Affecting millions of people every year, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are traditionally treated with antibiotics. Many people are simply unaware of the alternative remedies that help remedy UTIs and keep them from recurring. This article aims to detail these remedies, so that you have the knowledge if you experience a UTI in the future.

Because antibiotics are the most common treatment option, some people have developed antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which make it more difficult to get rid of infection. Additionally, antibiotic resistant bacteria make recurring infection a major concern.

What Is A UTI?

A UTI is an infection that affects any part of the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder. The most common cause of a UTI is bacteria from the bowels, but fungi and viruses can cause infection as well. The Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli bacterial strains are responsible for about 80% of cases. Statistically, over 50% of women will develop at UTI or UTI symptoms at some point in life. The reason for this is because the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) is shorter in women than men. As a result, bacteria have an easier time accessing the bladder.

5 Home Remedies For UTIs

Remove Bladder Irritants From Your Diet

There are many foods that can irritate the bladder, especially if you already have a UTI. Spicy foods, nicotine, carbonated beverages, caffeine, and alcohol make it harder for the body to heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Eliminate these foods from your diet and focus on high-fiber carbohydrates, which include lentils, steel cut oats, and sweet potatoes.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

When you have a bacterial infection, the goal is to flush it out of your system. Drinking water, herbal teas, fresh made juices, and coconut water aid this process. According to a 2013 study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, mild dehydration or low fluid intake increased the risk of getting a UTI. For every meal that you eat, drink a glass of water. Drink another glass for every snack you eat. This will help flush out bacteria that can worsen the infection.

Oregano Oil

Researchers have a firm belief that oregano oil is a valuable antibacterial remedy for accelerating the healing of bacterial infections. A 2012 study found that oregano oil was effective against many clinical bacterial strains. For example, it helped to inhibit the growth of E. coli, which commonly causes UTIs. Additionally, oregano oil prevents the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and it may be superior to some prescription antibiotics. Plus, you don’t have to deal with the side effects of antibiotics when you take oregano oil. To take it internally, mix it in water or coconut oil. Finally, you should not take oregano oil internally for more than two weeks at a time.

Go For Probiotics

Probiotics are available in supplement form, but they are found in fermented foods like kombucha, miso, kefir, and sauerkraut. Many research studies advocate the usage of probiotics for improved digestive health because they balance gut bacteria. Newer studies link the consumption of probiotics to a reduced risk of UTI. One specific study found that the probiotic strain, lactobacillus, helped prevent UTI symptoms in adult women. Antibiotics disturb the balance of gut bacteria, so the preliminary research about taking probiotics to combat UTIs is great news.

Load Up On Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, and research shows that increasing vitamin C intake can protect against UTIs. The theory behind this research is due to the fact that vitamin C increases acidity levels in urine; thus, inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause infection. If you have a UTI, avoid citrus fruits because they can irritate the bladder. Instead, focus on dark leafy greens (kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, watercress, and mustard greens), parsley, thyme, bell peppers, blackberries, papaya, and kiwis.

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Did you know that the cranberry is one of only three commercially cultivated fruits native to North America? Cranberries are versatile ingredients that deserve much more attention than the little bowl they’re placed in on your Thanksgiving table. Considered to be a superfood because of the antioxidant and high nutrient content, cranberries may help to decrease blood pressure, improve immune function, inhibit certain cancer cells, and reduce the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). They have also been used as natural dyes and many Native Americans used cranberries to draw out toxins from arrow wounds.

Believe it or not, you can make a lot of different dishes with cranberries. Since they are in season during the fall, you should opt for fresh cranberries instead of canned varieties, which contain preservatives, chemicals, and excess sugar. Additionally, most commercial cranberry juices contain obscene amounts of sugars, natural flavors, and dyes. If you want to get creative with your fresh cranberries, you can make a cranberry jalapeno salsa, cranberry mint chutney, cranberry oatmeal, fresh cranberry carrot juice, cranberry tea, cranberry smoothie, cranberry vinegar, or a cranberry chipotle slaw.

