In This Article
Do you wake up to pee in the night?
Waking up to urinate can be a normal sign of aging, but there are things you can do about it! This is such a common concern that in one study, half of men over fifty said lower urinary tract concerns had the greatest negative impact on quality of life.1
Note: While frequent urination at night can be a normal sign of aging, it can also be sign of an underlying medical condition that should be examined by your medical doctor.
Frequently waking up at night to urinate is a primary cause of sleep disturbance, which has been linked to a host of other health concerns, including moodiness, decreased job performance, fatigue, focus/concentration issues, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular concerns.2 For the elderly, waking up at night to urinate increases risk of falling and more serious injury.
Herbs to Support Frequent Urination at Night
The following herbs are found in LifeSpa’s Prosta-Clear HP formula to support healthy urine flow and prostate health.3-7
Pygeum Bark (Pygeum africanum), commonly known as the African cherry tree, has been traditionally used to support healthy urination and prostate function. In two meta-analyses, pygeum bark was shown to reduce nighttime urination frequency by 19%.3,4 One clinical trial found it reduced nighttime trips to the toilet by 32%.5
Beta-Sitosterol is a common plant-based sterol found to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Slowing conversion of testosterone to DHT can tame age-related prostate enlargement, which slows urinary flow and increases frequency. In a randomized double-blind study, beta-site sterol was shown to support healthy urine by reducing lower urinary tract concerns by 50%, increasing quality of life by 42%.6
Cranberries have been used for centuries to support healthy urination and urinary tract function. In a clinical study on a cranberry extract, called Flowens™, a follow-up interview revealed the following results:7
- 52% urinated less frequently during the day.
- 63% experienced a reduction in nighttime urinary frequency.
- 48% experienced less sensation of not emptying their bladder after completing urination.
- 37% felt improvements within one month, including 7% within one week.
- 96% would recommend Flowens™ to a friend.
Saw Palmetto extracts have been widely used in Europe, and more recently in the United States, as a natural way to help maintain normal prostate health and lower urinary tract function.8 Like beta-sitosterol, saw palmetto has been shown to inhibit the 5-alpha reductive enzymes that convert testosterone into the more toxic DHT.8
Other effects of saw palmetto have been proposed, including that it prevents DHT from binding to androgen receptors, that it has antiestrogenic and antiproliferative effects, that it inhibits growth factors, that it affects alpha-1 adrenoceptors and 1,4-dihydropyridine receptors, and that it helps maintain healthy fluid balance in prostate tissues.8
Prosta-Clear HP Dosage: Take two after supper or before bed. Once nighttime urination is improved, reduce dose and then take as needed.
Could Your Nighttime Urination Issue be a Circadian Imbalance?
Melatonin, a three-billion-year-old molecule, regulates our connection to daily and seasonal light-dark cycles. Studies show melatonin imbalances can cause a host of health concerns way beyond sleep.
In a study published in the Journal of Urology, 20 men who were waking up two to three times a night to urinate were given 2mg of melatonin each evening before bed. They concluded that melatonin treatment was associated with a significant improvement in urination at night.9 In another study, melatonin support reduced nighttime urination frequency from 3.4 to 2.6 times a night.5
How to Maintain Healthy Melatonin Levels
- Wear blue-light-blocking glasses when watching TV or on a screen in the evening.
- Use the night filter on your phone 24/7, not just at night. Constant blue light exposure has cumulative damage.
- Take vitamin D or get sun exposure every morning. Learn more here: LINK
- Block ambient light at night during sleep.
Read my free eBook, The Ayurvedic Guide to the Best Sleep of Your Life, for more tips!
We recommend "Should Men Sit or Stand to Pee?": https://lifespa.com/sit-stand-pee/
Have you tried any of these tips for urination at night? What have you noticed?
What about women. I have to pee 3-4 times a night. I take melatonin and do all the recommended things you mentioned and more to no avail end up with average 4
Sometimes even 3 hours sleep a night. Have used all your sleep products in the past. Barely able to function
Hi Patritia,
Have you seen a urologist to get a diagnosis? There are many factors that may be in play. Sounds like you tried everything. Sounds like a medical diagnosis is second to none.
Be Well,
Dr. John
Are the recommendations for taking supplements like Saw Palmetto, traditionally used by men for prostate issues, also be for women? I follow all the recommendations for circadian rhythm yet still get up 4 or 5 times a night to pee. I take Melatonin, I try to not drink liquids after 6, which is challenging for taking my before bed supplements or for sleep supporting tea blends.
