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.
Magnesium
Posted by Arcticlily (Anchorage, Ak, Usa) on 07/07/2012
★★★★★
I've had incontinence about 6 years. Less than a week ago I read about magnesium for incontinence on this site. Within two days I was out walking hills without needing to make pit stops and without leaking. I haven't leaked a drop since taking the magnesium. I just spent $1000 co-pay to hear from the urologist that my options were surgery or physical therapy. I'm so disturbed that my gyn or urologist didn't know the benefits of magnesium, but I'm so thankful for this site and all that participate. I have a new lease on life because I can exercise again. Thanks!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by marta (Portugal) on 10/12/2023
HI........A psychologist told me years ago that honey stops children bed wetting......now I am over 70 and just remembered this......and earthclinic of course!!!!
Magnesium
Posted by Beloved (California ) on 03/24/2022
Thank you for the magnesium tip. I feel like b-12 helped me like the magnesium helped you. Also, the pinch of nutmeg helps.
Vitamin B12
Posted by Lynn (California ) on 01/13/2022
★★★★★
I started taking vitamin B12 liquid spray sublingual recently and my incontinence issue was not a problem today. It has been a daily struggle recently. I have a very limited diet due to rheumatoid arthritis and was eating salmon just a couple of days a week, as well as nutritional yeast, so I might have been lacking due to a mostly vegan diet.
Today I read all the symptoms of b 12 deficiency and bladder control, as well as bowel control, was listed.I remember reading a post and vitamin b12 was listed as a remedy.
I have to add that I have been drinking green smoothies, kale and papaya plus some water in a vitamix and it absorbs better than chewing a huge salad....think baby food easy for digestion.
Nutmeg
Posted by sara (the beaches) on 10/24/2021
Nutmeg is toxic to dogs.
Nutmeg
Posted by teri (ca) on 10/24/2021
Does nutmeg work for dogs with bladder issues?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Connie (CO) on 08/01/2021
Do you think it would be wise for me to use honey for my leaky bladder? I am 72 when I go to stand up straight sometimes I leak urine, I want to be cured of this without taking med. please let me know; that would be awesome if honey would cure this; love connie
Nutmeg
Posted by Azuka (Eaton Rapids, MI) on 07/16/2021
Just a comment about getting high on nutmeg. Nutmeg is indeed recognized as a hallucinogen. But, you need quite a bit to achieve this effect. Also, if you consume a really large amount of nutmeg the result CAN result in permanent brain damage. Just read up on youtube to see some horrifying accounts.
Nutmeg
Posted by KS (IL) on 06/29/2021
★★★★★
Nutmeg is a diuretic, improves kidney function, helps with kidney stones, and helps to detoxify.
Castor Oil
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 05/24/2021 523 posts
★★★★★
I am in the middle of theorizing regarding some of the effects of castor oil and one that has just come to mind is the possibility that incontinence may actually be caused by a release of pressure that may be building up behind adhesions somewhere along the urinary tract that, once opened whether by the build up of pressure itself or movement, flood the bladder so that the inability to "hold it" isn't an inability to "hold it" at all, but, rather, a sudden rush of fluid overwhelming the bladder.
Adhesions, being scar tissue, is usually association with trauma, whether due to internal injuries or surgical scarring but there's another cause of adhesion which is dehydration in instances of which organs that are dying of thirst attach themselves to other organs in an effort to get fluid from them. Ordinarily, they'd attach themselves to the bowel but when the bowel is dehydrated, what then, if not the urinary tract?
Anyway, after rubbing castor oil on my belly a couple times per day for a few days, I am experiencing what I recall as "normal" signals of a need to empty the bladder and one of the things that castor oil is VERY good at is breaking up adhesions SOOO...
Rub some castor oil on your belly a couple times per day AND drink at LEAST 8 ounces of water every two hours.
This little idea makes me wonder how many other issues and diseases might be a matter of abdominal, pelvic or other adhesions within the core and if the breaking up of those adhesions might actually be what's behind the "miracle" of castor oil.
That said, it would seem even more important to keep hydrated if using castor oil and, thereby, possibly cutting vital organs off from the the source of moisture they're stealing from other organs. It would make sense if some organs got better - as in those that were being stolen FROM - but, ALSO, if could result in other organs getting WORSE - as in those cut off from whatever moisture they were stealing from them. Oil's great but it's no substitute for water.
Magnesium
Posted by Katie (Bellingham, WA) on 08/15/2019
★★★★☆
I'm 70 years old. Have had this problem for 20 years.Recently decided to really work on it. I have tried kegel exercises. they helped about 25%, But magnesium really helps. With magnesium I'm about 75% better. I take a little less than 1 tsp of epsom salts in some water. Sip throughout the day. Epsom salts are cheap. That's about 900 mg of magnesium. Careful not to take more or I get loose stools.
It also has sulfur which is good for you. My nails are growing much better.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by W (Me) on 09/07/2020
try acupuncture.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, Canada) on 09/06/2018
Update: My doctor put me on flomax and that reduced the feeling of urgency but after a few days I began to experience incontinence during the daytime as well as at night so have stopped taking it. I'm hoping the Urologist I'm seeing next month will be able to help.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 08/28/2018
Update: Unfortunately the honey also stopped working after a few days. I find this with a lot of the home remedies I have tried. Perhaps it's the placebo effect, where I'm so desperate for a cure that I convince myself that things are working at first only to later admit that they're actually not working that well.
Now I've visited my doctor who seems very familiar with the problem and have received a prescription and an appointment with a Urologist so thank you Earthclinic.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 08/27/2018
Update: The ACV & honey worked for a few days and then it stopped being effective but I discovered that just taking the honey without the ACV stopped the bedtime leakage. I stumbled on to this by accident when for a couple of nights I treated myself to toast and honey before going to bed and woke up dry. Searching on the internet turned up several articles mentioning honey as a cure for bed wetting. Could it be this simple? I now plan to take one teaspoon of honey every night and will post an update soon.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, B.c., Canada) on 08/22/2018
★★★★☆
I suddenly started wetting the bed at night and decided to try the ACV treatment twice a day. I mixed 2 tablespoons ACV with 1 tablespoon of honey and added hot water and took it twice a day, morning and night.
On the first night, the amount of urine discharged was reduced by 50% and reduced again on the second night. The next day I noticed an absence of that achy urgency feeling in my bladder. I suspect that I had a UTI (urinary tract infection). I am now on the third day and looking forward to a further reduction of the problem and eventual elimination altogether. This may take up to three weeks according to what I have read on other sites. I will post an update in the near future.
Vitamin C
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 01/03/2018
★★★★★
My 6 year old has been slow to completely gain bladder control. Even after potty training at 3 and a half he still had frequent night time accidents (which is quite normal and I am grateful for pull ups and the like.) I was not really concerned about that. The nighttime accidents were more likely if he had dairy in the evening. I could predict an accident if he had ice cream, which wasn't very often. It was not uncommon for him to wake up crying at midnight with a bad dream. We learned that a full bladder seemed to cause the waking up/bad dream. If he came to my room crying at midnight I just ushered him to the bathroom and he always emptied a full bladder, even though I was very careful to make sure he went to the bathroom right before bed. It was actually good that he was waking up when he had a full bladder, even if he wasn't sure what to do.
What I had not previously experienced was a potty trained child that continue to have daytime accidents for years. But not full blown accidents, more like leaking. I tried several different things, including Dr. Christopher's kidney and bladder formula but nothing seemed to help. I didn't pursue medical care as it appeared from research that this was not uncommon and children outgrow it. I also didn't want to have him end up on round after round of antibiotics. It didn't seem serious enough an issue to pursue testing and stressful procedures so we just decided to wait.
This child has been on 3 grams of liposomal vitamin C for about 6 weeks for whooping cough. And his daytime leaking has completely stopped. I suspect the leaking was caused by a low grade infection that had no other symptoms and that it was resolved with high dose vitamin C.
I had noticed previously that the issue was less when he was sick. I wasn't sure if it was because he was taking in less fluids when sick or if it was because the situation improved because I was giving him natural stuff to treat infection. So, it appears that it was likely the latter.
