Do Natural Treatments Really Work For Utis The Experts Weigh In
Want a fast fact to bust out at your next party? Forty percent of women will get a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. Bono MJ, et al. . Urinary tract infection. Fun, right? OK, nothing involving urine and tracts will ever be a particularly fun point of conversation, but its worth knowing the ins and outs of this incredibly common ailment. Especially since 20 percent of women who get a UTI will get another one.
Most of the time, UTIs require a treatment of antibiotics to get the bugs out of your system. This is a perfectly effective treatment, and it usually takes care of the infection in a few days. But, if youd rather not use antibiotics, since theres some concern about creating antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection, what options do you have? I spoke to some experts to find out if there are any natural cures for a UTI and if all that talk about cranberry juice really lives up to the hype.
Urinary Tract Infection Explained
Urinary tract infection, commonly abbreviated as UTI, is your urinary tract infection. It happens due to a bacteria called E.coli present in the gastrointestinal tract. Women lie at a higher risk of developing UTI mainly because of:
- The shorter length of the urethra .
- Extended urine-holding capacity in women as compared to men.
- The small distance between the urethra and anus.
These three factors provide microbes with a favourable environment. They reproduce rapidly and cause pains, blood, pus, or smelly urine.
Factors like a new or frequent change of sexual partners, pregnancy, diabetes, over-usage of OCPs, and antibiotics can also contribute to this infection.
So which holistic approach can we apply to counter the same? Let us have a look at the homeopathic remedy for UTI.
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Can Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Treat Utis
Studies, such as one published in January 2018 in Scientific Reports, have shown that apple cider vinegar has some antibacterial and antifungal properties, but theres no scientific or medical evidence that drinking apple cider vinegar cures UTIs. Drinking large amounts of apple cider vinegar could lead to throat irritation and tooth decay.
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Add Prebiotics And Probiotics
Probiotics encourage the growth of healthy bacteria, which help crowd out harmful bacteria. They also produce short-chain fatty acids that boost your dogs overall health. This can help prevent bacteria growth to reduce the risk of UTIs caused by infections.
Supplements are the most convenient way to add probiotics to your dogs diet. Many people will use fermented veggies and kefir for probiotic benefits but they arent the best choice. Thats because the probiotics in these foods rarely survive the trip through your dogs digestive tract so they cant provide the healthful benefits your dog needs. But that doesnt mean fermented foods arent useful. They also contain prebiotics that feed the probiotics in your dogs gut so they can produce SCFA. Other prebiotic foods include garlic, chicory root, and mushrooms.
So dont forget you have great natural options for your dogs UTI. Be confident you can help your dog naturally at home if she develops any UTI symptoms.
Aconite: For Hot And Painful Urine
Symptoms:
You can use Aconite for the treatment of recent or acute urinary tract infections. The quantity is urine is minimal.
The urine is hot and painful. The lower abdomen is aching, and it causes physical and mental restlessness.
Burning in the urethra is present. You may notice blood in your urine. There is a feeling of anxiety always at the beginning of urination.
This remedy can be helpful for people suffering from prostatic problems.
Potency and Dosage:
You can use Aconite in 1M potency once daily till improvement occurs. You can use Aconite in 200chh potency twice daily till improvement occurs.
In children, you can use this remedy in 30ch potency thrice daily till improvement occurs.
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How Can You Cure A Uti
For all the anti-antibiotic people out there, I have bad news. You cant cure the infection with natural remedies. Sorry. Though there are natural solutions that might help prevent UTI , all the unsweetened cranberry juice in the world wont actually help you. In fact, in the study Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection, cranberry juice cocktail had the exact same effect as a placebo in recurrent UTIs. Barbosa-Cesnik C, et al. . Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled trial. DOI: Though you probably guessed that from the study title.
The only way to totally get rid of a UTI is with antibiotics. If youre experiencing symptoms, its best to get to the doctor quickly. Theyll test your urine, and if its indeed a UTI, youll get a weeklong course of antibiotics. Usually, your symptoms go away in a few days and you can enjoy pain-free peeing again. But you must continue your antibiotics until youve completed the prescription.
How To Prevent Bladder Infections
Though natural remedies arent guaranteed to get rid of early UTI symptoms, there are some natural ways to discourage UTIs from forming in the first place.
Now, before we get into prevention, please remember: If youre a woman, youve got a high chance of a UTI. That doesnt mean youre gross or doing anything wrong. You happen to have a vagina and thats just the way it goes.
Still, you can reduce your chances of infection, and most of the methods are free and easy.
