food at a time can be reintroduced to see if the symptoms reoccur. A new food would be introduced each week. The main problem foods are: dairy products (including milk, cheese, ice cream), eggs, wheat, and sugar. If you need more information, you may want to listen to read the article on food allergies.

2. Provide an overall healthy diet – Use fresh foods as close to the natural state as possible, avoiding prepackaged and processed foods. Have your child eat daily servings of leafy green vegetables, whole grains (such as brown rice and rolled oats), fresh fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. Avoid sugars (such as in pastries and candy) and refined carbohydrates (such as white bread and white rice). Children need to drink at least 4 cups of fluids daily.


AS A NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT:

Calcium and magnesium –100 milligrams of each per day for a child 8 to 12 years old.


HERBS USED FOR BEDWETTING:

Make a tea of equal parts of the following two dried herbs: Cleavers and Horsetail. Use a teaspoon of each herb per cup of boiling water. Let steep for 15 minutes. Children can drink 2 to 3 cups early in the day. It can be sweetened with 1/2 teaspoon of honey.


HOMEOPATHY:

Homeopathic Bedwetting Tablets are available from some health food stores. Or, from the following homeopathic remedies, choose the one that best matches the symptoms. Give 3 pellets, 3 times a day, dissolved under the tongue.

• Belladona 6C: For restless sleep, when the child talks in his or her sleep or dreams of urinating.

• Benzoic Acid 6C: Use if the urine has a very strong smell.

• Causticum 6C: To be used when the child has no feeling or sensation of urination, even while awake.

Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals with this condition. Consultation with a health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.


AS ADDITIONAL MEASURES:

1. Use the following simple exercise to strengthen the muscles that control urination. While your child is urinating in the bathroom, have him or her stop midstream 1 or 2 times for a second or two. This may help your child to hold the urine at night.

2. Consider counseling for your child. Bedwetting is often associated with fear, possibly fear of a parent, or with another emotional disturbance in the child or family.

3. If an adult is experiencing leakage of urine during daytime, consult a physician.



Clinic


Footnotes

BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.