Whatever the case, vitamin C is an easy thing to try for children who "leak."
~Mama to Many~
Nutmeg
Posted by Sue (Fairfax Va) on 10/13/2017
★★★★★
Nutmeg for bladder control
Hi, 1/8 - 1/4 tsp. of nutmeg is a lifesaver when you have to drink 24 oz. water and hold it for a renal ultrasound!! I was amazed and very happy, as was the ultrasound technician.
Also, a shout-out to Mama to Many for your very thorough, informative posts. You help a lot of readers. Thank you!
Nutmeg
Posted by Carolinablueskies55 (Nc) on 09/29/2016
So sorry to be extremely late seeing & answering your question, Wieas. Yes, I purchase the nutmeg that's in the grocery store. But I use barely a half teaspoon & only when I know I am going out somewhere. I don't feel comfortable taking it daily.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dreamerbob (San Diego) on 05/01/2015
Shannon, Please reread what Blu wrote. She wrote it correctly.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shannon (Va, US) on 04/21/2015
"uncomfortable swearing"?!! ?
Betting that was supposed to be "sweating."
Teasing aside - Thanks for the really helpful feedback!
Nutmeg
Posted by Wieas (England) on 03/09/2015
Hi Olivia. Could I ask, do you use nutmeg ground up in a jar from the supermarket spice aisle? Thanks.
Nutmeg
Posted by Olivia (Nc, US) on 03/07/2015
★★★★★
I read about nutmeg for weak bladder about 5 years ago. My doc had me on a prescription for my incontinence which I took only as needed (when I am going out somewhere, although the direction said take one pill daily. After trying the nutmeg remedy and finding that it worked just as good as the prescription, I told my doc that I no longer wanted the prescription annual refills. She was very surprised and asked why. I told her that I discovered an old home remedy that works. To my surprise she didn't ask me what it was and I didn't volunteer to tell. I take 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg with water. The only side effect so far is good smelling breath!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Candycane (Grants Pass, Or) on 12/26/2013
Hi Phyllis...I read that some people can't tolerate the stevia sweetner. Maybe the reason for the headaches? Also, I've read that the ACV can make your teeth hurt, so I take mine through a straw. I'm glad you like the taste. I tried to take it a lot of different ways, but I still had trouble downing it. Someone posted here to use salt to taste, and it not only made it good to take, but it also stopped from my stomach being upset when taking it too far from a meal. I just shake a little salt in the water, stir it, then add the ACV. My 2 cents!
Cold Water Therapy
Posted by Om (Hope Bc Canada) on 12/19/2013
★★★★★
Ladies, just want to share with you an important subject of personal experience which has to do with lower pelvic troubles. This will cost absolutely nothing and will make you feel young and care free again. Anyway, that is happening now to me and only after a few days of repetition.
First I have to regress and tell about the back ground of this. Online I found something on hydro therapy which I am familiar with as it is widely practised in Europe for a couple of hundred years or more. People who have health insurance can take advantage of it; the government pays.
Two natural doctors are practicing in North America and unfortunately I cannot give a link. But I remember very well when they say: for all troubles in that area cold water sitz bath is the cure. This also goes for hemorrhoids, fungal infections and vaginal problems you may have.
I had become incontinent. Whenever the bladder was full, the moment I tried to reach the bathroom it was too late resulting in a major clean up and more laundry. Then I developed hemorrhoids even though generally I had not had any problems like that before. The itch was awful and nothing worked as this became wet, it just spread. I felt as if my bladder was trying to slip down with a feeling of energy drain.
That is when I remembered. After each bathroom visit I dunked my private parts only, in a roomy bucket of fresh water, only wetting the private parts, sitting in it for at least two minutes. Immediately I felt new energy and an overall lightness. With each session matters are improving One has to realize that the lowest chakra when not functioning well, affects also the upper ones, resulting in illnesses. After a few days, the flow of urine has direction, improving all the time. Before it was like a water tap without a washer, wetting both cheeks and causing more problems. In between urinating I was fine but the bladder was weak as well as the sphincster. I had tried yogic exercises before with the resulting development of muscles around the bladder but it did not work for this.
