Home Remedies For Uti
How to get rid of UTI without antibiotics with 21 home remedies for urinary tract infections. Instant UTI relief treatment at home!
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, occur when the bacteria present in the urinary tract is pushed back into the kidney, bladder, or urethra. Urinary tract infections mostly affect females. It can be really painful and irritating if not treated properly and can spread to the kidneys if not treated at all. There are several home remedies for a UTI that can be tried in order to prevent the infection from getting worse. However, if the problem persists, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Cranberry Juice Or Pills
Drinking cranberry juice has been found to help with urinary tract infections by preventing the formation of the Candida albicans . While studies have not shown its ability to help cure Candida albicans in the vagina, some women claim to have results. Cranberry juice and pills are also very high in vitamin C, which can also help prevent infection.
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Load Up On Vitamin C For A Healthy Urinary Tract
Getting plenty of foods high in vitamin C is important because large amounts of vitamin C make urine more acidic. This inhibits the growth of bacteria in your urinary tract, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine’s health library. However, if you have an active UTI, you may want to avoid citrus or other acidic foods. These foods are known to irritate the bladder, which is the last thing you need when youre having pain urinating.
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Hormone Replacement Therapy As A Uti Treatment
Sometimes, postmenopausal women find vaginal estrogen therapy helpful in preventing bladder infections since the lowered estrogen levels after menopause cause changes to and an overall thinning of the tissues in the urinary tract, making you more susceptible to infection. It appears that estrogen therapy may help strengthen urinary tract tissue and trigger the release of natural antimicrobial proteins found in the bladder.
Otc Treatments That Can Help Your Uti
Try these at-home treatments while youre waiting to get your antibiotics . And while youre at it, drink as much water as you can. Peeing often will help flush out more of the gunk and hopefully help you feel better a little faster.
Price: $
This is basically like Tylenol or Motrin for your urinary tract. It uses a different active ingredient phenazopyridine hydrochloride but the function is pretty much the same. Itll temporarily numb the tissue around your urinary tract to make the whole situation down there a little more tolerable. You can expect relief in as little as 20 minutes that lasts up to 8 hours.
However, note that this can make your urine reddish-orange tinged and can stain fabric. Also dont take it for more than 2 days.
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Adjust Your Dogs Diet
During a UTI, you will need to re-arrange and closely monitor your pets diet. You want to make sure they are getting enough food to have the strength and vitamins to fight off the infection, and you want to ensure they are hydrated plenty during this time.
Required Ingredients:
Notes: If your dog does not like wet food or is quite finicky, you can add water to her dry kibble to ensure she stays well hydrated.
Applying A Heating Pad Can Be Beneficial
Did you know? Inflammation and irritation owing to a UTI can lead to burning, pressure, and pain down there. Thus, applying a heating pad can do the trick. It can soothe the area, lower pain, and irritation. But you shouldnt directly place it on the skin. First, place a clean cloth and then the heat pad on the area and you will surely notice the difference.
Most importantly do not start antibiotics on your own or just ask a chemist or refer to an old prescription. If you do so you will be in trouble as further testing of urine will not help you to detect which organism is the culprit for this UTI. Self medication also doesnt help you to find effective antibiotics, warns Dr Laha.
So, try these home remedies for a day or two maximum and always reach the doctor immediately if the symptoms persist. The doctor will assess the situation, investigate the cause and treat accordingly. But dont delay as most of the time UTI burning and pain increases at a fast pace making it unbearable for patients.
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Enhance The Intake Of Fluid
More and more consumption of fluids, especially water, herbal tea and non-caffeinated drinks helps to flush out the toxic materials from the body. This helps to reduce the burning sensation while urinating easily. Also, it helps to prevent the occurrence of cystitis and any other urinary tract infections.
When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention
UTIs are uncomfortable, but theyre not an immediate medical emergency. Some people make the mistake of assuming the same is true with a kidney infection.
Kidney infections are serious conditions that do require medical attention. Untreated, a kidney infection can quickly cause long-term kidney damage or kidney scarring. These infections can also cause sepsis, which can lead to .
Because of this, a kidney infection can be fatal if it progresses. Its important to have it treated immediately by a healthcare professional.
Note that kidney stones, if left untreated, can also cause a blockage that can lead to infection and sepsis. This may require a procedure done with intravenous antibiotics by a urologist.
