Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder (OAB) describes a frequent and urgent need to urinate, sometimes accompanied by urge incontinence. You may feel that you need to find a toilet immediately, even when your bladder contains relatively little urine. You may also find yourself planning your day around the location of toilets, getting up repeatedly during the night or avoiding journeys because of the fear of not getting to a toilet in time.
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Overactive bladder can coexist with bladder pain syndrome, but they are not exactly the same. With OAB, urgency is usually the dominant symptom; with bladder pain syndrome, pain or pressure related to the bladder is more characteristic.
How Chinese herbal medicine can help
Chinese herbal medicine can address factors contributing to excessive urinary frequency and urgency. Treatment can include supporting bladder regulation, addressing fluid metabolism, reducing pelvic irritation and helping to calm an over-sensitive bladder–nervous-system response. The treatment is individualised according to the pattern of symptoms rather than simply treating the diagnosis of overactive bladder.