Bed-wetting Health Dictionary

Bed-wetting, or the involuntary passage of urine at night. It can occur at all ages but is a particular problem with children and the elderly. In general, paediatricians prefer not to treat enuresis much before the age of six, as it may be a normal phenomenon and usually stops as the child grows older. However, when the condition persists, the child (and parents) need advice. Treatment is by positive reinforcement of bladder control, alarm systems such as the ‘pad and bell’, or ocasionally by drugs such as Desmopressin, which reduces night-time urinary output. Some children have an ‘irritable bladder’ and can be helped by drugs which relieve this. Enuresis is often a result of psychological disturbance, particularly where family relationships are disrupted. In this circumstance medication is unlikely to be e?ective.

Constipation is a common cause of urinary incontinence – and hence bed-wetting – in the elderly and should be treated. Enuresis in the elderly may also be due to organic disease or to mental deterioration and confusion. Appropriate investigation, treatment and nursing should be arranged. (See NOCTURNAL ENURESIS.)

Advice is available from the Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC) whose weekday helpline is 0117 960 3060. Also www.eric.org.uk... enuresis

auct non L.

Synonym: A. pilosa Hook.f. non Ledeb.

A. pilosa Ledeb. var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai

Family: Rosacae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from Kashmir to West Bengal at 9003,000 m, and in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

English: Agrimony, Stickle Wort.

Unani: Ghaafis.

Folk: Belu.

Action: Astringent, anti- inflammatory, hepatic, cholagogue, diuretic, mild haemostatic, antibacterial. Used for irritations and infections of the intestinal tract, gallbladder diseases, hyperacidity, colic, urinary disorders (bed- wetting, incontinence), sluggish liver, mucus membrane inflammations; externally for ulcerated and discharging skin, psoriasis and seborrhoic eczemas.

Key application: In mild, nonspecific, acute diarrhoea and in inflammation of oral and pharyngeal mucosa; as astringent. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The herb contains condensed tannins up to 8%, coumarins, flavonoids (glucosides of luteolin, apigenin and quercetin), polysaccharides, volatile oil. Luteolin 7-glucoside shows a chole- gogic action. Aqueous extracts inhibited Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also strains resistant to streptomycin and p-aminosalicylate. Essential oil is antibacterial, active against Bacillus sub- tilis.

The ethanolic extracts of the herb are used for their antiviral properties. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Coumarins interact with anticoagulants, and drugs that increase the risk of bleeding Furanocoumarin content increase photosensitivity. (Sharon M. Herr.)... agrimonia eupatoria

Have you ever thought that if you remove the corn silk from corn combs, you can use it as a remedy? While many people may not be familiar with this type of tea, in fact corn silk tea was used for a long time even by Native Americans as a remedy for heart problems, malaria or urinary tract infections. More about Corn silk tea Corn silk is in fact the thin, hair-like strands that cover the corn cob. These silky yellowish strands which form the stigma collect pollen to fertilize the corn, and they’re also used to make a healing tea. In corn silk there can be found many important components like flavonoids, allantoin, mucilage, saponins, vitamins C and K and potassium. Corn silk may also be combined with other herbs to increase its healing powers and range of medicinal uses. It’s also available in prepackaged teabags, or in a dried supplement form. Powdered corn silk is a common ingredient in face powders, due to its soothing qualities. Corn silk tea has a slightly sweet taste. If you decide to collect it in order to make a tea, make sure that the plants were not sprayed with pesticides. Brew corn silk tea In order to make a tasty healthy corn silk tea it is usually recommended to use fresh corn silk. If you don’t have it at your hand, the dried one works just fine. To prepare the infusion, use 2 teaspoons of fresh corn silk or 2.5 g of dried one and pour 1 cup of boiled water over it. Let it seep for 10 - 15 minutes and it is ready to serve. Corn silk tea benefits Corn silk tea has many health benefits for adults and for children. The most important benefit of this tea is for disorders in the urinary system : infections, cystitis, as well as bladder infections or gonorrhea. If you want your children to stop wetting their beds give them corn silk tea. Corn silk tea is also diuretic, demulcent, has anti-inflammatory properties and it fights kidney stones. Corn silk tea may help detoxify and flush out accumulated toxins in the body. Corn silk tea contains vitamin K, which has been shown to improve the body’s blood clotting process. Corn silk tea has also been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve arthritis pains, and help in the treatment of jaundice and prostate disorders. When applied topically, corn silk tea can help heal wounds and skin ulcers. Corn silk tea side effects In most cases, corn silk tea is suitable for daily consumption without special warnings. However, in rare cases, in you are allergic to corn, you may develop a skin rash. Corn silk tea can also decrease the level of potassium in your blood. So you should avoid it if you already have low potassium levels, problems with blood pressure, or diabetes. It is not recommended for children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Corn silk tea is safe to be included in your diet, but in order to enjoy its benefits, do not exceed 3 cups a day.... corn silk tea remedy

