Nocturnal Urination (Nocturia) Remedies

| Modified on Feb 25, 2024

Treatment of nocturia involves regulating the urinary system. Some individuals may be able to balance their liquid intake versus their output at night. However, many benefit more fully from natural support such as grapefruit juice and rice vinegar.

What is Nocturia?

Defined as a condition in which an individual must wake throughout the night to urinate, nocturia is a condition that affects both men and women and is more common with age. Symptoms of the condition include the need to rise from sleeping more than once throughout the night as well as disruptions in the normal sleep cycle. Nocturia has several different causes including high fluid intake, untreated diabetes, congestive heart failure, sleeping disorders, certain medications, bladder obstruction, bladder infection and several others.

Natural Remedies for Nocturnal Urination

Treating nocturnal urination hinges on relieving pressure on the urinary system. While some individuals are able to balance this independently, others benefit from support. Grapefruit juice and rice vinegar are two effective natural options for treating nocturia.

Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit functions as a powerful antioxidant. The fruit and the natural juice contain an enzyme that detoxes the blood and circulatory system and relieves symptoms of nocturia. The fruit also delivers important nutrients to the body supporting general health at the same time.

Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar offers a number of healthful benefits that also help treat nocturnal urination. Vinegar is a powerful antiseptic, so it cleanses the system of any bacteria that may be contributing to the condition. Also, the compound contains nearly 20 amino acids which support cell function and regulation as well as general circulatory health.

Caused by a number of different factors, nocturia is characterized by the inability to sleep through the night without the need to wake to urinate more than once. Regulating fluids, treating underlying conditions and using natural supports effectively help treat the condition, however.




Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda)

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Ian (Nottinghamshire) on 10/22/2016
★★★★★

I was getting up to urinate 4 times every night.

My cure that worked for me is a teaspoon of Bicarbonate of soda in a quarter glass of water at 7pm and the same measure again at 9pm. I go to bed at 11pm. This guaranteed me 6 hours uninterrupted sleep.The only drawback is slight constipation or hard stools and quite thirsty upon waking up. No caffeine produce during the afternoon too.

Replied by Terry
(Solomons, Md)
11/01/2017

I am going to try this tonight and see what happens. Can the body become too alkaline if one does this every night? Will let you know what happens.

Replied by Traci
(Tx)
11/01/2017

You can get pH test strips and check your urine to make sure what you are doing isn't making you too alkaline. Check any pharmacy.

Replied by Terry
(Solomons, Md)
11/02/2017

I tried this for the first time and I really did sleep better. Will try it again tonight and hopefully I'll have better results.

Replied by Terry
(Solomons, Md)
11/07/2017

I tried this and it worked; however, I'm reluctant to do this every night...just too much bicarb for the body and the risk of serious consequences...just my feelings.

Replied by Kittenlover
(Florida)
01/02/2018

pH strips are very unreliable. The kidneys compensate quickly. Urine pH does not measure blood pH and too much bicarbonate can produce a dangerous situation.

Replied by Eunice M
(OR)
09/13/2021

Be very careful with grapefruit juice. There are several RX medicines that have serious side affects with grapefruit juice. Lisinipril is one of them.

Ginny
(Iowa)
01/09/2024

I just looked up the interactions with grapefruit juice and Lisinopril. This medicine is not affected by drinking grapefruit juice.


Brown Rice

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Rick (New Jersey) on 12/10/2015
★★★★★

Turns out that a serving (1/2 cup) of brown rice about 1/2 hr before going to sleep may reduce nocturia. The theory is that the rice absorbs water (from the vascular system) by bringing it into your gut instead of excretion via your kidneys/bladder. I used to awake every 2-3 hrs. Now I am up to 6 hrs of blissful, uninterrupted sleep.

I used to make my own rice but discovered Minute rice - and others - had a microwaveable single-serving package that took only 1 minute to heat and serve. No mess, no fuss.

I am curious if this works for others.

