Easy and Effective Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection

August 17, 2024

Do you always feel your hand always going down to itch your vaginal area? If yes, then you should definitely need to evaluate your hygiene and vaginal health.

In addition to this, if you also have pain and a burning feeling while urination then there are high chances that you are having UTI i.e., Urinary Tract Infection.

Did this scare you? Relax! It's not just you. About 50-60% of women develop Urinary Tract Infections in their lifetime. [1] UTI is one of the most common bacterial infections that one faces in one's lifetime.

After knowing its frequency, now the question arises what do you generally opt for as a treatment?

Antibiotics, right! You start with an antibiotic initially and get some relief. Then you again get infected and choose the same antibiotic in the hope that it will cure the infection in the same way. Which it does, but this time it took a bit longer. Now, repeat this cycle multiple times in your mind.

After multiple infections, the medicine stops working and you now get severe symptoms. Why does this happen, even after taking the advised medicines on time? This is because your infection-causing bacteria have now become resistant to your antibiotics and now have stopped responding. Above this, your own bacterial growth that protects your urinary tract is damaged or dead after consuming antibiotics.

Hence, now your good bacteria colony is unfortunately dead and there is no army that can fight and resist the foreign bacteria.

Then what can one do to get relief from Urinary Tract Infection, without taking antibiotics? This blog is written to cover this topic only. I will give you the tips and tricks to get you out of this UTI cycle and what can be Urinary Tract Infections causes. So get yourself ready and keep reading this blog with me.

What is Urinary Tract Infection?

Urinary Tract Infection means that there is an infection in your urinary system including

Bladder- an organ that collects and stores urine.

Urethra- a tube that takes urine from your bladder out of the body.

It is an infection in the urinary tract that begins at the urethra on the bottom, but if it is not treated, it moves up toward the kidneys. This is why it's important to deal with this problem immediately.

Urinary Tract Infection Causes

People on the internet will tell you that this problem is caused by an issue with your personal hygiene or by frequent intercourse, but this is not the case.

UTI is caused mostly by E. coli bacteria that live in the colon and are ejected when you excrete. As a result, the anal region contains a high concentration of E. coli. Because the distance between the anus and the urethra is short in women, E. coli can migrate to the urethra more easily and quickly. When E. coli enters the urethra, it multiplies in the urine and causes urinary tract infections.

But, you must be thinking that why did the E.coli bacteria attack you? The reason E.coli is attacking you is that your immunity is weak. If you want to be certain that it is an immune-related illness, another symptom is that you are prone to fever, cough, and cold.

Other Factors that can lead to Urinary Tract Infections include

Frequent Sexual Intercourse
Pregnancy
Post-Menopause
Poor Hygiene

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

Some Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms are

Urination that causes pain or burning.
A continuous urge to urinate but little urine comes out.
Your lower abdomen feels tight.
Urine that smells unpleasant, and seems cloudy.
Urine with blood in it. These occur in younger women in severe cases.
Feeling exhausted, uneasy, confused, or weak. More older ladies tend to experience this.
Being feverish could indicate that the infection has spread to your kidneys.

Usually, a UTI is not serious and goes away in two to three days after treatment. Sometimes, more serious conditions might be noticed in pregnant women, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.

Urinary Tract Infection Home Remedies

Eat Probiotic Foods

Consume probiotics. Foods like beet kvass, kefir, kimchi, buttermilk, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and others promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut while pushing away bad bacteria. Bad bacteria replace healthy bacteria in the urinary system when you have a UTI. Probiotics can assist in keeping the urinary tract healthy and free of dangerous bacteria that bind to urinary tract cells. [2]

Beet Kvass Recipe- Cut the beetroot into cubes and add them to a glass jar. Add Himalayan or pink salt to the jar according to your taste. You can also add ginger, lemon, or oranges for extra flavor and Vitamin C benefits. Now add water to it, leaving 1 inch of headspace to the jar cover. Keep it at room temperature till you see the bubbles in the jar. You can taste it before storing it. Whenever it tastes according to your liking. Filter the liquid and store it in the refrigerator for consumption.

Drink Plenty of Water

Throughout the day, drinking water or other liquids helps your body flush away bacteria. Despite the discomfort that comes with a UTI, it's essential to consume enough fluids, especially water. The average adult should aim to consume 2.5 to 3 liters of water per day.

