Art (California) on 08/16/2020:
Having an alternative to antibiotics for UTIs is a useful thing for at least three reasons. One, antibiotics can have significant side effects and two, bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and if you are prone to frequent UTIs, you can eventually run out of reasonable antibiotic options. Three, antibiotics can kill needed good gut bacteria and thus lead to further complications.
The active component against UTIs in cranberry/cranberry juice is D-Mannose, a common supplement. D-Mannose is much more potent and works by binding to the E.coli bacteria preventing the bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract surfaces and bladder interior surface, allowing the bacteria to be safely flushed away when urinating, preventing the infection from spreading or continuing to exist. Because of this method of action, bacterial resistance to D-Mannose does not occur because D-Mannose is not attacking the virus, but rather just binding to it. This can become a major problem with antibiotics which the bacteria become resistant to.
Another issue with antibiotics is that they tend to destroy the gut bacteria both good and bad and this can contribute to more UTIs in the long run if good gut bacteria is destroyed that would normally keep E.coli controlled. Here is a link to a study where they show that D-Mannose can be used as a preventative for frequent UTIs in women who are prone to these infections, but my experience is that it is also effective in men, but women get significantly more UTIs than men :
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32597599/
Many people who have frequent UTIs develop bacterial resistance and then stronger and stronger antibiotics are needed to try and fight the UTI, but these more potent antibiotics can bring a myriad of side effects that nobody wants or needs! For example, one highly potent antibiotic that can be used for UTIs is Ciprofloxacin / Cipro and this particular antibiotic has the well known side effect of causing torn tendons and ligaments and blown achilles tendons (OUCH!). I wrote about this serious issue in another EC post and explained how to help repair some of this ligament and tendon damage.
D-Mannose is thought to be effective only against E.coli based UTIs which means it will not likely work for all UTIs, but it will work for the majority because E.coli is the most common cause of UTIs at approximately as high as 90% of cases.
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/urinary-tract-infections#:~:text=The most common bacteria found, 90 percent of the time
D-Mannose can also be used as a preventative against UTIs when traveling to help prevent a UTI from getting started in the first place. Here is a link to typical D-Mannose supplements and powder :
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=D-mannose&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
All you need to do is mix the powder with water and drink it down or take the capsules, all per label directions.
Two other simple preventatives is to void as soon as the urge is felt so that the urine does not sit in the bladder longer than it has to in an environment that can be conducive to bacterial growth. The second preventative is the use of probiotics such as L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri and L. casei shirota.
Art
Deb C. (East Coast, Usa) on 11/24/2016:
Who would have thought sugar would be be the cure for my constant UTI's? D-Mannose has made my life so much better. Every 2-3 months a UTI would flare up. It has gotten to the point where I can feel it start and know immediately what it is. I would go to the doctor to tell them. Hey! I don't need the lab tests. I know my body. They would roll their eyes. They need do the lab test anyway. The tech would call... Surprise! You do have a UTI.
After a while, the drugs and doctors visits were overwhelming. I found out of D-mannose on this site. It is a wonder! Now when I feel a UTI coming on, I take a couple doses of D-Mannose for a day or two and it is gone. I has changed my life for the better.
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Sabrina (Houston) on 08/03/2016:
After doing research I wanted something that would work fast because we all know how irritating a UTI can be. After coming on this site and reading about D-Mannose, I did further research and found out this is actually an effective remedy. I went to store and bought, although it's a bit pricey I didn't mind paying the price to heal myself. Once I took the first dose, I immediately felt some relief. I was taking cranberry pills also along with a probiotic. I highly recommend this and also uvi ursi also helps with UTI's. Hope this was helpful.
Carl (London) on 06/21/2016:
I was in a car accident when I was young which left me wheelchair bound. This accident seems to have a negative effect on my bladder and I am prone to UTIs. I have tried many things but Dmannose seems to help the best. I have now moved on to d Mannose that have Cranberry and Hibiscus. They taste better so that's a big improvement but I feel that little bit more healthier.
Ashley (Minneapolis, Mn) on 06/08/2016:
I have suffered several UTIs. For me, D-Mannose did end up clearing up the UTI but at a price...I had horrible abdominal pains because of the gas buildups. I guess this is sort of a freak reaction that happens to some people, because my friend took it (as do many others based off of reading the reviews), and they don't seem to have this issue. I took the recommended dosage on the bottles. I got two different brands just to make sure one brand wasn't bad, but had the same reaction with both.
