Herbal Cures: Bedwetting

There were many folk treatments for bedwetting, or enuresis, in past centuries. Children were given a spoonful of honey at bedtime or a tea made from corn silk, wintergreen, or prince's pine. Chronic bedwetters were doused in cold morning baths or told to sleep only on their sides or stomach. One old-time cure even called for the child to eat a fried mouse!

Bedwetting is as common among young children today as in the past. At the age of five, about 10 percent of youngsters still wet the bed. Slightly more boys than girls have the problem, which usually runs in families. It usually occurs because the nervous- system functions that control the bladder are slow in maturing. Sometimes it is caused by stress resulting from the arrival of a new baby or the start of school.

Nearly all children stop wetting the bed before adolescence. In the meantime, however, the condition can be the source of acute embarrassment. Parents can help by understanding that the child cannot control bedwetting and should never be scolded for accidents. It often helps to wake the child to go to the bathroom a few hours after he or she goes to sleep. And be sure to praise the child for any dry nights.

If a bedwetting child suffers from excessive thirst and urinates more often than usual, it may signal diabetes, while a stinging pain on urination may indicate a urinary tract infection. If either of these symptoms appears, consult a doctor.

A nasal spray called DDAVP (desmospressin acetate), a synthetic form of a pituitary hormone, has been found to effectively control bedwetting in 85 to 90 percent of cases. There are herbal treatments as well.

Herbal Remedies

Saw palmetto Although bedwetting is usually associated with children, adult males with the condition commonly known as an enlarged prostate may also have the problem. An extract of the berries of saw palmetto has proven in German studies to help control frequent nocturnal urination in men with BPH. The extract's antiandrogenic and anti-inflammatory properties account for its beneficial effects. Look for standardized extracts in capsule form.

Fennel This herb has a long history as a folk remedy for bedwetting but little clinical verification. Steep a tea made from 1 cup boiling water and 1 teaspoon ground seeds for 10 minutes; strain, then drink. Consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking fennel for longer than a few weeks. Avoid fennel oil, which can cause respiratory problems and seizures.