What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) happen when microbes, usually bacteria, infect any part of your urinary tract. This includes the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the body), the bladder, the ureters (the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder), and the kidneys.
Most UTIs occur in the bladder and urethra. If not treated promptly, the infection can travel upwards to the kidneys, becoming more serious. An infection of the bladder alone is called cystitis.
In most cases, a bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes the infection, although it can rarely be caused by a virus. While many E. coli strains are harmless and found inside the intestines, when these bacteria enter the urinary tract, they can cause infections.
Common UTI Symptoms
Did you know that 150 million people get urinary tract infections each year?
The symptoms of UTIs are hard to ignore. They range from the classic stinging or burning when urinating to strong-smelling or cloudy urine. The most common symptoms include:
Painful Urination and Frequent Urge to Urinate: You will likely experience a burning sensation or pain when you urinate. You may feel as though your bladder is full just a few minutes after you’ve gone to the bathroom. Also, when you urinate, you may pass only a little urine.
Blood in the Urine: You may see bloody streaks or clots in the toilet after you urinate, or you may see a tinge of pink. Unusually dark urine could also mean there is blood in the urine. Younger women are more likely to have this symptom than older women.
Cloudy Urine or Unusual Smell: Your urine might look milky or cloudy and can even develop a strong or foul smell. It might mean that bacteria are present.
Pelvic Pain and Pressure: You may feel pressure or pain in the abdomen and pelvis. For others, pain is near the pubic bone. Using a heating pad can help reduce your discomfort. Some people may feel pain in the side or back, especially if the infection has affected their kidneys.
Fatigue: You may feel tired or fatigued. When your body is fighting infection, it takes more of your energy.
Fever: You may run a fever with a UTI. A very high body temperature might indicate a kidney infection.
Top Home Remedies for UTIs
If you think you have a UTI, it’s important to see a healthcare practitioner and give a urine sample. Identifying the cause of your symptoms promptly is essential because other concerns, such as infection of the vagina or vulva, can cause similar symptoms. Also, not caring for a UTI may lead to worsening symptoms or a more serious kidney infection.
Throughout history, natural health practitioners have turned to natural remedies to help urinary tract symptoms, and science has backed up some of these. Below, we list several natural ways to relieve symptoms and, better yet, avoid UTIs in the first place.
Practice Good Hygiene, Especially After Sex
Improper hygiene is behind some UTIs, especially after sex. Frequent sex can increase the chances of getting a UTI, so clean your genital and anal areas before and after sexual activity to minimize your chance of getting one. Urinating immediately before and after sexual intercourse can help flush bacteria away.
Never use douches, feminine hygiene sprays, powders, and anything that contains perfumes in the genital area; these often do more harm than good. During your menstrual cycle, use sanitary pads instead of tampons: some experts believe tampons may promote urinary tract infections.
When using the toilet, always wipe from front to back to stop bacteria from the anal region from entering your urinary tract. It’s best to take showers instead of baths and avoid bath oils if you have an infection or are prone to frequent UTIs. It’s also a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothes and wear cotton underwear, changing them at least once a day.
Boost Your Probiotic Intake
Probiotics, “good” bacteria in your intestinal tract, help urinary tract health by creating a balanced, healthy ecosystem of gut microbes, which affect many other parts of your body. When you have a healthy gut ecosystem, the good microbes help fend off the bad ones.
Unlike antibiotics, which kill both good and bad bacteria, probiotics promote the growth of good bacteria. In a study of recurrent UTIs in children, probiotics and antibiotics worked together more effectively than antibiotics alone. Aim for the Lactobacillus strains — they’re the most effective for UTIs!
Certain strains of Lactobacillus are particularly helpful for urinary health — specifically L. plantarum and L. paracasei, especially when used together with cranberry and D-mannose. You can get probiotics from supplements or probiotic foods, like kimchi, sauerkraut, and nut milk yogurt.
Drink Plenty of Water
Keeping the bladder flushed can help keep your urinary tract healthy. Drink lots of water and other fluids to flush the urinary tract. While you should drink half your weight in ounces every day, this rule of thumb is particularly critical when you have a UTI — or if you are prone to getting them.
If you’re properly hydrated, your urine color will be either light yellow or clear! In a study of 141 girls, not drinking a lot of water and urinating infrequently were linked to repeated infections. When you have to go, go! And drink enough liquid daily to keep your urine color light yellow or almost clear.
Take Vitamin C
Keep your UTIs at bay with the potent vitamin C! The jury is out on vitamin C; some studies say this immune system booster helps protect against UTIs, while others say it doesn’t. In one study of pregnant women, UTIs were less likely in women taking vitamin C every day; the researchers recommended taking extra vitamin C to keep UTIs at bay.
Vitamin C — also called ascorbic acid — may help because it makes the urine more acidic, making bacteria less likely to grow. Not all studies show a benefit of vitamin C on UTIs, however. Generally speaking, vitamin C is a good all-around tonic for your immune system, and it has strong effects against harmful organisms. You can take a supplement or get vitamin C from foods like strawberries, kiwi, green peppers, and citrus fruits.
Consume Cranberries
Cranberries and cranberry juice are often used to prevent UTIs. It’s thought to keep bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. Wow! Pretty interesting that cranberries can keep bacteria away from your urinary tract lining.
Some research, particularly animal studies, has indeed found that cranberries, and specifically the sugar they contain (D-mannose), may help reduce the symptoms of UTIs. One study also found that women who regularly drank cranberry juice or took cranberry tablets had significantly fewer UTIs yearly than those who did not.
Some studies did not find that cranberry prevented recurrent UTIs, but a review of four good quality human trials found that cranberry juice was, in fact, effective in preventing UTIs in women at risk of recurrent UTIs.
Take D-Mannose
Given the positive studies on cranberries, it might not surprise you to know that scientists have isolated a compound in the berries that may prove helpful for urinary conditions, D-mannose. This plant sugar prevents bacteria from sticking to the urothelium, the thin layer lining the urinary tract walls. A pilot study found significant improvements in UTI symptoms when women took the D-mannose for up to ten days.
You can buy D-mannose as a standalone supplement, or get it in the following foods: cranberries, blueberries, apples, and oranges. D-mannose will be more highly concentrated in supplements than the natural fruits it occurs in. It’s mostly safe but may cause loose stools or bloating in some people; in high doses, it may affect the kidneys.
Try Bearberry Leaf & Dandelion
Now, this might be the dynamic duo you’ve been looking for when dealing with a UTI! Bearberry leaf, a botanical supplement also known as uva ursi, has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for urinary issues. One small study found that when women at risk of recurrent infections took dandelion and bearberry together for one month, their incidence of repeated UTIs decreased, compared with women taking a placebo.
How might this work? Uva ursi has antibacterial compounds while dandelion increases urination, which helps to purge the urinary tract. Dandelion’s potential side effects include allergic reactions, and it can also interact with some medications, including Ciprofloxacin, lithium, and diuretics, so talk to your healthcare provider if you take any of these.