Pee after sex
Theres a bit of a myth that an increased number of sexual partners leads to an increased risk of UTI. But a study from the University of Michigan found no connection between number of partners and UTIs. Foxman B, et al. . Health behavior and urinary tract infection in college-aged women. Instead, they found that peeing after sex was way more helpful in preventing UTIs than limiting your sexual partners.
When you urinate, the pee itself flushes out your urethra. So, that E. coli gets washed away before it gets a chance to make your life miserable. Though it seems a like a tiny, insignificant thing, a quick pee after sex can keep you from days of painful urinations.
Wipe from the front to the back
Dont draw germs from your rectal area toward your vagina and urethra. Every time you wipe, it should be from the urinary area toward the rectum.
Dont use a diaphragm
Dont have sex
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What Is A Uti
What is a UTI? A Urinary Tract Infection or UTI is short, is an infection of the urinary tract . If it is a Bladder Infection it is called a Lower Urinary Tract Infection . Infection of the Ureters or Urethra is also part of a Lower UTI.
UTI’s are is usually caused by bacteria like E. Coli and also from fungal infections like yeast. Homeopathy is all about balance and that’s why it is so good for most conditions because it restores natural balance, in this case between healthy bacteria and yeast. You can also have a kidney stone that may be irritating and bringing on your UTI infection. It is good to treat both, so your urinary tract can become completely clear and balanced.
They are both painful conditions with the kidney stones usually giving you severe lower back pain. The UTI is more in the front of your abdominal area. There are some common signs of UTI that you should be aware of so you can treat it rapidly and prevent them from coming back. Herbs for UTI can be of great help and work with well with the balancing of homeopathic remedies for a UTI to quickly disinfect, flush your urinary tract system and restore optimum balance.
Creating Stronger Strains Of Bacteria
Over time, some species of bacteria have become resistant to traditional antibiotics. According to some research , several species of E. coli, the primary cause of UTIs, are showing increasing drug resistance.
The more a person uses an antibiotic, the greater the risk of the bacteria developing resistance. This is even more likely when people do not follow a doctors instructions to complete the full prescribed course of treatment.
It is essential to continue a course of antibiotics until the end date that the doctor provides. People should also never share antibiotics with others.
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Preventing Urinary Tract Infections
There are many natural cures for urinary tract infections, but the best way to deal with a UTI is by preventing it from happening in the first place. UTIs are often preventable simply by making certain lifestyle changes:
- Wear loose clothing, such as loose pants, skirts, dresses, and cotton underwear. Since bacterium grows in moisture, tight clothing or clothing which restricts the flow of air can create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
- Drink plenty of water. Its good for you and helps flush bacteria from your system.
- Wipe from front to back, to stop bacteria from spreading.
- After sexual intercourse, urinate to clear out any bacteria.
If you are suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections, then there is likely something which is causing them to keep occurring. Constant medical visits and use of antibiotics may not be the answer. Simple lifestyle changes can help you stop this annoying reoccurrence. Drinking plenty of water, using natural remedies, and using proper hygiene practices can help keep UTIs away for good.
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When To Expect Some Results
That impatient bladder of yours might influence your overall patience towards medicines too. It is a myth that homeopathy will take ages to work on your system and cure it. The fact is that homeopathic medicines aim at providing relief within minutes to hours. They tend to treat an individual within a week or two, depending upon the UTI’s severity.
Homeopathy for urine infection is slightly different from how antibiotics function. This holistic approach towards treating UTI activates your secondary healing response and can work effectively to address the problem’s root cause.
Consult your doctor if your prescribed dosages are not providing you with any relief within 1-2 weeks.
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The Key Is To Match The Symptoms To The Remedy
Remember, the real trick to homeopathy is to match the greatest number of symptoms with the best remedy that will relieve those symptoms. Little things matter, like when, where, and how it hurts, what makes it better or worse and even urine odor and color. The following are the most common UTI symptoms and the remedies to use to relieve them.
When you are so frantic that you cant think about anything but the pain, its time for Cantharis. Cantharis is perhaps one of the most widely applicable urinary tract remedies because there are so many different symptoms that it relieves.
If this is you, pick up homeopathic Apis mellifica 6x at almost any health food store.
Sabal Serrulata And Chimaphila Umbellata For Uti In Men With Prostate Enlargement
Sabal Serrulata and Chimaphila Umbellata are highly effective medicines for urinary tract infection in men with prostate enlargement. The guiding features for use of Sabal Serrulata are smarting and burning in urethra, pain while initiating urination and a feeling of fullness in the bladder. Sabal Serrulata is also indicated for cystitis from prostate enlargement. Chimaphila Umbellata is the recommended course of treatment for intense burning, scalding on urinating. Urine is scanty. Urine may also be turbid, with an offensive odor.
