Sunday, May 28, 2006
St John's wort beats bladder pain
The results of a study presented on May 23, 2006 at the American Urological Association's annual meeting found that the herb St. John's wort could be helpful to relieve the pain of hypersensitive bladder disorders such as interstitial cystitis, a condition that affects an estimated 700,000 Americans, the majority of whom are women.
Interstitial cystitis is characterized by recurring bladder and pelvic discomfort, including mild to severe pain, bladder pressure and tenderness, and frequent urination which can be accompanied by urgency. In addition, scarring and bleeding have been found on the bladder wall.
Bladder pain and irritation is primarily the result of frequent bladder contractions. When scientists at the University of Pittsburgh injected a St John's wort formula called DP015 into the abdomens of a group of female rats with inflamed bladders they found an increased bladder contraction interval compared with rats with similarly affected bladders who received injections of a control substance.
St John's wort extract has been shown to inhibit the uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, explaining its effectiveness in depressive disorders, for which it is primarily used. Because neural control of the lower urinary tract depends upon neurons that emit serotonin and norepinephrine, agonists and antagonists of these neurotransmitters can be used to control urinary tract activity. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine professor of urology and gynecology Michael B. Chancellor, MD, stated, "St. John's Wort is an herbal supplement that has been used for years to treat symptoms of mild depression, while urologists often use antidepressants to treat interstitial cystitis. Given that the supplement and the drug work on the same systems, it makes sense that St. John's Wort could help treat this painful disease."
Vitamin Depot Online.com carries St. John's Wort
Interstitial cystitis is characterized by recurring bladder and pelvic discomfort, including mild to severe pain, bladder pressure and tenderness, and frequent urination which can be accompanied by urgency. In addition, scarring and bleeding have been found on the bladder wall.
Bladder pain and irritation is primarily the result of frequent bladder contractions. When scientists at the University of Pittsburgh injected a St John's wort formula called DP015 into the abdomens of a group of female rats with inflamed bladders they found an increased bladder contraction interval compared with rats with similarly affected bladders who received injections of a control substance.
St John's wort extract has been shown to inhibit the uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, explaining its effectiveness in depressive disorders, for which it is primarily used. Because neural control of the lower urinary tract depends upon neurons that emit serotonin and norepinephrine, agonists and antagonists of these neurotransmitters can be used to control urinary tract activity. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine professor of urology and gynecology Michael B. Chancellor, MD, stated, "St. John's Wort is an herbal supplement that has been used for years to treat symptoms of mild depression, while urologists often use antidepressants to treat interstitial cystitis. Given that the supplement and the drug work on the same systems, it makes sense that St. John's Wort could help treat this painful disease."
Vitamin Depot Online.com carries St. John's Wort