I have since switched to colloidal silver for treatment for UTIs and it works wonderfully, and is faster and more effective than all other treatments I have used. Also, as a sidenote, I have gone over 7 months without a UTI since I started to change my diet. Generally, I eat little to no meat or dairy, and lots of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. Though meat for me seems to be more of a culprit than dairy. If I eat meat more than 3 days in a row, I tend to get a UTI. It's crazy.
Gg (Denver) on 03/02/2016:
D-mannose works great for a UTI. If it doesn't, see a naturopath, acupuncturist etc to verify its nothing else. I had ecoli and it caused ongoing uti. my practitioner said female openings in proximity can cause these things to happen.
Julie (Nm) on 12/02/2015:
Hi, D-Mannose powder is wonderful for recurring bladder infections. I have almost always had my urine screenings to come back from the lab with low grade infection but don't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. I began searching online for help with bladder infections and found that others had great results with D-Mannose. It seems that bacteria attach themselves to the bladder lining and D-Mannose creates a "slickness" to that lining which creates conditions in which the bacteria detach and you rid yourself of the bacteria via urination. Whatever the process, IT WORKS. I used D-Mannose once per day just before retiring to sleep for 10 days. I keep D-Mannose in my medicine cabinet but have not had to use it for more than six months now. WONDERFUL!! I hope this works for you.
Rebecca M. (Co) on 09/02/2015:
A word on drinking tons of water--I've read that you should take d-mannose with about 4 ozs. of water so that your urine is not SO dilute that you pee it out quickly. It's ideal to take it when you wake up in the middle of the night, as it will have a chance to sit in your bladder for several hours and bind to the bacteria.
D-mannose was a game changer for me after years of recurrent UTIs!
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Linda (Florida) on 04/25/2015:
For anyone suffering from Urinary Tract Indections...
1st, they are caused from bacteria getting up into the urethra( the pee pee tube). When you have sex, always pee before and after because during sex, the bacteria get pushed up there.when you pee after, it pushes out the bacteria. A natural sugar found in Cranberries is called D-Mannose powder. Available at all health food stores.
If you have a UTI, take1 teaspoon every few hours for a day. Within 30-45 minutes of the first dose, the pain and fevers will be gone, and the burning. It is a miracle supplement! . It works by making the urethra walls slippery and so the bacteria can't hold on. It's so much easier and healthier than antibiotics. I take it an hour before I know I'm going to have sex with my boyfriend. Works to keep you free of urinary tract infections. Just look it up on the Internet to learn more about it. I like the powder better than the pills. The powder works faster!
Autum (Nh) on 12/22/2014:
My daughter had UTI when she was 5. I had no idea she had it that bad and being a young parent then I was clueless even though I had UTI myself. It was stressful for all of us and a lot of things happened. Lots of medical appointments, tests, procedure she had to go through. She was diagnosed urinary reflux disease stage 2 and the possibility of a surgical correction. This went on for 3 or 4 years. She was on medications and we saw the specialists. And then a nurse finally suggested the surgical route. I didn't like the news. How could they gave up on finding a better and noninvasive treatment. I started doing reading up and researching on alternative treatments. I've read that she can grow out of it. Finally I read about D-mannose. The reviews sounded promising. She has been UTI free for a few years now and she's no longer taking D-mannose. No more incontinence adult size because children's size were too pricey. She had to wear them at bedtime. I was so glad the D-mannose worked I told my mother about it. However because of her sensitive ulcer she could not use it.
Dee (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/03/2014:
I used to get UTIs pretty much every time after I had sex. My Dr. would prescribe me antibiotics which cured the UTIs but left me with a slew of other problems. After dealing with this for over 5 years I decided to try the natural route. I went to my local health food store & was recommended D-mannose with CranActin (capsules). I followed the instructions which was to take 2 capsules a day w/ water or a meal & it worked like a charm. When I first started taking it I'd take 2 capsules every single day (whether I was having sex or not) but now I just take 2 capsules before I have sex and 2 capsules the day after and I'm good. I haven't had a UTI in over 4 years!
Amanda (Seattle, Wa) on 07/11/2014:
D-Mannose is WONDERFUL. Like many women, I've gotten UTIs all my life, particularly after sex. I wish I had known about D-Mannose a long time ago, because it would have saved me from taking many courses of Bactrim and Cipro (and, as many of you know, the more antibiotics we take, the more resistant the bacteria become). D-Mannose works by attaching to e. coli and carrying it out of the urinary tract, so it's gentle on your system, and I have never noticed any side effects.