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Try Drinking Some Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
While the research is a bit unclear, cranberries have been used as a prevention of UTI for generations. Studies have shown that cranberries actually make it harder for the bacteria that cause UTIs to stick to the urinary tract walls. So, while not really a remedy, if you frequently get UTIs, it might be worth drinking a couple of glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice, or snacking on the actual fruit .
Pain Relief Medication For Urinary Tract Infections
Phenazopyridine is the go-to pain reliever for UTIs, as it is specifically formulated to ease the most common urinary symptoms, including:
- Pain
- Irritation
- The frequent urge to urinate
It is and unapproved medication that is available over the counter or in prescription form. It comes in several brand names and generic options.
Phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic, and it is only used for symptom relief. It will not help cure the infection. Its typically taken 3 times per day after each meal with a large glass of water. The medicine may discolor your urine temporarily to a brownish-red color, but this is a harmless side effect.
Evidence is lacking that taking phenazopyridine and an antibacterial is more beneficial than just the antibacterial by itself after two days. Therefore, phenazopyridine should not be taken for longer than two days when youre taking an antibacterial simultaneously.
Other over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also help alleviate urinary tract pain symptoms, as well as full-body symptoms such as fever.If you are taking an antibiotic, your healthcare provider or pharmacist can help you choose the best analgesic option that wont interact with your antibiotic.
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Avoid Bladder Irritating Foods When You Have A Uti
Certain foods are known bladder irritants – citrus or very acidic foods, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol – these can all irritate the bladder, leading to bladder leaks. And, if you currently have a UTI, they may affect you even more. Try to watch out for these common bladder irritants to prevent further irritation to your bladder and UTI.
Health & Wellnesswhy Some Women Get Kidney Infections From Uti And How To Protect Yourself
While treating UTIs at home might not be as easy as having a glass of cranberry juice, the experts say women can stop urinary infections from happening. The most basic way to prevent UTIs is to wipe in the right direction after using the toilet women should always wipe from front to back.
Thats kind of a common sense thing, Greves said. If you wipe from back to front, what if there is fecal material, which has e-coli or other bacteria? They could be introduced to the urinary tract.
Women also might want to urinate after intercourse.
We often tell people that, but theres little specific data, Giugale said, that says that those things are going to prevent urinary tract infection.
However, its another low-risk way to lower the chance of getting a UTI. Urinating after sex might help the body dispel some bacteria moved around during intercourse.
Sometimes there can be e-coli involved in it and the thought is to urinate afterwards, Greves said.
If UTI symptoms dont dissipate after a few days or women notice blood in their urine its time to contact a doctor. Untreated UTIs can become more severe or spread into the kidneys, which might require treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
The ultimate thing is there’s a bacterial infection growing and festering, Greves said, and they need to talk to their doctor to go on some antibiotic and fight this so it doesn’t spread up into the kidney.
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Cotton Underwear For Everyday Use:
This is a prevalent practice and one of the most effective home remedies for itching in private parts. Cotton underwear allows the vagina to breathe. Due to the airy flow, the chances of developing itchiness reduce to a great extent. Typically it is implausible for a yeast infection to get spread in an airy space. So, wearing cotton underwear is a good habit and undoubtedly an excellent home remedy to deal with this problem.
Does Walgreens Sell Over
At Walgreens, you can find options for detecting urinary tract infections and for easing symptoms. UTI test strips can help you detect infections, while urinary pain relief tablets and cranberry pills may help to relieve UTI discomfort or prevent recurring UTIs. Researchers are still looking into the possible benefits of cranberry in fighting infections, but their findings are inconclusive. To learn more about the over-the-counter options available for treating UTI symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
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Take An Otc Medication
Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is a pain reliever for the urinary tract and can be purchased over the counter in generic form or as the brand name drug AZO. This medication temporarily relieves urinary urgency, pain, and pressure associated with UTIs. However, it doesnt treat the underlying infection.
Top 10 Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infections In Males
Urinary tract infections are a very common problem among males. Antibiotics are the most common treatment to get rid of UTIs. But there are other ways, in the form of home remedies that help in curing bacterial infections .
Urinary tract infections can be more troublesome if they tend to recur. These bacterial infections tend to show discomforting symptoms in a person.
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Home Remedies And Self Care For Urinary Tract Infection Pain Relief
- Increase water intake during the day. Staying hydrated may help flush out bad bacteria from the urinary tract and clear the infection.
- Limit fluid intake at night and before bed. Reducing fluids at night can help avoid aggravating your pain symptoms before bed.
