This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually harmless, but they’re annoying and painful. This could really make you miserable for a few days until the infection clears up. While a round of antibiotics knocks out most UTIs, you might want to choose a more natural treatment approach. Luckily, there are some natural remedies that could help clear out the infection. However, you should still visit your doctor before treating the infection yourself. UTIs could get more serious without treatment, so have your doctor examine you first. Then you can try these treatments from home to see if they help.
Steps
Recommended Home Treatments
While antibiotics are the go-to UTI treatment, there are a few natural ways to treat UTIs from home. Even if you take medication, your doctor will probably recommend taking the following steps to help yourself recover faster. After your doctor diagnoses you with a UTI, you can then take these steps to clear your UTI. If at any point your symptoms get worse or you don’t notice any improvement, then talk to your doctor for further treatment.
Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day to flush the bacteria out. Staying hydrated is the most important treatment for a UTI. While urinating may be uncomfortable, fluids flush the bacteria out of your urinary tract and clear the infection. Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day while your symptoms last to help your body heal.[1]- Water is the best thing to drink. Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, citrus fruit juices, and soda. These tend to irritate the urinary tract.[2]
- If you have a condition that prevents you from drinking a lot of liquid, like kidney failure or incontinence, speak to your doctor for other treatment options.
Urinate as soon as you feel the urge to. Holding your urine in allows bacteria to build up in your bladder and urethra, making the infection worse. Make sure you use the bathroom as soon as you have to so all the bacteria gets flushed out.[3]- This is also a good way to prevent UTIs in the first place. Don’t hold in your urine unless you have to. This prevents bacteria from settling in your bladder.
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Wear loose-fitting clothes to relieve pressure on your abdomen. Pressure on your abdomen or groin will be very uncomfortable while you have a UTI, and it could also push more bacteria into your bladder. Wear loose-fitting clothing and underwear until your infection clears up so you’re more comfortable.[4]- If you’re prone to UTIs, then wearing loose clothing all the time is a good idea. This helps prevent bacteria from getting trapped in your urinary tract.
Place a heating bad on your lower abdomen to relieve pain. A UTI could cause pain and discomfort in your lower abdomen. If you feel uncomfortable, try holding a heating pad on the painful areas for 15-20 minutes at a time to soothe the pain.[5]
Be patient while you wait for the infection to pass. Whether you’re treating your UTI naturally or with antibiotics, it’ll still take a few days to clear up. This is annoying and painful, but it will pass soon. Do your best to stay patient and wait for the symptoms to improve while you treat the infection.[6]- Try taking a few days off from work or school if you can. This way, you’ll be a lot more comfortable while the infection passes.
- If at any point your symptoms get worse, call your doctor to make sure the infection isn’t progressing.
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Natural Treatments That Might Work
In addition to recommended home treatments for UTIs, there are several herbal or dietary remedies that proponents claim can cure UTIs. In most cases, research is lacking, so these remedies probably won’t work for everyone. However, they should be safe to try, so you can see if they work for you. Just make sure to ask your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you take medications.
Drink one glass of unsweetened cranberry juice per day. This is the most common natural remedy for UTIs, though research is mixed on whether or not it’s effective. There’s no harm in trying it to see if it works for you, so have a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice each day while your infection lasts.[7]- There are also cranberry capsules or supplements that claim to prevent UTIs. Evidence is mixed on whether or not these are effective.
- Cranberries can interfere with blood-thinning medications like warfarin, so don’t drink cranberry juice if you’re on blood thinners.[8]
Take probiotics to fight the bacteria that cause UTIs. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus, can reduce E. Coli in the urinary tract and clear out harmful bacteria. This might help treat your UTI. Try taking a Lactobacillus supplement each day to see if your symptoms improve.[9]- Follow the dosing instructions on the product you use. A common dose is 10-20 billion cultures per day. This sounds like a lot, but each capsule contains several billion cultures.
- If you’re prone to UTIs, then taking a probiotic regularly might help prevent them.