A common form of irritant contact DERMATITIS in the nappy area in babies under one year old. Wetting of the skin by urine, abrasion, and chemical changes due to faecal contamination all play a part. Good hygiene and use of disposable absorbent nappies have much reduced its incidence. An ointment containing a barrier, such as titanium dioxide, may help; other medications such as mild CORTICOSTEROIDS or antibiotics should be used very cautiously and only under the guidance of a doctor, as harmful effects may result – especially from overuse.... nappy rash

Sore, cracked, rough skin, usually on the hands, face, and particularly the lips, due to dryness. Chapping is caused by the lack, or removal, of the natural oils that keep skin supple. It tends to occur in cold weather, when oil-secreting glands produce less oil, or after repeated washing or wetting. Treatment is with a lanolin-based cream.... chapped skin

A synthetic form of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) that is used to treat diabetes insipidus and bed-wetting (see enuresis).... desmopressin

a psychological method of treating bed-wetting in children and adults. When the subject starts to pass urine it is detected by a pad (or by sheets of metallic mesh) and this sets off a bell (or loud buzzer). The modern form of the apparatus has a small electronic sensor worn under the underclothes and produces a loud bleep. The purpose of the alarm is to waken the subject, who then empties the bladder fully. A process of conditioning leads to the subject learning to be dry. It is effective in about 80% of cases.... bell and pad

Roxb.

Family: Anacardiaceae.

Habitat: Dry hot slopes of the Himalayas from Punjab to Nepal and in the hills of Madhya Pradesh and South India.

English: Sumach.

Ayurvedic: Tintidi, Tintindeeka.

Unani: Sumaaq.

Folk: Raitung, Tung (Kumaon).

Action: Fruit juice—vermifuge.

The leaves contain the flavonoids, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol and their 3-O-rhamnosides; the stems and leaves also gave hentriacontane, hentriacontanol, beta-sitosterol, ligno- ceric acid and iso-rhamnetin-3-alpha- L-arvinoside.

Smooth Sumach and Sweet Sumach (Canada and USA) are equated with Rhus glabra L. and R. aromatica Ait. Smooth Sumach is astringent and diuretic. Sweet Sumach is used for its antidiabetic activity; the root bark is used for irritable bladder, bed-wetting and urinary incontinence. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Dosage: Fruit—3-6 g powder. (CCRAS.)... rhus parviflora

This group of drugs is one of three main types of drugs used to treat DEPRESSION, and was the ?rst to be introduced (in the 1950s). Tricyclic drugs work by blocking the re-uptake of the neurotransmitters SEROTONIN and NORADRENALINE (see NEUROTRANSMITTER), thus increasing the amount of the neurotransmitters at the nerve cell’s receptors. In people with depression, fewer neurotransmitters than normal are released, resulting in a slowing of neural activities. The drugs have a sedative e?ect, which can be useful for depressives with sleep problems, and an antimuscarinic action which can cause dry mouth and constipation (see ANTIMUSCARINE). Overdosage can produce COMA, ?ts (see SEIZURE) and irregular heart rhythm (ARRHYTHMIA). They are sometimes used for treating bed-wetting. (See also ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS.)... tricyclic antidepressant drugs

Linn.

Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.

Habitat: Native to South America. Grown as a food crop mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

English: Maize, Corn, Indian Corn.

Ayurvedic: Mahaa-Kaaya.

Unani: Makkaa, Zurraa Makkaa.

Action: Corn Silk—diuretic, urinary demulcent, antilithic. Used for cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, irritation of the urinary tract by phosphatic and uric acids, nephritis, uncontrollable bladder, retention, pus in the urine, bed-wetting.

The corn silk gave saponins; alan- toin; sterols, especially beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol; alkaloid hordenine; polyphenols; mucilage; potassium; vitamin C and K; cryptoxanthin, antho- cyanins, plant acids, tannin.

The glycoproteins, seperated from corn silk, inhibited IgE antibody formation and enhanced IgG and IgM formation; they showed antiviral and antitumour activities.... zea mays

pl. n. localized areas of corneal thinning, usually at the limbus (the junction of the cornea with the sclera), due to local dehydration. They may occur after surgery to correct a squint, due to elevated conjunctiva at the limbus causing poor wetting of the adjacent cornea.... dellen

n. a wetting agent. Surfactants can be added to materials used in dentistry to reduce surface tension and so improve flow. Pulmonary surfactant, secreted by type II *pneumocytes, is a complex mixture of compounds (including lipids, protein, and carbohydrates) that prevents the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs from collapsing by reducing surface tension. In its absence, as in the immature lungs of premature babies, *atelectasis and *respiratory distress syndrome will develop.... surfactant

Waste substances resulting from the body’s metabolic processes, selected by the KIDNEYS from the blood, dissolved in water, and excreted. Urine is around 96 per cent water, the chief waste substances being UREA (approximately 25 g/1), common salt (approximately 9 g/l), and phosphates and sulphates of potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. There are also small amounts of URIC ACID, ammonia, creatinine, and various pigments. Poisons, such as MORPHINE, may be excreted in the urine; and in many infections, such as typhoid fever (see ENTERIC FEVER), the causative organism may be excreted.

