10 Natural Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection

How do you get a urinary tract infection?

Urinary tract infection can be invasive and painful. Following the common cold, urinary tract infection is the second-most prevalent infection. They account for around 8.1 million checkups at health care clinics every year.

Everyone knows what happens when you get a UTI. There's a burning sensation as well as frequent need to urinate, even is almost none comes out. But what most people don't know is that around 90% of UTIs are caused by one bacterium, known as E. coli.

Of course, there is a mutant strain of this bacterium that sometimes causes this. That said, most kinds of E. coli colonies are generally neutral. In fact, they can even be helpful when in the digestive tract. But when they shift to the urinary tract, they can cause issues.

UTIs are also known as bladder infections. They can occur when E. coli, or any other microbes, migrate through the urethra into the bladder. If the condition isn’t managed properly, they can also migrate to the kidneys. This can cause a more severe infection.

Are there any natural remedies for urinary tract infection?

When any UTI symptoms arise, it becomes a hassle to wait for any supplements. That’s why it's important to rely on some natural remedies. You might have on you or you can conveniently get them at a local store. So, here are some natural UTI remedies:

Sometimes the best effective solution is the most obvious one. This one is not a surprise, but your UTI management plan is incomplete without water in it. Drinking a lot of water can help cleanse your system of bacteria by flushing them out. Water really is the most effective solution. Most individuals should go for 8 ounces of water about six to eight times a day.

As discussed, bacteria can move into your urinary tract. There, they latch onto the wall with adhesive fingers known as fimbria. D-mannose is a natural sugar that is present in fruits. These include berries like cranberries and blueberries. It is considered helpful in coating the fimbria.

This makes attachment difficult, which allows the bacteria to get flushed out. Unlike medicines that harm the normal body bacteria, D-mannose is considered a prebiotic. This is a chemical that can help the body stimulate the growth of normal bacteria in your gut.

In a study, women who had recurrent UTIs were given either 2 g of D-mannose, 50 mg of Nitrofurantoin, or no treatment. The D-mannose people had a significant reduction in recurrent UTIs, about 15%. But the antibiotic group showed 20% recurrence and the no treatment people had 60%.

So, does cranberry/blueberry juice work? Most people generally prefer whole-foods and healthy supplements. That said, it’s usually recommended that people suffering from UTIs resist sugar. Juice, with or without sugar, has fructose. This could encourage bacteria growth, because of which D-mannose is a better option.

Vitamin C has also been great in preventing as well as managing urinary tract infection. Having a good deal of vitamin C prevents the growth of bacteria by making urine acidic. Vitamin C supplements work just as well. You should know that vitamin C can come in many forms. But even sources that say they are natural are all synthetically made. So, it's better to choose whole foods or vitamin C supplements. These include acerola cherry or baobab fruit powders.

Research shows that uva ursi can fight off infections. This is because of multiple chemicals like arbutin or hydroquinone. The plant also has tannins, which help to shrink and narrow the mucous membranes and tracts in our body. This way, it helps treat inflammation to fight off an infection. Now, you can use uva ursi to manage urinary tract infection and cystitis. A study showed that uva ursi, when used with dandelion, could also help avoid recurrent UTIs.

Garlic extract can be a useful weapon against bacteria that are resistant to a range of drugs. These bacteria also include the ones that cause urinary tract infection. There is no specific amount of garlic for prevention treatment. Even so, there are multiple garlic extracts available at health food shops. You can also find them online along with their recommended usage and guidelines.

Taking bromelain for a UTI can improve antibiotic effectiveness. Similar to cranberry juice, many people choose to use bromelain supplements. This is due to it being more concentrated and without sugar. In a study, all the patients who received bromelain had their resolve, unlike the 46% of those with the placebo who still had an infection.

The jury is still out on these two natural remedies. But for a lot of professionals, Goldenseal and Echinacea are helpful in treating UTIs.

There are still no studies to support the idea of using probiotics as a means of treating UTIs. That said, research shows that probiotics can be useful in lowering the probability of recurring UTIs. Many probiotic supplements especially boost strains that are important for your urinary tract health.

Baking soda has long been an important chemical for urinary tract health. Whether it's washing with baking soda, or drinking water containing soda, it is always a popular home remedy. But recently medical professionals feel that soda provides a more alkaline environment. This can actually encourage bacterial growth in some instances. Even so, baking soda in small amounts helps relieve UTI symptoms, so it's still useful to have to lie around.

• Reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, soda, and foods that can irritate your UTI. For many, this could be chocolate, while others may feel spicy food unbearable.
• Make sure to wear loose clothing as well as cotton underwear.

Bottom line, there are a few treatments out there to help with UTI. Prevention is always key. Contact Pillars of Wellness for more information. You can also meet with Dr. Mam who is the main Naturopathic Doctor at the clinic.