An overactive bladder can cause a very embarrassing situation—especially considering a leak can spout with as little as a cough, sneeze, laugh, or sudden movement. If you have trouble fighting the urge to go during an emergency, you may be suffering from urinary incontinence.

The good news is that you can find some natural help for your overactive bladder from the following sources.

Track Fluid Intake

This is similar to a food diary that you keep when on a diet, but in this case, you record your daily beverages to get a big picture of how much you’re drinking, when you’re drinking (i.e., before bed), and problem beverages (i.e., coffee or soda).

Gosha-jinki-gan

Some pretty substantial studies from Japan link gosha-jinki-gan, an herbal remedy, with reducing urinary frequency, bladder contractions, and nighttime urination for both men and women.

Bladder Training

Bladder training is the most widely prescribed, non-medicinal treatment for an overactive bladder.  It involves setting a tight schedule for urination and literally reintroducing bladder training.

Buchu Plant

A widely used plant-based remedy for bladder and kidney infections in South Africa, the buchu plant has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and diuretic properties that cleanse and heal the urinary system.

Absorbent Pads

More of an interim treatment option, until you learn to control the urgency, absorbent pads can be worn under your clothing to trap and hide accidental leaks.

Saw Palmetto

Medical studies credit the anti-inflammatory properties of saw palmetto with reducing urinary urgency, especially for men with enlarged prostate glands.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Also known as Kegels, these pelvic floor exercises work to strengthen the muscles that control urination and its flow.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C supplements have been recommended for their ability to fight oxidative stress, which can irritate nerves around the bladder and result in a loss of urinary control.

Weight loss

Carrying around too much excess weight is bad for your joints, but it can also weaken the elasticity in the muscle supporting the bladder and lead to urinary incontinence.

Quercetin

Often recommended by naturopathic doctors, quercetin, a natural anti-inflammatory remedy is linked to reducing the urgency associated with an overactive bladder.

You should always talk to your doctor before you take a new supplement or home treatment. It may interact with another medication you are currently taking or have adverse effects.