Having some natural home remedies for UTI fast relief that you can use at any time is an important preventative measure to take. This is especially important if you are trying to treat or prevent a UTI without having to resort to antibiotics.
Almost everyone will go through the unpleasant experience of a urinary tract infection at some point. Needing to pee three times an hour and experiencing excruciating pain every time you do is not fun. Sometimes there might be blood in the urine but that is not always the case. If you are experiencing some of these symptoms and you think you may have a UTI, using UTI test strips is a quick and easy way to find out for sure.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) can be quite dangerous if left untreated. There are a number of natural UTI remedies that you can use at home to help ease the symptoms when they first flare up. Sometimes if you can start on these home remedies right away, you can cure the UTI infection without antibiotics for UTI. However, if your symptoms get worse, seek medical help.
Prevention is Essential
If that wasn’t bad enough, urinary tract infections are a reoccurring problem. A lot of patients will experience multiple UTIs in their lifetime, each one just as painful. But there are a lot of different preventative measures that can be taken such as having some home remedies for UTI handy. In addition there are other things you can do to avoid getting a UTI in the first place.
For instance, since we know that sexual intercourse is one of the causes of UTIs, then urinating after sex can help prevent this from occurring.
Paying attention to what you eat is another good preventative measure that you should take. Avoid foods that are high in sugar as well as highly acidic foods. If it makes your pee burn, then you should not eat or drink it.
Avoid holding in your pee because that can also lead to infections. Squatting while peeing can help empty your bladder completely.
Make sure that you drink plenty of water. It helps to dilute your urine and will help you pee more frequently so that all of that nasty bacterium is flushed out of your body.
Don’t wear tight clothes or underwear as it will create an environment of sweat and moisture that bacteria thrive in. Give the area around your genitals room to breathe and air out.
10 Natural Home Remedies For UTI Fast Relief
Without further ado, here are the 10 best home remedies for UTI that you can use to help relieve the symptoms of UTIs. Try these remedies first and see if you get relief without having to take antibiotics. However if the problem persists, then you need to seek medical help.
#1: Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking plenty of water every day will definitely help prevent urinary tract infections. But what about when you already feel the onset of one? At this time, you should drink even more water in order to flush the bacteria out of your system. This is always the first step to treating a UTI, even if you plan on going to the doctor. In a lot of cases, if you start drinking a lot of water at the first signs of an infection, then it will heal before it gets extremely painful.
In order to stay properly hydrated, you should drink water all through the day. Always drink when you are thirsty. This will not only prevent your risk of contracting a UTI, but it can relieve symptoms if you start soon enough.
#2: Take Vitamin C
There is a lot of evidence that shows a correlation between vitamin C and a decrease in the risk of UTI. Vitamin C will boost your body’s ability to kill the bacterium that causes an infection. In 2007, a study showed that pregnant women who took Vitamin C everyday experienced a decrease in the risk of a urinary tract infection.
You can take supplements or eat certain fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C like red peppers, grapefruit, and oranges.
#3: Drink 100% Natural Cranberry Juice
You must find 100% natural cranberry juice. Cranberry juice cocktail that contains sugar will make the infection worse. If you don’t want to drink the juice, you can go the route of taking cranberry pills. They are said to be just as effective.
With that said, cranberries naturally prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. Thus, naturally preventing infection. Use this along with the other remedies listed in this post for the best results. While we know that cranberry juice is healthy for our urinary tract, we are not 100% sure of whether or not it can actually offset an infection. The effectiveness may depend on the individual person’s gut flora .
#4: Try Probiotics
Probiotics are microorganisms that are beneficial to our health and usually found in supplements. They promote digestive health, including a reduction in the risk of urinary tract infections. So I recommend that you start taking probiotics as soon as the first symptoms of UTI start to set in. The sooner you start taking them, the more likely it is that the UTI will not get worse. Probiotics are just one of many great home remedies for UTI.
Here is a study that shows Lactobacillus is helpful in prevention of the onset of UTIs in women. This is one of the most common strains of probiotic.