Replied by Mimi
(Hampstead Nh)
06/26/2016

Does it have to be "brown" rice?


Grapefruit Juice

13 User Reviews
5 star (11) 
  85%
1 star (2) 
  15%

Posted by Laney (Rocheser, NY) on 11/04/2023
★★★★★

I thought it was too good to be true - grapefruit juice?! I had been getting up every two hours or less to pee for the past year or so. I decided to give it a shot. It worked on the 1st night! And then again on the 2nd night! I only get up once now. So grateful to finally have a good night's sleep! Thank you, thank you!


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Susu (Sacramento, CA) on 04/18/2023
★★★★★

When I came across the word "nocturia" I got the bright idea to look on my favorite website for a remedy. It was the day after I had to get up at least 13 times. The usual is about 5 or 6 times a night which is already pretty bad. The first night after the grapefruit remedy I got up 3 or 4 times which was a huge improvement but each day it has gotten better. Last night it was one time and that hasn't happened in years. I am freezing the grapefruit juice so I enjoy it more. I'm getting about 3 1/2 ounces before bed and 3 1/2 ounces in the afternoon. I chop it with a fork to make it slushy and it is really tasty that way.


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Doc (Kyle, Tx) on 11/14/2022
★★★★★

After several months of having to get up and pee several times (5+) in the middle of the night, I decided to start researching natural treatments. I ran across Earth Clinic, and those reporting good results from grapefruit juice. I really like the Texas Rio Star grapefruit which isn't in season yep. So I bought the grapefruit juice yesterday and drank 8oz about 45min b/f bed. WOW. it works. I only woke up to 1 time to go pee. Thank you to those that suggested grapefruit juice. I will continue taking this remedy and provide additional updates on my progress.


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Kristi (United States) on 09/01/2022
★★★★★

Grapefruit juice 100% worked for me!!!

I love this website. I've learned how to fix my sciatica, sleep better at night (thank you Art! ), and many other things. Most things are just quality of life. Nocturia, for example, was never really an issue but suddenly after I fixed my insomnia, I had this weird thing where I get up to pee anywhere between 7 and 13 times a night. How annoying - and infuriating.

I don't think it matters the brand as long as it's real grapefruit juice. I use Florida's Best. If I drink it an hour (or more) before bed I still will get up to pee a few times, not NEARLY as much as usual, but still a handful of times. But if I drink it 45 minutes or LESS before bed I will only get up once, sometimes not at all and I can wait until I wake up.

I know there is a reason this works, but it makes no sense to me because common sense states that if I drink a HUGE glass of anything before bed, it's going to make me go to the bathroom a lot lol. But I just... don't with grapefruit juice.

IDC why it works I just know it works, so thank you!

Replied by Art
(California)
09/02/2022
2119 posts

Kristi,

Thank you for your feedback and kind comment!

Art

Hollyhock
(America)
02/24/2024

Art, do you suppose grapefruit seed extract might do the same? I might try tonight but not sure how many drops in say a half glass of water.

Art
(California)
02/24/2024
2119 posts

Hi Hollyhock,

I have only seed grapefruit juice help nocturia, but if you try the GSPE tonight, please come back and let us know if it also helps nocturia.

On a related note, the following study suggests that very low dose melatonin (2 mg per night) may also help with nocturia :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35596803/

Here is a relevant quote :

' Melatonin can be considered a safe and effective treatment for nocturia in elderly women.'

I have also seen a similar study in men with similar results.

Art

Hollyhock
(America)
02/25/2024

Hi Art, I take 20mg melatonin each night, sometimes 30mg. I tried the GFSE last night, 10 drops, in half glass of water. I only got up once for the bathroom! I will continue and see if that was just a coincidence. But I will also buy some grapefruit juice this week.

Art
(California)
02/25/2024
2119 posts

Hi Hollyhock,

Thank you for the positive feedback on the use of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) for nocturia. Please keep us updated with your further use of GSE for nocturia.

