Effective Natural UTI Remedies for Quick Relief

MULTI-PRONGED TREATMENT

After experiencing a burning, urgent, painfully swollen, agonizing UTI two nights ago, I relieved the symptoms in a matter of hours (approximately 2 to 5-6 hours) using a multi-faceted treatment (see below). Previous remedies I have used include cranberry juice and D-mannose, but they never worked after the 2nd or 3rd time, and I don't like taking antibiotics as they upset the gut biome.

Imo, my UTI'S are a result of an overload of bacteria from excessive sugar consumption (including alcohol, although I personally don't drink) that tips me into the UTI state (pre-diabetic, perhaps, too?). Perhaps those who contract UTIs after sex have a reaction to the bacteria/alcohol glucose in their partner's body fluids?

In any case, I believe that when a person ingests enough “bitter” supplements/food as listed below, those supplements swing the urine PH from acidic to alkaline and help eliminate the horrible, aggravating UTI symptoms.

Here is the protocol I used:

STEP ONE:
– take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water
– take 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in a 1/2 cup of water (ugh!)
– sit in a bath in 1/2 cup of baking soda mixed into very hot bath water; afterwards, with a towel, wash vaginal area with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in warm water; rinse again with warm water if it stings
– drink a STRONG cup of dandelion or Uva Ursa (or green if you don't have the first two) tea

STEP TWO:
about half an hour later:
– take 3 drops of oregano herb in a 1/2 cup of water
– take 20 to 30 drops of golden seal herb in a cup of water

STEP THREE:
a few minutes later
– eat 1 clove of minced garlic mixed into 1-2 tablespoons of sauerkraut (preferably the probiotic/refrigerated kind you buy at the health food store)
– take 1 probiotic capsule

STEP FOUR:
about 20 – 30 minutes later:
– take several Vitamin C tablets or capsules
– * put a few drops of Frankincense oil on a menstrual pad or tissue inside your underwear — believe it or not this helps create a healing mentholatum sensation!
– mix a couple of drops of Frankincense oil into some olive, castor, or coconut oil and rub onto lower pelvic area and kidneys

Obviously, you'll want to make sure that you have most of these items in the house at all times. I don't think the order of the protocol matters, but I believe that the substances' bitter qualities — especially the oregano and golden seal herbs — help create an extreme alkaline state in the urine that helps kill off the offending bacteria. As with drinking extremely strong green teas, you can taste the bitterness in your mouth with these herbs so you can imagine what they do to your entire body system.

RESULTS:

From an agonizing 2-4 hours starting at 11 pm one evening to about 4 am that morning, my symptoms improved so much that I could finally fall sleep in relative comfort without needing antibiotics. I awoke the next morning with no pain and on PH strips my urine's PH had changed from the previous night's light yellow to med/light green (you can buy PH strips to test your urine- it's very easy to do). I am continuing the protocol and will for the next week or so.

People should be aware that baking soda can increase one's blood pressure and, imo, they should be careful not to take more herb drops than directions on the bottle indicate. Also, if one experiences chills or fevers or aching kidneys or blood in the urine, she/he should go immediately to emergency hospital as that indicates a more serious infection.

This protocol could be repeated over the next 2 or 3 days (cutting back on baking soda and the herbs by half, perhaps) and then by half or less each day for at least another week or so.

* As a precaution from now on, I am going to carry cranberry tablets in my purse to take immediately whenever I have “cheated” on my mostly plant-based diet by consuming too much sugar when eating out. If at home, I will make sure to take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or baking soda or golden seal in water immediately after having a sugary treat. I hope to never have a return of a UTI again! My heart deeply goes out to all the poor women in the third world who suffer from this condition and who have no access to these herbal remedies or antibiotics.