Sip green tea to kill harmful bacteria. Green tea could introduce antibacterial compounds into your urine, which can kill the bacteria in your urinary tract. Try drinking 2-3 cups per day while your infection is active to see if this helps.[10]- Green tea contains some caffeine, so stop drinking it at least 3 hours before bed so you don’t have trouble sleeping.
Eat garlic or garlic extract to kill bacteria. Garlic is a well-known antimicrobial, and shows some success in treating UTIs. You can either eat raw garlic or take garlic extract oil orally. Either might help kill the infection.[11]- Suggested garlic dosages are 2-5 g of raw garlic and 2-5 mg of garlic oil.[12]
- Garlic could interact with blood thinners, so don't use high amounts without asking your doctor first.
Boost your vitamin C intake. Vitamin C supports your immune system, and there’s some evidence that it can kill bacteria in your urinary tract.[13] The recommended daily amount of vitamin C is 65-90 mg, which may help fight off the infection.[14]- Food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, bell peppers, leafy green vegetables, and berries. You can also get it from vitamin supplements.
Take d-Mannose supplements to fight E. Coli bacteria. D-Mannose is an enzyme that prevents E. Coli bacteria from sticking to your urinary tract. Evidence shows that this could be an effective treatment for UTIs. Try taking a daily d-Mannose supplement to see if this makes you feel better.[15]- Dosages range for 150 to 800 mg per day. Check the package instructions or ask your doctor for the best dosage.
- There aren’t any known interactions for d-Mannose, but it could cause bloating and diarrhea as a side effect.
Try bearberry extract. Bearberry extract (Uva Ursi) could be another effective antibacterial treatment for UTIs. Evidence shows that it might kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in your urinary tract.[16]- Doses for bearberry vary depending on the product. Common doses are between 400 and 800 mg.[17]
- Don’t take bearberry if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. The herb could affect a fetus or infant.
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Medical Takeaways
While antibiotics are the most effective treatment for UTIs, you can also take natural steps to help the infection clear. Your doctor will probably recommend some of these steps even if you’re taking medication. If you’d prefer to treat your infection naturally, then these remedies might help. However, home treatments aren’t a substitute for medical treatment. See your doctor if you think you have a UTI first, then try home remedies. Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse or you don’t see any improvement.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionCould a UTI prevent ejaculation?
Zora Degrandpre, NDDr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Natural Health DoctorIt is not very likely to prevent ejaculation, but it could make ejaculation and sexual activity uncomfortable and possibly painful. If sexual activity is painful, that could definitely inhibit ejaculation. - QuestionWill using a heating pad on my lower abdomen help heal a urinary tract infection?Zora Degrandpre, NDDr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Natural Health DoctorIt probably won't directly help you heal the urinary tract infection, but it can definitely help you feel more comfortable and definitely won't hurt you! - QuestionWill drinking water with baking soda flush out a UTI?Zora Degrandpre, NDDr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Natural Health DoctorDrinking water with baking soda will alkalinize the urine and can help with some UTIs. Stick with drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in each glass every day. Drinking lots of pure water can help also.
Tips
- You can also prevent UTIs by urinating when you feel the urge and after sex, wiping from front to back after a bowel movement, washing your genitals regularly, and staying hydrated.[18]Thanks
- Another common home remedy for UTIs is eating bananas. However, there isn't any evidence that this works, and bananas might even irritate your bladder and make UTIs more painful.[19]Thanks
Warnings
- It’s always important to see your doctor if you suspect you have a UTI because some STIs can appear as urinary tract infections. Your doctor can examine you and find the exact cause for your discomfort.[20]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/eating-diet-nutrition
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353453
- ↑ https://familydoctor.org/condition/urinary-tract-infections/
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/treatment
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/treatment
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections/management-and-treatment
- ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cranberry
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353453
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3622145/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684790/
- ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150710101332.htm
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/garlic.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784967/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-c/faq-20058030
- ↑ http://www.clinicsinsurgery.com/pdfs_folder/cis-v4-id2624.pdf
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/arctostaphylos-uva-ursi
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/uva-ursi.html
- ↑ https://familydoctor.org/condition/urinary-tract-infections/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14244-bladder-irritating-foods
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/uti.html
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