Defeat Dehydration And Drink Water
It is common knowledge that drinks with a high amount of caffeine can irritate the bladder. Unexpectedly, so can dehydration. Expert Dr Carol Figuers states, decreasing or eliminating caffeine intake can help reduce bladder urges. However, Figuers stresses the importance of drinking water regularly to reduce irritation. If your bladder seems to be interrupting your day, you are likely dehydrated. He asserts, its not a good idea to cut back on water in an attempt to reduce the urge to urinate. Lack of water can cause dehydration, which causes urine to become concentrated and result in increased bladder urgency and even bladder infection.
Can Sex Make A Uti Worse
If you already have a UTI, having sex can make the infection feel worse, exacerbating the symptoms. Using spermicides can increase discomfort because it can cause irritation. Using non-lubricated latex condoms can also increase friction leading to irritation. Using a water-based lubricant or lubricated condoms will help avoid making your UTI feel more irritated. After and before sex, be sure to urinate immediately to flush out the bacteria.
Herbal Remedies For Uti: A Comprehensive Review
Hello! Please note that all links on this blog leading to Amazon are affiliate links. This allows us to maintain an independent opinion when reviewing brands while earning commission when you shop. Please support us and go on a shopping spree with Amazon
If youve been dealing with frequent UTIs and a never-ending cycle of antibiotics, you are probably ready to break away from the hamster wheel and this is when herbal remedies for UTI could come to the rescue.
Herbal remedies use plant-based herbs to improve health and prevent and treat illness. They are a great resource for those of us suffering from UTIs.
Humans have used herbal remedies for millennia and therefore, herbs have a much longer track record than all modern medicines antibiotics put together! Take a quick look at the ultimate UTI supplement guide for an overview.
Herbs take a well-rounded approach to treating UTIs:
- They prevent UTI causing bacteria from growing
- Help flush out the bladder
- Heal the bladder wall
- And since UTIs are a multi-faceted issue, herbs can provide the required additional healing properties. Often, you can take a combination of herbs to help knock out your UTI from all different sides.
There is a strong tradition of both Eastern and Western herbal medicine to treat UTIs. Needless to say, these are a huge topic and we will only scratch the surface. We will go over several common herbal remedies for UTI and the ingredients specifically benefiting UTIs.
You May Like: My Bladder Leaks All The Time
Hot And Cold Compresses
Another simple and effective treatment is applying a hot compress to your bladder. This can reduce bladder swellingâa common interstitial cystitis symptom.
Your doctor may also recommend the combination of cold and hot packs on your abdomen to provide relief from pain and inflammation. But a hot compress is used specifically to reduce muscle spasms.
For this, wrap a thin cloth around a hot water bag, and apply it to your pelvic floor muscles for a five-minute period. After a five-minute break, reapply the hot water bag for another five minutes.
Repeat this two or three times per day, or whenever you feel pain around your pelvic floor or bladder.
What Does Clear Discharge Mean
Clear and stretchy This is fertile mucous and means youre ovulating. Clear and watery This occurs at different times of your cycle and can be particularly heavy after exercising. Yellow or green May indicate an infection, especially if its thick or clumpy like cottage cheese or has a foul odor.
Also Check: Medication For A Weak Bladder
Natural Remedies For Uti
Sara Menges
Sara Menges
Sara enjoys research, art, and seeking a sustainably fun life, balancing physical and mental health. Read more on how she explores, learns, and balances all her interests at www.saramenges.com.
Dr. Katalin Karolyi
Dr. Katalin Karolyi
Katalin Karolyi, M.D. earned her medical degree at the University of Debrecen. After completing her residency program in pathology at the Kenezy Hospital, she obtained a postdoctoral position at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, Florida.
Dont Miss: Not Being Able To Hold Bladder
Water Is Your Best Friend
When you first notice burning when you use the restroom, its tempting to reduce your water intake. After all, that will prevent the pain, right?
Wrong.
It seems counter-intuitive, but you need to flush out your system. You should drink plenty of water to help your body remove the E. Coli. Dont overdo it, but drink as much water as possible in those crucial first 24 hours.
Don’t Miss: Pressure On Bladder When Lying Down
Losing Weight May Help To Improve Your Bladder Control
Excess weight puts extra stress on your pelvic floor muscles and contributes to an overactive bladder and loss of bladder control. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, it will help with bladder control.
The best weight loss plans are always those that set realistic goals combined with healthy eating habits and physical activity. Fad diets, although often successful short-term, rarely achieve sustainable weight loss, because once you tire of the diet, you often revert to ingrained unhealthy eating habits.
Check out our Obesity and Weight Loss guide for more information.
Good Quality Probiotics And Fermented Foods
What happens in the gut doesnt stay in the gut, Nielsen says. Taking oral probiotics actually changes the flora of the vagina, and by default, the urinary tract.
Taking a probiotic during a UTI will help restore microbial balance. I like Bio-K+ fermented probiotic as a clinical strength option, and recommend also eating good quality fermented foods like homemade sauerkraut and kombucha, daily.
