Natural Remedies for UTIs: ACV, D-Mannose, and Bladder Infection Relief

Sea Salt

Posted by Kendra (Richland, Wa) on 11/27/2011
★★★★★

Hi Ted,

Just wanted to thank you for your site again. I forgot to vote "Yes" for the sea salt remedy for UTIs. Last January, my family was moving and everyone but me was on antibiotics for one ailment or another. I don't like to take antibiotics because I tend to get candida flare ups, so I started drinking pure, sugar-free cranberry juice like I normally do to make a UTI go away. Plus, I take one cranberry pill, probiotics, and pre-biotics on a daily basis at night.

Well, surprisingly the cranberry juice did not do the trick this time, so I found your site and read about the sea salt remedy. I think I took 1 tsp in one glass of warm water before bedtime. The next morning, things felt 85% better but not 100%, so I repeated the process the next night. Voila! It was gone and I didn't have to go get antibiotics. Now I throw a little bit (maybe 1/8 tsp) of sea salt into my water every night before I go to bed as a preventative measure. I don't use salt on my food, and I only use sea salt for cooking. I haven't had a UTI since even though there have been times (holidays, birthday parties) when I've eaten a lot of sugar. However, as I mentioned previously, I take acidophilus, a candida-eating probiotic, prebiotics, and cranberry pills every night along with my other natural supplements. I hope this info helps everyone! Oh, btw, I am a 40 year old female in good health. Thanks again.

Kendra

Vitamin C

Posted by Caitlin (New York, NY) on 11/10/2011
★★★★★

I have been struggling with a bladder infection for about 3 weeks now, trying every possible remedy under the sun (plus antibiotics, which helped initially, but then it came back). I read about Vitamin C and decided to try it. I took 2 doses of sodium ascorbate (c powder with baking soda) as recommended on this site and within 24 hours my bladder infection symptoms had completely disappeared. Amazing!!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cranberry

Posted by Trace (Upstate, Ny) on 11/09/2011
★★★★★

Over the weekend I felt UTI coming on. Pain in the right side and frequent urges to use the bathroom. I couldn't get to the doctor for a couple days, so I tried a tbls of apple cider vinegar mixed in a little bit of cranberry juice. Hour later I felt better. The pain in side became less. Took it three times that day. Next day I felt all back to normal. Urine was clear. It's now day five and I'm still taking it like an antibiotic to make sure it stays away.

On an added note. I also had laryngitis for a few days. When I took the ACV and cranberry juice my voice returned the same day. My mother-in-law had laryngitis for nearly three weeks. She's now trying this.

Baking Soda

Posted by Angie (Kenosha, Wi) on 10/28/2011
★★★★★

Baking soda (1/2 tsp in 8 oz water every 2 hours at the onset of a bladder infection, repeating for 3 days) has been 100% effective for me. It changes your body's alkalinity making it inhospitable to bacteria. When I was in the throes of a terrible bladder infection, here are the steps I took and worked like a charm (and it's never gotten this bad again now that I know to start the baking soda at the first sign):

1. Take 600mg ibuprofen to reduce inflammation of the urinary tract (and I wash this down with the first dose of baking soda water).

2. Frozen pack wrapped in a towel held over urethra to reduce inflammation.

3. Doing these 2 things makes me able to urinate normally within an hour.

4. To completely kill the bacteria and keep it at bay, you must keep doing the baking soda water every 2 hours, urinate frequently, and wake up a couple of times in the middle of each night to urinate so bacteria can't breed--do this for about 3 days and you'll be good. If you start to feel signs of UTI returning on that 4th day, restart the regimen immediately and keep doing it for a couple more days (but you shouldn't have to).

General Feedback

Posted by Dorothy (Oz, Ks) on 10/28/2011

I've read online that coconut may kill the bacteria that causes UTIs and throat infections. It may help your daughter in other ways too. This information was gleaned from the Coconut Research Center.

Wishing your daughter well!

General Feedback

Posted by P (Middle, Fl) on 10/28/2011

Antibiotic kills all your good flora! Thats all the good bacteria that helps fight the bad ones. And if taken for a long time yes it breaks down your immune system. Your immune system starts in your intestines were all the nutrients are sucked into your body and if there is no good bacteria to fight the bad ones... Well then you left with only bad ones taking over. A good alternative to those antibiotics is Grape Fruit seed extract. I have used it with great results.

