PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder and/or urethra. More commonly found in women.
There are a number of factors, which lead to bacterial infection like:
· irritation from sexual, intercourse,
· poor hygiene,
· obstruction by an enlarged, prostate gland (men),
· chemical irritants,
· variations in estrogen levels,· venereal diseases, etc.
Main symptoms:
· frequent and intense desire to urinate, accompanied by burning with the passing of urine
· tenderness over the bladder
· slight fever and an increased thirst may be present as well.
· urine may be very bloody and possess a strong odor.
Cystitis in most cases is without complications but the practitioner should have in mind the potential complication of pyelonephritis that may appear with back pain, fever and chills. Apart from the following remedies one should also consider the possibility of repeating the last remedy that acted for the chronic treatment.
Main remedies:
CANTHARIS
KEYNOTES: BURNING PAIN, INTENSITY, BLOODY URINE, SEXUAL DESIRE INCREASED.
Acute cystitis with rapid and intense development.
Intense BURNING, CUTTING PAIN (Ter.) in the bladder, bladder neck and urethra, before, during or after urination.
Tormenting tenesmus with a frequent and enormous urge to urinate; there is urinary urgency from the least amount of urine. Dysuria.
Urine is hot, burning, excoriating, is passed drop by drop.
The patient shrieks from pain.
THE URINE BECOMES BLOODY soon after the onset of symptoms. Hematuria with large blood clots.
Sexual desire increased during cystitis. Urge to masturbate. Erections in men during cystitis.
Modalities
AMEL: cold applications, continued motion, rubbing, after complete emptying of the bladder, lying, sweating, alcoholic drinks.
AGG: Motion, drinking cold water, coffee-after urination. Erections, pressure, bathing.
NUX VOMICA
KEYNOTES: PAINFUL TENESMUS (Canth., Pareir.) AND INEFFECTUAL URGING. CHILLINESS AND IRRITABILITY.
Frequency and urging but is unable to pass urine or passes a little at a time, especially with urging to pass stool (effective or ineffective).
Chilliness (Ars.) and irritability during cystitis.
Itching in urethra with urination.
Pain spreads from kidneys to urethra.
Sudden urge to urinate, has to hurry up otherwise he loses urine (Puls, Canth.).
Dribbling urination.
Urine is thick with tenacious mucous sediment.
Spasm of the urethra. Drawing pain in the urethra and especially in the bladder, during urination. Painful urine retention.
Increased sexual desire. Cystitis after sexual ecsesses.
Modalities
AMEL: warm (applications, bathing, warm bed, lying).
AGG: cold, undressing, during stool, anger, coffee, alcohol, sexual excesses.
SARSAPARILLA
KEYWORDS: < END OF URINATION, MUST STAND TO URINATE.
Cystitis with burning PAIN IN THE BLADDER and URETHRA esp. AT THE CLOSE OF URINATION (Nat-c.). Pain comes with the last drops.
Painful dysuria with children weeping before or during urination.
Retarded or dribbling urination while sitting; copious urination while standing.
Chills spread from bladder when urinating. Coldness of back after urination.
Urine can be bloody at the last few drops. Urine with sandy or reddish sediment (Lyc.).
Modalities
Better: loosening cloths, standing, cold.
Worse: cold, damp weather, vomiting, bathing, night, sexual excitement.
SEPIA
KEYWORDS: BEARING-DOWN SENSATION.
Cystitis in women with BEARING-DOWN SENSATION, feels as if uterus will prolapse.
Feels as if urine will escape. Constant urge to urinate (Nux-v.).
In women with chronic leucorrhea and very low sexual desire.
Other remedies:
BELLADONNA
KEYWORDS: SUDDEN ONSET, HIGH FEVER, COLD EXTREMITIES, <JAR.
SUDDEN inflammation of kidney or bladder with HIGH FEVER and COLD EXTREMITIES.
Burning pain esp. in the neck of bladder or kidneys during urination. aggravated by JAR and motion.
