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hello. I’m Dr. Sangchul Hwang, who studies and treats autonomic nerves. Today I’m going to talk about pharmacy medications for cystitis.
There’s a question I get asked a lot in the clinic or in YouTube comments. “Dr. Hwang, are the over-the-counter yobicin or yosin tablets for cystitis?” Many of you have already tried them, and when you take them, it seems to reduce the stinging sensation or residual urination when you urinate a little bit, but when you stop taking them after a few days, you feel uncomfortable again and the symptoms repeat, so you are more confused. So today, I will explain why these drugs are used for cystitis, how they are different from antibiotics, and why they are helpful for some people but not for others.
Yovicin – Yovicin tablets are not antibiotics
It’s important to point this out right off the bat. Yovicin and Yoshin are not antibiotics – antibiotics kill germs directly, whereas Yovicin-Yoshin is more of a medicine that cleans up the environment that keeps your bladder overactive. The formulation behind this medicine is a long-standing Chinese medicine formula called Yongganggangtang, which has been adapted into an over-the-counter form for use in pharmacies. In other words, it’s best to think of it as a medicine that controls the flow of inflammation in your body, rather than killing germs.
Cystitis Isn’t Always About Germs
When we think of cystitis symptoms, we often think of stinging or burning when we urinate, a residual urine sensation that doesn’t clear up afterward, and frequent urgency but no relief. Sometimes the test will show bacteria, but very often, in chronic or recurring bladder discomfort, the urine test will not show bacteria. The real problem is that the bladder mucosa is already sensitive, and there is an invisible inflammatory response underlying it, and it is staying that way. Chinese medicine describes this condition as hepatobiliary damp heat, a condition in which inflammatory stimuli have descended into the lower abdomen.
Why is there talk of liver when it’s cystitis?
You might feel like, why are we talking about the liver when it’s cystitis? But if you look a little wider at the body, there’s a connection. The liver is the organ that makes and excretes bile, which is responsible for not only digesting fats, but also transporting inflammatory metabolites, bacterial toxins, and fat-soluble waste out of the body. The problem is when stress and fatigue build up, the first thing to falter is the autonomic nervous system, and when the sympathetic nervous system is overactive, it can weaken the liver’s blood flow and bile secretion signals, resulting in sluggish bile flow. When bile drainage is impaired, unprocessed waste and an inflammatory environment remain in the body.
Why does the inflammatory environment translate well to the bladder?
The bladder is an organ that is highly sensitive to irritation due to its thin mucous membrane and innervation. It also collects concentrated metabolic byproducts such as urea, uric acid, and ammonia in the urine, so when an inflammatory environment develops, the signals often travel to the bladder or vagina first. That’s why you may have recurrent episodes of bladder sensitivity and discomfort despite normal test results.
Yobishin – Why Yokai are used
Yovicin and uricosin don’t directly kill germs like antibiotics do. Instead, they work by lowering the inflammatory response in the liver and helping bile flow, creating an outlet for inflammatory byproducts to escape. This is the biggest difference from antibiotics: they don’t kill germs, they clean up the environment where inflammation recurs.
Not for everyone
It’s important to keep this in mind. Yobishin and Yoshin are relatively cold and detoxifying in nature, so if you’re in an acute phase with burning or residual urination and you’re in good physical condition, you may feel the effects quickly. However, for those who are usually cold, weak, or exhausted from chronic cystitis, it is not uncommon to feel better for a short period of time, only to feel more sensitive or fatigued in the long run.
A quick reminder
Yovicin-urethrin tablets are not antibiotics; they are medicines that control the inflammatory environment rather than kill the bacteria directly. They can be helpful in the acute phase, but depending on your constitution and health, they may not be right for you. Cystitis isn’t a one-size-fits-all disease – we need to look at why you have recurring episodes and why your bladder is still sensitive, so we can reduce flare-ups. If you’re struggling with bladder pain and discomfort, start by understanding what’s going on with your body, and your options for treatment and management will be much broader from there. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask, and I’ll be happy to explain things in a calm manner.