The daily urine output varies, but averages around 1,500 ml in adults, less in children. The ?uid intake and ?uid output (urine and PERSPIRATION) are interdependent, so as to maintain a relatively constant ?uid balance. Urine output is increased in certain diseases, notably DIABETES MELLITUS; it is diminished (or even temporarily stopped) in acute glomerulonephritis (see under KIDNEYS, DISEASES OF), heart failure, and fevers generally. Failure of the kidneys to secrete any urine is known as anuria, while stoppage due to obstruction of the ureters (see URETER) by stones, or of the URETHRA by a stricture, despite normal urinary secretion, is known as urinary retention.

Normal urine is described as straw- to amber-coloured, but may be changed by various diseases or drugs. Chronic glomerulonephritis or poorly controlled diabetes may lead to a watery appearance, as may drinking large amounts of water. Consumption of beetroot or rhubarb may lead to an orange or red colour, while passage of blood in the urine (haematuria) results in a pink or bright red appearance, or a smoky tint if just small amounts are passed. A greenish urine is usually due to BILE, or may be produced by taking QUININE.

Healthy urine has a faint aroma, but gives o? an unpleasant ammoniacal smell when it begins to decompose, as may occur in urinary infections. Many foods and additives give urine a distinctive odour; garlic is particularly characteristic. The density or speci?c gravity of urine varies normally from 1,015 to 1,025: a low value suggests chronic glomerulonephritis, while a high value may occur in uncontrolled diabetes or during fevers. Urine is normally acidic, which has an important antiseptic action; it may at times become alkaline, however, and in vegetarians, owing to the large dietary consumption of alkaline salts, it is permanently alkaline.

Chemical or microscopical examination of the urine is necessary to reveal abnormal drugs, poisons, or micro-organisms. There are six substances which must be easily detectable for diagnostic purposes: these are ALBUMINS, blood, GLUCOSE, bile, ACETONE, and PUS and tube-casts (casts from the lining of the tubules in the kidneys). Easily used strip tests are available for all of these, except the last.

Excess of urine It is important to distinguish urinary frequency from increase in the total amount of urine passed. Frequency may be due to reduced bladder capacity, such as may be caused by an enlarged PROSTATE GLAND, or due to any irritation or infection of the kidneys or bladder, such as CYSTITIS or the formation of a stone. Increased total urinary output, on the other hand, is often a diagnostic feature of diabetes mellitus. Involuntary passage of urine at night may result, leading to bed wetting, or NOCTURNAL ENURESIS in children. Diagnosis of either condition, therefore, means that the urine should be tested for glucose, albumin, gravel (fragments of urinary calculi), and pus, with appropriate treatment.... urine

Cocklebur, Church Steeples. Agrimonia eupatoria. French: Aigremoine. Italian: Agrimonia. German: Leberkraut. Spanish: Agrimonia.

Constituents: coumarins, tannins, flavonoids, phytosterol.

Action: diuretic, hepatic, astringent (mild), haemostatic, vulnerary, cholagogue, Promotes assimilation of food. Bitter tonic.

Uses: weak acid stomach, indigestion, sluggish liver and debility, gall bladder disorders, nosebleed, sore throat, laryngitis (gargle), bed-wetting, incontinence, diarrhoea, to promote flow of gastric juices.

Local: ulceration – to cleanse and heal. Ancient remedy for suppurating sores and wounds.

Preparations: Thrice daily.

Tea: 1 teaspoon to each cup boiling water. Or, as part of Spring Tonic combination: equal parts, Agrimony, Raspberry leaves, Balm and Nettles. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup freely.

Liquid extract: BHP (1983). 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol. Dose 15-45 drops (1-3ml). Tincture: BHP (1983). 1:5 in 45 per cent alcohol. Dose 15-60 drops (1-4ml). Tablets. Agrimony (Blackmore’s Labs). ... agrimony

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Spreng. French: Busserole. German: Gemeine Ba?rrentraube. Italian: Uva d’orso. Dried leaves.

Contains hydroquinones, iridoids, flavonoids. Keynote: highly acid urine.

Action. Diuretic, urinary antiseptic, astringent, haemostatic, oxytocic.

Uses: smarting cystitis, painful micturition, urethritis, blood in the urine, urinary retention, oedema of legs or face, bed-wetting, diarrhoea, dysentery, profuse menstruation, leucorrhoea (chronic).