However; I have been doing daily research on this field and came across very interesting information and soon will start testing them. some of them are;

hydrogen peroxide-food grade
http://www.foodgrade-hydrogenperoxide.com/id26.html
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/hydrogenperoxidewaltergrotz20nov04.shtml
https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/hydrogen_peroxide.html
colloidal silver
https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/colloidal_silver.html
coconut oil
https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/coconut_oil.html

read all the remedies from the top tab, very informative. This is the best web site, I have benefited from many remedies posted here!

General Feedback

Posted by Namaste78900 (Middletown, Ohio, Usa) on 10/28/2011

Can you please tell me why my daughter gets recurrent infections of UTI and throat? She has large lymph gland removes in 09 tonsils removed in 2010. She has been on about 8 antibiotics in 10 months. She seems to get uti and throat infections at the same time always running fever with them. She is now in college and this is affecting her alot. Does antibiotics affect immune system and make it weak?

THANKS

Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger Root Tablets

Posted by Crystal (Charlotte, Nc) on 10/27/2011

Earlier this week I felt the symptons of a bladder infection coming on. Since I have no insurance, I wanted to try the natural route. I bought some cranberry tablets that did absolutely nothing, in fact it seemed to make the burning/tingling sensation more intense. After doing some reading on this website and nother website, I decided to go to GNC to get some organic apple cider vinegar. While there, I purchased the regular _____'s ACV in addition to a ACV beverage by _____'s containing cinnamon (I heard both ACV and cinnamon were good for bladder infections and for lowering the ph of urine, which helps to kill of bacteria associated with this infection).

I immediately drank the beverage, then went to Walmart to get some ginger root tablets for $4 (ginger is also good for keeping urine alkaline and fighting off certain bacteria like e. Coli that is often responsible for uti's). I took three that day, and felt immediate relief the next time I used the restroom. When I went to use the restroom at the very end of the day before bed, there was no longer a burning/tingling sensation and my urine was no longer foul smelling or cloudy.

The next day I took a tablespoon of undiluted ACV with lots of water to wash it down. I also took 3 more ginger root tablets throughout the course of the day and again no symptons. When I woke up today, the symptons still appear to be gone. Over the next couple of days, I think I will continue to take 1 tablespoon of ACV and maybe try oregano oil or garlic tablets, just to make sure the infection stays gone.

Sea Salt

Posted by Lacey (Allegan, Michigan ) on 10/21/2011

I hope this works. I have been in pain all day, and it came out of nowhere. The pain us women go thru is terrible!

Goldenseal and Echinacea

Posted by Nikki (San Antonio, Texas ) on 10/11/2011
★★★★★

I had recently read that goldenseal is good for bladder/UT infections. I went to the local pharmacy and picked up a Goldenseal Echineaca blend capsule. I took two capsules three times per day when I first felt symptoms of the UTI. To be thorough, I also bought a home urine test to measure the possibility of UTI. The test measured that I was positive for UTI. After taking the goldenseal for 1 day, I was symptom free. After 2 days, I retook the test and was negative. I continued the goldenseal capsules for 5 days and tapered offer to once per day for a few more days. Symptoms never reappeared and still registered normal on the urine test 2 weeks later.

I also had an experience with symptoms of a yeast infection. I used a douche mixture of one capsule of goldenseal, 1/4 tsp of salt and one cup of water. Douched once and was symptom free w/in one day. However, I followed up with a second douche two days later to be sure and symptoms never resurfaced. Even after my pap smear just one month later, I was clear. I actually mentioned my experience to my doctor. He said its always best to come in to be checked but he is aware of goldenseal's antibiotic properties!

Club Soda

Posted by Carolyn (Sacramento, Ca) on 10/08/2011

I am currently taking D-mannose for a recurrance of a UTI after Cipro (some surprise right! ). Is it ok to take baking soda and water or club soda while still on the D-Mannose? I know that D-Mannose works by making the e-coli stick to the d-mannose molecules and then flush out in urination. I think that baking soda, club soda, and lemon juice all work because they make the urine alkaline. Does that interfere with D-Mannose? Interesting that Uva Ursi only works in alkaline urine. I thought that getting your urine alkaline was what cured the UTI. I'm confused!