Whatever the case, we can see that probiotics are a great deterrent to UTIs.
#5: Try Other Supplements
There are even more supplements that have been shown to help offset the symptoms of UTIs.
· Cranberry Extract: This works in the same way as drinking cranberry juice, but its impact is multiplied when taken as a supplement.
· Garlic Extract: Garlic has a ton of bacteria-prevention qualities. It can keep bacteria from growing, thus preventing the spread of UTIs.
· Bearberry Leaf: When taken regularly, this supplement has been shown to decrease the chances of a UTI reoccurring. It can also help keep symptoms from worsening.
· D-Mannose: This is the type of sugar that you will find in cranberries, making it a natural deterrent to UTIs.
· Cinnamon: This is an amazing antimicrobial that will help treat an infection. You can find this as capsules in most health stores or on Amazon.
·Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules:This supplement can help detoxify the kidneys and boost the immune system.
#6: Changes to your Diet
This method will only work if you start it immediately after experiencing the initial symptoms. Even though you should probably take more active measures, increasing the pH level of your urine will help to stave off infections.
Stop eating highly acidic foods like sugar, soda and coffee while introducing more leafy greens into your diet. An alkaline diet is not only great for warding off UTIs, but is also great for preventing a host of other diseases as well. With that in mind, it’s worth noting that eating too much sugary fruit can actually make a urinary tract infection worse. Avoid all kinds of sugar(even natural sugar) as well as most grains during this period. Instead, increase your intake of garlic and onions. These foods have natural antibacterial properties.
#7: Red Clover Blossom
This herb is one of the most highly sought after for good reason. It has the potential to detoxify the body so it can offset infections if you start taking it early enough. Red clover blossom is an antiseptic that will eradicate bacteria that causes a UTI.
#8: Baking Soda Water
This might sound a bit weird, but baking soda is a great remedy when you are suffering from a urinary tract infection. Baking soda is actually one of the most common home remedies for UTI. It changes the pH of your urine to make it more alkaline. Bacteria find it hard to survive in this environment. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water. Drink it once a day for a few days on an empty stomach. This will help cleanse your urinary tract, relieve symptoms, and prevent future infections.
#9: Take a Sitz Bath with Apple Cider Vinegar
If you start to feel the onset of an UTI, then start taking a 20-30 minute sitz bath with apple cider vinegar every day. Apple cider vinegar is known for its antibacterial properties. Add a cup of organic apple cider vinegar to the warm bath water; it will enhance the healing effects of your sitz bath. To take a sitz bath, sit upright with just enough water to cover your hips. This will also relieve the pain that comes with a UTI.
#10: Essential Oils
Essential oils are said to help support your immune system so that it can more effectively ward off infection. Citrus oils and Lemongrass are good for urinary health as well as Thieves essential oil. Research about the antibacterial properties of essential oils is ongoing. Here is one study that shows the antibacterial effects of lemongrass against harmful bacteria. There are other essential oils that have immune boosting and antimicrobial properties as well. These include: tea tree oil, frankincense, oregano(has been shown to halt the growth of e.coli), clove, and juniper berry. When using essential oils on the skin, be sure to dilute them first. You can also get a diffuser and use them as aromatherapy.
Final Thoughts
These 10 natural home remedies for UTI will help relieve the symptoms and the pain quickly. Most of these remedies work better as a preventative measure so you need to use them as soon as you experience the first symptoms of a UTI.
Using a heating pad can also be helpful to reduce swelling in the area and relieve pain. But if the pain or your symptoms worsen, then you should seek medical attention right away. In some cases natural remedies may not be enough. If the UTI gets out of hand, antibiotics may be necessary to clear up the infection. UTIs left untreated can lead to serious health issues if not addressed properly. Better to be safe than sorry, take a trip to the doctor if needed.
Elena Daisley is a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist (MT, ASCP certified) with over 10 years of experience in the medical field. She holds bachelor’s degrees in both Biology and Laboratory Science from the University of Central Florida. Elena enjoys helping others on their journey to healthier living.