Combinations. With Dandelion root for dropsy. With Broom, Buchu and Clivers for inflammation of urinary tract and bladder. With Couch Grass as a urinary antiseptic.

Soothing combination for kidney relief and renal backache: Bearberry 15 per cent, Couchgrass 15 per cent, Wild Carrot 15 per cent, Buchu 10 per cent, Alfalfa 45 per cent. Tea: 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water. Infuse 10 minutes, 1 cup twice daily.

Preparations: Thrice daily.

Tea. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; Dose: half-1 cup.

Liquid extract BHC Vol 1. 1:1, in 25 per cent ethanol. Dose: 1.5-2.5ml.

Tincture BHC Vol 1. 1:5. in 25 per cent ethanol. Dose: 2-4ml.

Powder. 250mg. (One 00 capsule or one-sixth teaspoon).

Tablets. Popular combination. Powdered Dandelion root BHP (1983) 90mg; powdered Horsetail extract 3:1 10mg; powdered Uva Ursi extract 3:1 75mg. To assist urinary flow and prevent fluid retention. Precautions. Not used in pregnancy, kidney disorders, lactation. Large doses may cause vomiting. Should not be used for more than two weeks without consulting a practitioner. ... bearberry

Deadly nightshade. Atropa belladonna L. German: Amaryllis. French: Belladonne d’Automne. Spanish: Belladonna. Italian: Amarilli a fiori rosei. Indian: Suchi.

Action. Antispasmodic, antasthmatic, anti-sweat, sedative, lactifuge.

For use by qualified practitioner only.

Uses: Spasmodic asthma; colic of intestines, gall bladder or kidney; spasm of bladder and ureters. Whooping cough, excessive perspiration (night sweats, etc), spermatorrhoea, bed-wetting (dose afternoon and at bedtime), dribbling of saliva in Parkinsonism. The common cold, hay fever, acidity – to inhibit secretion of stomach acid.

Contra-indications. Glaucoma, rapid heart, pregnancy, enlarged prostate. Side-effects – dry mouth, dilated pupils, mental disorientation. Used for a millennia in China as an anaesthetic (Kiangsu – 1719)

Widely used in homoeopathic medicine.

Preparations: Unless otherwise prescribed – up to thrice daily. Dried herb, 50mg in infusion. Tincture, BHC (vol 1). 1:10, 70 per cent ethanol, 0.5ml.

Initial dose recommended per week by British Herbal Compendium, Vol 1; dried leaf, 200mg (max 1g); tincture, 2ml (max 10ml).

A weaker solution may sometimes be used with good effect: 5 drops tincture to 100ml water – 1 teaspoon hourly. (Dr Finlay Ellingwood)

Pharmacy only sale ... belladonna

Cleavers. Goosegrass. Galium aparine L. French: Gratterton. German: Klebelabkraut. Spanish: Presera. Italian: Cappelo da tignosi.

Constituents: anthraquinone derivatives, flavonoids, iridoids, polyphonic acids.

Action. Lymphatic alterative and detoxifier, diuretic, astringent tonic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, adaptogen, anti-neoplastic.

Uses: Enlarged lymph nodes, especially cervical neck nodes, cystic and nodular changes in the glands. Nodular goitre. John Wesley, evangelist, claimed that it dispersed some hard swellings (tea internally, poultice externally). Used in prescriptions for obesity until recent years. Even Galen wrote that it could make fat folk lean. For dry skin disorders (psoriasis, etc).

Urinary disorders: suppression, painful micturition, irritable bladder. Said to be a stone-solvent. Frequently used with Marshmallow for gravel. Dropsy (with Broom). Bed-wetting.

Cleansing drink for malignant conditions. The ancient world used it for cancer, but experiments fail to confirm.

Freckles: Clivers tea as a wash for skin.

Combination (traditional) for blood and glands: equal parts Ground Ivy, Bladderwrack and Clivers. Combination for kidney and bladder: equal parts Uva Ursi, Buchu and Clivers: 1oz to 1 pint boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup thrice daily.

Combination for cystitis: equal parts Iceland Moss, Marshmallow and Clivers; prepare tea. Half-1 cup thrice daily.

Preparations: Thrice daily.

Tea. 1 teaspoon herb to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes. Dose: half-1 cup.

Juice from fresh plant. 1-3 teaspoons. Terminal cases – half-1 wineglass or as much as tolerated.

Liquid extract, BHC Vol 1. 1:1, in 25 per cent ethanol. Dose: 2-4ml.

Tincture, BHC Vol 1. 1:5, in 25 per cent ethanol. Dose: 4-10ml.

Poultice: fresh plant crushed with aid of rolling pin. Applied cold.