In this article, we will detail the health benefits of cranberries, highlighting their nutrients and how you can incorporate them into your diet.

Packed With Antioxidants

Cranberries have more phenols (based on fresh weight) than produce items like strawberries, red grapes, or spinach. These awesome phytochemicals help to protect you from cardiovascular diseases like blood clotting, heart attacks, or atherosclerosis. Consuming cranberries can be very beneficial for your cognitive health as well. Boost your brainpower!

They Fight Viruses

A recent study in Taiwan found that regularly consuming cranberries helps to fight the herpes simplex-2 virus (HSV-2), which can cause genital warts and ulcers. This virus can also cause inflammation in the brain. Additional studies found that cranberries helped to inhibit the growth of intestinal viruses.

They Slow Cancer Progression

A 2016 review of 34 preclinical studies found that the compounds in cranberries worked to inhibit cancer cell growth in test tubes. The antioxidant compounds helped to reduce inflammation, slow cancer cell growth, and trigger cancer cell death. While testing on humans with cancer is limited, these preliminary findings show promising results to the future of cancer treatment and management.

They Improve Cardiovascular Health

Preliminary studies suggest that cranberries may help to improve artery flexibility, which translates to improved blood flow and circulation. Taking the pressure off the heart helps to reduce blood pressure, but improved circulation also boosts cognitive function and increases energy levels. A 2019 review found that cranberry supplementation may manage several risk factors of cardiovascular disease, including systolic blood pressure. Additionally, this review found that cranberries may improve levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol.

They Are Super PACs

When people think of cranberries and health, they typically think of a urinary tract infection (UTI). PACs are why you think of this. What are PACs? Proanthocyanidins, which prevent adhesion of bacteria to the urinary wall, are compounds that work to alter the makeup of disease-causing bacteria, preventing them from binding to human cells and developing into an infection. Only cranberries and blueberries contain PACs that have this anti-adhesion effect. They also work to inhibit bacteria in stomach ulcers, acid reflux, and kidney or bladder infections.

They Enhance Oral Health

NDM is a compound that has been shown to prevent, and sometimes reverse, oral bacteria associated with plaque and periodontal disease. The PACs in cranberries may also prevent bacteria from binding to the teeth, helping to reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease.

How To Consume Cranberries

The fall months will have freshly harvested cranberries in grocery stores and farmer’s markets. If you don’t use them right away, they can be frozen for up to two months and consumed at that later date. This applies for fresh cranberries, but you need to beware of the added sweeteners, preservatives, and chemicals in dried cranberries or cranberry juices. Here are some tips for consuming cranberries:

• Add a handful of fresh cranberries to a fruit and vegetable smoothie.
• Include fresh cranberries in a dessert for a slightly tart flavor.
• Saute cranberries with other ingredients like orange zest, orange juice, and maple syrup to make fresh cranberry sauce.
• Add dried cranberries (free of preservatives and added sugars) to salads or homemade trail mix recipes.

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According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases and Information Clearinghouse, diseases of the urinary tract are the second most common infection in the body. Urinary tract infections (UTI) account for about 8.3 million doctor visits per year.

The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, but the key elements in this system are the kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown filtering organs, shaped like kidney beans, located below the ribs toward the middle of the back.

The kidneys’ purpose is to remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood, which are expelled in urine. This helps keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that aids in the formation of red blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.

Causes and Risk Factors

Urinary tract infections can result from a host of things, including sexually transmitted diseases. Microorganisms can cause UTI in both males and females.

Normally, urine is sterile and free of bacteria, viruses and fungi but does contain fluids, salts, and waste products. An infection occurs in the urinary system when tiny organisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and begin to multiply.

Medical authorities claim that most urinary tract infections arise from one type of bacteria, Esherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon.