I recommend that you use the powder, rather than the pills. I didn't find the pills to be effective, especially when there's already an infection present- they might be more effective for prevention. The powder only tastes a bit sweet, like a mild sweetener, and dissolves easily into any liquid. If I have an infection, I'll take quite a bit of it, up to two tablespoons, several times a day. And then I drink a lot of water to aid it in flushing the bacteria out. My other recommendation is to buy it online, because it will be half the price it is at a store. I use the subscribe and save program on Amazon and just have it delivered regularly so I never run out (which, as I have learned, can become an unpleasant and desperate situation resulting in buying a bottle at Whole Foods for $36). As a nurse who used to work in a nursing home, I wish doctors knew about this stuff- so many of the elderly patients always had UTIs and were constantly on antibiotics. I wish more women knew about it, too...which is why I'm posting here! I hope my post will help some poor soul find relief, without a trip to the doctor and a script for unnecessary antibiotics.
Kelmorse (Brentwood, Tn) on 04/05/2014:
D-Mannose powder works beautifully! I have had bladder infections since I was a child. In took-2 cranberry capsules per day for several years but eventually made my urine so acidic that I gave myself IC :/
Any way, d-Mannose is a type of sugar not absorbed by your body, it creates a barrier bw your bladder & urine preventing bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. I have been using it for a year & have had great success! No bladder infections! I also avoid sugar. Also I found out that I'm gluten intolerant. Food allergies can manifest in the bladdeR & cause problems. Not all allergist can detect food allergies with a skin test so you might want to try a holistic doctor. Good luck.
KT (Texas) on 02/21/2014:
I've only been using the D-Mannose powder on myself for a day and a half but it seems to be helping - though I still couldn't sleep through the night. Seems like if I don't take it every couple of hours, it starts feeling worse again. I'm going to stick with it for a few days. I woke up yesterday morning at 1 or 2 am with a sudden pain and urgency - weirdly I had a dream of blood in my urine right before - and sure enough when I went, it was pinkish. Anyway, today the urgency is the worst part for me, I guess that IS the pain. I ran a low fever most of the day yesterday but that's gone today. Ted said not to drink tons of water so I'm a little conflicted on that, but I can see his point as it increases the pressure and feeling of urgency.
I also took 1TBS ACV (apple cider vinegar) yesterday once and today just once so far. I may try taking more of that if the DM doesn't work better.
In the past I have tried D-Mannose on a cat with pretty good success. That's why I already had it in stock.
Art (California) on 09/07/2013:
A friend of mine had a recurring bladder infection with e coli as the common culprit. His doctor prescribed many different antibiotics over the years and eventually they no longer worked to eradicate the infection and on the last antibiotic, his doctor told him that this was the last antibiotic that he could try for the infection as all of the others were no longer effective.
This last round of antibiotics seemed to work, but two days after completing the course, the bladder infection came back and the symptoms were worse than before.
I recommended d mannose dissolved in a 500ml bottle of water, taken at one bottle three times per day. Within 24 hours of starting, the symptoms had diminished significantly and after 72 hours, the symptoms were gone.
Since this is a recurring problem that the doctor told him he is prone to, he will likely need to use d mannose again, but at least he won't have to deal with the negative side effects of taking antibiotics anymore and e coli will never become resistant to d mannose because d mannose does not actually try to kill e coli, it merely binds to it and then allows the body to flush it out naturally. Also, d mannose has an excellent safety profile and is the ingredient in pineapple juice and cranberry juice that is effective against UTI's, however when you mix it with water, you get the positive effects without all of the sugar contained in the juices and it is much stronger than the small amount available in the juices. D mannose in water is almost tasteless, so it is easy to swallow.
The downside is that d mannose is only effective against e coli based UTI's, but the greater majority of UTI's are caused by e coli, so d mannose is probably a good first choice before resorting to antibiotics. If you don't notice improvement within 24 hours, then your uti may not be caused by e coli and you will have to look elsewhere for a resolution.
Art
Mustangmom (Tyler, Tx) on 07/25/2013:
I have a UTI and started taking D-Mannose. I had such pain and bloat I thought I would burst. I blamed it on some take out we had eaten... took some more the next morning and had the same effect. Some of us just can't take this stuff... I'd rather have the UTI than the d-mannose. View Entire Thread
Dewchild (Matthews, Nc, United States) on 09/14/2012:
I have been a long time "lurker" on Earth Clinic. I first came to the site when I started having frequent UTIs, (monthly for a year) and the doctors were unable to help. I tried it all. Apple Cider, Vitamin C, Cranberry, Water. You name it. I went to two different Urologists, that basically gave me a refillable Rx for antibiotic and sent me on my way. During this time, I continued to get yeast infections, as well - from the antibiotic use. It seemed like there was a link to the yeast infection and the UTI, but my general practicioner ignored me when I mentioned it. Finally the third Dr. I saw was a Uro-Gynocologist. He had me take probiotic on a regular basis internally and also to open a probiotic capsule and put the probiotic in my vaginal cavity, so that I could restore the good bacteria there. His theory was that the antibiotics had killed all of the good bacteria in my vaginal area and by replacing it with probiotics (actually putting the probiotics in there), the good bacteria could start to flouish and kill off any bad bacteria before it made it into my bladder.
