Stress Incontinence

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
• Avoid coffee and tea, even decaffeinated and carbonated beverages
• Avoid eating citrus fruits and tomatoes
• Eat dark green leafy vegetables

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin C: 1 gm TID
• Vitamin B12: 1000 mcg. daily or 1 cc IM 3 times a week (especially for geriatric patients)

Supplements: (references)

Collagen Injection: 4.7 cc (1.5-12.5) transurethrally and 10.1 cc (5-20) periurethrally

Botanicals: (references)

• Tincture- *Chamaelirium luteum(10-25%), *Mitchella repens(10-25%), *Centella asiatica (10-25%), *Hypericum perforatum (10-25%), *Hamamelis virginiana (10-25%), *Zea mays(10-25%): 30-60 drops TID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Agrimonia eupatorium (Agrimony)
  Centella asiatica (Gota kola)
  Centella asiatica (Gota kola)
  Chamaelirium luteum (False unicorn)
  Equisetum arvense (Shave grass, Horsetail)
  Hamamelis virginiana (Witch hazel)
  Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
  Mitchella repens (Squawvine, Partridge berry)
  Thuja plicata (Western cedar)
  Zea mays (Corn silk)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Incontinence in general:
  (3) Bell, Caust, Ph-Ac (2) aloe, arn, gels. hyos, phos, podo, puls, sep, sulph (1) ars, chin, con, dios, mur-ac, nat-m, sol, staph

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

• Estrogen replacement therapy
• Biofeedback and bladder training
• Regularly timed toileting
• Cones
• Pelvic floor exercises (Kegles)
• Stop smoking

Recommended Labs:

• Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
• Rule out BPH: Ultrasound, Rectal Exam
• Rule out complications of rectal and prostate surgery: History, CT Scan, MRI
• Rule out congenital deformity: CT Scan, Ultrasound
• Rule out detrusor myopathy: Urodynamic Studies, Cystouroethroscopy
• Rule out detrusor neuropathy: Cystometrography
• Rule out diabetes: Fasting Glucose, Fructosamine, Hemoglobin A1c
• Rule out ectopic ureter: Ultrasound, IVP
• Rule out fistulas: Excretory Urogram
• Rule out herniated lumbar disc: MRI
• Rule out herpes: Skin Culture
• Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
• Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
• Rule out pelvic injury: History, Ultrasound, CT Scan, X-Ray
• Rule out urethral hypermobility secondary to poor anatomic pelvic support: Urodynamic Studies, Cystouroethroscopy
• Rule out urethral strictures: Retrograde Urethrography
• Rule out urethral surgery: History
• Rule out vesical neck contracture: Cystography

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).