Incontinence affects millions of men and women globally yet rarely will it be the subject of conversation between friends or even spouses. That’s unfortunate because incontinence can be cured or managed fairly easily and you can speed up your doctor’s recommendation by exploring incontinence and alternative medicine.
A holistic approach to almost any condition is always preferable to drug therapy or surgery. With incontinence there are several things you can do ranging from changes in lifestyle, to exercise, to changes in diet that can assist in ending the condition and the embarrassment and inconvenience that goes with it.
Often the cause of incontinence is the deterioration of the muscles in the pelvic floor. These muscles support, in part, the organ structure for the bladder and urethra. When they are weakened the bladder may move creating excessive pressure and the sphincter muscles and urethra can become non-responsive to efforts to control the flow of urine.
Exercises, like Kegel routines, yoga and Pilates can go a long way in strengthening these muscles and regaining control. Using biofeedback in conjunction with exercise can greatly increase the effectiveness of these muscle toning efforts as it allows you to see what is working and what isn’t.
Even acupuncture, still considered an alternative medicine, can be useful in getting better blood flow to the muscles and the bladder which assists in regaining strength. Acupuncture has the additional benefit of restoring hormone levels and enhancing the immune system which gives you an overall healthier body.
Incontinence and alternative medicine really go hand in hand. Incontinence by itself is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying condition. Simple alternative medicine can assist not only with the incontinence, but whatever the condition is that is causing it.
By: Hillary Bowman
