Urinary tract infection or UTI is one of the most common health problems faced by people today. This painful infection is 10 times more prevalent in women than in men, with almost 50 percent of females experiencing this condition at least once during their lifetime. Once you have experienced UTI, it tends to recur. Pregnancy, intercourse, menopause, holding urine for prolonged periods of time, etc., are the most common triggers for this infection. Usually, UTI is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, frequent urge to urinate, and a burning sensation while urinating. While doctors often prescribe antibiotics to treat this condition, there are many home remedies that can not only ease the symptoms of UTI but also prevent the intermittence of this painful ordeal in the future.
1. Baking Soda
2. Indian Gooseberry
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
4. Blueberry
5. Cranberry Juice
6. Pineapple
7. Water
8. Hot Water Compress
9. Tea Tree Oil
10. Uva Ursi
11. Yogurt
12. Goldenseal
13. Vitamin C-Rich Foods
14. Parsley Tea
15. Green Tea
Here are 15 of the most effective home remedies for UTI:
Baking soda exhibits properties that help fight UTI.
Mix one spoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it.
You can drink this concoction as frequently as possible.
Baking soda is alkaline in nature and helps neutralize the acidity of your urine when you are suffering from UTI (1). If your urine is less acidic, you will experience lesser pain and burning while urinating.
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Amla is an age-old ayurvedic remedy for a variety of ailments. Its antioxidant properties also help fight UTI.
Consume this natural concoction thrice daily for five days and watch the symptoms of UTI recede.
Indian gooseberry, popularly known as amla, contains generous doses of vitamin C, an antioxidant useful in relapsing UTI (2). Vitamin C is known to restrict the growth of bacteria responsible for UTI, in addition to keeping the bladder healthy.
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From shiny hair to pimple-free skin, there are numerous wonders that apple cider vinegar (ACV) is capable of, including the treatment of UTI.
Mix two tablespoons of ACV with lemon juice, honey, and water. Drink the concoction.
Drink this healthy concoction twice a day till the infection clears.
ACV is chock full of essential enzymes and nutrients such as potassium that inhibit bacteria that cause UTI to thrive (3). ACV is also rich in acetic acid that promotes the growth of good bacteria and kills the bad bacteria.
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There are many studies that tout the benefits of blueberries for preventing and fighting UTI.
Blueberries (whole or juiced)
Since blueberries are antioxidant powerhouses, it’s a good idea to make them a permanent inclusion in your daily diet, even after the infection clears.
Why This Works
As per a study by the New England Journal of Medicine, the compounds called proanthocyanidins contained in blueberries prevent the E.coli bacteria from getting stuck to the walls of the urinary tract, thereby fighting UTI (4). Making blueberry a part of your daily diet can also help prevent the recurrence of UTI.
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Cranberries, another member of the berry family, are also excellent for treating UTI, especially in their juiced form.
Juiced cranberries
Drink at least four glasses of cranberry juice every day until the infection clears.
Cranberries too contain proanthocyanidins that prevent the E.coli bacteria from crossing the urethra walls (5). They also possess antibiotic properties that help fight infections.
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If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics to treat your UTI, supplementing the drugs with a daily dose of pineapple can expedite the process of recovery.
Eat at least one cup of pineapple every day until the infection clears.
As per the University of Michigan Health System, the enzyme bromelain in pineapple enhances the effect of the antibiotic treatment of urinary tract infections (6).
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Water is the foundation of life, yet it is the most underrated remedy for a variety of health concerns, including UTI.
Water
To prevent this infection, you need to drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
Drink eight ounces of water every hour, every day until the infection clears.
Possibly the simplest and the most effective remedy for UTI is water. Drinking plain water is essential as it flushes out the UTI-causing bacteria from your system by stimulating urination (7).
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Hot water compress, if used regularly, reduces the pressure on the bladder and, in turn, provides relief from the pain caused by urinary infection.
Follow this procedure twice every day until the discomfort lowers.
Hot water compress aids muscle relaxation and lessens discomfort experienced during urination.