Note: Eaten as a vegetable in China. ... clivers

Massive and long continued medication should be avoided, parents acquiring some ability to distinguish between the purely miserable and the critically ill. It is easy to become alarmed at the sight of a child in the throes of a convulsion or feverishness when there may be a tendency to over-prescribe. German Chamomile tea is a splendid children’s remedy. Liquid Extract and Tincture doses for children are 1 drop and 2 drops, respectively, for each year of age.

Anti-depressants should not be given for bed-wetting, drugs for sleep problems or strong laxatives for the chronically constipated. Mild herbal alternatives exist. Fresh carrot juice daily helps a child to avoid some complaints. Some herbs are not advised for children under 12, except under the care of a qualified practitioner.

Parental smoking habits are known to be responsible for crying and digestive symptoms in infants. Sleeplessness. German Chamomile or Balm tea: children 2-10 years quarter to half a cup; over 10 years: 1 cup. Babies: 3-6 teaspoons in feeding bottle – sweeten with honey if necessary.

Night seizures, with screaming: Passion Flower tea. 1 heaped teaspoon to cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes. Strain. A few teaspoons at bedtime. When a brain storm starts place pinch of salt on the tongue. Calcium deficiency. Nettle tea. Carrot juice. Cod Liver oil with fresh orange juice.

Colic. Any tea: Dill, Catnep, Spearmint or Fennel. Few teaspoons frequently. Abdominal massage: 3 drops Chamomile oil in teaspoon olive oil.

Constipation. Prune or carrot juice. Dandelion coffee.

Cough. Oil of Thyme – few drops in water.

Crusta Lacta (milk rash). Weak teas: Plantain, Heartsease, Red Clover. Anoint with St John’s Wort oil. Buttermilk, Wheatgerm.

Diarrhoea. Teas: Yarrow, Tormentil. Breast feeding during the first 4-6 months of life reduces the risk of children’s diarrhoea.

Digestion, weak. Teas: Fennel, Caraway, Dill. 1 teaspoon crushed seeds to cup boiling water. Infuse 15 minutes in a covered vessel. Teaspoon doses for under 2s; half-1 cup thereafter. Also for flatulence. Feverishness. Alarm at a baby’s fever and fractiousness may attract complete medical treatment including nose drops, cough linctus, antipyretics and antibiotics, together with something to let the parents get some sleep. Avoid where possible. Mild fevers: teas – Yarrow, Marigold, Thyme, Elderflowers and Peppermint, Catmint, Carragheen Moss. Sweeten with honey. Topical: Flannels wrung out in these hot teas. Zinc can cut short the common cold. Echinacea tablets/capsules offer antiviral protection.

It is common for a child to convulse with fever. A feverish child, kept cool, is less likely to have convulsions. Remove most of child’s clothes so he can lose heat through the skin. Fruit juices (Vitamin C) in abundance. Do not feed solid foods. Wash in lukewarm (not cold) water.

Eyes. Deep hollows under the eyes reveal exhaustion, for which blood and nerve tonics and iron supplements are indicated.

Growth problems. Under-developed children respond well to herbal aids: Gentian, Ginseng, Horsetail, Marigold, Oats, German Chamomile, Wood Betony, Kelp, Alfalfa. Supplementation with brewer’s yeast, Calcium, Pollen and Zinc yield convincing results.

Hyperactivity. Nerve restoratives for highly-strung children: Teas: Lime flowers, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, B-vitamins. Porridge. Tablets: Passion flower, Valerian, Skullcap. Vitamins B6 and C. Powders: formula. Passion flower 2; Valerian 1; Liquorice 1. Dose: 250mg (one 00 capsule or one-sixth teaspoon) thrice daily.

Irritability and impaired school performance may be due to Tartrazine and other additives, sugar, and anticonvulsant drugs. See previous paragraph.

Infection. Infection of the upper respiratory tract may manifest as inflammation of the middle ear, nasal discharge or tonsillitis. Echinacea tablets, powder or liquid extract indicated. For specific infection such as measles, see under MEASLES, or other appropriate entry.

Skin. Reject cow’s in favour of goat’s milk. See appropriate entry for each skin disease (ECZEMA, etc). Care of skin after bathing: St John’s Wort oil, Evening Primrose oil. ... children

Stigmata maidis. Zea mays, L. German: Turkisches Korn. French: Mai?s. Arabian: Durah shami. Iranian: Kho?shahemakki. Chinese: Yu-kao-liang. Malayan: Jagung. Dried silky flower threads of maize. Constituents include: rutin, flavonoids.

Constituents: allantoin, saponins, Vitamin C and K.

Keynote: kidneys and bladder.

Action: antilithic, mild stimulant, soothing urinary demulcent, diuretic.

Uses: Kidney and bladder disorders. Cystitis, uncontrollable bladder, retention, pus in the urine, bed- wetting, prostate gland enlargement, irritation of the urinary tract by phosphatic and uric acids, urethritis, expulsion of gravel. Gonorrhoea, in combination with powerful alteratives: Yellow Dock, Burdock, Queen’s Delight.