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The Lowdown On Natural Treatments
D-mannose
D-mannose is a supplement made from a glucose-like sugar that you can find online or in health food stores. D-mannose is most helpful at preventing E. coli from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract, says Rice. D-mannose in recurrent urinary tract infections. . If taken with a lot of water, this can effectively flush out the bacteria that is causing the infection.
Rice often tells patients to take 500 milligrams every two to three hours when experiencing symptoms however, the best dose is individual. You can find more guidelines here, and when in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to follow the manufacturers guidelines. Be sure to drink lots of water throughout the day to help the D-mannose remove the bacteria. Again, if the symptoms persist more than 24 hours or get worse, get yourself to the doctor.
D-mannose isnt recommended for those with diabetes, and if youre taking other medications, you need to talk to a doctor before starting this treatment. Diarrhea is a common side effect.
Althaea officinalis, otherwise known as Marshmallow, is an anti-inflammatory herb widely available in powdered, supplement, and tea form. Althaea officinalis is a demulcent herb that can soothe and coat the lining of the urinary tract to help decrease inflammation, says Rice. Make a strong tea and sip throughout the day.
Uva-ursi
Just add water
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
The typical treatment for a UTI is antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. To diagnose a UTI, your doctor may identify your symptoms and prescribe you the appropriate medication.
In other instances, if your symptoms aren’t straightforward, or if you’ve been struggling with recurrent UTIs, your doc may suggest further testing.
More in-depth testing may involve:
- Additional bacteria cultures of a urine sample
- Ultrasound, computerized tomography scan, or magnetic resonance imaging
- Cystoscopy using a camera to look inside your urethra and bladder
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Prevention Of Stomach Cancer And Ulcers
Stomach cancer is a common cause of cancer-related death worldwide .
Infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is considered a major cause of stomach cancer, stomach inflammation, and ulcers (
That said, not all studies found similar results.
SUMMARY
If consumed regularly, cranberries or cranberry juice may reduce your risk of stomach cancer. The juice and extract also improve several risk factors for heart disease, including cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Preventive Measures For A Uti
- Drink lots of water.
- Urinate immediately every time after you have sexual intercourse with your partner.
- Dont hold back urine as it may also cause the bacteria to stick.
- Wear cotton panties.
- Have a balanced and nutritious diet.
- Avoid bathing in a bathtub as it may provide a site for the bacteria to grow.
- Avoid douching and scented pads.
- After using the toilet, always wipe in the direction of front to back as this may avoid any germs from getting into the urethral opening.
- Wash your hands properly every time after you use the toilet.
- Avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks when you are suffering from the UTI.
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Common Symptoms Of Uti
Common symptoms of UTI are strong and frequent urge to urinate, cloudy, bloody and strong smelling urine, pain or burning before during or after urination, muscle aches, pain abdomen and even nausea and vomiting with fever .People with catheters may have only fever as the presenting complaint due to UTI. In addition patients with kidney infection could also experience high fever with rigors and chills and pain in upper back and sides. Patients with cystitis or bladder infection tend to complaint of low grade fever, pain in abdomen and lower back.
Although common, UTI mostly is not serious. However UTI particularly of the upper urinary tract can lead to serious problems and permanent damage of the affected part. If the infection from the upper urinary tract enters the blood stream it can lead to septicemia. During pregnancy UTI increase the risk of the female delivering premature or low birth weight babies.
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Once developed it is advisable to approach a doctor. Diagnosis is usually made by taking the symptoms and testing a urine sample for the presence of white blood cells, red blood cells and bacteria. However in people with recurrent UTI extensive testing such as USG, CT, MRI, Urodynamics to determine how the urinary tract is storing and releasing urine and cystoscopy may be required to eliminate presence of any anatomical or functional issues.
Cantharis: For Constant Desire To Urinate
Symptoms:
In the list of the most effective remedies to treat a UTI, Cantharis tops the list.
If you have an intolerable urging to urinate at short intervals, then this remedy is for you. You may have noticed blood in your urine.
There are violent burning pains in the lower abdomen, accompanied by a painful urging to pass urine.
The urine flows DROP BY DROP as it will burn the urethra. This will make you restless. Any amount of coition will worsen the suffering.
Potency and Dosage:
You can use cantharis in 200ch potency thrice daily for a month.
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