Hi EC, Urinary Tract Infection. I'm male, so the last 2" of penis stings, hurts like crasy. Don't ask how I got it but it wasn't sex. No sleep, off to the toilet every hour or less for pain and dribbles so next day began drinking water – have never liked it “ plus ACV with Bicarb Soda, Horsetail [Equisetum arvense] tea, Fenugreek tea. Bought a grapefruit and ate ‚ 1/4 before bed. Next day tossed my jockey shorts and wore boxer shorts. Dreamed there must be a reasonable antibiotic by now, they've had enough time, practice and money and went to see a doc at the hospital [corporation] in Thailand. They had a new blood pressure machine that flashes a big red light if it's over their fear figures. I wanted to tell them my BP, 134/70, was lovely - no, no, go down lower. Ha! Saw doc for 30 seconds, true. They did the urine test and found too many white blood cells, so said, your bladder is OK but your penis tract is infected, so eat this, Ofloxacin and Buscopan.

I looked them up and thought, what is it doctors have against other humans. Anyway they eased the pain and I could sleep. I keep in the fridge a packet of Infloran, a German acidophilus that restores the good bacteria taken 2 hours after antibiotics. I started drinking lots of water, plus the ACV, Horsetail, Ginger tea and took a slightly heaped tsp of bicab soda before bed, and 2000 Vit. C powder before bed. I'm 80 and eat vegybubbles, some grains but no dairy, meat, sugar and all the other chemically infested stuff. Pain's gone, I pee lovely and sleep. Stopped the antibiotic and pain and sphincter relaxant after two days, will wait to see if symptoms return due to "rebound" addiction.

Will write if it worked. John

I am a 46-year old white female (I wouldn't mention my skin colour except that EC suggests it can be useful for readers to know). I am now in good health, 5'7" and weigh +/- 140lbs. I'm writing this post after 18 months of taking charge of my own health, with a lot of help from this site. I hope my comments help some of you looking for relief.

I had many yeast infections in my 20s but I first experienced a bladder infection only in my mid thirties. Took the usual course of antibiotics, only to have recurrence a few weeks later. A new sexual partner seemed to be the cause. Infection followed infection, and the doctors, including a bladder specialist, were mystified. After painful and invasive testing and many agonizing weekends spent waiting for help in clinics, I was put on a daily low dose of antibiotics. This was a great relief as I could not have sex without getting an infection within hours. Travel was a nightmare as I didn't have access to my usual doctor, and any sort of stress seemed to bring on infections as well. Even the smell of red wine seemed to trigger that stinging pain in my urethra (so stopped drinking that right away of course). Very little was said to me about diet, and as a vegetarian of almost 15 years I thought I was doing ok on the health front.

Fast forward ten years and while I was no longer on the daily antibiotics I had great sensitivity in my urethra. Sex was still a trigger, even with drinking lots of water, urinating right before and after sex, washing with perfume-free soap right before and after sex, and getting my partner to do the same. Even minor health issues - colds and viruses, PMS, stress at work - seemed to trigger that tingling pain in that part of my body. My sex drive was almost zero as I expected to pay the inevitable price if I had intercourse. I was frustrated but resigned. No doctors had been able to help me.

But 18 months ago, when my keratosis pilaris stopped responding to the over-the-counter lotions I had been using for 20 years, I decided to take my health into my own hands. I took a good look at myself. I was about 155 pounds, with a large behind, thick middle, and sagging jawline. My hair was rapidly going grey, my face was lined and exhausted, and I had no energy. Although my bloodwork came back as normal I felt as though I was on the fast track to a serious illness. Both my parents had died young of cancer and had had multiple health problems throughout their lives. It was time to stop hoping that conventional medicine could help me. I made my KP my test project to learn about and improve my health. I never expected that my journey would help me to manage my bladder infections/interstitial cystitis as well.

Thanks to all the amazing people who have posted to this site I learned a lot about the relationship between food and skin. I stopped eating virtually all processed foods, and started eating more raw vegetables, including lots of spinach and kale (organic whenever possible), and good fats, especially organic eggs, olive oil, avocados, nuts, also organic wild salmon (thus making me no longer a vegetarian). I cut down dramatically on sugar, anything with white flour (and breads in general), and alcohol. I had been drinking white wine almost every day but that is no longer the case, and I would say the quality of my health depends on not drinking more than once or twice a week. I also began eating at least a tablespoon of virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil every day, mixed in to my coffee or just gulping down a spoonful. And the very first thing I consume most mornings is the juice of half a lemon squeezed into a glass of room temperature water. (This helps to make the body alkaline, which can help with fighting infection generally, and in the bladder specifically.)

