MRS Ronke Nkpokor, my sister’s daughter, reminds me always of one of her female friends who is a sad woman. She is one of the thousands of people who have no control over their bladders. That means urine leaks out of their bodies uncontrollably. In this woman’s case, a catheter inserted into her urinary tract during childbirth was left there longer than it was medically safe. The result was that the muscle at the neck of the bladder which controls urine voiding became too relaxed from want of work to do, and never got into the mood to work again. Medically, doctors insert a catheter into the bladder to bring out urine when the patient appears unable to do this effectively. This sends the bladder controls on vacation which, as in this woman’s case, became a permanent holiday. When Ronke brought her home and explained this woman’s problem to all of us, we contributed money regularly to help her with lifestyle adjustment. She had to wear sanitary pads to mop the leakage, and these had to be changed every few hours to prevent urine smelling on her body. Hers was a life one would not wish one’s worst enemy.
This condition is medically known as urinary incontinence. Many people suffer from different varieties of it for different reasons. There are men and women who are otherwise healthy but are unable to hold urine in the bladder until they arrive in a toilet and voluntarily let go. It is so embarrassing to some women that they have to carry an extra brief or two in their bags or wear a pad whenever they are outdoor. Men are not so lucky because the pad cannot come to their rescue in this matter.
Not a disease, but…
People who suffer from urinary incontinence will feel happy somewhat to learn that doctors do not classify this condition as disease. But, even then, it is the sign of a disease! As already stated, there are many possible causes, and that means different types, of urinary incontinence. Basically, this condition is often categorised into four
• Stress incontinence
• Urge incontinence
• Overflow incontinence, and
• Mixed incontinence
Stress incontinence
In this type, there may have been damage to muscles of the bladder, or they may have become weakened by one factor or another. Naturally, there are stretch muscles in the bladder. They keep stretching as the bladder is being filled with urine until they reach their elastic limit. That is when we feel the urge to void. The urge is a message the bladder sends to the brain which, in turn, the brain sends to us. We may decide to void immediately, or hold it for some time. Should we decide to hold it, we should remember we are making the stretch muscles overwork, and that this may be putting them under undue pressure which could make them age prematurely. Someday, in old age, we would definitely reap a bountiful harvest of the seeds we had thus sown and possibly forgotten. Sometimes, these muscles may have become so weakened from overwork or lack of proper muscle tone due to poor nutrition, that sneezing or coughing or laughing or a simple task such as lifting a baby may eject urine past the bladder sphinter muscle, the gatekeeper at the neck of the bladder. Sometimes, the stress on the bladder may come from damage to muscles and nerves in the pelvis floor. This may occur during surgery to remove, say the uterus or the prostate gland.
Urge incontinence
We feel a sudden urge. But, uncontrollably, we let go some urine before we arrive in the toilet. This may be due to damage to nerves which connect the brain to the bladder. This type is, sometimes, also called overactive bladder. The soft muscles of such a bladder contract and relax irreverently in a spasm which ejects urine.
Overflow incontinence
The causes are still not well known. In this condition, the bladder is often full, and any top up from the kidneys stimulates a corresponding involuntary ejection below to maintain equilibrium. It has been suggested that, thorough fare in the bladder may have been obstructed by a number of events, such as prostate enlargement, infections, and nerve damage/disturbances due to stroke, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, depression, fibromagalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), among many others.
There are other types of incontinence, such as gestational, which occurs during pregnancy when the womb presses on the bladder, and functional incontinence, developed when cognition diminishes or fails, such as in dementia, strokes and injuries, especially to the spinal column. Edgar Caycee would speak of “Spinal sublisation”, a condition in which nerves from the spinal column which communicate with the urinary system cannot connect effectively.
