Natural Remedies For Slow Urine Flow

Article Summary
- Any construction to the flow of urine can affect your day-to-day life.
- The most common reasons for a slow urine flow include an enlarged prostate, nervous issues, antidepressant uses, and infections.
- You can solve this issue with natural remedies for slow urine flow such as exercising or meditating, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and antihistamine medications.
- Kegel exercises and Chinese herbs can also do the trick for you.
Kidneys are marvelous organs whose main aim is to kick out the toxins inside the body through urine.
The urge to pee is not merely due to excessive water consumption.
But, instead, there is an integral role hidden inside the act of peeing.
Sometimes this flow of urine is subjected to hindrances and blockages.
The ultimate result of which is urinary retention and hesitancy.
We discuss the most common reasons behind hesitancy in urination below.
Reasons For Slow Urine Flow
If you are experiencing a lower than usual flow of urine or feel there is incomplete voiding, you need to read this article!
Common reasons:
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- Prostatic hyperplasia
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- Enlarged prostate gland
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- Medication usage
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- Nerve damage
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- Urinary tract infection
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- Sexually transmitted infection
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- Paruresis
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The most frequent problem associated with a slow urinary flow is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
An estimated 30% of men above 60 years of age experience urinary tract symptoms, most of which we can attribute to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The prostate is a gland present in men that lies around the urethra (urine-carrying tube). It may get enlarged with the growing age. However, BPH is an evident cause.
This enlargement and BPH symptoms put pressure on the urethra, therefore causing urethral stricture.
Lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic enlargement are the most frequent diseases in senile men.
The disease manifests itself in the following ways:
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- More frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia)
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- Difficulty urinating
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- Painful urination and sperm ejaculation
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- Bladder stones
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- Frequent urinary tract infections
Medications
According to a 2021 meta-analysis, the use of tricyclic antidepressants links to urinary tract symptoms, including bladder voiding disorders and weak urine flow.
Another study found that discontinuation of the drug sertraline resulted in complete symptom relief.

Find out 9 Medications to Avoid with Enlarged Prostate.
Paruresis
Paruresis, more commonly known as shy bladder syndrome, this is characterized by a fear of urination in public places (fear of perceived scrutiny from others).
It is a social phobia that affects 2.8-16.4% of individuals in a community.
Nervous Issues
The urinary bladder is under the control of the autonomic nervous system.
Any abnormalities or dysfunction of the autonomic system can cause lower urinary tract symptoms.
Infections
Urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections may also lead to a slow down in the optimal flow of urine.
6 Natural Remedies For Slow Urine Flow
If you suffer from a weak urine flow or chronic urinary retention, then you can benefit from the following remedies.
1) Exercise And Meditate Regularly
Doing light exercises regularly can significantly improve kidney function and urinary flow.
One study found voluntary exercise improves glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Moreover, Aerobic exercises reduce prostatic hyperplasia leading to betterment in urine flow.
Kegel exercises are designed to strengthen pelvic muscles.
So they may improve urinary incontinence in adults with urinary hesitancy.
Performing this type of activity is simple. All you have to do is hold the pee for 5-10 seconds and then let it flow.
Then, repeating it 5-15 times a day will help regain bladder control problems and function.