I began dry brushing, almost every day, and oil pulling, almost every day, with virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil. I also gave up almost all commercially produced lotions and skin creams, and only use coconut oil as a moisturizer and sunscreen in the summer (adding heavier oils, such as rose hip, in the winter as my skin is dry).

The success stories on this site encouraged me to be excited about these changes in my diet but the most encouraging thing was my body. Dry brushing feels fantastic, and oil pulling clarifies the skin and makes the teeth bright white. To my astonishment, my burn-prone skin, which was developing darker pigmentation around my mouth and on my chin, has rarely burned since I stared using organic coconut oil, and the pigmentation has disappeared. I attribute this to the absence of chemical-saturated lotions and sunscreens, and to the twice-daily application of coconut oil to my skin.

My keratosis pilaris has 80% disappeared. The bumps are greatly diminished and the redness is gone except if I happen to eat a lot of wheat, dairy, or drink a lot of alcohol. So I would say that my dietary and skin routine changes are healing my skin but they are a permanent choice for managing the problem rather than a 'cure' that allows one to go back to unhealthy habits.

My dietary changes also helped me to lose 15 pounds and gain new energy and optimism. I believe the dry brushing helps greatly with skin tone too and to a limited extent helps with cellulite. I recently celebrated my 46th birthday, but several people I've met over the last few months said they thought that I was 5-10 years younger than that. My facial wrinkles and skin sagging have by no means vanished but have definitely diminished. My grey hair remains the same : )

Along the way I began to rethink my bladder issues as part of the general health picture of my life. I had read enough on this site to know that all health problems are related, and most stem from diet or exposure to toxic substances. As I child, I was given multiple courses of penicillin, sometimes for weeks at a time, for even minor ailments such as colds. From my research on this and other sites, I realized that these massive doses of antibiotics had probably affected my body permanently, with my propensity to bladder and yeast infections as one effect. What I learned is that after even 3 bladder infections the lining of the bladder is cracked and damaged, which prevents the naturally-occuring e-coli bacteria from flushing out, as it gets stuck in the cracks. Hence why we keep getting the infections, and why as soon as the antibiotics are done they come back.

The supplements I now take daily are with a view to countering my 'normal' state of fragility because of all the antibiotics taken in childhood, and in my thirties and early forties, and the damage to my bladder lining from more than 30 bladder infections. I experimented with doses until I found what seems right for me.

2 capsules of multi-probiotic (10-strain formula), morning and night, and at ANY sign of tingling in the urethra or dull pain in the bladder, always with a lot of water

2 buffered cranberry extract (D-Mannose) tablets before sex, and after sex, always with a lot of water

Morning, with food:

1 1000mg tablet of buffered Vitamin C

1 575mg tablet of Norwegian Kelp (source of iodine - helpful for KP)

1 large cod liver oil capsule (source of Vitamins A, D, and E - good to take together for bladder and skin)

1 capsule of collagen-glucosamine complex (mine has 40mg collagen, and 100mg glucosamine. I read that this supplement helps heal the lining of the bladder, as can hyaluronic acid, and you should take the latter with buffered vitamin C for best effectiveness)

Night:

I tablet of Calcium + Magnesium (important to take together for best effect - this tablet has the additional benefit of helping me to fall asleep)

All this adds up in terms of expense, but the value of not being chained to the medical system is worth it. I now feel I can manage any hint of bladder/cystitis pain at the outset. I recommend bringing the buffered cranberry/D-Mannose tablets with you everywhere you go, as they do not need to be refrigerated and are very discreet. I try not to take them except when necessary/as a targeted preventative as there is some debate as to their effectiveness over time. I think it's fundamentally important to build up your health through diet.

I also only use virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil as a lubricant (you can only use condoms made of polyurethane if you use any kind of oil as a lubricant, btw, otherwise they will break). Coconut oil has natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and is very good and soothing for your urethra while being an excellent lubricant. Most commercially-produced lubricants contain carcinogenic chemicals and glycerine, which is a sugar, which is the last thing your urethra or vagina need introduced into the moment of sex, as any yeast will go crazy. I also like to use coconut oil after my shower, just smoothing half a teaspoon in to the urethral/vulva/perianal area is great for your sexual health in general if you are prone to yeast or bladder infections, also any yeast-related itching.

I think I will be living with these health issues for the rest of my life but the silver lining to taking charge of my health has been to learn more about what makes me feel good and strong, and to have improved my well-being overall. People say they don't recognize me from 18 months ago and I hardly recognize myself. What's most important is that the entire process has taught me to listen to my body and to make my body the most important thing in my life. To finally give myself the care I needed but was not getting, either at home or in the doctor's office. Interestingly, I found that once I made my health my priority, other struggles in life became easier. I was less likely to burn out at work, or put up with people who took too much of me. As I stopped relying on sugar, carbs, and alcohol to buffer me from the world, I found I had more energy, clarity, and ability to provide myself with self-care and say "no" when it was right for me to say no.

And on that last note, I do think it's possible that whatever your partner consumes (food, alcohol, cigarettes) ends up being a factor in your urethral/bladder health. In the course of my research I've read so many testimonies from women who never had bladder infections until they started seeing boyfriend X. Then their nightmare began. I know that this is beyond the scope of EarthClinic's mission but I do want to say - in case there is anyone out there with a similar story to mine - that the person I was with, who seemed to trigger my miserable decade of struggling with bladder infections, was a smoker and daily consumer of beer.

I am now seeing someone who doesn't smoke or drink beer and there is a palpable difference in the cause-and-effect of sex -> infection. In other words, I have not had an infection since we became intimate. But that could also be 18 months of dedicated change in my diet and taking a very proactive approach to my health.

If you are suffering from cystitis or bladder infections, my heart goes out to you. It is a lonely, invisible, infuriating, and excrutiating condition that no-one can really understand unless they've experienced it themselves. It hurts us in our most vulnerable place. I hope you find your health and your cure very soon, and get your life back - you deserve it! Thank-you to all the people who posted about their KP, bladder problems and solutions. You made a huge difference to my recovery.

I developed a very painful bladder infection that affected the right side of my body from under my ribs to my knee. It was incredibly painful, just a little more bearable than gallstones. My sciatica flared on my right side as well.

I started taking Acidophilus Pearls every morning and night in addition to unsweetened Cranberry juice and Apple Cider Vinegar in water throughout the day.

For the first few days I took Colloidal silver in water, then switched to a few drops of Wild Oil of Oregano (93%) under the tongue a few times a day.

I took Magnesium and Turmeric for pain and inflammation management. (although I had to mega dose ibuprofen at night as that when it was at its worst)

I really started to improve when one morning on a whim I took a capsule of Activated Charcoal (260mg). The pain completely subsided! I took another around lunch and remained pain free for a few more hours. I couldn't take anymore as I can get very constipated if I take too much. I did this for two days.

The pain did return each late afternoon but I continued with the cranberry juice, OOO and Acidophilus. One the second day of using AC, before bed, I ate some pineapple and drank Senna tea.

The next morning.....no pain. Nothing. Like I never had the infection.

Not sure what finally did it, but happy it's gone after 6 days of agony!

I did continue with the cranberry, Acidopilus and OOO to be sure it wouldn't come back.

Most common UTI is caused by either waiting too long to pass urine or sexual intercourse and the main causal is e. coli. Please try the following bacteria-killer drink.

Brew a green tea (in a big mug), then add 2 slices of lemon (or squeeze half of it, alternatively use the Vitamin C powder - but don't overdose it), 2 tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of Manuka honey (or any other if not present), 2 slices of garlic, ginger and some clove and cinnamon (effective against E.coli), cranberry extract if present (or drink the juice separately), if having - mix in half of paracetamol sachet (250-500mg, find one without aspartame). Drink slowly and repeat every few hours during the day.

In addition, please drink plenty of alkaline water. During the night, give your liver a bit rest by drinking alkaline water only (high in pH, 9-10). Eat fresh fruits, vegetables (with peels when possible), food (avoid cooked, which is lack of enzymes) with garlic, onions, spices (ginger, clove and cinnamon) and anything that works as antioxidants. You may monitor your health by urine strips (leukocytes nitrites and blood). If your UTI is advanced to painful testicles or hematospermia (blood in your semen), ejaculate often for relief.

For external treatment, dissolve few drops of tea tree oil in warm water and wash gently. If not present, washing with any commercial gel/shampoo with SLS (neurotoxin) would do the job as well (by killing the bacteria). You can get some sunshine (which will work as detox), if not possible, try infrared sauna for the deep detoxification (raising body temperature assists the body to kill bacteria, parasites, viruses and other infections). Also don't forget to think positively and proper rest and sleep is the key factor as well. If conditions get worse, please contact with the doctor.

I am so thankful I found earth clinic web site. I got first uti 2 yrs ago and it never went away. The doctors and specialists kept giving antibiotics. Doctors could not give reason why. Antibiotics were not good on my system at all. After 10 months of this I started searching for another cure. I started on d-mannose, probotics, cranberry pill, water, water, water and acv. I started on these full force for about 2 months. My uti is gone and have not had one since(14 months) I have since narrowed down the amounts I was taking and figured out what my body needs at a daily maintance level. I used d-mannose 500mg - 120 tablets. Hope this helps someone that is as desperate as I was for an alternative. Thank to u folks at earth clinic.

I've suffered from UTI issues for most of my adult life. I've followed every suggestion from my doctor and other women & I just believe it's something i'm just prone to. I've spent my time, money & energy back and forth from the doctor getting antibiotics that also have harsh side effect for me. I even had a hospital stay due to one that got out of hand & gave me a massive kidney infection. A couple of years ago, I started seeing a doctor that also gave me alternative options to help prevent infections. First I tried the cranberry capsules, it helped speed up my healing, but it was always in conjuction to antibiotics. I tried taking them as a preventative, but this didn't seem to work for me. What did work was Uva Ursi. Now, the minute I feel the urgency, pain & low fever I do the following (only use the following at the first signs of an bladder infection - do not use with kidney infections):

1 500mg Uva Ursi 3x per day (Capsules any health food store)

1 1000mg Vitamin C 2x per day (if you can get one of those immune system boosters that you dissolve in water - that works the easiest. But minimum, Vit C)

Water, Water, Water - I will carry a bottle of water with me throughout the day & just keep drinking so I go to the bath room as much as possible.

Bananas - eat a couple a day

Online there is alot of information on uva ursi - it flushes your kidneys & acts as an antiseptic. It also comes in the form of a tea, but i've only done the capsules. DO NOT TAKE IT IF YOUR INFECTION IS ALREADY CAUSING LOWER BACK PAIN OR YOU SUSPECT YOU ALREADY HAVE A KIDNEY INFECTION - GO TO THE DOCTOR. This supplement can be toxic if over done. Look at the back of the bottle & follow the directions exactly.

Vitamin C will help boost your immune system to help knock out the infection.

Water will help flush out the infection and bacteria causing the infection, plus help the uva ursi do it's job. The bananas will help resupply your body with potassium. I understand uva ursi can cause potassium deficiency. So keep up foods rich in potassium to avoid this. I've done this for 6 months now & it's worked!! I was going to the doctor at least every other month with UTI issues, now I'm feel great.

After yrs of UTI and antibiotics, I found what works for me. I do have to start with an azo pill, just to stop the pain and contractions. Then I take 1 Tablespoon Collidal silver or sometimes 1 teaspoon 3x a day. I take 3 cranberry pills 3X per day. Then at night, several hours after collidal silver I take a probotic, so the good stuff is there to work thru the night. ( make sure you do not take Collidal silver and probotics at the same time, they nix each other). Also, drink 64 oz. or more of water per day to flush your system. NO, sugar stuff and lay low on caffeine.

I feel better within a day or two, but continue this for 3 days to a week depending on how bad you have it.

I've done this for the last several yrs now, they are getting fewer and farther apart. I've have not needed any antibiotics since I started this.

Here's what I do when I get a bladder infection:

Little to no sugar during treatment

Raw veggies/juice and a little fruit only

Unsweetened cranberry juice, sip throughout day

Every two to three hours, take:

one chopped clove garlic

one tsp coconut oil

2 Tbsp acv

If you are not used to lots of garlic, you might want to throw a gas-aid in there per instructions on the box because it can get pretty painful! Once I can wake up in the morning with no discomfort (usually day 2), I continue this regiment for another 24-48 hours to make sure there are no lingering bacteria.

