The study, which was published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, looked at a botanical blend known as Urox. It contains the extract of the Crateva nurvala stem bark, horsetail stem extract, and the extract of the Japanese evergreen spicebush root. Although the product was Australian, these ingredients can be found in the U.S. separately and as part of combination products.
The study’s 150 participants were men and women aged 18 and over who suffered from symptoms including urinating more than 10 times per day, excessive night urination at least twice a night, urgency at least twice a day, and incontinence once a day or more during the past six months. The participants were divided into a placebo group and a group that was given 420 mg of Urox per day.
The study subjects reported their urinary frequency ,and they visited doctors at the beginning and every two weeks throughout the eight-week study. By the time the final week rolled around, the urinary frequency among those in the group that took the supplement was significantly lower than those taking the placebo. In fact, the report states that 17 of the 70 people in the treatment group had no symptoms by the end of the trial; just one person in the placebo group could say the same. Moreover, five of those 17 reported that their condition had reversed just two weeks into the study and stayed that way throughout the duration of the trial.
The paper concluded: “Considering the demonstrated benefits, lack of serious adverse events, along with a high rate of patient compliance and participant satisfaction, the utility of Urox by clinicians seems worthy of consideration.”
It’s worth noting that the study was funded by the Australian company that makes Urox, Seipel Group. However, there is plenty of evidence that herbal remedies can be quite effective when it comes to addressing bladder problems. In fact, American Urological Association guidelines suggest that people with overactive bladders opt for natural remedies like dietary changes, weight management, and natural herbs and supplements.
According to Naturalpedia, horsetail is a perennial that comes from the same family of plants as ferns. Its hollow stems contain lots of silica, making it a powerful bone enhancer to help protect against osteoporosis. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate swelling, and it promotes overall wellness in addition to helping with urinary incontinence. It can be consumed raw, cooked and added to recipes like soups and stir-fries, or made into a tea.
Some of the other herbs and supplements that can be used to treat overactive bladder include corn silk, vitamin D, capsaicin, pumpkin seed extracts, and a Chinese herb blend known as Gosha-jinki-gan.
The Urology Care Foundation reports that around 33 million Americans have an overactive bladder, which is actually a collection of urinary symptoms rather than a disease. Its most common symptom is a sudden need to urinate that cannot be controlled, often with leaking urine. It’s estimated that around 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men are living with overactive bladder, underscoring the need for effective natural treatments that don’t cause adverse effects.
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