Top 8 Homeopathic Remedies for Urethral Stricture Treatment

Urethral stricture refers to narrowing of the urethra due to scar formation. The urethra is the lowermost part of the urinary tract through which urine passes out from the urinary bladder. Urethral stricture is more common in males than in females.

Homeopathy, which is a completely natural science of healing, can be very beneficial in the treatment of urethral stricture. In the beginning of homeopathic treatment, these medicines work to provide wonderful relief in signs and symptoms of urethral stricture, like straining to urinate, weak / split urine stream, frequent urge to urinate, interrupted urine and ensure that passage of urine becomes normal again and there is no pain in the process. Once the symptoms are alleviated, it aims to dissolve the scar in the urethra for long-term recovery.

In mainstream medicine, frequent dilatation and surgical intervention is often recommended in cases of urethral stricture. These procedures carry a risk of many side effects. Additionally, they offer temporary, short-term relief as there is always a chance that the stricture appears again. On the other hand, homeopathy treats it very gently and offers long-term relief without any adverse aftereffects. In many cases of mild to moderate intensity, one can get away with surgical intervention too. The earlier the homeopathic treatment is started, the higher are the chances that surgery won’t be required in such cases.

Homeopathy works as per the Law of Similimum, which means while selecting the homeopathic medicine for any individual case, a medicine is chosen which matches most closely with the symptoms of the individual. In urethral stricture cases as well, this law is applied. Once the medicine is finalised, the potency and dosage of that medicine is also decided as per homeopathic principles. The potency and dosage vary from case to case as per the age of the person, the intensity of symptoms and chronicity of the complaint.

Homeopathy is 100 % safe for treating urethral stricture as it uses medicines prepared from natural substances which do not have any chemicals or toxins in them.

 

Top 8 Natural Homeopathic Remedies for Urethral Stricture

The top ten homeopathic medicines for urethral stricture management are Clematis, Chimaphila, Cantharis, Thiosinaminum, Conium, Arnica, Cannabis Sativa and Merc Sol.

1. Clematis – For Weak Urine Stream, Straining To Urinate And Interrupted Urine Flow

Clematis is the best prescription to manage urethral stricture. This natural medicine can relieve many symptoms associated with urethral constriction. In cases needing it, there is feeble stream of urine with slow passage of urine. To pass urine, straining is required to initiate urine flow.  An extreme constricted sensation is felt in the urethra while passing urine. The bladder does not empty in one go and the flow of urine starts then stops and starts again several times (interrupted urine stream). At times, urine is passed drop by drop. The patient always feels as if some urine is still left behind in the bladder. Dribbling of urine occurs after passing urine. Clematis helps in establishing the proper flow of urine in a stream. Frequency to pass urine also increases. Burning in urethra when passing urine also occurs. It is also helpful for all those patients of Urethral Stricture who have a history of gonorrhoea for a long duration.

When to use Clematis?

Clematis is a leading medicine to manage urethral stricture when urine flow is initiated with straining efforts and urine stream is weak and interrupted as well.

How to use Clematis?

In the beginning of the treatment, it is advised to use Clematis in 30C potency two to three times a day.

2. Chimaphila – For Thin / Split Urine Stream and Straining To Pass Urine

Chimaphila is of great help when urine stream is thin, like a thread or split urine stream. Additionally, a lot of straining is required to pass urine. In spite of the efforts, the urine passed is very less in quantity. A characteristic feature is patients needing it are able to empty the bladder when standing with feet set wide apart and body stooped forward. When such peculiar symptoms come to light, the selection of the correct medicine becomes easy. Besides the above, it can be used when there is frequent urge to urinate, like every one to two hours. Cutting and burning pain when passing urine may be felt.

When to use Chimaphila?

This medicine can be used for urethral stricture cases having thin or split urine stream with marked straining to pass urine.

How to use Chimaphila?

Its use is mainly recommended in the form of mother tincture (Q) that can be taken twice / thrice a day as per symptom severity.

3. Cantharis – For Pain Or Burning While Urinating

Cantharis is a very well-known and widely used medicine for various kinds of urinary troubles. It is beneficial in urethral stricture cases when the foremost complaint is pain or burning while passing urine. The burning or pain may even start before urination, and continue even after passing urine. Urine may be passed, drop by drop. The urge to pass urine is almost constantly present.

When to use Cantharis?

It is the best choice of medicine to manage pain or burning felt during, before or after urination in urethral stricture cases.

How to use Cantharis?

Its 30C potency can be repeated up to 3-4 times in a day. It is equally effective in 200C and 1M potency but these potencies should not be used without consulting a homeopathic doctor.

4. Thiosinaminum – To Dissolve Scars in Urethral Stricture

Thiosinaminum is known for its ability to dissolve scars formed anywhere in the body. Thiosinaminum can work wonders in Urethral Stricture cases where the scar tissue is formed in urethra due to any cause. The scar resolving power of this natural remedy cannot be matched by any other medicine. Pain while passing urine and increased urination at night are the main symptoms found in people needing this medicine.

When to use Thiosinaminum?