Heart failure with oedema and scanty urine; used with success. (William Boericke MD) Chronic malaria – in strong infusion the shucks have been used with success. (Dr E.C. Lowe) Nephritis (with equal parts Marshmallow) for temporary relief. Its value is increased by adding to it (equal parts) Dandelion root and Shepherd’s Purse herb. (J.H. Greer MD) Of special value for bed-wetting: with Agrimony herb (equal parts). Diabetes. (Chinese medicine)

Preparations: It is a consensus of professional opinion that the infusion (tea) is the best form. 3-4 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; drink freely.

Liquid Extract: 1-2 teaspoons, in water.

Tincture: 1-3 teaspoons, in water. ... corn silk

 Storksbill. Wild Geranium. Geranium maculatum L. Herb. Dried Root. Constituents: Tannic and gallic acid.

Action: Haemostatic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, styptic tonic, antiseptic. A vaso- compressor to increase the vital potency of living matter of the ganglionic neurones. Anti-diarrhoea. For over-relaxed conditions.

Uses: Urinary system: frequency, incontinence in the young and aged, bed-wetting, blood in the urine. An ingredient of Captain Frank Roberts’ prescription for ulceration of stomach, duodenum and intestines. Ulceration of mouth and throat (tea used as a mouth wash and gargle). Irritable bowel. Summer diarrhoea of children.

Combines with Beth root (equal parts) as a vaginal douche for leucorrhoea or flooding of the menopause; with tincture Myrrh for cholera and infective enteritis.

Dr Wm Winder reported in the 1840s how the Indians of Great Manitoulin Island held it in high favour as a healing styptic antiseptic, “the powdered root being placed on the mouth of the bleeding vessel . . . Internally, they considered it efficacious for bleeding from the lungs”. (Virgil J. Vogel, University of Oklahoma Press, USA)

Preparations: Thrice daily.

Tea. Half-2 teaspoons dried herb to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup.

Decoction. Half-1 teaspoon dried root to each cup water simmered gently 20 minutes. Half a cup.

Tablets BHP 270mg. (Gerard House)

Liquid extract: 15-30 drops.

Tincture BHP (1983). 1 part root to 5 parts 45 per cent alcohol. Dose: 2-4ml (30-60 drops).

Powdered root, as a snuff for excessive catarrh and to arrest bleeding from the nose.

Vaginal douche. 1oz root to 2 pints water simmered 20 minutes. Strain and inject. ... cranesbill, american

Ephedra sinica stapf., Ephedra equisentina Bunge and Ephedra gerardiana Wall (including Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo). Twigs. German: Meertra?ubchen. French: Ephe?dre. Italian: Uva di mare. Iranian: Huma. Japanese: Ma oh. Indian: Butshur. Chinese: Ma Huang.

Constituents: Alkaloids – ephedrine, pseudoephedrine.

Action: brain, heart and circulatory stimulant, antasthmatic, bronchodilator, anti-allergic, vasodilator, hypertensive, diaphoretic. Dilates vessels of the heart causing a rise in blood pressure. Cough sedative. Febrifuge, antispasmodic. The essential oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Uses: Practitioner’s first choice for asthma. Bronchitis, breathlessness, whooping cough. Used for such chest conditions for over a millennia in Chinese medicine.

Allergies: hay fever, irritative skin rashes. Low blood pressure. Hypothermia. Bed-wetting. Myasthenia gravis BHP (1983). Chinese Barefoot doctors inject the tea into nostrils for hay fever.

Usually given with expectorants: Liquorice, Lobelia, Senega, Sundew. “Combines well with Lobelia and Skunk Cabbage for bronchitis; and with Horsetail for frequency of urine.” (Fletcher Hyde) Contra-indications: hypertension, coronary thrombosis, thyrotoxicosis, glaucoma. Not given with anti- depressants (MAO inhibitors).

Preparations: Thrice daily. Average dose: 15-60mg.

Tea. Quarter to half a teaspoon herb to cup water simmered gently 5 minutes. Half a cup. Liquid extract. BHP (1983) 1:1 in 45 per cent alcohol. Dose: 15-45 drops (1-3ml). Tincture BHP (1983) 1 part to 4 parts 45 per cent alcohol. Dose: 6-8ml.

Ephedrine. Maximum dose: 30mg. Maximum daily dose 60mg.

Store in airtight container out of the light. Pharmacy only medicine. Practitioners only. ... ephedra

Shave grass. Pewterwort. Nature’s hoover. Equisetum arvense L. German: Ackerschachtelhalm. French: Equisette. Spanish: Belcho. Italian: rasperella. Chinese: We?n-ching. Dried stems. Keynote: genito-urinary system. A natural source of silicic acid, ashes containing 70 per cent silica soluble in water and alcohol.

