Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are characterized by a strong and sudden urge to urinate,
followed by a slow and painful release of very little urine.
UTI is also often accompanied by soreness in the lower abdomen,
back, or sides. While both men and women are susceptible to UTI, women suffer from it more often, with
half of all women experiencing it at least once in their life.
While the home remedies described below can be effective in many situations, you should consult with your doctor
if a urinary tract infection is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:
- Blood in the urine.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Fever.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary Tract Infections typically occur when the bladder and its exit tubes
get infected due to bacteria. The most common types of bacteria that lead to UTI are those
that live on the skin near the rectum, which can easily enter the urinary tract through
the urethra.
Another common cause of urinary tract infections is sexual intercourse, since bacteria in the vaginal area
can sometimes be massaged into the urethra by the movement of the penis. In rare cases, some women can get
UTI each time they have sex.
Waiting too long to urinate is also a common cause of bladder and urinary tract infections, since the bladder
can stretch beyond its capacity which weakens the bladder muscle. If this occurs often, the weakend bladder
will begin to have difficulty emptying itself, which results in urine being left in the bladder that can
lead to infections.
Finally, other factors such as pregnancy, menopause, and diabetes can also increase the risk of developing UTI.
Home Remedies and Natural Treatments for UTI
Drinking Water
One of the best home remedies for urinary tract infections is to simply drink lots of water. By drinking lots of fluids, you will force yourself to urinate more often, which will help your body flush out the bacteria that is causing the infection. A recommendation is to drink 6-8 large glasses of water per day.
Vitamin C
Increasing your daily Vitamin C intake can help increase the acidity of your urine, which can help
prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, if you suffer from frequent UTIs, taking 1000mg of Vitamin C per
day has been shown to be quite effective at preventing recurring infections.
NOTE: If you are taking antibiotics for a bladder infection, you should consult your doctor before
increasing your Vitamin C intake since some don't work well with highly acidic urine.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice contains high concentrations of Vitamin C and Quinolic Acid, both of which are known to help treat UTI since they help prevent bacteria from anchoring onto bladder walls. Therefore, if you have UTI, drinking 12 to 24 oz of cranberry juice can be very effective. As a preventive measure against urinary tract infections, drinking at least 3 oz per day works quite well.
Echinacea
Echinacea is an herb that contains a number of substances which help fight infections including UTI. You can either drink an Echinacea tea once per day after lunch or dinner, or consume high-quality 300mg Echinacea capsules or tablets once per day. Echinacea capsules can be found in many health stores.
I have pain every time I go to the bathroom. i used the product Azo but the pain is still there. Have a clumsy feeling.
I had several UTIs since I was young into my 20's. My bladder wasn't emptying fully all the time. The doctor tried stretching my urethra, but it was very painful. I finally had the surgery to enlarge my urethra and problem solved. I'm in my 60's now and rarely do I have a UTI. Please ask your doctor if you are suffering from too many UTIs.
I have infection that gets better when I take antibiotics. And after two weeks of treatment, it comes back again. Please help.
There is a magical homeopathic remedy called "Cantharis Vesicatoria". It is good for all UTI related issues. Look for the ones with potency: 200ck or 200c or 200X. It is available in variant potency but take 200 to begin with. Take 5 pellets twice a day for day 1. Then wait for two to three days to 1 week or more. If you feel lesser symptoms of UTI, do not repeat the medication further. If the symptoms come back, then use it again and use it only once a week or so. Over time the symptoms will go away. Google the name of the remedy for further information. Hope this helps. God bless.
Veronica, Try drinking 8-10 cups of water daily. Sometimes dehydration causes the burning sensation after urination. Also try drinking 2-3 cups of organic cranberry juice, NOT the one with added sugar. It helps with UTI or infection of the bladder. Drinking Barley water helps too.
I've been having this problem for a while now. I get burning sensation on my urethra every time after urinating, the sensation lasts for 3 to 5 minutes. What should I do, please help?
I have 4mm stone in kidney, I need a good advice.
My toddler who's 5, started having symptoms of an UTI infection about a week ago. Ever since she has been drinking lots of water as well as cranberry juice but it doesn't seem to be working. Do I use D-Mannose for prevention or treatment? And can one buy it from any pharmacy?
I have been prone to Urinary Tract Infections my whole life. I've probably tried every home remedy that I could find out on the market today! DO NOT drink Cranberry Cocktail, there's a lot of sugar in it and it will just aggravate your condition further. Cranberry Juice has a dry taste for me, so I haven't always been a huge fan of it. The Lady Soma cranberry Concentrate is a great alternative - I take it in the morning when I take my regular vitamins. I have made it part of my regular routine so that my body is prepared if another Urinary Tract Infection is lurking in the shadows. These pills are small and easy to swallow as well as doesn't have any taste. Good Luck!
Shawn, it seems like you may have UTI. Take Vitamin C and drink lots of water. Also, drinking 2-3 glasses of cranberry juice throughout the day always helps me. I put 3 glasses of cranberry juice in a jug and fill the rest of the jug with water and finish it by the end of my workday. If you don't feel better in a couple of days, you should go see a doctor. Hope it helps!