So I think if there are recurrent problems, try the healing power of pure cold water. One condition is that you must feel warm to begin with, dry or dab yourself well afterward and keep the pelvic area warm. That is all. I feel wonderful and hope it will help others. This is for any disease of the pelvic area, not only incontinence. It is also good for men, of course , and people with bowel problems. Hemorrhoids shrink and stop itching and the lower story feels clean and toned. I expect to have to keep this up but more spaced apart. It is such a good feeling anyway. Like a private spa. Wish you all the best, Om
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Blu (Nashville, Tennessee) on 12/11/2013
★★★★★
I started drinking ACV with honey in a few ounces of water twice a day to help with hot flashes as suggested here. I believe it's been very helpful with that, but a great side effect is that the urinary urgency and occasional incontinence I've been dealing with for a couple of years now has not flared since the DAY I started on ACV! It took me a few days to notice since I was focusing on the hot flashes, but lately, instead of getting up multiple times in the night to go to the bathroom or having difficulty making it to the ladies room during the day at work - I've had NO PROBLEM AT ALL! It's pretty amazing and I haven't changed anything else about my lifestyle or diet, so it's got to be the ACV.
Also, since I started ACV only a week after having the first hot flashes, I don't feel comfortable swearing that it helped with that, they could have dissipated on their own, but limited anecdotal evidence certainly points to it being the reason I'm not having them much at all now. Fantastic stuff!
Magnesium
Posted by Stlou (St. Louis) on 11/23/2013
I've had the same trouble with brands of calcium and MSM. I had been finally diagnosed with mercury poisoning and was finally 90% better, but changing supplements gave me incontinence again as well as insomnia, some migraines, fogginess and more. Realized that in each instance, I had switched from a shellfish-free or fish oil free source to one that did not make such claims. Any of these items can be contaminated with heavy metals and may be causing the issues. I had to learn to stick to my brands, specific items and check label carefully every time. I do take a refrigerated fish oil capsule, but it is third party mercury/dioxin-free certified and I've no issue with it. You may need calcium or the MSM, just not the source that particular product has.
Vitamin B12
Posted by Connie (Slc, Ut) on 10/08/2011
★★★★★
B12 cured my urinary incontinence. I take a sublingual lozenge of the methylcobalamin type. 1000 mcg. Daily may help. (I take more for other symptoms.)
Nutmeg
Posted by Nad (Cambridge, UK) on 07/06/2013
★★★★★
For urinary incontinence, try nutmeg. I saw it mentioned in an online discussion were someone said their granny used to clean posh houses and took a pinch of nutmeg so that she didn't need to use the loo while there. After I saw that I tried it myself, and I have to say it works brilliantly. I've not seen any mention of it anywhere else in this context, but it's been a bit of a miracle cure for me. Just grate a little over your food. Don't take too much though, people use it to get high too!
MSM
Posted by Jemima Puddleduck (Halifax, Nova Scotia) on 01/26/2013
★★★★★
After suffering terrible urinary incontinence for the past two years (I'm 51 years old and figured it was part of menopause since it started around the same time as hot flashes) a few weeks ago it suddenly stopped. I had been going through 3 or 4 of the most absorbent pads every day, leaking steadily while walking and sometimes while just standing. I was thrilled and puzzled when one day the leaking just stopped. It seemed to correlate with starting to take MSM for my chronic allergic rhinitis after reading an article about MSM and allergies (sneezing constantly when you have urinary incontinence is no fun! ). That is the only thing I am doing differently (my allergies are a lot better too). I have been doing kegels for years with little success and was about to look into surgery.
After wondering whether MSM was responsible for this wonderful effect, I thought I would do a search to see if there was any info on the web about MSM and incontinence and ended up at this wonderful site. Thought I would add my experience. I take 1000 mg two or three times per day (I try for 3 times but the bottle says not to take them at bedtime and I often forget that third dose). Also, I'm not sure if its related, but I've lost 5 pounds as well when, if anything, I should have gained weight based on the amount of "fattening" foods I've been eating!
