Herb May Cure Bladder Infections

(WebMD)  Forskolin, an herbal medicine made from the Asiatic coleus plant, may help treat urinary tract infection.

That's according to preliminary tests done in mice.

The researchers who conducted those tests included Duke University microbiologist Soman Abraham, Ph.D.

They note that forskolin has been used for centuries in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat various ailments, including painful urination.

The scientists tested forskolin in female mice with bladder infections caused by E. coli bacteria, which cause most urinary tract
infections.

Twenty-four hours after the mice were infected with E. coli, the researchers injected forskolin directly into the mice's bladders or their belly.

For comparison, the scientists injected saltwater into the bladders of other
female mice with E. coli bladder infections.

One day after treatment, the mice in the forskolin group had less E.
coli bacteria in their bladders than the mice that got the saltwater
shot.

The forskolin group also had lower levels of inflammatory chemicals in their
urine, the study shows.

"This type of treatment strategy may prove beneficial for patients with recurrent urinary tract infections," Abraham says in a Duke University news release.

He notes that antibiotics get rid of most bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, but some bacteria may hide in the bladder's lining. Forskolin may force those hidden bacteria out of the bladder's lining, where they could be targeted by antibiotics.

"Ideally, use of this herb would expel the bacteria, where it would then be hit with antibiotics. With the reservoir of hiding bacteria cleared out, the infection should not occur," Abraham says.

The researchers didn't test forskolin on people.

The study appears online in Nature Medicine.
By Miranda Hitti
Reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D.
©2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved

[drinuk]

Cont. I feel it is also important to point out that they, the FDA at the behest of Big Pharma want to instigate a programme of iradiation and sterilisation of all natural herbs, plants and vitamins, rendering them useless so as to inforce their claim that such natural cures are none effective.

The net result of this will be a boycott of all such America produced products worldwide and thus seriously hurting the American economy. American fruit, vegetables and wine producers will all suffer as a result. This crazy idea must be smothered at birth along with those behind it.

[drinuk]

The real problem being perpetrated right now by Big Pharma's agents the FDA, is that they are planning to classify all herbs, plants and natural cures as Medicines. That will effectively give them total control, it will be as though they have a patent on all plants, worldwide. They, with Government are hijacking GOD and all he provided. It must not be allowed, it is evil and totally unacceptable.

The enemy of both America and the UK is not Muslim or Iran or even the Taliban. The Real Enemy is much closer to home, it is Big Pharma, the FDA and all those politicians who turn a blind eye to their wicked money grabbing scams. The Doctors too are in their pocket and should be ashamed, they are knowingly allowing millions to suffer.

[docpeter-2009]

Sorry, my point was not acurately expressed earlier after rereading my post. I oppose the pharma industry on many levels. I support the natural remidies whole heartedly.

We need to prevent the FDA from denying natural remidies to the American public.

After all it was the FDA that approved such meds as COX-2 inhibitors and allowed pharmas like Merck to cover up thier more negative effects. The FDA is owned and controlled by big pharma and not the American public. It is time we took this govt entity back and gave it back to the people.

[docpeter-2009]

For those of you who are REALLY concerned about losing your freedom to take this and other natural supplemens and remedies go to yahoo groups and search for texashealthfreedom (yes one word not three) and check out what the FDA is considering doing now to protect the big pharmaceutical industry.

Next write the FDA, and your Washington representatives and oppose any of the decisions to remove natural remedies from the market, not just for their potential use, but also for the bad effects of the chemicals the pharma industry thinkg you should be putting in you body instead of the natural.

[drinuk]

Hunter10039, Big Pharma spends billions trying to synthasise the different constituents of plants they know well that work on several types of serious disease, usually without success. The real crime here is that upon finding a plant which is effective they bring their heavy handed influence to bear upon various international watchdogs such as the FDA and in Britian the MHRA to BAN that particular plant from public use, simply because they cannot make it chemically and in it's whole form they cannot obtain the patent you speak of. A point in question is vitamin B17 a natural element of the Apricot Kernal, well know to be effective against certain types of cancer. Big Pharma's successful lobby, lies and bogus research results had this vitamin Banned across the world.
At the very least it is 50% more successful than their poison Chemo and far less harmful. The good news is that the public are finding out about such evil intent and they will in the end be defeated. DONT buy stock in Pharmaceuticals, dont be complicit to Genocide.

[hunter10039]

the only reason scientists are using herbs is so they can extract what they believe to be the most effective "active ingredients"...and PATENT them so they can be sold for a large profit.

they cannot patent herbs....therefore...NO PROFIT.

many who use herbs, currently, frequently treat bladder infections....by using : buchu, and/or uva ursey, (a reltive of the cranberry plant)