- Use a heating pad. Placing a heating pad on your back or abdomen can lessen pain.
- Urinate often and dont hold in your urine. Always get to a bathroom when needed and try to fully empty your bladder, especially before bed.
- Avoid liquids that could irritate your bladder. Alcohol, coffee, citrus juices and drinks with caffeine may aggravate urinary symptoms.
Signs Your Uti Is Going Away Without Antibiotics
You know your cystitis is going away when the symptoms that are specific to it start to go away.
For example, your pain during urination goes away, as does the pain in your lower abdomen. If you treat yourself naturally and dont feel any improvement after 48 hours, see a doctor. Delaying a visit can lead to complications.
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Avoid Vitamin C If You’re Already Experiencing Uti Symptoms
Vitamin C is known to help prevent UTIs by acidifying the urine, which can kill certain bacteria present in the urinary tract. But Dr. Sherry warns if you already have a UTI or are experiencing real symptoms of one, vitamin C will not be effective in killing off bacteria. This is because unless you know the exact bacteria causing the UTI, vitamin Calthough helpfulmay not be doing enough to kill the infection youre experiencing.
Herbal Remedies For Uti
There are several herbal remedies, which are also used to cure a urinary tract infection:
1. Uva Ursi: this herb contains a compound, known as arbutin, which kills the bacteria present in the lining of the urinary passage. It also helps in stimulating urination.
Note: Children, nursing or pregnant women, and people with liver or kidney disease should not take this herb.
2. Horsetail is a good diuretic, which aids in the proper urine flow as well as stops bleeding during urinary tract infections.
3. Echinacea works as a natural antibiotic. Therefore, it helps to fight against the viruses and bacteria that are the main cause of infection in the urinary tract.
4. Parsley seeds are also helpful in treating urinary tract infection as it reduces the inflammation and pain caused due to the UTI.
5. Mullein: another effective herb for treating the inflammation caused due to the UTI is Mullein.
6. Horseradish is a natural antibiotic, which is good for controlling the infection of the urinary tract.
7. Goldenseal: the compound berberine found in this herb stops bacteria from sticking to the urethra walls.
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Boost Your Immune System
It seems that the immune system of the urinary tract is not adaptive, which can be one of the causes of cystitis recurrence.
This means that the immune system cannot remember the bacterial attacks it has experienced to adapt and react against them in the future.
For this reason, it is important to strengthen your immune system to fight urinary tract infections, especially by consuming probiotics to keep the intestinal and vaginal flora clean.
Use Cinnamon In Food For Uti
Research concludes that cinnamon has anti bacteria and anti microbial properties. One of the natural UTI treatments in India is the use of cinnamon in your daily diet. The antibacterial property of cinnamon holds away the urinary contagious microbes. The cinnamon bark can be consumed directly in the form of a paste or, for the better effects, buy cinnamon powder and use it as a taste enhancer in your daily cup of coffee.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Bath
If youre searching the internet for how to relieve vaginal itching, chances are youll find apple cider vinegar listed as a cure-all.
Many people believe that adding apple cider vinegar to your bath can soothe a yeast infection. Its also a common home remedy for itchy skin.
Unfortunately, theres little evidence to support this claim. Nevertheless, its a cheap remedy to try, and one that has no known side effects.
Looking For More Natural Remedies
As you may know, Im extremely passionate about providing women with all the details they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Im 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 youre into that sort of balance too, Id 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!
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How To Prevent Utis
Additionally, there are a few general lifestyle behaviors you can practice to help prevent UTIs before they occur, including:
- When you feel like you have to urinate, go don’t hold it.
- After urinating and especially after a bowel movement, wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering your urethra.
- Urinate before and after having sex.
- Avoid using scented soaps, bubble baths, or douches.
- Avoid tight pants.
Home Remedies For Bladder Infection Blueberries
Blueberry that has bacteria-inhibiting properties can help in treating the bladder infection.
In addition, blueberries have also the antioxidants that are beneficial for the immune system. They also prevent the growth of bacteria, which causes bladder infection.
Way 1:
- You should have some fresh blueberries for your breakfast or add them to your favorite cereal.
Way 2:
- You make the fresh blueberry juice and drink it every day, especially at night and in the morning for quick results. You should remember that the juice is not mixed with any artificial sweetener.
You should add the juice or fresh blueberries in your daily diet, which is also a great way to prevent bladder infection.
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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.