New to exercising? Read Our Beginners Guide to Working Out: How To Start Exercising.
Meditation can be a great way of reducing stress levels. Extra stress can be harmful to the body (especially the kidneys).
Therefore, to solve the slow urinary flow, try some yoga. In addition to yoga, you can use duloxetine medicine and kegel exercise to counter stress urinary incontinence.
2) Lose Some Weight
Obesity is found to have a direct link with urinary retention.
A study published in 2018 claims that obesity is strongly associated with urinary incontinence and weight reduction promotes urine flow.
Older men can appreciate the urine flow following weight reduction.
Furthermore, a meta-analysis prompts mid-aged women suffering from urinary incontinence to lose weight and improve their quality of life.
3) Urinate At The Right Time
Delaying urination or over-urinating might land you into trouble.
Go right away whenever you feel the need to pee and empty your bladder completely.
You can also try a technique called double voiding. When you urinate, go to the toilet once and then try to go again a few moments later. This will allow full bladder emptying.
4) Add Some Natural Herbs To Diet
The following herbs can relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia:
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- Pumpkin seeds
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- African plum extract
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- Cernilton
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- Zi-Shen Pill
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- Babassu
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- Stinging nettle
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- Lycopene
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- Green tea
According to a 2020 pilot study, the consumption of Chinese herbs can improve lower urinary tract symptoms.
5) Avoid Irritants
Caffeine and alcohol are irritants of the bladder. The consumption of these can severely alter the flow and quantity of urine.
If you are experiencing issues with urine flow, you must abandon these drinks.
6) Stay Away From Antihistamines
Antihistamines and decongestants are drugs people take to improve their airway. The medications are commonly used during throat infections and common colds.
However, the drugs should be prescribed with caution in patients suffering from urine complications, as these can tighten the muscles around the urethra and make urinating difficult.
When To See A Doctor
Home remedies are applicable when the extent of the disease is mild to moderate.
However, you must visit a kidney doctor for slow urine flow if experiencing any of the following symptoms:
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- Home remedies are ineffective.
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- Urinary incontinence occurs suddenly (as it may be an indication of a tumor).
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- The decreased flow affects your lifestyle.
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- The bladder is full and puts persistent pressure.
Conclusion
The ability to urinate is a blessing since unfortunately, any construction to the flow of urine can affect your day-to-day life.
So, the most common reasons for a slow urine flow include an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), nervous issues, antidepressant uses, and infections (urinary tract and sexually transmitted).
But, you can solve this issue with natural remedies for slow urine flow such as exercising or meditating, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and antihistamine medications.
Kegel exercises and Chinese herbs can also do the trick for you.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not serve as medical advice. The details provided here are not a replacement for, and should never be depended upon as, professional medical advice. Always consult your physician regarding the potential risks and benefits of any treatment.
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The content on this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While our articles are authored and reviewed by licensed medical professionals, they may not address your specific health concerns. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.
Article Sources
- Madersbacher S, Sampson N, Culig Z: Pathophysiology of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Benign Prostatic Enlargement: A Mini-Review. Gerontology 2019. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/496289
- Trinchieri M, Perletti G, Magri V, Stamatiou K, Montanari E, Trinchieri A. Urinary side effects of psychotropic drugs: A systematic review and metanalysis. Neurourol Urodyn. 2021 May 18 .https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nau.24695
- Lowenstein, L., Mueller, E.R., Sharma, S. et al. Urinary hesitancy and retention during treatment with sertraline. Int Urogynecol J 18, 827–829 (2007). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-006-0241-4
- Kuoch KLJ, Meyer D, Austin DW, Knowles SR. A systematic review of paruresis: Clinical implications and future directions. J Psychosom Res. 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022399916305542
- Kowalik, C.G., Cohn, J.A., Kaufman, M.R. et al. Impact of Autonomic Dysfunction on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 12, 273–279 (2017). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11884-017-0426-3
- Waldman BM, Augustyniak RA, Chen H, Rossi NF. Effects of voluntary exercise on blood pressure, angiotensin II, aldosterone, and renal function in two-kidney, one-clip hypertensive rats. Integr Blood Press Control. 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5713705/
- Wang SS, Li K, Liu Z, Gui S, Liu N, Liu X. Aerobic exercise ameliorates benign prostatic hyperplasia in obese mice through downregulating the AR/androgen/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Exp Gerontol. 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0531556520305003
- Wilda, L. O., & Andriani, N. D. (2018). The Influence Of Kegel Exercise On Elderly Patients With Urinary Incontinence In Technical Implementation Unit Of Social Service Tresna Werdha Jombang. Nurse And Health: Jurnal Keperawatan, 7(2), 106-112. https://ejournal-kertacendekia.id/index.php/nhjk/article/view/44
- Ralf Anding, Stefan Müller, Helge Seifert, Therapiemöglichkeiten der weiblichen BelastungsinkontinenzOptions thérapeutiques lors d’incontinence d’effort chez la femme, Urologie in der Praxis, 10.1007/s41973-021-00141-2, (2021). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nau.24072
- Lamerton TJ, Torquati L, Brown WJ. Overweight and obesity as major, modifiable risk factors for urinary incontinence in young to mid-aged women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2018. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/obr.12756
- Yeh HF, Li TF, Tsai CH, et al. The effects of a Chinese herbal medicine (VGHBPH0) on patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A pilot study. J Chin Med Assoc. 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7526580/
Article Update History
Updated on 27 May, 2026 (Current Version)
Created on 16 July, 2021
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