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Natural Cures for Nocturnal Enuresis (Bedwetting)

| Modified on Feb 20, 2017
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Bedwetting is a fairly common issue among infants and young children; however, the condition can continue later in childhood and even into adulthood due to a variety of factors. If you or your loved one is experiencing issues with enuresis, we have a few suggestions to help you overcome it. Dietary changes, apple cider vinegar, and chamomile tea are a few of our best suggestions.

What Is Enuresis?

Bedwetting or enuresis is the involuntary passing of urine, typically during one’s sleep. The condition is labeled as “enuresis” when the issue is persistent and occurs on a regular basis. The general rule of thumb is that bedwetting occurs at least twice a week in succession for a period of at least three months. Likewise, the affected individual must be older than the age of “projected bladder control,” which is commonly held at 5 years old.

What Causes Bedwetting?

Doctors have not yet identified a specific cause for bedwetting; however, several factors seem to play some role. Individuals most frequently affected by the condition are likely to have a small bladder, slow developing nerves in the bladder, or a hormonal imbalance. Stress, urinary tract infections, sleep apnea, diabetes, and chronic constipation also contribute to the condition.

Do Natural Remedies Actually Help?

While you should seek medical care to rule out a more serious medical condition, you typically can treat enuresis naturally. Dietary changes and drinking an apple cider vinegar tonic or even chamomile tea may help treat the issue. Likewise, staying hydrated throughout the day and maintaining regular bathroom habits should also help.

1. Dietary Changes

To help treat bladder control issues, try avoiding or completely eliminating caffeine, cola, chocolate, and other sugary foods. Caffeine and sugar often exacerbate bladder issues, so eliminating them should help treat the issue.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Imbalance in the body’s acidity is one issue that may contribute to bedwetting. Apple cider vinegar helps equalize the pH level and allows the body to cleanse itself more effectively, which helps eradicate issues with bedwetting.

3. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory agent as well as a mild sedative. If you drink chamomile tea before bed, it will help relieve issues that may be aggravating bladder control problems and will prevent nighttime accidents.

Please let us know how these remedies worked for you or if you have a treatment suggestion of your own. Continue reading below for more suggestions from our readers!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Chamomile Tea

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Posted by Jeremiah (San Diego, California) on 08/02/2009
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WARNING!

For all those who have Enuresis, I can state as fact that even if you take medication to control your enuresis, Chamomile Tea will overpower that medication, and should not be taken. If you have anxiety, or need help getting to sleep, try other sources, because Chamomile Tea, at least for me, makes me really go.

Chiropractic Alignments

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Posted by Cher (Milton, On) on 02/19/2017
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My 6 yr old has had issues with not only bed wetting but also peeing her pants during the day. Many days after riding the bus, she would be soaked, including her jacket. I always put her on the toilet just before I go to bed. Her pullup would always be wet so she would pee in the toilet & then her pull up soaked again in the morning. We discovered that chiropractors can do alignments. And also my rmt is trained to do alignments. So she has done 3 treatments. As a result no daytime accidents, and her 10pm toileting has a dry pullup. Some mornings are wet & some are dry. Overall an amazing improvement almost immediately & I think we will try the honey suggestion.

Eliminate Caffeine, Cola, Chocolate

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Posted by Sweetpea (Henderson, Nv, U.S.) on 10/23/2009
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The 3 C's to Stop Enuresis (Bed-wetting)

My son had a problem with Enuresis until he was about 8 years old. We tried the Moisture Detecting Electrodes and all we got was a tired and sleep deprived kid that couldn't concentrate in school (due to being tired) and the same with us parents. That went on for about 6 months and it was horrible. All he learned was how to make his bed rather quickly. For the record, I am a big fat "NAY" to that method.

Then I read about "The 3 C's to Stop Enuresis". They are Caffeine, Cola, and Chocolate. So we tried it - no chocolate milk afer 4pm, and no chocolate ice cream for dessert. Result: no wet bed. After about 2 weeks of juice (no limits, as much as he wanted) we let him have chocolate milk. Result: wet bed. Went back to juice only in the late`afternoon, but let him have chocolate ice cream. Wet bed again. If we gave him plain milk or strawberry milk, no wet bed. Same if we let him have any other flavor of ice cream than chocolate. Then he went to a birthday party; chocolate cake with chocolate frosting ~ yes, a wet bed. After 6 weeks of tracking what he ate & drank I found the only nights he was wet was if he had chocolate, caffine, or cola after 4pm. Needless to say, from then on there were no more problems.