Also Check: Will Z Pack Cure Bladder Infection
The Home Remedy For Bladder Infections That I Warn People About
There is a home remedy for bladder infections which is promoted as being a quick and easy way to get rid of them – Baking Soda. It simple, effective, easy to get hold of and very cheap.
Baking soda is a common home remedy
The reason that I warn people about using it, comes from my own personal experiences in using it and similar products like Ural, antacids and club soda. Every time I have used a product like this I have gotten miraculously fast results. Within half an hour of taking it, it doesn’t hurt to wee. Within a few hours and another couple of doses, I almost feel back to my usual self. I am cured!
Or am I? Eventually I stop taking it – I am cured so no need to keep medicating myself. Soon my bladder infection is back and much much worse than before. Now I am doubled over in pain and my pee has gone from stinging before to full on bleeding razor blades.
The problem with a home remedy for bladder infections like baking soda is that it can mask the symptoms so well you think you are better – even if the infection is getting worse.
Baking Soda helps to make your urine more alkaline, which in itself is not a bad thing. By making the urine less acidic, the infected area is less irritated as the urine passes through it. A lot of the dietary changes I recommend involve creating a more alkaline environment in your body as well.
As a home remedy for bladder infections, baking soda can work if you are aware of what it is good for and how to support it.
Increase Water And Fluid Intake
Frequent urination is a common symptom of interstitial cystitis. As a result, patients often restrict their fluid intake to reduce their urge to urinate. Drinking less water is not the solution, however.
Drinking enough clean, filtered water is essential for diluting the toxins and irritants in your urine. Getting enough water also helps interstitial cystitis patients decrease inflammation, flush the bladder, and reduce the acidity of their urine. Water can also relieve constipationâa potential trigger of interstitial cystitis.
Rather than drinking a glass or two of water at a time and immediately having to go to the bathroom, try sipping on your water throughout the day to reduce your frequency and urgency of urination.
Besides water, other good fluids to consume include homemade soups, bone broths, and freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.
Read Also: How To Relieve Bladder Infection
What Is The Best Supplement For Overactive Bladder
Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased urinary urgency. However, supplemental vitamin C, especially at high levels, is associated with worsening symptoms. Studies have found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased urination. So, getting enough vitamin D may be protective.
Kidney Stones And Plant
Approximately ten percent of urinary stones are formed from uric acid. The most common risk factors associated with urinary stones are high uric acid excretion, low urine volume and acidic urinary pH values. Diets that help reduce these factors may lower the incidence of urinary stones and uric acid crystallization. An investigation of 10 healthy male subjects ingesting a high meat-containing diet for 2 weeks, followed by three different standardized diets for 5 days each . This study suggested that the western diets may lead to the highest risk of urinary stone formation. Although the omnivorous diet displayed a significant decrease in uric acid excretion this was reduced even further in the ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet. Therefore, a vegetarian diet may help reduce the risk of urinary stones due to a higher alkali load with fruits and vegetables alkalizing urinary pH and lowering uric acid concentration.
Read Also: Medtronic Device For Bladder Control
Try Chamomile And Peppermint Teas
The use of herbs in reducing symptoms and illness has been documented for thousands of years.
Chamomiles anti-inflammatory properties are known to help the symptoms of urinary tract infections. It can also be helpful for improving bladder infections, with experts often recommending adding it to bath water for soaking. Specialist Dr Jones asserts, evidence indicates that antibiotic treatment may resolve may resolve urinary tract infections much more quickly with chamomile-infused baths.
Support Your Good Bacteria Instead Of The Bad
Whilst we can aim to avoid excess sugar which risks spurring on our bad bacteria, another tactic is to focus on supporting our good bacteria instead. See, we have both good and bad types of bacteria throughout our system naturally however, these operate in a delicate balance and our good bacteria need to be of adequate numbers to help keep the bad guys in check.
To help support your good bacteria, a combination of prebiotics and probiotics work particularly well. Prebiotics such as our Molkosan help to correct the internal environment and the pH in and around our digestive and urinary tracts, which helps set the scene to top up our numbers of good bacteria themselves . For urinary tract or intimate issues, I often recommend Optibac For Women.
Read Also: Best Way To Dry A Water Bladder
Rated For Interstitial Cystitis Report
Baking soda used to be my “go to” fix for my interstital cystitis pain, urgency, and discomfort. Now, I’m dealing with high blood pressure so I’m trying to find something else that works as well. I take pyridium but it bothers my stomach. I’m not sure anything will replace baking soda for relief. I’ve also used other, prescription meds, Elmiron sucked and caused elevated liver enzymes, messed up my eyesight too. Tricyclic antidepressants did nothing, SNRIs are impossible to get off of! The withdrawal is horrific! So, if you can tolerate basing soda, go for it! Just like 1 tsp in water should do the trick. I never really measured so I can’t give an exact dose.
How Can I Manage Bladder Irritation
You can manage discomfort by avoiding foods you have identified as bladder irritants. But removing foods from your diet doesnt mean you can never have them again. You might be able to enjoy them in moderation . Drinking plenty of water will help reduce pain from any bladder-irritating foods you might ingest, in moderation or accidentally.