Drinking more will increase urination, which can help remove harmful bacteria from the urinary tract. [3]

Do not hold your Pee

Your urinary tract's bacteria can grow if you hold your urine or ignore the desire to urinate. As a general rule, always go to the toilet when you have the need. [4]

It's important to always pee after sex, especially if you have a vagina, and to make sure that you completely empty your bladder when you urinate. If you do, it's also necessary to wipe from front to back after urinating.

Remain Clean and Dry

Women should clean from front to back, particularly after using the toilet. This prevents bacteria from entering the urethra. Wear loose-fitting garments and underwear to allow air to circulate and maintain the urethra dry. Wearing tight jeans or materials like nylon can cause moisture to be trapped, causing bacteria to grow.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C increases urine acidity, decreases E. coli growth, and improves immune function. Vitamin C is also important in the treatment of urinary tract infections during pregnancy. Researchers discovered that giving pregnant women vitamin C for three months reduced urine infections and improved their health. [5]

Some good sources of Vitamin C are

Broccoli
Amla
Cauliflower

Zinc

The role of zinc in our immune system may benefit the treatment of bacterial disorders such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). Zinc promotes the fight against harmful bacteria in the body and enhances the overall health of the immune system. [6]

A word of caution: Zinc can also cause toxicity in the body as it depletes the copper level in the body. Therefore, it is essential to take copper supplementation along with Zinc.

If you are unable to find a good zinc supplement in the market, you can opt for Triple Thyroid Care which contains Zinc along with Copper and other ingredients in a single supplement, so you do not have to buy a variety of different supplements.

Triple Thyroid Care

Garlic

One of the active ingredients in freshly crushed raw garlic is allicin which has a number of anti-bacterial properties. Allicin has been discovered to have antibacterial action in its pure form against a variety of bacteria, including E. coli. Additionally, garlic is anti-fungal, particularly when it comes to yeast infection. [7]

Clove Oil

The anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties of clove oil make it an effective remedy for treating UTIs. Another advantage of clove oil is that it has anti-inflammatory effects, which are used to reduce pain and speed up healing. [8] It is possible to take cloves for two weeks at a time, but I advise that you do it under the supervision of a nutritionist.

Use a Heating Pad

Applying a heating pad to your lower belly can reduce some of the pain that comes with a UTI and help you avoid multiple bathroom visits that can result in painful burning.

D-Mannose

D-mannose is a sugar that is similar to glucose. It's on this list of home treatments for UTI because it can keep certain germs from attaching to the urinary tract's walls. You're probably wondering how sugar can assist and serve as a protective agent. Right?

After consuming D-mannose-containing meals such as cranberries or supplements, your body removes waste products through the kidneys and into the urine tract. It can attach to any E. coli bacteria that may be present in the urinary system. As a result, the bacteria can't connect to cells and infect them. [9]

You can take UTI Releif which contains D-Mannose in a liposomal form which means it gets absorbed by the body easier.

UTI Symptoms Precautions

Urinary tract infections that are not problematic usually resolve within two to three days of treatment. However, serious UTIs demand extended treatment, typically ranging from seven to fourteen days. A complex UTI usually occurs in someone who has a weaker immune system due to another illness, such as diabetes, obstructive kidney stones, or an enlarged prostate. Pregnant women are also at risk of developing complex UTIs. If you have a weaker immune system and experience UTI symptoms, consult your doctor or go to a clinic for a urine test. Untreated UTIs can lead to the spread of bacteria, which can lead to serious consequences.

Conclusion

About 20% of women experience recurrent UTIs, and 50% of women experience at least one UTI in their lifetime.

The majority of UTI infections are caused by a bacteria named E.Coli.

Wearing Loose Fitted clothes can help you keep the urethra dry.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by creatures too small to view without a microscope, such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

UTI symptoms include peeing pain and a burning feeling, muscular aches, cloudy urine, and abdominal pain.

Antibiotics are the most common treatment for UTIs in clinics, although antibiotic resistance increases the risk of repeated infections.

Women who are sexually active, pregnant or postmenopausal women, and people with weakened immune systems are all at risk of acquiring UTIs.

Cranberries, raw garlic, probiotics, vitamin C, and D- Mannose are some of the home treatments for UTIs that are accessible. Essential oils of clove, and may also assist to suppress bacterial development.

Toilet habits such as thoroughly cleaning yourself after using the toilet or sexual intercourse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are UTIs more common in Women than Men?

Women are more likely to get this infection as compared to men because the urethra in women is considerably shorter than men: 1.5 inches for women and 8 inches for men.