Natural treatments
These include improvement of nerve tone, clearance of bladder infections, and avoidance of foods which irritate the bladder such as black pepper and caffeine, and exercise of the pelvic floor muscles. Dr. Arnold H. Kegel gave the world the idea of the pelvic floor excises now named after him…. KEGEL’S EXERCISE. It involves contracting and relaxing pelvic floor muscles for one to two seconds initially, five times a day, and, increasing the tenure. As recommended by Dr. Kegel, I often suggest this exercise, which can be checked on the internet for details, to men who suffer from premature ejaculation caused by nerve Inco-ordination. Dr. Kegel himself reports a wide range of benefits, even for women who have become frigid due to loss of muscle and nerve tone in the pelvic floor and vagina. He says:
“Sexual feeling in the vagina is closely related to muscle tone and can be improved through muscle education and resistance exercise. 75 of 123 women complaining explicitly of sexual deficits achieved organism following the training. Says Mayo Clinic of Kegel Exercise:
“Kegel’s exercise can help you prevent or control urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems. Here’s a step by step guide to doing Kegel’s exercise correctly:
• “Kegel’s exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles which support the uteries, bladder, small intestine and rectum. You can do Kegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle training, discreetly just about any time.
• “Start by understanding what Kegel’s exercise can do for you – then, follow step-by-step instructions for contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles”
Mayo Clinic says many factors can weaken the pelvic floor muscles of women. These include child bearing. It says women need this exercise if they…
• “leak a few drops of urine while sneezing, laughing or coughing
• “Have a strong sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine
• “Leak stool (fecal incontinence)
The Mayo Clinic guide lines are
• “Find the right muscles. To identify your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination in midstream. If you succeed, you’ve found the right muscle.
• “Perform your technique. Once you’ve identified your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction five seconds, try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds between contractions.
• “Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscle. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
• “Repeat three times a day. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day. Worldwide, many doctors give helpful tips on lifestyle adjustments.
In terms of therapy, incontinence caused by muscle and nerve spasms, and by infections is easier to deal with. Some researchers experimenting with magnesium for woman who had spasms of the calf muscles found, to their surprise, that women in the experiment group who had urinary incontinence attributabled to nerve and muscle spasms recovered from the condition as they did with their calf muscles problems. When it comes to infections, a large body of botanical medicines, including Aloe Vera, Crambery, Golden seal root, Echinacea, Apple Cider Vinegar, Grape Seed Extract and the likes of them are helpful. Two Canadian proprietary products which have been showing promise in the Nigerian market are Bell’s Kidney Cleanse and Function Tea and Bell’s Bladder Control for Women.
Doctors often advise that their patients keep a “bladder diary”. That means, if they evacuate the bladder routinely every three hours, they can set for the toilet about 15 Minutes earlier. I noticed that I run a three or four -hour schedule. So, to prevent pressure on my bladder, I do not wait to develop the urge to void before I do, once I notice it is about time. It is suggested, also, that they go easy on fluids. This is a sore point in the Dr F. Batmanghelidj era in which many people gulp bucketfuls, having known of the importance of copious water intake for radiant health. For apart from the danger of dehydration and kidney problems, the body may become acidic. Cutting down on alcohol or abstaining from it is more reasonable, as it is for all diuretic foods and drinks, including grapefruit juice and coffee. Cranberry juice is an exception because, being acidic, it helps to kill off germs in the urinary system to which the bladder belongs. There is a nice point about losing some weight to cut belly fat, as abdominal pressure impacts pressure on the bladder. Fear is the worst enemy of everyone. It is an etheric or astral ladder led down to the world outside the soul. From this world, and through this ladder, those things which we intensively fear do happen to us. Fear is a thought form. When it is reinforced, it becomes more vigorous, it attracts more power through support from similar forms, and cause the manifesting and experiencing of that seed we sowed as fear.
I still long to see Ronke’s friend, to know if she has been able to solve her problem. Before we lost contact, I had introduced her to a plant the Yorubas call PATANMO (r.r.m). This name translates as “close the lap” you know, that’s what Yoruba parents or elders tell girls or young women who don’t sit right, throwing their legs anyhow. This plant called TOUCH ME NOT in English, has the characteristic of recoiling and literally closing up whenever anyone touches it. That was how it came by this name. Research into Yoruba folklore medicinal plants suggests that it is astringent that stops bleeding which is why it may be good for excessive menstruation. If it helps to build nerve sensitivity and energy and nerve damage is the cause unabating urine flow in Ronke’s friend, couldn’t this plant help her? That was, and still is, my reasoning. Perhaps it will work also for everyone beset with urinary inconsistence challenge.