Read Also: Antibiotics For Bladder And Kidney Infection
Probiotics Are Your Friend
When it comes to healing UTIs, probiotics might be one of the greatest of all time choices. While antibiotics take out both the good and bad bacteria, probiotics boost the good to fight the bad. A group of probiotics called lactobacilli do the following to help heal a UTI:
- Stops harmful bacteria from attaching to urinary tract cells
- Creates an antibacterial in the urine
- Lowers the pH level in urine, which makes for an unfavorable environment for bacteria
Look for fermented foods and beverages like pickles, yogurt, and kombucha to prevent and heal a UTI.
What Harms The Kidneys
Foods rich in animal protein are not suggested if you have kidney problems, as a diet high in protein can aggravate these conditions. Avoid eating meat, eggs, dairy, and other animal protein sources. Metabolizing the proteins causes the kidneys to enlarge and adds stress to other organs.
Uric acid is a toxic substance that accumulates in the body. This harmful substance can cause damage to the kidneys as well as other organs. Blending and drinking a cup of cranberries with water and lemon juice cleanses the kidneys of uric acid.
Read Also: What Is Aggressive Bladder Cancer
Recommended Reading: Black And Yellow Antibiotic For Bladder Infection
Utis And Hospital Stays
A hospital stay can put you at risk for a UTI, particularly if you need to use a catheter. This is a thin tube thats inserted through the urethra to carry urine out of the body. Bacteria can enter through the catheter and reach the bladder. This is more often a problem for older adults who require prolonged hospital stays or who live in long-term care facilities.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can also help you strengthen and stretch your pelvic floor muscles, because performing the wrong exercises can actually worsen your interstitial cystitis symptoms. When you overstimulate an already tense pelvic muscle, this can lead to more tension and aggravate bladder symptoms.
A study published in the Journal of Urology in 2001 found that pelvic floor manual therapy reduced pelvic pressure and the urge and frequency of urination in interstitial cystitis patients.
Another study published in the Journal of Urology, in 2012, found that 10 myofascial physical therapy treatment sessions significantly reduced pain, urgency, and frequency of urination in 59% of women with interstitial cystitis.
Myofasical release is a technique used by physical therapists to alleviate pain in the myofascial tissues along the pelvic floor.
Ask your doctor to recommend a physical therapist that specializes in pelvic floor problems like interstitial cystitis. In addition, the physical therapist can teach you how to stretch your pelvic floor muscles and keep them relaxed.
You can also reduce urine urgency and improve bladder control at home with pelvic floor exercises called Kegels. Before you perform this exercise, you must find your Kegel muscles, which stop urine flow during urination.
Don’t Miss: Is Bladder Incontinence A Disability
What Foods And Drinks To Avoid For An Overactive Bladder
If you are dealing with an overactive bladder, avoid these foods :
- Carbonated beverages
You may not have to eliminate all the above foods from your diet. Find out which of the above can be tolerated in small amounts by your body and make changes to your diet accordingly.
Listed below are some helpful tips to manage an overactive bladder and prevent recurrence of symptoms.
Top 5 Natural Remedies For Urinary Tract Infections
Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.
Urinary tract infections can be very frustrating. You might take antibiotics to get rid of them, but they keep coming back againand againand again. What can you do?
Well, when a UTI keeps occurring, some simple changes in your diet may make a difference. There are a variety of foods that irritate the gallbladder that can lead to UTIs.
If you already have a UTI, then youre not out of luck yet. There are a variety of natural remedies for urinary tract infections that can be done at home. You will not only get rid of your UTIs you will keep them away too!
Read Also: Stage 4 Bladder Cancer Survival Rate
Best Remedies For Bladder Infections
About bladder infections
Bladder infections are the most common type of urinary tract infection . They can develop when bacteria enter the urethra and travel into the bladder.
The urethra is the tube that takes urine out of the body. Once bacteria go into the urethra, they can attach to the walls of the bladder and multiply quickly.
The resulting infection can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as the sudden urge to urinate. It may also cause pain while urinating and abdominal cramping.
A combination of medical and home treatments may ease these symptoms. If left untreated, bladder infections can become life-threatening. This is because the infection can spread to the kidneys or blood.
Here are seven effective bladder infection remedies.
Also Check: How Long To Take Antibiotics For Bladder Infection
Cut Bladder Irritants From Your Diet
When you have a UTI, caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, nicotine, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners can irritate your bladder further, making it harder for your body to heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Focus on healthy foods, such as high-fiber carbohydrates , that are good for your digestive health, says Holly Lucille, ND, RN, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in West Hollywood, California, and the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Womans Guide to Safe, Natural Hormone Health.
You May Like: Yoga Exercises For Prolapsed Bladder
Treatment Of Interstitial Cystitis
Sometimes, despite making lifestyle modifications and implementing strategies to cope with interstitial cystitis flares, symptoms become so severe they prevent you from participating in daily activities and can affect your quality of life. There are treatment options available beginning with conservative medications and spanning to surgery for interstitial cystitis. Surgery can range from bladder instillations, where your doctor will insert a medication directly into your bladder, to bladder resection, where your doctor will remove ulcers from the bladder using minimally invasive technologies. Your doctor will work with you to create an individualized treatment plan.