Unconventional Therapies for Bedwetting

Thinking outside the box for bedwetting: Finding alternatives to traditional approaches to bedwetting isn't difficult, but deciding to try them is another matter entirely. From acupuncture to homeopathy, there are many options—and even more questions. Parents looking to treat their children's bedwetting need an open mind, independence, and a willingness to research a wide range of information. Chiropractic care When it comes to bedwetting, the most commonly mentioned alternative approach is chiropractic. Although once considered an alternative technique, chiropractic spinal manipulation is now recognized as a medical treatment. Some insurance companies even cover these services for specific conditions, such as when the spine is affected. Chiropractic care for bedwetting targets the bladder by manipulating the lower spine and pelvis. Since the nerves to the muscles controlling urine flow are connected to the brain through the spine, it is believed that properly aligning the spine can address slow processing or incomplete signals between the brain and bladder. Evidence supports this approach: a controlled study presented at the 1993 National Chiropractic and Pediatrics Conference looked at 46 children treated by chiropractors for 14 weeks and compared the results with those of 15 control subjects. The treated children had 17.9% fewer incidents after treatment. This study confirmed the findings of other research demonstrating the positive outcomes of chiropractic care. The idea remains controversial, however. Just bring it up at a pediatrician or neurologist conference and watch the sparks fly, says William Cockburn, a chiropractor in Whittier, California, who, in his family practice, has seen bedwetters respond 50 percent within 30 days. He believes parents and chiropractors should communicate better about causes and treatment choices. Some chiropractic experts want more evidence. There is little clinical scientific literature on spinal manipulation therapy for bedwetting children, says Joseph C. Keating of Phoenix, Arizona, vice president of the Association for the History of Chiropractic, who has written frequently about the need for research-based chiropractic care. Keep in mind that the spontaneous remission rate for bedwetting children is about 15 percent per year. Hypnotherapy Hypnosis is another option for parents looking for non-intrusive treatment methods for bedwetting. The hypnotist works with the unconscious brain to establish positive connections with a conscious goal: waking up at night to go to the bathroom. Instead of using negative reinforcement as an alarm, the child learns through self-hypnosis and visualization to respond to the physical symptoms of a full bladder before having an accident. This method emphasizes relaxation, self-control, and independence. The National Kidney Foundation reports that children who benefit from this treatment typically show signs of improvement after four to six sessions, but also says more studies are needed to determine its true effectiveness. Hypnosis exists on the fringes of conventional medicine. Although it is generally recognized as a valid approach for certain problems, hypnosis is rarely recommended by pediatricians and other resource people to parents seeking help with bedwetting. Perhaps that will change when medical researchers begin to gather more data on hypnosis under controlled conditions. The University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics reported that hypnotherapy stopped bedwetting 43 to 73 percent more effectively than imipramine—a prescription bedwetting medication—using a method described in the book "Dry All Night." Touch-based approaches Between the highly physical chiropractic approach and the highly cerebral hypnotic approach, there are also many alternatives involving touch. Like many alternative and complementary methods, these therapies aim to restore the body's energetic balance and are tailored to different problems and individuals. Acupuncture One of the therapies most familiar to Westerners originated in China and is still practiced there. Using filament-thin needles, the acupuncturist targets the body's energy flows. A 2001 study of 50 children with primary bedwetting reported 43 children were incident-free in less than six months using traditional Chinese acupuncture. But treating American children who fear needles with acupuncture is a challenge in itself. "I don't wear a white coat," says Sarah A. Steed, a licensed acupuncturist in Sperryville, Virginia. Steed says she sits on the floor with the child if they're more comfortable that way, and has even seen one fall asleep during treatment. The idea of sticking needles in children remains a tough sell to most young Americans and parents who aren't used to it. Fortunately, there are other methods that follow similar underlying philosophies and do not require needles. These include acupressure, electropuncture, shiatsu, and reflexology. These therapies involve applying pressure to accessible parts of the body corresponding to internal organs believed to be affected. In the case of bedwetting, the targeted organs are usually the bladder and kidneys. Parents are often encouraged to learn these techniques from therapists for use at home. Homeopathy Homeopathy is a 200-year-old therapy pioneered by a German physician who was skeptical of the pharmacists of his time. In homeopathy, diagnosis is much more comprehensive and personalized than in conventional Western medicine. Two people with similar symptoms may be treated with entirely different remedies due to differences in mood, sleep habits, or symptoms elsewhere in the body. Homeopathic remedies are based on a "rule of similars" and contain extremely dilute doses to stimulate the body's natural defenses. Commonly prescribed remedies for bedwetting include: horsetail, causticum, belladonna, club moss, and pasque flower. Although it is widely accepted that homeopathy does not cause side effects, homeopaths and conventional doctors have long distrusted each other. Proponents from both sides are now teaming up to conduct scientific research on the subject. The World Health Organization states that homeopathy is the second most widely used practice in the world after conventional Western medicine. What is right for my child? Remember, bedwetting isn't your child's fault, and it's not due to laziness. And while there's no known cure, you and your family will need to choose a method that meets your child's needs. You'd best talk to your doctor before trying any of the different treatments. And keep in mind that all of the above methods are experimental—some may work for your child, some may not. "We called every medical expert I could find when my daughter became a teenager," says Virginia, mother of a 14-year-old bedwetter. "Then we tried alternative therapies. None have worked yet, but we'll keep trying because we want our daughter to know that all avenues have been explored." Even if none of these methods work for you, or if you're tackling bedwetting with different approaches, using disposable underwear remains a non-intrusive way to address the problem. It's good for your child's self-esteem to wake up dry, and you have less laundry to do.