One of the most common diseases of the genitourinary system is cystitis. In parallel with drug treatment, a positive effect is given by therapy with folk remedies, one of which can be attributed to lingonberry. With cystitis, the leaves and berries of the plant are used to prepare decoctions. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the material in which we will talk about the medicinal properties of the plant, methods of its use and the most effective recipes.
About cystitis and herbal medicine
The inflammatory process that occurs in the membrane of the bladder with the development of a bacterial infection is called cystitis. Over the past few years, disease statistics have increased significantly - among all urological, it occupies one of the first places. Most often, representatives of the fair sex are affected by this ailment due to the special anatomical structure of the urethra. The fact is that it and the urethra in women are much wider and shorter than in men, and therefore there are much more factors for the penetration of various ascending infections. Expectant mothers are even more at risk of disease, because during pregnancy their immunity is significantly reduced. The total number of women with cystitis per year is 26-30 million cases. This disease can affect men, children, including infants.
Many specialists in the field of medicine recommend conducting complex treatment, in which herbal medicine is used to a greater extent. Unlike medicines, medicinal plants do not have side effects, in addition, they can be taken for a long time. One of the most effective herbal remedies used for cystitis is lingonberry.
Healing properties
The therapeutic effect obtained from the use of lingonberries is often compared with the effect of antibiotics. This is because the plant contains a large amount of benzoic acid, which is an antiseptic of natural origin. It contributes to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria that provoke cystitis.
Lingonberry has vitamins A, B, E, C in its composition, in addition, the plant contains carbohydrates, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, carotene, magnesium. Its therapeutic effect is due to the presence in it of tannins, phenological glycosides, flavonol glycoside hyperoside.
Lingonberry leaves contain quinic, ellagic, ursolic, tartaric, gallic acids, micro and macro elements, flavoninides. Berries contain sugar, citric, malic, oxalic, acetic and other acids. The seeds are high in oil, linolenic and linoleic acid.
Indications for use
Cooked broths from lingonberries with cystitis have an antibacterial effect, in addition, they protect the mucous membrane of the genitourinary tract from getting pathogens repeatedly, including E. coli.
One of the features of lingonberries is that it contributes to the oxidation of urine, which significantly reduces the level of calcium in it. This, in turn, helps prevent the formation of kidney stones, which with cystitis significantly complicates the situation.
Precautions and contraindications
In some cases, lingonberry decoction with cystitis may be contraindicated. For example, if oxalate stones are present in the kidneys, then berries can provoke an exacerbation. The leaves of the plant for this disease should not be used in some cases:
- people with kidney failure, hypotension;
- children under 12 years old;
- with an allergic reaction to the components of this plant;
- with special care, cranberries should be used to treat people with high gastric acidity;
- pregnant women, nursing mothers.
Lingonberry from cystitis during pregnancy
Infection - bacteria, fungi, viruses - is everywhere, but most often for their development and activity they prefer to choose people whose body is weakened to one degree or another due to any reason. One of the factors that fit this definition is pregnancy.
Undoubtedly, any inflammation during pregnancy must be treated. However, drug therapy is considered undesirable, since chemicals can have a negative effect on the fetus. In addition, synthetic drugs can aggravate the course of pregnancy or cause the threat of various types of pathologies. For this reason, many gynecologists try to use alternative methods of treatment.
In such an important period of a woman’s life, one cannot make an independent decision on conducting herbal medicine, only a highly qualified specialist should prescribe it based on analyzes and health status. The duration of treatment is also determined by the doctor. If the gynecologist believes that treatment with lingonberry with cystitis in a woman in position should be discontinued, herbal medicine should be stopped immediately.
Healing recipes
One of the most popular remedies for cystitis is cranberry juice. It helps to strengthen the body as a whole and will help to avoid vitamin deficiency. To prepare it, you should take three glasses of well-washed and peeled berries, mash them in a container until a homogeneous gruel. Pour about 4 glasses of water into the gruel and put on a minimum heat, cook, stirring constantly, bring to a boil and remove from heat. After it cools completely, you can add cinnamon, vanillin, honey or cardamom to it.
Lingonberry decoction
Medicines prepared on the basis of lingonberry leaves for cystitis (according to patients who are waiting for the baby), significantly facilitate the course of the disease.
