New Beginnings are the Endings of other Beginnings
December 31, 2022
Love is in the air…
February 15, 2023
It may be no surprise that this time of year sees a staggering increase in hospitalisations for acute pyelonephritis. The heat of Summer, with the elements of fire and water, means that to balance these energies, you need to make sure your water levels are adequate so you can contain the fire element.
And if you have a Pitta dosha (find out here), you have to be even more diligent as the pitta season of Summer will intensify the Pitta qualities in you… leading to more chance of imbalance.
And then on top of that, there’s also the environment you live in. Take for example where I am at the moment, the semi-arid land of Roma in western Queensland. Hot dry weather, with minimums in the low 20’s and the maximums hitting high 30’s and even 40 (the saving grace is the humidity is usually relatively low). So, there is even more need to ensure the water element is attended to.
And the final thought on this is – Is this increase in intensity and prevalence the effects of climate change in action??
There are steps to take that will alleviate or at least minimise the chances of you having to seek medical intervention for this condition – especially recommended if you have a history of UTIs (urinary tract infections).
Pyelonephritis is a sudden and severe kidney infection. It causes the kidneys to swell and may permanently damage them. It can present with fever, vomiting, frequent burning urination, and abdominal pain which radiates to the flanks and back. A kidney infection needs prompt medical treatment and usually means hospitalisation with intravenous antibiotics for a few days. If not treated properly, the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and cause a dangerous infection called sepsis. Pyelonephritis has a higher incidence in women due to the shorter urethra.
Be aware of sabotaging yourself and creating the opportunity for an infection to take hold in the first place. Moments of maximum risk are:
- During the heat period (lack of drinking enough)
- On the move (difficulty accessing the toilet)
- During an organized trip (infrequent pee breaks)
- By plane (due to dehydration)
I’m hoping you women were taught when you were younger to wipe from front to back when visiting the loo, and to always pee right after sex. To add to these, here are some more tips & tricks…
Easy health hacks...
Ayurvedic Diet:
- Reduce hot spices (your body doesn’t need more heat atm)
- Drink as much water as possible – min 2L (flush those kidneys out!)
- Fresh lemon juice, fresh coconut water, and pineapple juice are very beneficial (these have alkalizing and cooling qualities)
- Consume seasonal fruits such as apples, watermelon, grapes, peaches, berries etc in abundant quantities
- Use cinnamon as a healing spice in cooking. It has an antibacterial effect on E.coli which causes infections of the urinary tract
- Cardamom spice works wonderfully well as a diuretic (and one of my all-time favs 😘)
Ayurvedic lifestyle:
- Limit exposure to extreme heat and sun (no surprise)
- Go to the toilet as soon as the urge is felt (common sense)
- For incontinence, strengthen the pelvic muscles (use kegel exercises)
- Wear cotton and avoid tight pants (let the area breathe baby)
Yoga Asanas:
strengthen the pelvic floor and urinary system with gomulkhasana (cow’s face pose), pawanmuktasana (wind-relieving pose), ardha matsendrasana (half spinal twist pose), uttanpadasana (raised leg pose), viparita karani (legs up the wall pose), mula bandha (root lock)… google these or I’m happy to help!
Naturopathy & Aromatherapy:
Add Echinacea supplement – it’s an immunostimulant & anti-infectious.
Essential oils are aromatic liquids from plants, and research suggests that they are helpful in fighting off bacterial infections.
- Juniper essential oil is indicated in lithiasis and pyelonephritis.
- Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is anti-infectious (for the nerds, research has shown that cinnamon contains a compound called trans-cinnamaldehyde which can stop urinary bacteria from forming biofilm, meaning the enemy form a sticky gang – making they are harder to defeat).
- Others have found great relief and prevention from Young Living’s Purification, Thieves, Oregano & Grapefruit.
To explore using essential oils, massage a few drops on the lower abdomen and kidney areas, 2 times a day for 7 days.
If not using Young Living essential oils, please dilute with a quality vegetable oil to prevent possible skin reactions.
(if you are keen to try some Young Living essential oils – just reach out!)
Do you have any other suggestions to manage pyelonephritis? I’d love to hear them!