Constituents: flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, silicic acid.

Action: haemostatic for bleeding of genitourinary organs, styptic, a soothing non-irritating diuretic. Increases coagulability of the blood. Remineraliser. Anti-atheroma. Antirheumatic. Astringent. Immune enhancer. White blood cell stimulator.

Uses: Blood in the urine, prostatitis, bed-wetting, dropsy, chronic bladder infections, incontinence in the aged, catarrh of the urinary organs, gravel, urethritis of sexual transmission with bleeding, stricture, severe pain in the bladder unrelieved by passing water, constant desire to pass water without relief. Carcinoma of the womb: cure reported. Foetid discharges of STD. Arteriosclerosis.

Silica, as in Horsetail, preserves elasticity of connective tissue; controls absorption of calcium and is a necessary ingredient of nails, hair, teeth and the skeleton. Its cleansing properties rapidly remove urates, uric acid and cellulites from the system. Hastens repair of tissue after lung damage of tuberculosis or other diseases.

Combinations. (1) With Shepherd’s Purse for blood in the urine. (2) With Pulsatilla to inhibit growth of uterine fibroid. (3) With Buchu for cystitis. (4) With Oats and Goldenseal for renal exhaustion. “Combines well with Hydrangea for non-malignant prostatitis.” (F. Fletcher Hyde) Arteriosclerosis. (Dr Max Rombi)

Preparations: Horsetail has a heavy mineral content (silica, selenium and zinc) therefore treatment is best staggered so as to avoid kidney strain – one month, followed by one week’s break. Average dose: 1 to 4 grams; thrice daily.

Tea: half-1 teaspoon to cup water; bring to boil; simmer 5 minutes; infuse 30 minutes. Dose: half-1 cup, cold.

Liquid extract BHC Vol 1. 1:1 in 25 per cent ethanol. Dose: 1-4ml (15-60 drops).

Home tincture: 1 part herb to 5 parts 25 per cent alcohol (gin, Vodka, etc). Steep 14 days, shake daily. Dose: 2-5ml (30-75 drops) in water.

Poultice: “Place double handful herb in a sieve and place over a pot of boiling water (double boiler, etc). The soft hot herbs are placed between a piece of linen and applied to ulcer, adenoma, cyst or tumour.” (Maria Treben)

Bath. 9oz leaves: bring to boil in 1 gallon water. Simmer 5 minutes; strain. Add to bath water.

Enema: 1 pint weak tea for infants with kidney disorders. ... horsetail

Ava Pepper. Piper methysticum, Forster. German: Kawa pfeffer. French: Kawa. Spanish: Kava kava. Italian: Pepe kava. Parts used: rhizome and root.

Constituents: Pipermethysticine (alkaloid), Pyrone derivative.

Action: antimicrobial with special reference to STDs with mucopurulent discharge, including gonorrhoea. Also effective against Bacillus Coli. Antiseptic stimulant, mild analgesic for painful spasm, antispasmodic, nerve relaxant, diuretic, stimulant, tonic.

Uses: Genito-urinary infections, orchitis, vaginitis, urethritis, Candida, violent itching, ichthyosis, metritis, inflammation of the Fallopian tubes, incontinence in the aged with bladder weakness, infection of kidney, bladder and prostate gland, conditions arising from excess of uric acid, joint pains of rheumatism following STD infection, bed-wetting. A powerful soporific for chronic insomnia, ensuring dreamless sleep with no known ill-effects on rising.

Combinations: with Sarsaparilla for STDs. With Black Cohosh for rheumatism following STDs. Preparations. Average dose: 2-4g. Thrice daily.

Decoction. 1oz to 1 pint (30g to 500ml) water, simmer in gentle heat down to three-quarters volume. Dose: half-1 cup.

Liquid Extract. Half-1 teaspoon in water.

Powder: 2-4g.

Lotion. 1oz powdered root to 8oz glycerine, macerate 8 days, shake daily. External: for pruritus and most forms of intolerable itching. Add 10 drops Oil Eucalyptus for chronic cases. ... kava kava

Candlewort. Aaron’s rod. Verbascum thapsus L. German: Wollkraut. French: Bouillon blanc. Spanish: Gordolobo. Italian: Candela regia. Iranian: Busir. Arabian: Makizahraj. Parts used: leaves and flowers.

Constituents: rutin, hesperidin, saponin, volatile oil.

Action: a soothing relaxant for irritable respiratory conditions; pectoral demulcent, antitussive, mild sedative, diuretic, vulnerary, mild antispasmodic.

Uses: asthma, deep hollow cough, emphysema, tracheitis, hay fever, wet pleurisy, bronchitis, bed-wetting (1-2 drops oil thrice daily).