However, in many cases, bacteria first travel to the urethra and when bacteria multiply, an infection occur, such as urethritis, an infection limited to the urethra. Now, when bacteria moves to the bladder and multiplies, cystitis (a bladder infection) occurs and when the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may travel further up to the ureters to multiple and infect the kidneys, resulting is pyelonephritis, basically known as a kidney infection.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of UTI are:

• Increased frequency of urination
• Pain or discomfort while urinating
• Blood in urine
• Fever
• Pain or discomfort in the lower mid-section of the back (where the kidneys are located)
• Discharge
• Urine is dark or cloudy

Healing Urinary Tract Infections Naturally

A nearly raw foods and vegan diet is always best when healing, or even for just maintaining optimal health and well being. Natural foods should always be organic too.

Eliminate entirely (if you can) all meats and dairy products, eggs, refined grains, refined starches, sugar, salt, alcoholic beverages, effervescent beverages (e.g. soda pop), junk food (including fast food), etc. These things are all Tamasic (acid-inducing) foods. They lower the body’s natural alkalinity and promote sickness and disease. Tamasic foods are impure, rotten, or dead, and generally produce feelings of heaviness and lethargy.

When healing from urinary tract infections or any urinary system problem, drink alkaline water (which will counteract the over-acidification of the urinary tract and system. If you can’t find alkaline water, purchase an alkaline water machine system for your home’s kitchen or simply drink spring and/or distilled water.

There are plenty of herbs that can be used to heal urinary tract infections in particular and the overall urinary system in general. Herbs that have an affinity for the urinary tract in general and the kidneys in general are called “diuretic” and “nephritic” herbs. Diuretic and nephritic herbs (such as those listed above) are urinary antiseptics.

These herbs include:

• Uva Ursi
• Cornsilk
• Queen of the Meadow (Gravel Root)
• Chanca Piedra
• Pelitory of the Wall
• Five Fingers
• Cleavers
• Juniper Berries
• Buchu
• Tribulis (Gokshura)
• Couchgrass
• Pipsissewa
• Parsely Leaf
• Celery Seed
• Horsetail
• Nettle and
• Devil’s Claw

No matter what the urinary system disease may be-cystitis, nephritis, urethritis, kidney stones, bladder stones, cancer of the bladder and/or kidneys, renal failure, uremia, urinary incontinence, ureteritis-these herbs can be very helpful in the healing process.

Urinary tract infections are 100% reversible and you don’t have to take toxic man-made antibiotics (drugs) that may suppress the urinary tract infection and instead cause you to have to deal with yeast infection as antibiotics undoubtedly cause yeast infection in the body. The yeast infection will only take attention (energy) away from the underlying problem-the urinary tract infection.

Dietary Intervention

Cranberry and vegetable juice can be helpful in managing UTI.

Cranberry

The beneficial properties of Cranberry in helping prevent and heal from urinary tract infections are well documented.

Cranberry can be taken as a freeze-dried powder (in capsule form), in tea form, and of course, in liquid form as cranberry juice (unsweetened variety).

Cranberry juice should be organic, undiluted, and unsweetened. It should be diluted with water (50/50) due to its excess bitterness. Drinking 4 ounces (diluted with water by half) daily can help keep UTI at bay.

Cranberry contains four beneficial natural acids:

• Benzoic Acid
• Citric Acid
• Malic Acid, and
• Quinic Acid

These four natural acids are very important because they help to bring about the acidification of the urine.

Vegetable juice

Drinking vegetable juice that contains celery and parsley among other veggies is very helpful. Celery and parsley are two of the best plant-based diuretics available.

Up to four to eight ounces glass of vegetable juice daily or at least 3-4 times per week is very beneficial to the health of the body. Vegetable juice is cleansing to the entire body and is rich in organic nutrition (nutrients) and helps to maintain the body’s natural 7.3 alkaline pH level, which keeps the body in a state of homeostasis.

If you’re suffering from any urinary tract infection, you’d be wise to abstain from the consumption of the following: meat, dairy products, beer and other alcoholic beverages, coffee, acidic and effervescent beverages (e.g. soda pop), vinegar (notwithstanding apple cider vinegar), chocolate, and other commercial grade beverages (e.g. orange juice, unless fresh squeezed).

Regardless of the specific nature of your urinary tract system infection, you can heal entirely from it.

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