Spasmodic clutching at neck of bladder.
Tenesmus and straining. Dribbling and difficult urination.
Retention of urine.
Sensation of a moving worm in bladder.
Urine is hot, bloody or with small clots.
Modalities
Better: cold applications, lying down, dark room, semi- erect position.
Worse: JAR, motion, cough, touch, stooping, heat.
STAPHYSAGRIA
KEYWORDS: CYSTITIS AFTER COITION OR INJURIES, UNSATISFACTORY URINATION.
Cystitis AFTER COITION (Med., Nux-v.). Especially for women with chronic cystitis since they were married or for young girls after their first sexual intercourse or after every intercourse.
Unsatisfactory urination, with dribbling, as if bladder is not emptied (Nux-v.).
Cystitis after injuries (after surgery or catheterization). After difficult labor (Arn.).
Burning pain during and after urination. Involuntary urination.
Enlarged prostate with frequent urge to urinate esp. in old men.
Burning in the urethra when not urinating.
Cystitis after suppressed anger.
PULSATILLA
KEYWORDS: <LYING, <POSTPONING, WARM, THIRSTLESS.
Cystitis with PAIN that INCREASES EVERY MOMENT URINATION IS DELAYED. Cystitis from retaining urination.
Urge to urinate soon after lying on the back.
Frequent urging which is often ineffectual. Pain in bladder extending to thighs (Pareir.).
Involuntary urination unless she concentrates constantly; must hurry to urinate otherwise urine will escape.
Involuntary urination on the slightest provocation (laughing, coughing). (Caust.), while walking, sitting or during sleep.
Burning pain in urethra after urination or at the end of urination (Sars).
Bladder pain extending to thighs.Urine tends to spurt out .Urine cloudy, hot with mucous and sediment.
WARM and thirstless.
Modalities
Better: open air, sitting up, cold applications, walking slowly.
Worse: before menses or suppressed menses, LYING ON THE BACK, walking, getting wet feet, catching cold, night.
Rarer remedies:
APIS
KEYWORDS: RETENTION IN NEWBORS, NEPHRITIS, > COLD APPLICATIONS.
In newborns with retention of urine.
Cystitis with the complication of kidney’s inflammation.
Strong pains in the bladder.
Copious urine, which is bloody, but may be scanty as well.
Modalities
Worse: Heat.
Better: Cold applications.
ARNICA
KEYWORDS: INJURIES.
Cystitis after mechanical causes like after bicycling in women or after forceps delivery.
Worse from touch, even the underwear bothers her.
PAREIRA BRAVA
KEYWORDS: KNEE-ELBOW POSITION.
DRIBLING urination with frequent urging.
Pain extents to thighs.
Can only urinate when on knee-elbow position.
PETROSELINUM
KEYWORDS: ITCHING AND TINGLING DEEP IN THE URETHRA.
Cystitis and urethritis with severe ITCHING AND TINGLING DEEP IN THE URETHRA.
SUDDEN AND INTENSE URGE TO URINATE.
Children jump up and down with pain.
Voluptuous tickling in urethra (fossa vanicularis). He wants to put an object inside to scratch the area.
Intense, biting pain deep in the urethra. Burning, tingling from perineum throughout the whole urethra.
Milky, acrid, profuse discharges from the urethra. Gonorrheal discharges.
TEREBINTHINA
KEYWORDS: BURNING, STRONG URINE ODOR.
Violent burning in the bladder which alternates with burning around umbilicus.
Worse from rest, when lying to rest, > walking.
Hematuria and proteinuria.
Strong odor of urine or odor like violets.
EQUISETUM
BLADDER FEELS SWOLLEN with dull pain.
Urination gives no relief. When the bladder is full the discomfort is less, so the patient resists urination.
CHIMAPHILA UMBALLATA
Cystitis in men with prostate problems.
Bloody mucus from urethra.
Feels as perineum is swollen or a sensation of a ball in perineum.
Urine flows better when standing with legs apart.