Cranberry

Posted by Heather (London, Uk) on 10/08/2011
★★★★★

Here's how I got rid of a UTI that was so painful it had me crying. I bought a whole gallon of cranberry juice and some oranges. I drank the whole gallon within two hours, and then ate an orange. I felt relief, almost completely within 45 minutes of drinking the whole thing. Keep drinking lots of water.

It was the best remedy and it only cost me a few dollars. I'm really thankful for this remedy and I hope it helps you.

Alka Seltzer

Posted by Chris (Oakland, Ca) on 09/22/2011
★★★★★

I have had a recurring bladder infection for a couple of months, but yesterday after it struck back with a vengeance I got desperate. I got no sleep last night, up at least a hundred of painful times, and could not even get to the bathroom in time so I had to start walking with a towel shoved between my legs. YUCK! This morning I found this thread, and while the person's story about kidney infection is scary, I immediately took two Alka Seltzers, got into a warm bath, and by the *time I got out* I was peeing normally. I'll go to the doc. But I'm amazed. How can it possibly work that fast??

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Frankie (Madison, Al, Usa) on 09/04/2011

I used to have a recurring bladder problem, very painful. I tend to avoid doctors, so I once tried treating myself with cranberry juice and it hurt like H__.

Four years ago, I finally realized that acidity was causing the problem to begin with and went on an alkaline diet for two months. I have had no recurrence, and I no longer have to follow an alkaline diet [I am basically 'paleo' except for some occasional raw milk].

(for the information of those who prefer whole food healing rather than supplements, even natural ones.)

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Dolores (Oakland, Ca) on 09/04/2011
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

I have been chronically getting Bladder/UT infections on and off for the last 20 years (yes, I know. YOWZA! ) By my late 20's it was diagnosed as a condition called CYSTITIS... With speculation that at this point in development, it could be IC (interstitial cystitis). I was not born with this condition. It began when I was 17 years old and at the time was triggered by sex. I had all the symptoms: frequency of urination, pain after urinating, inflammation of bladder (swollen tummy), and at some point inability to hold urine.

In the very beginning, I went to a Western traditional doctor and was prescribed anti-biotics. From this point on the infection never seemed to entirely go away and I continued taking anti-biotics, on and off for the next 5 years... As doctors really could not explain my body's resistance... Over this 5 yr course of time (on & off) I took: Bactrim, Cipro, Macrodantin and at some point Tetracycline... Basically ladies & gents, it was a bit of a nightmare.... Again and again, the bacteria developed resistance.

Eventually, in my mid 20's, I found myself with the best medical (and temporary!! Hahaha! ) insurance coverage and began seeing a Urologist. I had many, many tests & a few Xrays done to determine if it was a physical deformity in my "plumbing". Everything came out negative. Even the Urologist seemed suprised. In the end of the conversation, his medical advice was "Dont worry, "it" (the bacteria) will burn itself out".... 10 years or so after, well.. It hasnt, my body is still recovering/restoring/regenerating from the damage done by anti-biotics... Yet, it is manageable (many lifestyle adjustments)....

I came on here today, simply to just caution those from the overuse and abuse of anti-biotics as a false sense of hope... It seems like a good idea at the time yet it is a dire "trade-off" for most patients... What may seem like healing or a cure in that moment, to just to be able to experience relief... BE MOST CAREFUL AND AWARE WITH YOUR BODY!!! If you find you are experiencing reoccuring bladder/UT infections I recommend:

alternative medicines/treatments: Chinese medicine/treatment, Holistic herbal medicine, stress management, diet and general lifestyle adjustments.

General herbal treatment/healing food diet support :

"Healing herbal soup broth"

handful herbs of horsetail, parsley, cornsilk, uva Ursi, cleavers, usnea (some herbs are easier to find than others.. try natural health food stores or co-ops etc.)

pinch of fresh Oregano

several cloves of garlic (the more the better)

4 cups of Spring/distilled water

Cook for 1/2hr (the longer you let sit the better, I find making a new pot of broth while I have some in hand.. Keeps the body flushing) strain... drink throughout day...

Diet ( this has great significance, especially while fighting off an infection):

AVOID:

#1-SUGAR (even natural fruit sugars), dairy, greasy or fried foods, spicy foods, chicken, shellfish, tomatoes, coffee, sodas, alcohol.

