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Health Remedies - Urethritis

Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra, the channel for passage of urine from the urinary bladder to the outside. This condition is very commonly associated with gonorrhea and is known as gonorrheal urethritis. The nongonorrheal type of urethritis may occur due to infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, or Trichomonas vaginalis. Other than infections, there may be various other causes for urethritis, such as structural problems that results in narrowing of the urethra, genital unhygiene, sensitivity to the chemicals used in spermicides or contraceptives, pelvic or genital trauma etc.

Urethritis occurs both in men and women. In men, the common symptoms include difficult urination, increased urinary frequency or urgency, itching, tenderness, or swelling in penis, penile discharge, painful intercourse etc. In women, it may cause fever, chills, difficult urination, increased urinary frequency or urgency, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, vaginal discharge etc. Urethritis increases the risk for inflammation of kidneys and genitourinary areas such as cystitis, pyelonephritis, epididymitis, prostatitis, cervicitis, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) etc. It may also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, infertilty, urethral stricture etc.

Useful herbs

Abutilon indicum	In fevers, chest affections, gonorrhoea and urethritis (infusion of leaves and roots); used as an eyewash and as a mouthwash in toothache, tender gums, in gonorrhoea and for the inflammation of the bladder (leaf decoction); ; to boils and ulcers (flowers); used in piles and coughs (seed decoction); used in relieving strangury, haematuria and leprosy (root infusion).
Annona muricata	For haematuria and urethritis (ripe fruit juice); to alleviate eczema and other skin afflictions and rheumatism (leaves); as an antidote for poisoning (bark); for all types of cancer, high blood pressure.
Barosma betulina	For kidney and bladder infections, cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, gravel, inflammation and catarrh of the bladder, painful and burning urination, dysuria, colds and flu, stomach aches, fluid retention, heartburn, inflammation of the colon, rheumatism and inflammation of the gums.
Elephantopus scaber	Skin diseases and wounds (leaf), jaundice (rhizome) and as a snakebite antidote (plant). Decoction of the root and leaves with cumin and buttermilk is given in dysuria and other urethral discharges or complaints. The drug is used in snake-bite also.
Mangifera indica	In rheumatism, diphtheria and diarrhea (bark and flower); diabetes, scalds and burns (leaf); for severe bleeding, catarrh, hemoptysis, external ulcers, toothache and for preventing plaques of the teeth; in cases of diarrhea, chronic dysentery, catarrh of the bladder and chronic urethritis resulting from gonorrhea (dried mango flowers); on cracks in the feet and on scabies, and is used to treat syphilis (resinous gum from the trunk); as vermifuges and as astringents in diarrhea, hemorrhages and bleeding hemorrhoids (kernel decoction and powder); for diarrhea, fever, chest complaints, diabetes, hypertension etc (leaf decoction); scurvy and sthomachache (fruit)
Petroselinum crispum	Inflammations of the bladder, urinary tract and prostate (plant); to bites and stings of insects (bruised leaves); to get rid of lice and skin parasites (mericarps). An infusion of the roots and seeds is taken after childbirth to promote lactation and help contract the uterus; as a diuretic where it is effective in ridding the body of stones and in treating jaundice, dropsy, cystitis (plant).
Siegesbeckia orientalis	In skin maladies (such as ringworm and sores), urethral diseases (urethritis), as an antiseptic and cardiotonic; to cure ringworm and other parasitic infections, in rheumatism and renal colic (plant); used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, pains and aches in the legs and sides, hypertension, sciatica, weeping dermatitis, scurvy, scrofula, syphilis and mastitis (decoction of the plant).