Phytomedicine Extracts Effective for Overactive Bladder and Urinary Incontinence

by | Mar 21, 2018 | 2018, Bladder Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. A proprietary blend of Urox ® (Crataeva nurvala, Equisetum arvense and Lindera aggregata) significantly reduced symptoms of urinary frequency, urinary urgency and total incontinence.

Among the components of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), overactive bladder (OAB), characterized by the urgent need to urinate, and urinary incontinence (UI), involving loss of bladder control, are prominent. Both conditions negatively impact the physical and emotional well-being of those affected, and studies estimate that over 12 million American adults suffer from OAB concomitant with UI 1. While a variety of conventional treatments are available for UI and OAB, including drug therapies, bladder retraining, and pelvic muscle rehabilitation, success rates have proven variable and are more often than not associated with a number of poorly tolerated side effects 2. In an effort to minimize reliance on pharmaceutical medications for LUTS, traditional phytomedicine therapies have seen a resurgence in popularity. In Ayurvedic Medicine, Crataeva nurvala is a popular choice for urinary disorders, with studies demonstrating the capacity of the herb to decrease residual urine volume and improve muscle tone of the urinary bladder 3. Randomized controlled trials show that Crataeva, when combined with Equisetum arvense, a genito-urinary astringent with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties 4, can significantly improve urinary incontinence and reduce day frequency 5. Lindera aggregata, another well documented herb in traditional Chinese medicine, is known to reduce frequent urination by promoting blood flow in the lower abdomen 6. By combining these individual extracts into a single proprietary blend, researchers at the University of Tasmania, Australia examined whether such a combination of potent phytomedicine extracts might produce a beneficial synergistic effect capable of reducing symptoms of OAB and UI.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 7 , a total of 150 participants (59% female, mean age of 63.5 years) with symptoms of UI and/or OB were enrolled and assigned to ingest 420 mg of a proprietary blend of Urox ® (consisting of standardized Crataeva nurvala stem bark extract, non-standardized Equisetum arvense stem extract, and non-standardized Lindera aggregata root extract) or matching vegetarian placebo daily for eight weeks. At baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Week 8, participants completed micturition diaries (measuring urinary frequency and relevant symptoms such as urgency and incontinence), as well as health-related quality of life surveys.

Data indicated that at the end of eight weeks, the Urox group, relative to placebo, experienced significantly lower urinary frequency during the day (7.69 +/- 2.15/day and 10.95 +/- 2.47/day, respectively) (Odds Ratio = 0.01, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.01 to 0.02, p < 0.001) as well as during the night (2.16 +/- 1.49/night and 3.14 +/- 1.36/night, respectively) (OR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.05, p < 0.01). In addition, participants in the Urox treatment arm reported a decrease in symptoms of urgency (OR = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.03, p < 0.01) and total incontinence (OR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.06, p < 0.01). No significant changes in quality of life were reported.

Results of the study demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a phytomedicine formula, Urox, in the treatment of OAB and UI. Clinically significant improvements in symptomology appeared achievable over a relatively short period of time, and with minimal side-effects reported by patients. Findings warrant further investigation, particularly in comparison to other active treatment regimens. 

Source: Schoendorfer N, Sharp N, Seipel T, et al. Urox containing concentrated extracts of crataeva nurvala stem bark, equisetum arvense stem and lindera aggregata root in the treatment of symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence: a phase 2, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018; 18: 42. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2101-4.

© The Author(s). 2018 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

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Posted March 21, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
  

References:

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