Thiosinaminum proves effective to dissolve a scar in urethral stricture cases, along with symptoms of painful urination and increased frequency to pass urine at night.

How to use Thiosinaminum?

Though it can be used in both low and high potencies, in the beginning, it is advised to take it in 30 C potency once or twice a day.

5. Conium – For Intermittent Urine Stream

This medicine can help patients of urethral stricture where the main trouble is the intermittent stream of urine. It takes a lot of time to complete the act of urination. The urine starts to flow and then stops, and this process of starting and stopping is repeated several times to completely drain the urine out. Burning pain after passing urine may be felt.

When to use Conium?

Its use is highly suggested for urethral stricture cases with interrupted urinary stream.

How to use Conium?

One may take Conium in 30 C power one or two times in a day.

6. Arnica – For Urethral Stricture With A History Of Injury Or Trauma

Arnica is a highly recommended natural medicine for its universal curing action in trauma and injury cases. Arnica can be given in cases of Urethral Stricture where history of an injury is found. Injuries basically caused by blunt objects, a blow or a fall are covered by this medicine. The patient needing Arnica usually complains of frequent urge to urinate and sore and bruised pain in urethra while urinating or otherwise.

When to use Arnica?

It is a highly recommended medicine to manage urethral stricture cases that occurred after an injury.

How to use Arnica?

Arnica 30 C can be used twice or thrice a day.

7. Cannabis Sativa – For Split Stream Of Urine

This medicine is useful when urination occurs in a split stream. Straining to pass urine is also required. Dribbling of urine occurs after urine flow ceases. Burning in the urethra when urinating appears.

When to use Cannabis Sativa?

This medicine can be considered in cases of urethral stricture cases having a complaint of split urinary stream, straining to urinate and dribbling of urine after passing urine.

How to use Cannabis Sativa?

This medicine is usually given in 30C potency once or twice a day.

8. Merc Sol – For Increased Frequency Of Urine And An Urgent Need To Urinate

Merc Sol proves effective in managing increased frequency of urine and urgency to pass urine. A person has to rush/ hurry to pass urine as the urge cannot be controlled. While urinating, the stream of urine is very weak. Urination is attended with burning pain.

When to use Merc Sol?

This medicine can be opted for managing frequent and urgent urination in cases of urethral stricture.

How to use Merc Sol?

Both the lower and the highest potencies of Merc Sol have proved to be efficacious with excellent results. However, initially, it is advised to use it in 30 C power one or two times a day.

Signs And Symptoms Of Urethral Stricture

The symptoms of urethral stricture include the following:

1. Weak/feeble urine stream and straining to pass urine

2. Spraying or splitting of urine stream: It means urine flow split and goes in two directions instead of one normal urine stream in one direction

3. Sensation as if urinary bladder is not completely emptied after passing urine

4. Increased frequency of urine and an urgent need to urinate

5. Interrupted/ intermittent urine stream: Urine starts and stops several times while passing it

6. Pain or burning when passing urine

7. Loss of bladder control, urethral discharge, swelling / pain of penis, pain in lower abdomen, urine passing out in drops are other symptoms

8. Dark urine, blood in urine/semen

9. Acute urine retention when a person is unable to urinate at all (it is serious condition and should be immediately treated)

Causes Of Urethral Stricture

The main cause behind urethral stricture is scar formation within urethra from an injury or instrumentation or surgery. The causes are enumerated as follows:

1. Trauma or injuryto the urethra: The trauma may follow any hit or blow on the urethra/ trauma to pelvis. Falling on the bar of a bicycle is very common injury that can lead to urethral stricture.

2. Instrumentation: Endoscopy, catheter introduction

3. Surgical operations (Post-operative Urethral Stricture): It  may follow a prostate operation, kidney stone removal surgery, hypospadias surgery (to correct urethral opening position in penis)

4. Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and inflammatory conditions of the urethra (urethritis).

5. Sexually transmitted infections: Few infections include gonorrhoea and chlamydia infection.

6. Passage of kidney stone

7. Radiation therapy

8. Cancer of prostate or Urethra

9. Less commonly, urethral stricture can be congenital (present since birth) or occur from pressure by a tumour near urethra. In some cases, no cause can be ruled out.

Risk Factors

1. Males are more at risk as compared to females, to develop urethral Stricture

2. Having recent catheter use

3. Recurrent UTI (urinary tract infection) or STI (sexually transmitted infection)

4. Urethritis (inflamed urethra)

5. Enlarged prostate

Complications Of Urethral Stricture

Urinary retention, Urinary Tract Infection, Kidney stones, urethral fistula and Hydronephrosis (swollen kidneys from build-up of fluid inside them) are a few complications.

Investigations

1. Uroflowmetry Test: It measures the amount of urine passed out from the body and the speed of its passage, plus the total time taken to pass all urine

2. Retrograde urethrogram (RGU): In this case, an X-ray film is taken after injecting a contrast agent through penis opening. It will reveal location and length of stricture in urethra, if present.

3. Cystoscopy:  A camera is inserted in the penis to view inside urethra and to look for a stricture

4. MRI, CT scan and Ultrasound: These are done to view urethra and adjacent structures