Where To Find Good Herbs/supplements
Head on over to my Trusted Products page for direct links to the pharmaceutical-grade supplements I trust. Microbiome Labs has an excellent probiotic called Mega Spore, which works really well, and you can find other supplements at FullScript.
For bulk herbs, I like Mountain Rose Herbs because theyre a small company with excellent quality botanicals. Sure, Amazon sells bulk herbs but the quality is often dicey depending on the brand, whos selling it/storing it, etc. With Mountain Rose, and other established bulk herb companies, you know youre ordering direct from a real company with a real quality assurance/quality control department that ensures youre getting unadulterated, toxin-free, species-verified, organic herbsand that counts for a lot.
Apply A Poultice To Relieve Lower Abdominal Pain
How about trying a traditional remedy to obtain some relief? Our grandmothers used to swear by a soothing leek poultice for relieving the pain of lower urinary tract infections.
How do you make one? Cook the leeks in a large pan of salted, boiling water and allow to cool to a lukewarm temperature. Then layer the cooked leeks onto the painful area and leave for at least 15 minutes or until cold. Repeat 3 times day depending on the pain intensity.
How To Prevent A Uti From Striking Again
Sick of dealing with urinary tract infections? Really, the best “natural remedy” is simple: just prevent one from striking in the first place! Here’s how:
Drink cranberry juice
Although it has often been thought of as a treatment option, cranberry juice can only help as a preventative measure. Cranberry juice can be helpful in preventing UTIs by making the urine more acidic and preventing harmful bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder, Dr. Sherry explains. An acidic environment in the urine makes bacterial build-up more difficult and reduces your chance of getting a UTI. But even with this information, studies have conflicting evidence about cranberries being a reliable source for prevention. So if youre prone to UTIs, it wont hurt to drink unsweetened cranberry juice. But its definitely not the UTI cure-all it has always been thought to be.
Practice good hygiene after sex and ask your partner to, too
Overall health with increased water intake and exercise is the best way to improve health and help with decreasing UTIs, Dr. Shepherd shares. This includes good hygiene and being diligent about cleaning all of your lady parts. And make sure your partner does, too. Bacteria from sexual intercourse is one of the most common ways women can get a UTI, Dr. Shepherd explains.
Limit antibiotic use
Avoid feminine hygiene products with scents and chemicals
Wipe front to back
Stay hydrated
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What Exactly Is A Uti
Unsurprisingly, a UTI is an infection of the urinary tract. Bacteria has gotten into the urinary tract system, which is normally sterile. To put it in less pleasant terms, when material from the lower intestine gets into your urethra, it causes a bladder infection.
Though that sounds horrid, its not uncommon. Sometimes, it can be caused by a lack of proper hygiene, but most of the time it occurs from sex, using a diaphragm, or just being a woman. The Mayo Clinic lists female anatomy as a risk factor for the illness. So, if youre simply walking around town with a vagina, you very well might get a UTI.
The infection itself might be caused by the E. coli bacteria, which goes up the urethra. Sometimes, it hangs out in this urinary hallway without infecting anywhere else. More often, the bacteria gets into the bladder, causing frequent painful peeing, discharges, blood in your urine, and pelvic discomfort. Its not a good time, but a bladder infection is rarely serious, especially if you get treatment right away.
How To Use Natural Remedies To Treat Utis And Bladder Infections
Urinary Tract Infections are a very common type of bacterial infection of the bladder, urethra, ureters , and kidneys. They occur more often in females , affecting 1 in 3 girls/women by age 24 and about 50% of all women at some point in life.1 Plus, some of us experience recurring infections that can pop up as frequently as once a month , annually, or sporadically.
Kidney infections are less common, but more serious, and can result from untreated or improperly treated bladder infections.
In either case antibiotic treatment may be necessary. However, we know that antibiotics can have adverse side effects including negatively altering gut microbiota for up to 2 years2. Fortunately, antibiotics can sometimes be avoided for mild bladder infections if you take action quickly.
Natural remedies, and prevented by adopting some specific lifestyle changes. And if you have chronic bladder infections thats a surefire sign that you need to dig deeper to uncover the root cause.
Today, well focus primarily on bladder infections including the causes, prevention, best practices, natural remedies, and when to see your doctor for testing and care.