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While bathing, using soaps, bath salts, shower creams, etc., can cause urethral irritation and worsen your urinary infection. Using tea tree oil in your bath is, however, a good idea.
Tea tree oil
Follow this procedure twice every day until the infection clears.
A research study published in an issue of the Clinical Microbiology Reviews reported that tea tree oil has remarkable antibacterial properties and can even work as an alternative treatment to antibiotics (9). This oil has the capability of fighting bacteria like E. coli, Mycobacterium avium ATCC 4676, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. E. coli is one of the most common bacteria responsible for UTIs.
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Uva ursi is a popular herb that possesses remarkable therapeutic as well as curative benefits that help treat UTI.
Enjoy this tea two to three times a day until the infection clears. Ensure you consult your doctor before consuming it.
Embrace the goodness of Ayurveda and you’ll never be disappointed. Uva ursi has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that treat and prevent UTI (10).
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One of the best (and tastiest) ways to keep both your bowel and bladder in good health is to ensure that your daily diet comprises at least one serving of yogurt.
Plain yogurt
Enjoy a bowl of yogurt after every meal.
Since yogurt is good for overall health, make this a fixed inclusion in your daily diet.
Why This Works
Yogurt contains probiotics that increase the concentration of good bacteria in your body while warding off the bad bacteria (11). Yogurt is a great diet supplement when you are consuming antibiotics for UTI treatment as the antibiotics can create a shortage of good bacteria in your system.
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Goldenseal capsules/liquid extract
You can buy an over-the-counter goldenseal capsule or its liquid extract from a drugstore and consume it as prescribed.
Seek your doctor’s approval on the frequency and the amount of goldenseal you can consume.
The compound berberine contained in goldenseal has the same effect on our body as proanthocyanidins contained in cranberries and blueberries. Berberine prevents bacteria from sticking to the urethral walls, and thus prevents and treats UTI (12). If you’re already suffering from UTI, consume goldenseal along with your dosage of antibiotics for best results.
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As already established, vitamin C plays a huge role in helping treat UTI.
Vitamin-C rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, papayas, broccoli, etc.
Enjoy one serving of vitamin-C rich foods daily.
Stick to one serving of citrus fruits every day until the infection clears. Too much acid in your urine can increase the pain and burning sensation during urination.
Foods such as oranges, berries, leafy greens, and bell peppers help acidify the urine and inhibit the growth of bacteria in your urinary tract (13).
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Parsley tea is another effective home remedy to treat and prevent UTI.
Drink this tea twice a day every day until the infection clears.
Why This Works
Owing to its high flavonoid content, parsley tea contains rich anti-inflammatory properties that help fight inflammation. When used in your regular tea preparation, parsley acts as a great diuretic and thereby rids your body of infection-causing bacteria (14).
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It’s no secret that green tea holds the reputation for being the single cure for a hoard of health troubles. Add UTI to that list.
Brew a cup of green tea and have it every morning and evening. Try opting for the de-caffeinated variant.
Drink this tea twice a day every day until the infection clears.
A study conducted by Frontiers in Microbiology in 2013 observed the antimicrobial activity of the catechins EGC on E.coli bacteria responsible for UTI (15). This research proved that a daily cup of green tea can not only help fight UTI but also prevent its recurrence.
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UTIs most often result due to bacteria present in the digestive system that trigger infection when they enter the urethra. The most common urinary tract infections affect the bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis), ureters (ureteritis), and kidneys (pyelonephritis).
The home remedies and tips for urinary tract infections mentioned above help a great deal in preventing the infection. However, if you’re experiencing common UTI symptoms such as increased urge to urinate, a burning sensation while urinating, cramping, and cloudy urine for more than two days, don’t put off seeing a doctor. Without proper medical intervention, UTI can infect the kidneys and lead to a more serious medical condition. Maintain proper hygiene and good dietary habits. Exercise daily, at least for half an hour, to keep UTI at bay.
Have you ever tried any of these remedies for UTI? Have they worked for you? Do let us know about your experience by leaving a comment below.