Healing diet:

GREENS, GREENS, GREENS!!! Fresh everything is best. REAL/WHOLE FOODS, nothing processed, no junk food (do your best, your body will thank you in the long run)... explore and get creative with your diet!!! We are what we eat!!! Whether you juice it (google juicing), or make yummy healing stews or use all the colors of the rainbow to knock out a jaw dropping salad (easy on any weird supermarket salad dressings: try lemon, olive oil, flax or sesame seeds, sea salt, black or white pepper)...

I eat mostly vegetarian (just easier on my digestive system) yet, if eating meat.. Find out where your meat/fish/poultry etc... Is coming from and what is in it. Meaning, if you can, stay away from the "factory animal farm"....

WHAT TO DO WHEN FINDING YOURSELF WITH THE BEGINNING STAGES OF A BLADDER/UT INFECTION:

flush out with:

1.Apple cider vinegar (suprise! )... Try not to overdo if using long term... the ph balance in the body is in the center of acidic and alkaline (for most, ideally, leaning more alkaline)...

-----2Tbsp. of ACV in 8oz. Of Spring/distilled water... drink throughout the day

2. Drink 1 gallon of Spring/distilled water a day is best... Yes, I did say a gallon.. The more the better... combine with dilution of unsweetened cranberry juice if you feeling too amphibious

3. Pure, unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry pills

4.Vitamin C (at least 3, 000 a day)

5. Garlic ( raw or pills ) throughout day

6. Probiotic (acidophilus---take daily in general.... pills can be used overnight as vaginal insert for irritation/itchy, stinging etc as well as diluted tea tree oil) ...

7. Drink Herbal Soup Broth throughout day... (very soothing.... ) The healing herbal soup broth recipe can be "tweeked" here and there for your taste buds, more veggies can be added in for more of a healthy meal.

Well, the best of health to everyone. Stay positive, count your blessings and dont forget to breath deeply... Expand that ribcage and release!!!

Alka Seltzer

Posted by Lanell (Houston, Tx) on 08/04/2011

I have four children, 2, 4, 6, 8:):) am very blessed to have my little ones. I am blessed to be in Christ Church " CHURCH OF CHRIST" were I have honestly found all wisdom. Saying that through having years of poor eating habits, much SUGAR, and not enough wTer and veggies. It's no wonder my time has come after my childrens birth Tht my defenses got worse. So through Gods mercy and wisdom. Tried something and it truly relieves, maybe it could help. Try cran apple juice no added sugars, and aloe juice. I found tht as my system got worse too much acidity made it worse. So the aloe juice may create a balance of acidity to the cran juice. Hope it helps. And thanks to God for all the things He has put on this earth for his creation.

Watermelon, Baking Soda, Azo

Posted by Aline (Palma, Mallorca, Spain) on 08/04/2011
★★★★★

Don't like the pill bit, and I don't understand why the baking soda has to go with it, but definitely can vouch for the watermelon doing its thing when the need arises! Eat nothing else but watermelon for a whole day (or longer if you wish) and the infection is gone. Easier in summer time when there is lots of them!

Baking Soda

Posted by Art (Tustin, California Usa) on 08/01/2011
★★★★★

A friend asked me if I had any antibiotics that she could take for a recurring bladder infection. I told her to skip the antibiotics and the potential negative side effects associated with them and just drink some baking soda mixed in water. I made her a 16oz. bottle of water with two teaspoons of baking soda in it. She drank that in the afternoon and made herself another one in the evening before going to bed. In the morning she made one more bottle and she called me that evening and told me she felt "normal" again!

She also told me that she takes a couple of very potent prescription drugs for her rheumatoid arthritis and one of the side effects is that she get's small ulcer type sores in her mouth that are very painful. Her doctor told her that this happens often because of the medication, but gave her nothing to help the problem. I told her to swish the baking soda water around in her mouth before swallowing it. After the three bottles that she drank for her bladder infection she said the sores went away also! Baking soda is some good stuff!

It's been about two weeks since she drank those three bottles and she tells me she has had no more problems and will definitely go with baking soda over antibiotics next time she has another bladder infection.

Olive Leaf, Turmeric

Posted by Vonni (Coromandel, Waikato, New Zealand) on 07/21/2011

Veru interesting to read you UTI remedy - how long did you continue with it?