Could you advise on the amount or type of Cranberry supplements. Would D-Mannose be appropriate?
Many thanks, Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Have you gotten a medical diagnosis? When natural support fails then it is important to try to get a precise diagnosis.
The Flowens is a great cranberry extract but any high quality cranberry extract will work. D-mannose may also help but that is best for bacterial irritation but for sure worth a try. Saw palmetto is fine for women in general but it has only been studied on LUTS – frequent urination for men with BPH.
Be Well,
Dr. John
In night, liver works most. Recycled metals trigger urinary system.
Haa. What would our mighty economy be doing, if we are not absorbing more and more heavy metals every day? As a ex metal worker, I thought that I was forming metals. Now I know that metals are forming us….
They “killed” roman empire. And just look all this weapon and car nerds?
Metals are not only acting physically. Gold anybody?
I am a woman and wake up to pee around 2 or 3 am…then cannot get back to sleep. I take all kinds of sleep supplements, do the blue blockers, orange screen, low fluids, try to exercise during the day, eat well, am in bed by 9 and usually asleep by 10 or 1030 for a few hours….I’m soexhausted from chronic insomnia plus living with an EBV type virus the last 10 years……It is hard to heal when we can’t sleep! Any thoughts of this, Dr John or anyone? Thanks much!
try celery juice for EBV
I did celery juice for several months last year but am in a small town and it became almost impossible to find organic celery…. I did find it helped my digestion. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi Kristin,
Please read my articles on Low Dose melatonin and my Ayurvedic Guide to the best Sleep of Your Life free eBook. Hopefully some of that info may help.
Be Well,
Dr. John
I´ve had to pee several times at night since my first pregnancy 32 years ago. The worst thing was not so much to have to get up to pee but not being able to fall asleep again, as some persons have said. Nothing helped. Not even not drinking a single drop of liquid after 7 o´clock in the evening. And then I learned about things to improve the vagus nerve. I started doing them even though I didn´t think of a connection with peeing at night. Two months ago I started doing 2 very simple things; sitting on a rocking-chair in the evening for about 20 minutes (sometimes more if I watch a long programme on the TV), and lying down on the floor with my legs resting on a chair (in the form of a lying 4) and breathing deepley, for about 20 minutes (It seems this is very good for the psoas muscle, which has an influence on many organs and functions). The results were amazing after the first day: although I still have to keep up peeing 2-3 times every night, I am so sleepy that I fall asleep right away every time after peeing. I sleep very well and very deeply. I hadn´t slept like this for 32 years! I hope this might help other people. In any case, it´s easy, absolutely safe and completely free.
I’m a guy and I have Interstitial Cystitis, my prostate is fine.
Saw Palmetto and Cranberry irritiate my bladder so I can’t tale them
IC is a really hard thing to control
Why is the waking up at night only geared to Men?
Hi Madelyn,
Many of the herbs mentioned in this article will apply to women–for sure the melatonin.
In general women have nocturia for different reasons than men.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
Thank you for bringing awareness around a common problem for many of us – particularly for those of us who are middle-aged or older. Unfortunately, I -who am part of a growing population -suffer from obstructive sleep apnea despite having low body fat, regularly practicing yoga, meditating and maintaining a pretty good mainly plant-based diet. I recommend for anyone who is getting up frequently to potentially rule out this possibility. Aside, I also believe sugar intake/breakdown plays an important role in urination at night. If I eat a large, carb-filled meal for dinner, I know I will be up using the bathroom. I relate to those who have trouble getting back to sleep. Liquid melatonin can be helpful as well as using calming imagery (ie a walk in a forest, rocking on a boat in water). Lastly, if I am up, I use it as an opportunity to meditate on the breath. I will look into saw palmetto and cranberries as well. Dr. John – what about ‘sleep easy’? Also, would ashwaganda help? I know these are less about urination and more about having the ability to get back to sleep -just curious to know if these may override our urge to wake up.
Hi Stacey,
Yes, Sleep Easy has Ashwagandha in it and both may help one sleep through the night without having to get up to urinate.
Be Well,
Dr. John
Do you have any suggestions for high triglyceride. Mine is genetic. Do you have any suggestions.
Thanks
Studies show that High Quality fish oil will lower triglycerides and of course diet is key. Here is just one of many studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21924882/
Please read up on our Mini Omega 3X – as it is delivered as a monoglyceride which delivers three times the potency according to studies associated with the patent. Very cool stuff.
Also read up on our Guggul Lean, Amalaki and K2 Max – all important for healthy levels and then consider troubleshooting your liver/digestive strength and function as they are key.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff