While UTIs (also known as cystitis) are infrequent and non serious in most people, sometimes clients come to me reporting they have lived with the misery of UTIs for years and even decades.
Fortunately, there are natural treatments for UTI which are safe, accessible & affordable. In fact, there’s much that can be done to alleviate the suffering of these infections without unwanted side effects… What a relief it is when my clients learn they don’t have to tolerate these uncomfortable infections!
What is a UTI?
A UTI (urinary tract infection) is an infection in any part of the urinary system, the kidneys, bladder or urethra.
While they’re more common for women, UTIs can affect men, too. UTIs can cause increased urge to urinate, painful urination, and sometimes blood can appear in the urine. Most UTIs are located in the bladder or urethra, more serious infections can involve the kidneys.
Why do UTIs happen?
There can be are a few factors involved in the dynamics driving chronic UTI.
For some, an impaired immune system makes the body more prone to recurring infections.
Diabetes can increase the risk for UTI, as can certain autoimmune diseases, also kidney or bladder stones.
Most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), although occasionally they can be caused by other bacterial strains such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, or Enterococcus faecalis. You can read more about common bacterial causes of UTI here.
E. coli bacteria are are a very sticky strain, allowing them to adhere to wall of the bladder, where they multiply and can cause an infection.
How to treat the early stages of a UTI naturally
First, monitor symptoms closely
UTIs can get serious real fast. If you have back pain, nausea, vomiting or fever, contact your doctor immediately.
Advanced UTIs are commonly treated with antibiotics.
Don’t choose “bandaid” treatments, ignoring the root cause of recurrent infection
For those who’ve suffered more than their fair share of UTIs in their lifetime, consider whether it’s time to chat to a health professional about the underlying cause. It may be that you need to address gut or immune imbalances, strengthen your immune system, or make diet and lifestyle changes, or maybe all of the above. Strong immune function is key to rebalancing microbes and avoiding bacterial overgrowth to the point where it becomes a serious concern.
Pay attention to hydration
As basic as it sounds, do make sure that something as simple as lack of hydration isn’t the main cause of your problems. Drinking plenty of clean water to stay hydrated and help to flush the infectious microbes from the body can’t be overlooked as a necessary strategy to good urinary tract health.
… Before you reach for the cranberry juice…
Many long time sufferers are familiar with cranberry juice as a household remedy, but I don’t recommend it’s use to treat a UTI. Usually very acidic and highly sweetened, cranberry juice can exacerbate the situation by feeding the microbes which are already overgrown.
Keep these two items in your home first aid kit
A better idea – at the very first “twinge” of a urinary infection with no prior signs – is to use a combination of d-mannose with the antibacterial herb uva ursi. You can continue using these two items for 1-2 weeks even after symptoms improve. If you choose to use this method, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor for urine culture if your symptoms don’t improve quickly.
For my clients who have a history of recurrent UTIs, I recommend they take 1000mg d-mannose daily as a preventive measure.
Important notes on uva ursi: Uva ursi is not safe for everyone (including children or individuals with liver disease – however they can still safely use d-mannose on its own which often works very well!). Additionally, when using uva ursi it’s important to make an effort to alkalize your urine temporarily to optimize the effectiveness of the herb (therefore, halt juices, coffees, teas, dairy and avoid ascorbic acid forms of vitamin C. Drink plain water, or slightly alkaline water). This is because uva ursi is believed to be more effective in treating UTIs naturally when used at an alkaline pH.
So what’s D-mannose? …. And what’s uva ursi?
D-mannose is a simple sugar that occurs naturally in the body. As it passes through the urinary tract, it clings to E. Coli, pulling it off the bladder wall allowing it to pass in urine. Impairing E. coli adhesion to the urinary tract wall bring natural relief for UTI through reducing the chance of E.Coli overgrowth.
Typically taken in powder form, d-mannose can be used as a safe & effective natural treatment for UTI.
Uva ursi is a herb which sometimes referred to as Bearberry. It has traditionally been used to help ease inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract. It’s also used for its immune boosting properties, ability to improve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and to approve the appearance of skin. Uva ursi isn’t suitable for everyone, however, so do check with your health care provider before using this herb as a natural treatment for UTI.
Both D-mannose and Uva Ursi can be purchased from the Joia Wellness online shop HERE. We ship Australia wide.
What about probiotics?
While certain probiotic strains (L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, B. bifidum for example) can be a helpful addition in treating UTI naturally, they may only help to reduce the incidence pf infection in someone who is suffering on a recurring basis.
Probiotics alone have not been shown to be reliably reduce UTI rates or to significantly halt an acute infection.
If you have concerns about UTI, your urinary tract health, or you’d like to know more about the products we’ve mentioned in this article, we recommend you book a free15 minute discovery call with us HERE.