Hope this helps!

I used to have bladder infections a few years ago but not anymore. I did several things, I started drinking more water because I noticed that if it was very hot and I didn't drink enough I would get one. I also started peeing and washing myself after intercourse, I do it every time now. And using lube..... When I did a kidney and bladder scan to see if I had any problem, which I didn't, the doctor told me to wash myself with a French soap called Savon de Marseille which I have been doing ever since. No idea what helped exactly, maybe several things? By the way, I eat normally, fish, meat, eggs, everything except milk which I don't like! I hope this advice helps you because bladder infections are awful! And the antibiotics are awful too! By the way, peeing at regular intervals helps too, don't keep the urine inside! The cranberry pills or juice never helped me but I do take quite a bit of Vitamin C.

Some things that helped solve my bladder infection:

- Cranberry capsules

- Garlic (raw or from olive bar) 3-4 times dily 4-5 cloves each time

- 2 Tb ACV in 8 Ounces warm water 3 tie daily (away from meals)

- Good quality probiotics daily

- Yoghurt with active cultures

Changing underwear 3 times daily.

Re: Cures for Chronic (8 years) of UTI's

I have been feeling much better and though I must devote some extra energy to keeping myself healthy, the relief is well worth it! Here's what has helped me so far:

ACV- This has been a life saver!! I couldn't find the organic where I live in Mexico, so I just got the regular kind and it still worked wonders. I add a couple tablespoons to a large bottle of water which I sip over several hours. During an acute attack, I would drink a more concentrated solution and continue to drink a lot of water. I say would drink because I seldom experience the severe kind of pain that I used to feel. I can say pretty confidently that ACV has been one of the most helpful things in combatting these issues.

Water- I try to drink about 3 liters a day.

Probiotics- I take a strong probiotic everyday- helps to keep the general area in order, limiting vulvadynia symptoms and also keeps me more regular.

Fiber- speaking of regular... This helps with my bladder and female issues. If I am ever constipated, pushing at all can cause problems down there. I try not to push.

Kegel exercises- I contract the muscles and hold for a few seconds. I do this pretty regularly, but also when I am in the midsts of pain or discomfort. It really does seem to help.

Loose clothing- I used to wear tight jeans, sometimes a thong... Not anymore! I wear lots of skirts or dresses, cotton underwear and I make sure to wear pants and leggings that don't have big seems right through the crotch.

Stress- I know that avoiding stress is difficult at times, but it is paramount to reducing the severity of my health problems. So, I just pay close attention to what my body is telling me. If I am cleaning and start to feel a bit of pressure or stinging, well guess what- its time to stop for the day or maybe I just need to move slower. Lower back strain can make things worse, so I will try to sit more frequently, bend with the knees, that sort of thing. And I only cry when it is really worth it now. I think about whether or not what I am crying over is worth the pain it will cause a short while after. Usually its not. I am not a robot and it may be strange to say I choose not to cry-- but when you cry or worry or panic, the body tenses up and puts pressure on those nether regions. Sometimes the onset of my symptoms was enough to start this chain reaction of worrying and stressing and honestly it made it all much worse. Thinking too much about my symptoms never helped. I do what I know has worked for me and then try to keep calm and distract myself.

Things I try to avoid: sugar, lots of bread, alcohol (I immediately feel stinging in my bladder), really spicy foods, strong chemicals (bleach is the worst for me), pollution, cigarette smoke, lack of sleep.

Ice- I have several ice packs- I wrap one in a hand towel and place it down there when I start to feel swolen or stinging. It's instant relief.

Intimacy-Anything that touches down there must be clean. No after the game, after a long day anything with my husband. And right after, I make sure to pee and then rinse everything off. Maybe it hinders spontanaeity, but not as much as several days of pain.

I hope this is helpful. It's my arsenal and I'm sure that everyone needs to find what is specifically helpful for them. I have gone from having weekly bouts of severe pain, sometimes for several days... To having a problem once every couple of months.The first hint of discomfort and I am combatting it with everything Ive got. I really feel for anyone experiencing ongoing discomfort or pain of any sort and I wish you much peace and relief.