Cystitis is a very uncomfortable and painful condition caused by inflammation of the bladder. The symptoms are an aching pain in the lower back and abdomen and the most fiery pain when passing water. The inflammation and infection may pass to the kidneys so you must seek professional advice. If you receive antibiotics in treatment you would be well advised to eat a large pot of plain live yoghurt daily as a precaution against vaginal thrush. Although too much over enthusiastic lovemaking can cause cystitis it is not a ‘social disease’ but is often the result of a bad catarrhal infection, kidney stones or hormone pills. Whatever the cause, warmth and rest are essential.
You will probably feel so miserable if you are suffering from cystitis that the kindest remedy is a warm bath to which you have added a few drops of oil of pine. To further pamper yourself and help bring about a cure a few drops of cedar wood oil should be rubbed into the lower abdomen. A trick taught me when I was pregnant and very dubious about taking any ‘drugs’ was to make up the following; a few drops each of essential oil of juniper, pine, parsley and sandalwood in a cup of sunflower oil. This I rubbed into my lower abdomen (when I could find it), my lower back and , amazingly, the backs of my knees. Finally hop into a warm bed and keep a well-wrapped hot water bottle against the backs of the knees.
- Water Drink lots of tepid water not before, not during but after you have made love if you are prone to cystitis.
- Chervil, horsetail, shepherd’s purse and birch leaf A tea of any one of these herbs will bring relief.
- Bilberry leaves Infuse 25g (1oz) of bilberry leaves in 1 litre (1.75 pints) of boiling water for 15 minutes. Drink 2 or 3 cups daily to ease the pain of cystitis. Good home remedy for cystitis.
- Potato water Drink the water from boiled potatoes (Do not cook them in an aluminum saucepan.)
- Sweet corn Make a tea from the silky tassels of th cob and also eat the fresh vegetable.
- Cherry stalks and peach leaf tea One teaspoon of each in 600 ml (1 pint) of water soothes considerably.
- Cherry stalks were at one time used as a diuretic.
- Cherries As well as the stalks, the fruit themselves are good for you. If you often suffer from kidney disorders and cystitis frequently recurs make this delicious syrup and drink by the tablespoon.
500g (11b) cherries (preferably a cooking variety)
175 ml (6fl oz) water
unrefined cane sugar
Wash the cherries, keeping their stalks on, and put them into a double boiler with the water. Cook gently until the fruit is very soft, helping the process along with a little judicious mashing with a wooden spoon, if necessary. Crush a few of the stones and add the kernels to the pan. When the cherries are pulpy strain them through a muslin cloth, squeezing out every last drop of juice. Measure the liquid and for every 500 ml (1 pint) take 250g (8oz) of sugar. Put both in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring well, until the sugar has dissolved. Boil gently to a syrupy consistency and bottle in a dry, hot container. Seal tightly. It will keep for quite a long time if refrigerated. One of the good home remedies for cystitis.
* Marsh mallow A decoction of marsh mallow is often used to help you ‘spend a penny’. However in this case it is used to offset the effects of taking antibiotics : 1 teaspoon of marsh mallow root to 1 cup of boiling water, left to stand for five minutes and then sweetened with honey.