Topical: for earache and temporary deafness, inject 1-3 drops oil to relieve irritation and promote sleep. The oil is used as an emollient for wounds, ulcers, piles, pain in the rectum, itching anus, and to soften hard dry schirrhous tumours. A bruised fresh leaf over the anus was once a gardener’s pile relief.

Quinlan Cure. Dr Quinlan initiated what became an Irish traditional treatment for tuberculosis. He obtained best results with green leaves of Mullein. Hot-house cultivation makes it possible for leaves to be available throughout the year. Irish peasantry prepared it by boiling one handful in 2 pints fresh milk, strained, and sweetened with honey. The whole quantity was drunk once or more times daily, as tolerated. Soothes the lungs, increases weight and restores vitality.

Preparations: Average dose, leaves: 4-8 grams. (Flowers: 1-2 grams.) Thrice daily.

Tea: 2-3 teaspoons to cup, or 2oz to 1 pint boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup. Best results have followed the tea, instead of alcohol.

Liquid Extract: 1-2 teaspoons in water.

Tincture is made from the fresh plant at the time of flowering: 1 part to 5 parts 45 per cent alcohol, macerated 8 days; dose, 2-3 teaspoons in water.

Oil of Mullein: gently heat 1 pint Olive, Sunflower, Safflower or Almond oil in a non-aluminium vessel. Add fresh flowers to saturation point. Continue in gentle heat until all colour fades from the flowers. Press out, bottle. As an injection for ear troubles, a chestrub for respiratory disorders, healer for ulcers, and for general purposes. ... mullein

Behavioural problems range from mild, short-lived periods of unacceptable behaviour, which are common in most children, to more severe problems such as conduct disorders and refusal to go to school. Behavioural problems may occasionally occur in any child; specialist management is called for when the problems become frequent and disrupt school and/or family life. Some behavioural problems can occur whatever the family or home situation. In some cases, however, stressful external events, such as moving home or divorce, may produce periods of problem behaviour.

Behavioural problems that are common in babies and young children include feeding difficulties (see feeding, infant) and sleeping problems, such as waking repeatedly in the night. In toddlers, breath-holding attacks, tantrums, separation anxiety, and head-banging are problems best dealt with by a consistent and appropriate approach. Problems with toilet-training are usually avoided if the training is delayed until the child is physically and emotionally ready.

Between the ages of 4 and 8, behavioural problems such as nail-biting and thumb-sucking, clinginess, nightmares, and bed-wetting (see enuresis) are so common as to be almost normal.

They are best dealt with by a positive approach that concentrates on rewarding good behaviour.

In most cases, the child grows out of the problem, but sometimes medical help may be needed.... behavioural problems in children

The natural state of lowered consciousness and reduced metabolism.

There are 2 types of sleep: (rapid eye movement) and (nonrapid eye movement) sleep, which alternate in cycles. sleep consists of 4 stages of progressively greater “depth”, with slowing of brain activity. In sleep, the brain becomes more active; the eyes move rapidly and dreaming occurs.

Sleep is a fundamental human need, as shown by the effects of sleep deprivation, although its purpose is not understood in detail. The need for sleep varies from person to person and decreases with age. Sleep disorders include difficulty in falling or remaining asleep (see insomnia); difficulty in staying awake (see narcolepsy); disruption of sleep by jetlag and bed-wetting, night terrors, or sleepwalking. (See also sleep apnoea.)... sleep

n. failure of part of the lung to expand. This occurs when the cells lining the air sacs (alveoli) are too immature, as in premature babies, and unable to produce the wetting agent (surfactant) with which the surface tension between the alveolar walls is overcome. It also occurs when the larger bronchial tubes are blocked from within by retained secretions, inhaled foreign bodies, or bronchial cancers, or from without by enlarged lymph nodes, such as are found in patients with tuberculosis and lung cancers. The lung can usually be helped to expand by physiotherapy and removal of the internal block (if present) via a *bronchoscope, but prolonged atelectasis becomes irreversible.... atelectasis

n. 1. (urinary incontinence) the inappropriate involuntary passage of urine, resulting in wetting. Stress incontinence is the loss of urine on exertion (e.g. coughing and straining). It is common in women in whom the muscles of the pelvic floor are weakened after childbirth. Urodynamic stress incontinence (formerly called genuine stress incontinence) in women is due to a simultaneous rise in bladder and abdominal pressure that exceeds urethral pressure without a contraction of the detrusor muscle of the bladder. Overflow incontinence is leakage from a full bladder, which occurs most commonly in elderly men with bladder outlet obstruction or in patients with neurological conditions affecting bladder control. Urge incontinence is leakage of urine that accompanies an intense desire to pass water with failure of restraint. It is frequently caused by *detrusor instability. See also enuresis. 2. (faecal incontinence, anal incontinence) inability to control bowel movements, causing involuntary loss of faeces or flatus.... incontinence