Farewell, Prof Akin – Adewo.
Last week, Prof. Oluyemi Akin – Adewo sneaked out of this earth. I say “sneaked out” because he served no serious notice. I met him in the 1990s through Folashade Adetutu – Koyi, who then was a natural health reporter at the Guardian newspaper of which I was Director of Publications and Editor – in – Chief. Prof Akin – Adewo was the director – general of the Federal Government owned College of Natural Medicine at No 9, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Dr Omoseindemi an orthodox medical doctor, who is now the Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Board in Lagos State, was a teacher at the college.
Prof Akin – Adewo was sent to the college by the surprising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Sciences and Technology, whose minister, General Momah , approved the college after he was thrilled by the results of some herbs which Mrs. Elizabeth Kafaru, now of blessed memory, gave to some members of his staff to treat certain ailments. At that time the Federal Ministry of Health was distancing itself from herbalists because its leading lights were orthodox doctors.
The college was not the original idea of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. It was in the proposal of the then Nigerian Council of Physician of Natural Medicine led by Dr (Bishop) Magnus Atilade as President, Dr Samuel Fafure as his deputy and Dr Marcus Dawodu as Secretary. They wanted an institution in which they would impart their knowledge to young Nigerians, carry out research and produce Nigerian healing herbal formulas, develop them into proprietary products, which would be sold in Nigeria and overseas. As a re-assurance that government funds would not be spent irreverently, the Council proposed that Federal Ministry of Science and Technology appoint from the civil service a director-general as executive head of the college. The proposal was accepted and Akin-Adewo became the chief executive.
The dream was to become aborted because the Council would later withdraw in body and soul, claiming the civil service had hijacked the project. The Council had the guts to do so because, under the enabling protocol, it would sign and issue certificates to students and any appropriation of this function by another authority within that law would be illegal. Prof Akin – Adewo ably kept the boat sailing, nevertheless, until his retirement when he began to try his hands on other endeavors in Alternative Medicine. But there is no doubt that the crisis stalled advancement of Nigeria’s Traditional Medicine. Dr. Marcus Dawodu set up a school in Ejigbo area of Lagos where he imparted his knowledge and his wife taught aromatherapy he even published a monthly journal. But death soon took him away. Dr Fafure had a beautiful product, PAPITEETH. When one of the reporters of The COMET newspaper suffered from an excruciating root canal problem and had no money for the expensive dental surgery, I told her I had a bottle of Papited which must have ‘expired’ by one year. She tried it. And it resolved the problem. When a rift tore the Council apart, he offered his services to the splinter group which formed the Federal College of Alternative aid Complementary Medicine (FEDCAM) in Abuja with Federal government funding. But the group soon wound up business. Dr Atilade continued to soldier on, but feebly, with FEDCAM – Lagos which, often, was threatened with gross underfunding.
It was given to Otunba Olajuwon Okubena, who makes JOBELYN, to reconcile all the groups, including Prof Akin – Adewo’s. Okubena wanted Nigeria to honour its treaty on traditional medicine with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Union (AU). In year 2000, WHO directed member nations to elevate traditional medicine, through law, funding education and supervision, to the level of orthodox medicine and perhaps beyond it, since about 80 percent of the world’s population relies on it. Okubena financed about three reconciliation meetings, the fruits of which are yet to ripen for harvesting. Meanwhile, in 2013, Nigeria is still a long way from 2010, whereas South Africa and Ghana, among other progressive countries, have honoured these treaties. This is the situation in which Prof Akin – Adewo left us all. I knew his blood sugar often fired dangerously up, and he once complained of floaters in the eyes. Two days before his passage, he telephoned me to say he was in hospital to treat an ulcer and he wanted me to follow up on it after his discharge. I little realised the “Ulcer” was a far more serious condition which had caused ascitis (fluid buildup) and respiratory emergency through which he took his bow. We will all remember him and miss him. I pray that his soul awaken to joyful life wherever he is now.