In order to prepare a decoction, you should take 1-1.5 tsp. leaves of the plant (dried), pour them with a glass of hot water, put in a water bath and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, covering with a lid. Then the broth is removed, let it cool and filtered. The volume of liquid should be brought to 200 milliliters, otherwise the drink will be too concentrated, which can lead to problems with the stomach. It should be drunk in 2-4 doses during the day.
Herbal drink
In equal proportions we take sage leaves, lingonberries and chamomile flowers, 1.5 tsp. pour raw materials with 300 milliliters of boiling water and let it brew well. After 20-30 minutes, the drink is ready to drink. By the way, such a medicine can be used not only in the form of a drink, but also for washing. All of these herbs are similar to each other in light antibacterial action and show high rates in the treatment of cystitis. You can use an herbal drink for those pregnant women who are contraindicated in consuming lingonberries in their pure form.
Contraindications in pregnancy
Speaking about the enormous benefits of lingonberries for cystitis, it is impossible not to say about the danger that may lie in wait when using this plant.
- Lingonberries help reduce pressure, which can cause hypotension in women. This, in turn, can lead to poor health, weakness, loss of appetite and nausea.
- It reduces blood coagulation. This factor should be evaluated based on the specific situation, often during pregnancy there is a natural increase in the hormone progesterone, which makes the blood thicker. In this case, the blood-thinning property of lingonberries can, on the contrary, be beneficial. In any case, it is necessary to constantly monitor the level of platelets, coagulation time.
- The active components present in lingonberries increase the tone of the uterus, which is fraught with premature birth or miscarriage. It must be remembered that if a pregnant woman feels tension in the abdomen after taking drugs from lingonberries, you should immediately abandon such therapy and immediately consult a doctor.
- Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) and urolithiasis (stones in the bladder) are an absolute contraindication to the use of lingonberries in cystitis during pregnancy. All medicines based on it contribute to an increased outflow of urine, which can lead to the movement of stones to their exit. This will cause a woman not only severe pain, but also is a rather dangerous condition for life. If the outcome is bad, the doctor will have to solve a rather difficult task: how to carry out the operation to save the life of not only the mother, but also the baby.
- If a pregnant woman has an increased acidity of the stomach, the gynecologist will refrain from prescribing funds based on lingonberries. Fruit acids are very active and can significantly injure the mucous membrane.
Lingonberry with cystitis: how to take
An excellent assistant for diseases of the genitourinary system will be dried leaves, lingonberries or fruit drinks, jam, juices, teas, decoctions prepared on its basis. Everyone can choose here. Drinks with lingonberries made from berries help to significantly improve the health status of cystitis, pregnant women to cope with neurosis, normalize the number of red blood cells, give a positive effect for problems with gastric motility. Of great importance in the treatment of the disease are the leaves of the plant.
Lingonberry tea
We bring to your attention one of the rather simple, but very effective ways of taking lingonberry leaves for cystitis. Take a dry powder from the leaves in the amount of one large spoon and brew a glass of boiling water. We insist until the temperature of the drink becomes acceptable for drinking. Take one cup three times a day. Please note: lingonberry tea should not be consumed haphazardly, it is necessary to conduct therapeutic courses for 7-14 days, with an interval of one month. In small quantities, lingonberries are not prohibited to be introduced into herbal tea, but rather recommended.
Lingonberry water
How to drink lingonberry with cystitis? Lingonberry water is considered one of the rather effective means of treating the disease. A drink prepared according to this recipe can be drunk daily, without harm to the body. We prepare it as follows: pour the berries into a liter jar “to the shoulders” and completely fill in with clean cool water. The resulting mixture is insisted for at least 2-3 months. After that, remove the lingonberry water in the refrigerator.
Cranberries or Lingonberries
These two plants belong to the same family, the berries are widely used in home harvesting and in medicine. They have similar characteristics, only lingonberries contain more sugar.
It should be noted that cranberries and cranberries are equally useful for cystitis. They retain their value in frozen and fresh form thanks to the organic compounds contained in them. They are excellent helpers in the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Recommendations
It must be remembered that cystitis is not an independent disease, it is a complication of another pathology. For any diseases related to the genitourinary system, it is first necessary to undergo a clinical examination and then, if necessary, a comprehensive course of treatment. Cystitis is a rather serious disease, therefore, with the first symptoms, you need to contact specialists.