Gluten-Free Diet
Posted by Cara (Miami, Fl, Us) on 01/22/2013
★★★★★
I completely cut gluten out of my diet and try to stay away from foods that are known bladder irritants and it is much improved. Try to cut out chocolate, citrus, alcohol, and DEFINITELY tomatoes. It takes a while for your system to completely get rid of all remnants of these foods in your system but wait it out its worth it! Good luck I hope this helps some people. I am blood type O positive for those of you out there who may be following the blood type diet.
Magnesium
Posted by Rachel (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) on 07/19/2012
Hi there, read your comments re: supplements and magnesium. If you want to know why magnesium works for you compared to taking loads of vitamin pills look up IMVA particularly Mark Sircus book on Transdermal Magnesium Therapy. You will learn so much and it is sooooo interesting and helpful Be well and happy
Magnesium
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 07/16/2012
I have never heard of that. I take "therapeutic" or "effective" doses of just about everything (i.e. Sometimes several times over what the FDA will make people put on the bottle) and have never had that problem. I did notice that it improved after I had both my kids when I reduced my caffeine intake and weight. Be sure it isn't the tea/soda/coffee or other caffeinated drink you're taking the supplements with that isn't causing it.
Magnesium
Posted by Smithsurfermom (Huntington Beach, Ca) on 07/15/2012
I was having trouble with incontinence a few years ago and just chocked it up to getting older. I was even checking out Drs. who specialized in treating it when my friend said her Dr. told her taking too many vitamins can cause it. I immediately stopped taking most of my vitmains except magnesium & vitamin D which I was low in and I stopped having the problem. Recently I switched to a magnesium containing zinc and calcium, thinking I should start taking calcium again, and now I am having the same sudden urges and incontinence again! I'm tossing those pills out and going back to straight magnesium again! I'm thinking it is the calcium as I never took zinc before but I'm just going back to straight magnesium. I take 500 mg. 2x per day. I tried researching it but couldn't find anything that said this but it is sure true for me. I'm so glad my firend mentioned it to me when she did or I may have gone through some kind of extreme treatment to fix something that just adjusting my vitamin intake fixed. Go figure!
Magnesium
Posted by Viola (Hampton Bays, New York, Usa) on 04/25/2012
To Ravi from Alpharetta, Ga. -- what type of Magnesium do you use?
Kegel Exercises
Posted by Laniet (San Leandro, Ca, Usa) on 02/08/2012
Hi--first time commenting on this great site, not sure where to post this!
I inherited "have to pee" disease--runs (lol) in the female side of the family!
I am almost 60 and I used to walk a mile home from school. My friend and I would get the Have To Pee urge halfway home (we didn't have the sense to take care before we left school). So we'd tell ourselves we had to walk another HALF HOUR.
Somehow, the mind over matter thing works quite well!
I am laughing reading some of the accounts here--"key in the door" triggers it. I know that well!
I have flown quite a lot for business during my adult life. So now I use the scenario of the captain saying,
"Thank you for flying XXX Airlines. We are now on descent to XXX destination. Please turn up your tables and return your seat to the upright position. Fasten your seat belt. We will be on the ground in 25 minutes and will arrive at the gate shortly after that time."
I say this in my head when I get the Pee Pee Urge, "knowing" that it's a good 40 minutes before the bathroom.
It actually works! Fool the mind, avoid wet panties!
Magnesium
Posted by Ravi C (Alpharetta, Ga, Usa) on 01/10/2012
★★★★★
I had mild incontinence and taking magnesium (400 mg) twice a day really helped.
Parasite Cleanse, Buchu Leaves
Posted by Chloe (Providence, Rhode Island) on 12/31/2011
★★★★★
I believe that bacteria or parasites are at the root of many instances of incontinence.
My mild cases of a "loose bladder" were completely fixed after I've done some sort of parasite cleanse. (Grapefruit Seed Extract, Black Walnut, Cloves, Garlic, Wormwood, Oregano Oil, Garlic.... Many that you can try)
Also try Organic Buchu Leaves. Search for only organic buchu online...
