Bed wetting (Enuresis) means unknowingly passing urine in bed at night by individuals after the age when bladder control should have been established. The problem is common during the pre-adolescent stage of life. Up until the age of six to eight years, bed wetting is a normal phenomenon that fades over time, but some children continue to wet their bed even after eight years of age. The child fails to have control over the passage of urine while sleeping. In Ayurveda, bed wetting is known as shayyamutra, i.e., passing of urine on the bed.

Home Remedies:

• Make a mixture of jaggery, celery seeds and black sesame seeds in equal quantities. Give 1 teaspoon of this mixture to the child with a cupful of milk in the morning. Continue this for 1-2 months. This should preferably be given in the winter or cold weather as it has a heating effect on the body.
• As worm infestation is also a possible cause, deworming is helpful in children suffering from bed-wetting. For this, give a piece of jaggery (about 20 grams) to the child in the morning. After one hour gives the child ½ teaspoon of celery seeds with a pinch of rock salt. Repeat this once a week for 4 weeks.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of the pulp of Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) with 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper powder. Give this mixture to the child before going to bed.

Diet and Lifestyle:

• The child should avoid intake of fluids 2 hours before going to bed.
• Parents should help the child develop the habit of passing urine before going to bed.
• Do not scold or humiliate your child for bedwetting.
• Instead, lovingly guide the child to overcome this problem.
• Reassure your child that it is not a big problem and can be solved.
• Do not disclose the child’s problem to relatives and friends or to the child’s siblings.