Acupuncture for Bladder Infection

Having one bladder infection is bad enough, but for 30% of women, these infections can become a chronic problem

Her expertise in traditional Chinese medicine allows her to develop individualized care for your bladder infection, using herbal medicine and acupuncture. Call the office in Castle Rock, Colorado, or book an appointment online.

Bladder Infection Q & A

What causes a bladder infection?

Bladder infections are the most common type of urinary tract infection. When the infection occurs in the urethra — the tube that carries urine out of your body — it’s called urethritis. If the infection travels up the urethra and into your bladder, the bladder infection is called cystitis.

You develop a bladder infection when bacteria living on the skin around your anus get inside the urinary tract. Normally, bacteria are flushed out of the urethra when you urinate, but sometimes they manage to take hold and infect your bladder.

What increases my risk for a bladder infection?

Women are more likely to develop a bladder infection than men. You’re also at a higher risk if:

• You’re sexually active
• You’ve reached menopause
• You use a diaphragm
• You don’t drink enough water
• You have a history of urinary tract infections
• You have a blockage in your urinary tract, such as a kidney stone
• You have diabetes or conditions affecting your immune system

It’s estimated that 30% of women develop recurrent urinary tract infections. If you have two or more infections in six months or three or more in a year, you have recurrent infections.

What symptoms develop if I have a bladder infection?

Bladder infections cause one or more of the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Urge to urinate even if your bladder is empty
• Passing small amounts of urine
• Burning sensation when you urinate
• Strong-smelling urine
• Cloudy, pink, or dark-colored urine
• Pain in your lower abdomen

Untreated bladder infections can lead to a kidney infection. If that happens, you’ll have additional symptoms, including fever, nausea, and pain in your side or upper back.

How does traditional Chinese medicine treat bladder infections?

Traditional Chinese medicine effectively treats bladder infections using:

Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine uses the bioactive ingredients naturally found in plants to treat illness and infections. Depending on the severity of your infection and symptoms, Vonda may recommend herbs alone or together with acupuncture. In Chinese medicine, herbs also have vital energy or Qi, which is considered when creating your herbal medicine.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can free your body’s ability to naturally heal your infection by removing blockages in your energy pathways. When Vonda inserts the slender needles into acupuncture points, they also stimulate nerve activity, which in turn triggers your brain to release endorphins. The endorphins can help relieve pain associated with your bladder infection.

Don’t wait to get treatment for an uncomfortable bladder infection. Call Castle Pines Acupuncture & Wellness or schedule an appointment online.