I was recently asked this question by a lady who was enquiring about my acupuncture treatments to ease her menopausal symptoms.  She is experiencing hot flushes and a real urgency to urinate frequently.  There is no infection or cystitis present, just the need to pee several times an hour; this is having a huge impact on her daily life, travelling long distances is becoming difficult and she feels embarrassed at having to excuse herself from work to visit the lavatory so often.

Menopause can trigger a whole range of symptoms and I explained to her how declining oestrogen levels affect the lining of the urinary tract as well as causing hot flushes, and can lead to an overactive bladder.

Oestrogen & Bladder Health

Before birth, during our development in the womb, the urinary and vaginal tracts develop from the same basic cells and this means the bladder is influenced by oestrogen and progesterone in the same way our reproductive organs are.

Once we reach menopause, the drop in oestrogen and progesterone levels causes both the vagina and bladder to shrink and become slightly drier.  This makes it easier for harmful bacteria to take hold and cause bladder infections, and also means ladies are more prone to urinary urgency, incontinence and overactive bladders.  Studies have shown 70% of post-menopausal women can link the onset of urinary incontinence with the end of their menstrual periods.

Bladder irritants

The first step to soothing an overactive bladder is to remove any drinks from the diet which can irritate the bladder.  I advised the lady to switch from drinking tea and coffee to warm or room temperature water, Rooibos tea and herbal teas.  Both regular tea and coffee and decaffeinated versions contain compounds that irritate the lining of the bladder making you want to urinate more.  Nettle and horsetail herbal teas are particularly good as they contain silicea, a natural mineral which strengthens the lining of the bladder.

Alcohol is unhelpful, making the urine more acidic and feeding any harmful bacteria.

How Acupuncture helps an Overactive Bladder

The conventional treatment option for overactive bladder is a drug called solifenacin succinate which works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder wall.

Acupuncture on the other hand has a much wider, whole body approach and encompasses the menopausal changes as well as the bladder symptoms.

Acupuncture has been proven to:

• Reduce pain and sensitivity
• Lower levels of Nerve Growth Factor, a biomarker for overactive bladder
• Regulate female hormone levels
• Increase overall relaxation and uplifting mood chemicals

And of course, there are no unpleasant drug-induced side effects!

Acupuncture is an effective way to ease your journey through the menopause and manage distressing symptoms such as an overactive bladder.

To discover more about how acupuncture can help you find freedom from an overactive bladder CALL TIZIANA TODAY on 07788 633292 or email at info@yorktraditionalacupuncture.co.uk

Tiziana has been voted one of the TOP 3 ACUPUNCTURISTS IN THE UK!  WHY TRUST ANYONE ELSE WITH YOUR HEALTH?