I have this patient, a 44-year old mother; let’s call her Cristina. She complains and is embarrassed by frequent bladder infections. To maintain bladder health she drinks helpful pomegranate and cranberry juices.  Recently, Cristina was diagnosed as a borderline diabetic.  Cristina came looking for alternative ways to treat her infection because these juices are high in sugar, and drugs give her abdominal discomfort.

Willing to try natural remedies, I treated Cristina with Acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulation, sent her off with a bottle of Chinese herbal patent pills, and, a bottle of cranberry capsules obtained from a local health food store.  She is to finish taking the single bottle of a Chinese Formula, and, immediately begin her maintenance program with the Cranberry capsules.  I asked that she triple the suggested dose of cranberry capsules with plenty of water.  For further maintenance purposes, and, to manage her sugar count, I told Katie we could replace her juices with cornsilk. Cornsilk is known to soothe bladder infections and irritation; resulting in less frequent urination and decreased burning sensation while urinating.  Cornsilk helps by coating the membrane lining of the urinary tract walls. Another benefit of cornsilk is it reduces sediment formation in the kidneys.  It acts like a mild diuretic by reducing water retention in the body.  Delighted, Cristina said, "It’s a remedy used in the old country".  Because she is a borderline diabetic, I also added fresh ginger to flavor the cornsilk tea (In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the pancreas is the root organ that is targeted when trying to control the disease of Diabetes. In TCM the role of the pancreas is to make blood and energy. ) Adding the ginger not only flavors the cornsilk tea, it also cools inflammation and boosts Cristina's energy level naturally.  I reminded Cristina about lessening her intake of caffeine which is also known to aggravate bladder or kidney infections.

Now, as part of her runs to the neighborhood supermarket, she adds fresh corn, and ginger to her grocery list.  To make the cornsilk tea, simply boil about ½ an oz of fresh ginger in 2-3 cups water for about 5 minutes, turn off the heat, steep the cornsilk of 1 or 2 ears of corn on the stove for 3-4 minutes.

I also told Cristina about the benefits of fresh coconut juice to relieve bladder and kidney infections. For centuries, in SE Asia, coconut water has been the natural remedy for strengthening kidneys, and, cooling hot urine.   Studies claim that drinking coconut water may reduce one’s chance of having kidney or ureter stones.  It is low in carbohydrates, 99% fat free and very low in sugar.  I asked her to venture out to her local Oriental grocery store where fresh coconut is available in the vegetable section all-year round.  Her grocer can show her how to open, put a hole in the coconut, and using a straw sh e can sip the water. Coconut water is also available in cans or plastic bottles and should work just as well.   Armed with the knowledge of cornsilk, cranberry capsules, pomegranate, and coconut water to nourish her bladder (and kidneys!) and clear her urinary tract problems, Cristina left on a mission.

Today, instead of opening a can of soda, Cristina packs a large bottle of cornsilk tea with ginger, or a can of Coco Juice to work and school. In addition, Cristina says dried packaged cornsilk is available in various neighborhood stores in Southern California.  It’s all about changing old habits or creating new ones. It is surprising how natural remedies can be so simple and yet so helpful.