Regarding melatonin, I have only heard of it being effective for nocturia at the low dose used in the human study using just 2 mg of melatonin each night. Many people have told me that higher dosing has not helped them with nocturia.

Art


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Sue (PNW) on 10/18/2021
★★★★★

Wow, I am happy to report Grapefruit Juice is working for me, too! I've had frequent urination at night for years, recently it was getting ridiculous, wondered if I got any decent sleep at all as was up several times a night. I was getting so anxious about it and that clearly made it worse. I had nothing to lose, so tried the grapefruit and have been steadily improving. I was previously up every hour or so, (it was awful), and first night after a grapefruit after dinner I was up every 3 hrs, and after a few more days of drinking a small glass of grapefruit juice after dinner I slept 3 hrs and then 5 hours straight. That's a big improvement for me.

I have no idea why this works, but I am very thankful to Earthclinic posters. Here's looking at you, Kathy!


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Slim CS (San Rafael, California ) on 11/04/2020 6 posts
★★★★★

I have been needing to go to the bathroom 7 - 8 times every night for the past seven months. Needless to say, this has affected my sleep patterns quite a bit.

I started drinking grapefruit juice a couple of times a day about a week ago. I had relief almost immediately. I am down to 3 - 4 times a night and hoping this will improve even more over time. I am really grateful for Kathy's grapefuit juice post from 2010, as well as the one that mentions Pumpkin seed oil. I'm doing a combination therapy of grapefruit juice and pumpkin seed oil capsules.

Replied by Art
(California)
11/05/2020
2119 posts

Slim CS,

Low dose melatonin will also reduce nocturia as outlined here :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC403853/

Art

Replied by Slim CS
(San Rafael, California)
11/08/2020
6 posts

Art, melatonin has not worked for me, but grapefruit juice has, almost immediately.

Laurel
(Virginia Beach VA)
10/18/2021
6 posts

How much grapefruit juice do you drink after dinner?

thank you

Replied by Slim CS
(San Rafael, California)
11/08/2020
6 posts

Update: Last night, I was down to waking up just two times during the night! Seems too good to be true. And to think my urologist wanted to put me on Myrbetriq! I'm glad I refused meds for this.

Replied by Art
(California)
11/09/2020
2119 posts

Hi Slim CS,

Thank you for the feedback! I'm sorry that the melatonin was not effective for the purpose. Not everything works for every person and some people respond faster that others. I am glad the grapefruit juice/fruit is effective for you, as it is a good feeling when you are able to alleviate a long standing health issue!

Art


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Collegeville (Pennsylvania) on 12/14/2016
★★★★★

Prior to grapefruit juice up to 6 times a night. After grapefruit juice 1 time a night. Wish the doctors I had seen for years knew this.


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by George (Colorado) on 12/08/2015
★★★★★

I tried drinking grapefruit juice last night. It worked for me! I slept through the night with no urges! I generally get up 2-6 times a night.

Replied by Katie
(Bellingham, WA)
03/15/2022
★★★★★

I was getting up 2 to 3 times a night to urinate. I started taking Hawthorn Berry Capsules twice a day 565 mg each the last one closer to bedtime. Now I only get up once a night. I still drink some water in the evening. Hawthorn Berry is also good for your heart.


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Joe (Nashville, Tennessee) on 04/13/2013
★★★★★

I also have nocturia and have been waking every 90 minutes at night for the past three years. Nothing my urologist prescribed helped it, and some of those meds like Flo Max (Tamsolusin) caused a really serious side effect that affected my heart rate, breathing and blood pressure dramatically, and I thought I was having a stroke. I also could not tolerate another drug called RapiFlo.