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Erin (Tacoma, Wa) on 07/10/2011
★★★★★

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!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Ti (Houston, Usa) on 07/08/2011
★★★★★

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.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 07/08/2011
★★★★★

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.

Zinc

Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★

With regards to bladders. Dont forget they need zinc, far more than any other area of the body, that includes the reproductive system as well.. You can take all the herbal wonders in the world but if the essential elements are not in the body, they will just be builders waiting for the cement to arrive.

Ted's Remedies

Posted by Bette With A Pebble (Nj, Usa) on 07/07/2011

Uva Ursi worked for me (Thank you Ted). I used up one two-ounce bottle of the liquid over the course of a day and a half by taking two teaspoons approximately every five hours (during normal waking hours) on an empty stomach. It does taste terrible. Also used Alka Seltzer original as needed for the pain; only needed two separate doses. Also used the sea salt as recommended by Ted.

For maintenance I now take a good probiotic, olive leaf, and lots of stuff that Ted recommends. Please, everyone, look back at the older posts, from Ted in particular, they are priceless when you are in pain.

Check out Ted's old post from 2005:

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/bladder_infection.html

TED'S REMEDIES 03/23/2005: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand writes: "There are other herbal preparations that can be helped with UTI and they are taken usually 4 times a day:

1. Uva Ursi. Has antimicrobial and research has support its traditional use, usually 1-2 teaspoon of the herb.
2. Goldenseal Root. Also long known as a strong antibacterial agent to be used as tea or 1 teaspoon of dried herb in a cup of water.
3. Althea officianalis, used as cold infusion soaked in cold water and drink.
4. Galium aparine (cleavers) Has long history of use and taken with tea.
5. Zea Mays (Corn silk). Diuretic.
6. Buchu - Diuretic and antiseptic properties.
7. Equisetum arvense (Horsetail) - Diuretic, astringent and healing properties."

Cranberry

Posted by Oscar (Syracuse, New York) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★

There is always good old cranberry juice for a UTI. It worked for me when no antibiotics did. You want pure cranberry juice and not the so called cranberry juice cocktails. I was prescribed this treatment as 3 cups per day of pure cranberry juice by a VA doctor after trying every antibiotic available and it worked for a chronic urinary tract infection when nothing else did. It cleared the infection in about one week for me....Oscar

Sea Salt

Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★

Putting 1/2 cup sea salt in a bath of hot water to which you bathe for at least 20 minutes helps with a bladder infection.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Posted by Kalina (Honolulu, Hi) on 06/20/2011
★★★★★

I find Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract (tablet form) to work on my UTI's. I also use Miracle II Neutralizer Gel to relieve the burning/itching. It will help in the vaginal area, but for maximum effectiveness, use some type of syringe or applicator to get it further up into the vagina. Make sure you wash the applicator well first.

These two work consistently for me.

General Feedback

Posted by Sheila (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 06/12/2011

(Drinking enough water is a good thing. For me, enough water is 1/2 my weight in ounces.)

Responding to Ronald's post:

Or, from what I've learned from a iodine/iodide Yahoo group I'm a member of, the chlorine will displace the bromine, which will then displace iodine in the body, making folks deficient.

The halides -- fluoride->chloride->bromide->iodide -- lightest displacing the heaviest on the empirical table. I'm still trying to figure out though how taking iodine in larger doses (than recommended) would displace fluoride if displacement happens by weight.

So people ought to do more searching for info/facts before drinking chlorinated water. I'm not so sure chlorinated water is a good idea if it's the chlorinated tap water we're talking about.

Hygienic Practices

Posted by Anonymously Modest (Southern, Ca, Usa) on 06/12/2011

What works like a charm for me is to drink water before bedtime, urinate before bedtime, then after intercourse urinate again and drink a half a glass of water. I haven't had a UTI develop in quite a long time.

Also, if I feel the 'twinge' of a UTI despite my bedtime routine, I will either use a cotton ball w/diluted ACV to cleanse, or spritz once with ionic colloidal silver -- this discourages any bacterial to travel. I haven't seen my MD about UTIs in over 3 years; I used to get them regularly.

General Feedback

Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/11/2011

Chlorine is not god to drink. For starters it depletes the body of Vitamin E. If you leave water sit for about 15 minutes the chlorine vanishes from it.

Google the dangers of drinking Chlorine.