Urinary Incontinence: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine. It ranges from occasional small leaks to complete loss of bladder control. Common types include stress incontinence (leak with cough/sneeze/exertion), urge incontinence (sudden need to pass urine), mixed, and overflow incontinence. Causes include pelvic floor weakness, nerve injury, urinary tract conditions, obesity, chronic cough, childbirth, aging and some medications.

Critical Safety Note

Always obtain medical assessment to exclude infections, stones, neurological causes or serious urological conditions before starting Ayurvedic therapies. We work with medical teams for diagnosis and monitoring. Some procedures (like Uttara Basti) require experienced clinicians and sterile technique.

Ayurvedic Care Pathway (Focused)

• Medical screening & coordination: Urine analysis, ultrasound or specialist referral when indicated.
• Vata pacification & tissue strengthening: Therapies aimed at restoring Apana Vata and toning pelvic tissues.
• Local treatments: Uttara Basti and Kati/Prishtha Vasti to directly support pelvic/low-back regions and bladder function.
• Systemic rejuvenation: Njavara Kizhi, Basti (selective) and nourishing oils/medicines to improve muscle tone and neuromuscular control.
• Rehab & lifestyle: Pelvic floor exercises, weight optimization, bladder training, dietary modifications and herbs to support tissue repair.

Therapies We Use for Urinary Incontinence — with reference images

Below are the clinic therapies most useful for urinary incontinence. Each entry includes a reference photo. Therapies are individualized and require clinician assessment and, where needed, sterile procedure settings (e.g., Uttara Basti).

Uttara Basti (Therapeutic Instillation) Primary

What it is: Medicinal oil or decoction instilled into the urinary tract (vaginal/urethral) or bladder region under professional supervision to strengthen pelvic tissues and restore continence mechanisms.

• Directly addresses Apana Vata and local tissue weakness—used for persistent stress/urge incontinence patterns after evaluation.
• Requires sterile technique, experienced practitioner and prior preparation (outer oleation/steam when indicated).
• Given as a course of sessions with monitoring of symptoms and urinary health.

Basti (Medicated Enema) — Selected Use

What it is: Rectal administration of medicated oils or decoctions to pacify Vata (especially Apana) and restore gut-pelvic neuromuscular tone.

• Considered a cornerstone for Vata-related pelvic dysfunction—improves neuromuscular coordination and pelvic support.
• Prescribed based on patient stability and performed under clinician supervision as part of a sequence (including preparatory measures).

Kati Vasti (Localized Lower Back Oil Retention)

What it is: Warm medicated oil retained over the lower back/pelvic area in a dough-wall reservoir to nourish local tissues and relieve nerve/low-back contributions to incontinence.

• Supports sacral nerve function, reduces local Vata imbalance and eases low-back discomfort that often coexists with pelvic floor weakness.
• Given as a series to strengthen the pelvic-lumbar region.

Prishtha Vasti (Back Region Oil Retention)

What it is: Similar to Kati Vasti but applied to the sacral/upper gluteal area to target nerves and muscles involved in bladder control.

• Useful when sacral nerve irritation or lower back Vata contributes to poor bladder control.
• Often combined with strengthening and internal medicines for better outcomes.

Njavara Kizhi (Nourishing Bolus Therapy)

What it is: Warm boluses of Njavara rice cooked in medicated decoctions applied to the body to provide systemic nourishment and strengthen musculature.

• Helps rebuild pelvic muscular tone and general vitality—particularly useful in post-partum or weakness-related incontinence.
• Given during the rehabilitative phase alongside pelvic exercises and tonic herbs.

Abhyanga (Warm Oil Massage)

What it is: Gentle full-body herbal oil massage to pacify Vata, improve circulation and prepare the body for local therapies.

• Supports relaxation, reduces nervous excitability and improves muscular responsiveness when combined with targeted therapies.
• Used as preparatory care ahead of Basti/Uttara Basti or as supportive maintenance.

Lepam (Medicated Paste Application)

What it is: Topical application of medicated pastes over the lower abdomen or perineal region to provide local strengthening and reduce irritation.

• Can be used to locally nourish and tonify tissues when chosen formulations are safe and non-irritating.
• Often part of combined local therapy sessions.

Shirodhara (Nervous System Support)

What it is: Continuous pouring of warm herbal oil on the forehead to calm the nervous system and reduce stress-related urinary urgency.

• Helpful when urge incontinence has a strong nervous/psychogenic component or when stress worsens leakage.
• Used as adjunctive therapy to improve sleep and autonomic balance.

Herbal Medicines & Supportive Measures

Internal medicines and nutritional advice are chosen to safely support strengthening and Vata pacification. All internal prescriptions are personalized and coordinated with the patient's medical status.

If infection, significant post-void residual or neurological disease is present, medical/urological management is prioritized. Ayurveda is complementary and rehabilitative.

Sample Clinic Plans (examples)

All invasive procedures (Uttara Basti, certain Basti protocols) are only performed by experienced clinicians with appropriate informed consent and sterile procedure rooms.

Quick Reference — Therapies & Roles