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FACTOR
11: CranPlex Bladder and Urinary Tract Infection Preventative WHO SHOULD USE (LIFESTYLE)
REASONS TO USE (AILMENTS)
DOSAGE & DIRECTIONS Take two tablets twice daily for 10 days for maximum therapeutic benefit; then continue one to two tablets daily as a preventative. For children under 12 years, administer one tablet twice daily for 10 days. CONTRAINDICATIONS & PRECAUTIONS There are no known contraindications or precautions with this product when taken in the recommended dosages. However, as with all dietary supplements, do not take at the same time as medications. May be taken with or without food. (One tablet of CranPlex contains the equivalent of twenty-four ounces of pure cranberry juice). FACTOR
ELEVEN FORMULATION
VALIDATION OF INGREDIENTS CRANBERRY (FREEZE DRIED) has been shown in several clinical studies to be extremely effective in treating bladder infections.1,2 In one study, 16 ounces of cranberry juice per day was shown to produce beneficial effects in 73 percent of the subjects (44 females and 16 males) with active urinary tract infections.3 (One tablet of CranPlex contains the equivalent of 24 ounces of cranberry juice). Cranberry's ability to prevent bladder infections is due to the presence of the compound tannin which prevents bacteria from attaching to the inside surface of the lining within the urinary tract. This study also determined that tannin was only present in cranberries and blueberries. 4 Because most cranberry juices on the market are loaded with sugar which has a detrimental effect on the immune system,5 many physicians recommend taking cranberry juice in pill form. ALOE VERA (FREEZE DRIED) has demonstrated activity against many common bacteria and fungi including Escherichia coli, the major bacterium responsible for the majority of bladder infections.6 Aloe Vera may exert beneficial tonic effects on the gastrointestinal system. A clinical study found that aloe vera consumption can lead to improved protein digestion and reduced bacterial putrefaction.7 Compounds found in Aloe vera known as anthraquinones bind calcium in the urinary tract and significantly reduce the growth rate of urinary calcium crystals responsible for kidney stones.8 JUNIPER BERRIES (JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS) help restore kidney function by stimulating the flow of urine by raising the rate of glomerulus filtration (the process by which blood is purified and wastes filtered out).9 Juniper berry is particularly soothing to the kidneys and has been used in America for over 200 years as a urinary antiseptic.10 GOLDENSEAL (HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS) is one of the most effective of the herbal antimicrobia agents. Its long history of use for the treatment of infections is well documented in the scientific literature.11 Goldenseal's efficacy against Escherichia coli, the bacterium most responsible for bladder infections, is superior to most antibiotics.12 Goldenseal contains the alkaloid berberine which is primarily responsible for its powerful antibiotic activity. Berberine activates macrophages, the cells responsible for engulfing and destroying bacteria, viruses, and tumor cells.13 Berberine has been shown to increase the blood supply to the spleen which is responsible for filtering the blood and releasing compounds that potentiate immune function.14 BEARBERRY (UVA URSI), also known as upland cran-berry, acts as a mild diuretic and antiseptic. In Germany, Bearberry is approved as a urinary antiseptic for bladder infections.15 Bearberry is reported to be especially active against Escherichia coli.1 HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS Urinary and bladder infections are usually caused by bacteria resulting in cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder. In fact, nearly 85 percent of urinary tract infections are caused by Escherichia coli, a bacterium found in the intestines. Such infections are ten times more common in adult women than men and constitute the most common medical problem of pregnancy. Twenty-one percent of women have urinary infections at least once a year which may be uncomfortable or extremely painful.16 Symptoms Symptoms are characterized by an urgent desire to empty the bladder. Urination is typically frequent and painful, such as a burning sensation. Even after the bladder has been emptied, there may be a desire to urinate again. The urine often has a strong, unpleasant odor and may appear cloudy. Many individuals may also experience lower abdominal pain. Patient Self-Test The patient can purchase a simple home kit from the local drugstore. It contains a thin strip of plastic that has been chemically treated. If the tip of this strip changes color when dipped in urine, it indicates the presence of a bacterial infection. The patient must make sure that the urine sample is collected cleanly by beginning urination, and then collecting a specimen while in midstream. Why Bladder Infections Keep Reoccurring Urinary and bladder infections have long baffled doctors - and agonized patients - with their resiliency. A strong dose of antibiotics usually brings immediate relief, but the painful infection often returns in as little as a few days. Recent research has discovered that the bacterium Escherichia coli can dodge antibiotics by invading the immune-system cells lining the wall of the bladder.17 Thus, E. coli can take shelter in the very cells that usually destroy them! Pure cranberry juice (no sugar) or freeze dried cranberry in the quantity contained in Factor Eleven: CranPlex, prevents E. coli bacteria from attaching to the cells that line the inside surface of the urinary tract and bladder. Without the ability to invade these immune cells, the bacterium are flushed from the bladder during urination. Antibiotics Losing Effectiveness Antibiotic resistance has become a worrisome problem for physicians who treat urinary tract infections. First, because E. coli bacteria can evade antibiotics as demonstrated above. Secondly, such bacterium is showing resistance to the three most commonly prescribed drugs used to combat urinary tract infections. Recent clinical data suggests that ampicillin, trimethoprim, and trimetho-sulfamethoxazole, now used as first line treatment of acute cystitis, may not be acceptable choices for therapy for much longer.18 The study sites overuse and misuse in the alarming trend toward antibiotic ineffectiveness. Recommendations to facilitate the immune system in fighting bladder and urinary tract infections: 1) Empty your bladder as often as possible - at least once every 3 hours - and empty it completely. 2) Empty bladder before and after both exercise and sexual intercourse to avoid undue strain. 3) Reduce intake of caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and colas. They tend to irritate the bladder. 4) Keep the genital and anal areas clean and dry. Avoid hygiene sprays, douches, and bubble baths as these may cause further irritation. 5) Take hot baths (sitz baths) twice daily for twenty minutes. Hot sitz baths will help relieve pain associated with cystitis. 6) Drink plenty of liquids. A six to eight ounce glass of quality water every hour is extremely beneficial for urinary tract infections. 7) Take the recommended label dosage of Factor Eleven: CranPlex. 8) Include celery, parsley, and watermelon in the diet as these foods act as natural diuretics. 9) Consider a low-protein diet, obtaining protein from vegetable sources such as peas, beans, lentils, and asparagus. 10) Women who suffer from recurrent bladder infections should not use tampons, and should always wear cotton underwear - never nylon. |
Women
with a history of reoccurring bladder and urinary
tract infections.