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Cranberries Watermelon And Cherries
It is considered that a good dose of antioxidants, nutrients, and other bioactive substances could be of great help in the side treatment of bladder infections. Therefore, its generally recommended to consume cherry and blueberry juice, fruits especially rich in antioxidants, watermelon, for its lycopene content, among others.
Ingredients
- Wash and dry the cherries and cranberries
- Separately, extract the pulp from the watermelon and discard the rind and seeds
- Put them in your blender with the water for 2 to 3 minutes until you get a smooth juice
- Serve and drink in moderation
- For an extra touch of flavor, you can add a few fresh mint leaves
Sadeq Abdulridha Gatea Kaabi1 Raghad Abdulatif Abdulrazaq2 Khetam Habeeb Rasool1 And Salam Ali Khassaf2*
*Corresponding author:Received: Accepted:Keywords
Cite this as
Abstract
Fourteen medicinal plants native to North America and Europe traditionally used for treatment urinary tract infections were reviewed for their traditional uses, pharmacological activities, Active compounds responsible for its therapeutic potential, mechanism of action of its active compounds and In Vitro and In Vivo studies of its activity in treatment of UTIs. Those medicinal plants were Junipers , Uva ursi , Rosemary , Goldenrod , Common nettle , Dandelion , Cranberry , Corn silk , Couch grass . Marshmallow root , Hosretail , Goldenseal . Buchu and Oregon grape . All of those medicinal plants found to have various pharmaceutical activities making it potent herbal remedies for UTIs in addition to various human diseases.
Main article text
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Pristyn Care Offers Smooth Treatment Experience
Our doctors at Pristyn Care are highly experienced to treat numerous males problems including UTIs. There are many Pristyn Care clinics, to visit the one nearby you, you have to just simply book your online appointment. We ensure that you receive the best treatment without any discomfort and get rid of problems fast.
So, put an end to your miseries of UTIs and visit us without any more delay.
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A Quick Word About The Role Of Herbal Remedies For Uti And Antibiotics
Many herbal remedies for UTI are synergistic with antibiotics, improving the effects of the antibiotics and decrease antibiotic resistance.
For example, uva ursi improves the effect of antibiotics like Keflex.
Rosemary and milk thistle also reduce antibiotic resistance and green tea, with its high levels of antioxidants also blocks a common pathway antibiotics use to gain resistance . This is very useful for people who have UTIs that are resistant to many different antibiotics.
Of course, always touch base with your doctor if you are taking antibiotics as some herbal remedies, especially at higher doses can interact with modern medicines and cause side effects.
References:
Dr. Oreoluwa Ogunyemi, MD
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Looking For More Natural Remedies
As you may know, I’m extremely passionate about providing women with all the details they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
I’m not in any way against pharmaceuticals when they are necessary and indicated for a particular treatment. Antibiotics have a time and a place in our health. But when other options are safe and effective, I like to offer women choices that include natural options they can administer themselves.
If you’re into that sort of balance too, I’d love to send you an email when I post new articles. Hop on my mailing list HERE so I can share my research with you!
Use Uva Ursi Herb As A Drink Or A Douche
- Add chopped fresh uva ursi to a glass of boiling water.
- Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Strain it and drink it or let it cool and douche your urethra with it.
Uva ursi, also known as bearberry or wild cranberry, has antiseptic and astringent properties that are useful in treating UTIs. You can drink it as tea or you can use it to douche your urethra.24
Tip: Drink 2 cups of the tea per day for a maximum of 5 days because it is potentially harmful to the liver.
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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
Follow Good Bathroom And Diapering Habits
Some children simply dont urinate often enough. Children should urinate often and when they first feel the need to go. Bacteria can grow and cause an infection when urine stays in the bladder too long. Caregivers should change diapers often for infants and toddlers, and should clean the genital area well. Gentle cleansers that do not irritate the skin are best.
Your child should always wipe from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement. This step is most important after a bowel movement to keep bacteria from getting into the urethra and bladder.
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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
How To Prevent Bladder Infections Naturally
The best way to prevent any type of infection is to practice good hygiene and support your bodys immune system, microbiome, and overall health. Here are some tips to help prevent UTIs:
- Support your microbiome by eating a whole foods diet thats low in sugar and processed foods and high in fiber, vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Dont drink too much alcohol, which is loaded with sugar!
- Drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses per day, to help flush out your urinary tract and urinate as soon as you feel the urge.
- Avoid antibiotic use whenever possible .
- Eat cultured foods and/or take a multi-strain Lactobacillus-containing probiotic supplement to support healthy gut, vaginal, and urinary tract flora.
- Women and girls should wipe after urinating from front to back to avoid transferring bacteria from the rectum to the vagina.
- Urinate after having sex.
- If you practice anal sex, do not let your partner go back and forth between the anus and the vagina as this can spread bacteria rapidly.
- Take steps to avoid chronic stress, which dampens immunity.
- Avoid douching or vaginal sprays, which can disrupt healthy vaginal flora that keeps unhealthy bacteria out.
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Home Remedies For Utis
When bacteria enter the urinary tract system, it can cause a urinary tract infection. Bacteria, and specifically Escherichia coli , is the most common cause of UTIs, but dehydration, holding urination for a long time, certain health conditions, and hormonal changes can also cause a UTI or increase your risk of infection. The average UTI can last anywhere from a few days to more than a week. Some UTIs will go away on their own, but more severe cases require medical attention. With antibiotic treatment, many people with severe UTIs start to feel relief within a couple of days. For mild UTIs, home remedies may help alleviate symptoms, and/or prevent infections from developing.
Here are some of the most common home remedies for UTIs:
When To Contact A Doctor
If a person suspects that they might have a UTI, they should speak with a doctor for advice on the best way to treat the possible infection.
Antibiotics may not always be necessary to treat UTIs, but it is still important to seek medical attention for any suspected infection. This will reduce the risk of a more severe infection developing that is harder to treat.
The signs and symptoms of UTIs include:
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about treating UTIs.
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Practice Good Sexual Hygiene
The also says that sexual intercourse introduces bacteria and other microbes from outside the body to the urinary tract. Practicing good sexual hygiene can help to reduce the number of bacteria that people can transfer during intercourse and other sexual acts.
Examples of good sexual hygiene include:
- urinating before and immediately after sex
- using barrier contraception, such as a condom
- washing the genitals, especially the foreskin, before and after engaging in sexual acts or intercourse
- washing the genitals or changing condoms if switching from anal sex to vaginal sex
- ensuring that sexual partners are aware of any current or previous UTIs
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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Herbal Remedies For Utis: Demulcents
Cornsilk , Marshmallow root and Couch grass rhizome are all cooling and decrease irritation in the bladders mucus membranes.
Think of the mucous membranes like the inside of your mouth. UTIs, especially frequent ones, cause a lot of damage to this sensitive layer of the bladder and its important to restore and heal it.
Cornsilk
Cornsilk is also a diuretic, antiseptic and increases your natural immune response to fight the infection.
Couch grass
Couch grass may also be a mild diuretic as well. These herbs are helpful in treating the acute symptoms, especially pain and urgency, of a UTI.
Other natural demulcents
Chondroitin sulfate, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid also help to protect your bladders mucosa. This group specifically heals the glycosaminoglycans layer of the bladder mucosa, which protects, lubricates and produces mucus .
Most of the studies on hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate look at intravesical therapies . This makes it a good option for people with chronic bladder pain syndrome or interstitial cystitis .
If you want a less invasive option, Freeze dried aloe vera is a pill you can take twice a day. Many people, especially with CBPS/IS, say it helps their symptoms, where other medications did not. Be aware that this is a long-term treatment and dont expect the results in less than a month.
A Note About Cranberry Juice And Utis
Cranberry juice or cranberry extract in supplemental form has long been used as a home remedy for UTIs.
The thought is that the proanthocyanidins in cranberries may help prevent bladder infections by keeping the bacteria from clinging to the bladder wall, says Sonya Angelone, MS, RDN, a nutrition consultant based in San Francisco, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Yet theres scientific controversy over how effective cranberry juice is at preventing UTIs due to conflicting conclusions in studies on the topic, according to an article published in May 2016 in Advances in Nutrition. Some studies have found it might work, while others have found no effect.
Bottom line, there is some evidence it may help, and it doesnt hurt to try it, says Angelone. Just be sure to chose unsweetened cranberry juice . Mix this with sparkling water or plain yogurt, she recommends.
Another low-calorie option choose a cranberry pill that contains d-mannose, she says.
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