I happened to eat half a grapefruit one night before bed, and slept all night without waking. A happy accident? I tried it the next night and several other subsequent nights with the same results. I suppose the same ingredient is in grapefruit juice. Be careful if you take statin drugs like Lipitor (who doesn't these days?). Chemicals in grapefruit inhibit a digestive enzyme that breaks down the active ingredient in statin drugs. It could cause too high a dosage to go to your liver that might cause damage. I have no problem giving up Lipitor, as I am on an extremely low fat plant-based diet, and my lipids have fallen off dramatically so I no longer need the Lipitor. (Google Dr. Esselstyn diet if you are interested in the diet). Try grapefruit if you have nocturia.


Grapefruit Juice
Posted by Kathy (Dallas, Tx) on 06/09/2010
★★★★★

Grapefruit Juice cured nocturia (need to get up and urinate in the night). I discovered this quite by accident. I was traveling by car on a long trip and at two different stops purchased a bottle (pint?)of 100% ruby red grapefruit juice to drink. That night I did not need to get up to use the bathroom during the night! I began drinking grapefruit juice daily. After a few weeks I no longer needed to drink the juice to maintain the healing.

Regarding grapefruit juice I also discovered when I was doing a colon cleanse and feeling poorly from the toxins being released that it helped my body clear out the toxins. Then learned from doing research it has an enzyme that helps the liver to detox the blood. It worked.

Replied by Antonio
(Padua, Italy)
07/26/2017
★☆☆☆☆

Tried several days in a row, no effect whatsoever. Are grapefruits in the US from a different planet?

Replied by Terry
(Solomons, Md)
11/07/2017
★☆☆☆☆

I tried both the Ruby Red grapefruit juice and drinking the juice from fresh grapefruit. In both cases, there was no relief for me and I tried it 2 days in a row. I'm happy for all those folks who've had success but sad to say, the grapefruit juice "cure" did not work for me at all.


Hawthorn Berry

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Katie (Bellingham, WA) on 03/31/2022
★★★★★

I was getting up 2 to 3 times per night to urinate. Since taking Hawthorn berry I have only been getting up 1 time a night. I take a 565 mg capsule during the day and another before going to bed.


Hemp Oil

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by G (Oregon) on 01/08/2020
★★★★★

As a male in my mid-50's I usually have to get up to use the bathroom once per night. However, one night several weeks ago I massaged my feet with a hemp moisturizer before getting into bed. I slept all the way through the night, without interruption. I tried it again. Same thing, every night. I then went a night without it and had to get up to use the bathroom. I have no idea what this is doing and why, but it works....go figure.

Replied by Donna
(Michigan)
04/22/2023
★★★★★

I have MS and the most I've been up is 18 times one night to piddle. I ate a marijuana gummy one night and slept through the night. Like you, I tested that one...didn't eat one again, up 10 times...the next night, up 12. Then I ate a gummy again, and slept through the ENTIRE night again~ I will never not eat one at bedtime again~

Replied by Ana
(Canada)
04/23/2023

Could you please let us know, what moisturizer did you use? Thank you.

Replied by Ana
(Canada)
04/23/2023

Could you please let us know, what moisturizer did you use? Thank you.


Liver Herbs

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Lukeh (Atlanta, Ga) on 05/10/2015
★★★★★

After 3.5 years of nocturia (usually having to get up every hour during the night), and nothing else helped consistently --- I'm finally onto something! Last fall when I noticed prominent veins in my inner thighs, a chiro said is sounded like liver congestion. On her advice I ate large quantities of fresh organic parsley & cilantro (in smoothies, or chutney) and the veins gradually returned to normal. But ALSO my nocturia slowed down. A few months later it speeded up again, and now I'm back on liver herbs daily and --- yippee --- nocturia is again on the decline. I'm working up to the full liver-gallbladder flush using olive oil & citrus juice. It seems (though no doctor suggested this) that upon lying down the blood flow somehow encourages the kidneys to work harder. (Doctors were thinking blood sugar or cortisol was causing nocturia, but that theory did not hold up). If this same cure works for anyone else, I'd be happy to hear about it.



NEXT 
1 2
Advertisement