Replied by Katie
(Atlantic, Pa, Usa)
05/25/2010

my mum took my 13 yr old brother to a Urolagist for bed wetting he told her to take away red and yellow dyes ( in food ) the only time in 3 months he has wet is when he has had the red dye. the doctor also said these dyes are a cause of adhd

Folate, Honey

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Posted by Summer (Ar) on 12/26/2015
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I was a late bedwetter. Later than 11. I would try several interventions at once.

The first is to go to a nutritionist and have the child's vitamin levels checked. There is a strong correlation between low folate levels and bedwetting. Seeking Health has a child's multivitamin (chewable or capsule) that contains bioavailable folate.

The second thing I would do is not allow any liquids about 2 hours before bedtime except a small amount of water if he is really thirsty.

The third thing would be to give him a big spoon of raw honey right before bed. It's hydrophobic, and it calms the nervous system, so it works twofold. I've tried it on my three year old with some success (we haven't been doing it long enough to know if it's really the causal factor).

So the honey and the not drinking before bed (and obviously going to the bathroom before bed) are going to be mechanical preventions, and the folate will work to develop the delayed portions of the nervous system that were delayed as a result of a lack of folate, probably, or possibly B12. You can start the vitamin before seeing a nutritionist, it's not harmful, but the testing and nutritional counseling would confirm it and be beneficial overall anyway.

Sleep on Your Side

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Posted by Eddie (Cape Town, Rsa) on 09/06/2009
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BEDWETTING . do not sleep on your back as it creates pressure on your bladder . always sleep on your sides . apparently sleeping on your stomach is bad for your back. so sleep on your sides only . thanks for the greatest website

Replied by Suzi
(Missoula, Montana)
09/06/2009

Yes, good advice with one caveat....never sleep on your left side, it puts pressure on your heart from the other organs.

Water or Honey

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Posted by Angela (Tonasket, WA) on 08/12/2008
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I had a bad case of bed wetting as a child, until I was a teenager. I had antibiotics because of suspected bladder infections, and also a tube surgically placed in my urethra(?) that was suppose to help. Nothing did very long and now I suspect it was because of what my parents did with me at the first sign of it being a problem. . .they restricted water at bed time. I have since heard about the water cure at watercure2.org and also read about the water retaining qualities of honey that keep the bladder from getting toxic levels of strong pee in the bladder. One cure was drinking more, especially before bed time, the other was taking two teaspoons of honey to bring more water that's already in the body to the bladder. They both work on the same principle apparently. I don't remember what eventually cured me, but it wasn't sudden I know. I suspect I had many symptomless uti's and if I had've tried 2 t.apple cider vinigar and 2 t. honey, in some warm water, I could have killed two birds with one stone. I hope no child has to suffer thru bedwetting like I did. (It also goes with nervous behaviors in children, like nail biting -which I did) Hope this helps someone.

Replied by Joy
(Pensacola, Fl)
05/10/2010
★☆☆☆☆

I tried this with my 9 yr old. It only made him go alot more at night. Only made things worse. DID NOT work at all. In fact, because of the issues of urine in the bed and carpet, I told him he would have to wear pull-ups at night. (I've tried bedwetting alarms, to no avail.) Well, he certainly did not want to wear what he called "baby diapers". I told him if he was dry for a month, he wouldn't have to wear them anymore. It's been week and a half, and he's been only wet twice, whereas it's usually almost every night. It seems in my son's case, it's mind over matter.

Replied by Been There Done That
(Phoenix, Az)
03/26/2011

Look for allergies. Didn't know I was allergic to feather/down pillows and bedding until I threw out my old feather pillow and got a new one. I've always had feather pillows, but when I realized that I couldn't breathe the first night with my new pillow, something clicked. Also, I noticed my son would wet the bed whenever we slept somewhere that had feather bedding. Now I can't stand the way that they smell. Also, sugar is a big culprit. Ever notice how much you have to pee after eating or drinking sugary things? Your body is trying to get it out of your system so it flushes your kidneys by making you pee.


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