He also gave me an antibiotic. I threw the antibiotic away and used the D-Mannose instead. I did the probiotic internally and the infections never came back. It's been over a year since then, but I wanted to come and share my story in case it could help someone else.
In retrospect, I don't think I had frequent UTIs. I think I had a UTI, that never went away. I was probably resistant to all of those antibiotics and the D-Mannose did the trick. It was like a miracle for me. I haven't had an infection since, but if I do start to feel like one might be coming on, I take a dose of D-Mannose and drink lots of water! Big thanks to the Earth Clinic for helping with the healing!
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Amber (Little Rock, Ar) on 07/10/2012:
I took over the reccomended amount every 3 hrs for 2 days and it didn't work I had to get on antibotics. I kept taking it while on antibiotics and the bladder infection still didn't go away. I took the powder and pill form. My mother tried D-Mannose as a preventative and it didn't work for her either. It helped with symptons but didn't cure the infection. Cranberry and ACV didn't work for me either. Next time I get an infection I'm going to try colloidal silver. View Entire Thread
Linda (Los Angeles, California) on 05/01/2012:
Omg, d-mannose does NOTHING for me. I've tried several times over the years, cuz I'm a chronic UTI sufferer.
This last time, I must have drank a TBSP, in a tall glass of water, every few hours for two days, and no difference, I just got the runs!!!
I wasn't really all that surprised, it's like drinkin sugar water. That's what it is. Some kind of natural sugar that is not metabalized in the body but excreted in the urine. I guess its supposed to bind to the bacteria in the process. I really gave this a good shot, and it didnt work for me.
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Krista (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada) on 04/19/2012:
I took D-Mannose to get rid of a bladder infection - I took 1/4 teaspoon every 3-4 hours. I got the WORST gas pains of my life. I kept taking it hoping it would work and it did, however, the next day I was in agony with bladder and kidney pain. It took days for it to go away and I will NEVER EVER take D-Mannose again.
I took the pure powder not pills and I took less than the recommended dose. Afterward I felt like I had a worse bladder infection and kept going to the clinic to get tested for UTI which I do not have - instead I have a painful bladder and kidneys. I have blood in my urine. I got tested for Kidney Stones and I don't have them.
Anyway, for those that notice their symptoms get worse with D-Mannose, it is not your imagination. Some of use just do not respond well to D-Mannose regardless of whether it is a natural product.
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Laura (Rochester, Mn) on 02/17/2012:
All I can say is D-Mannose, D-Mannose, D-Mannose!!! I suffered for years with UTI's. Antibiotics were a temporary fix. Finally, I got a really bad UTI. After yet another round of antibiotics, I was still suffering. I kept going back for testing & the tests came back negative. Well, SOMETHING was wrong, for I was suffering. Drowning myself in cranberry juice did nothing.
Finally read about D-Mannose. Hit it hard for a day or two & it was gone!!! I continued a maintenance dose for weeks to be sure it was gone for good. Knock on wood, that was several years ago & all has been fine since. If I do feel a bit "off", I just take D-Mannose for a day & all is good. It truly is a miracle.
I have also used it on both of my dogs with raving success. With just one day of intense dosing, they are back to normal (though I continue them on a low dose for about a week).
Stacey (Mesa, Az) on 02/14/2012:
D-mannose is the only thing that works for me. Now 3oz powder from Amazon is the cheapest. I always have a bottle on hand. One bottle is about 13 bucks and it takes about a bottle to cure, most of the time a little less than a bottle. If you go to the health food store, it will be triple the price, easy, but still a better option than anything else. View Entire Thread
Lynn (Raleigh, Nc) on 01/26/2011:
I have had 7 UTI's in the 2 years, which I attribute to too much sex with younger boyfriend. I found out about D-Mannose from a friend last last year. I don't take drugs so I was more than happy to give it a try.
The moment I know I have a UTI, I take 1 teaspoon of the powder and drink 4 -25 oz bottles of water for 2-3 hours... I just keep drinking water and urinating it out. I do this from the early morning until 5 pm. Drinking the water each time I take a teaspoon. Lots and lots of water. It is gone by 8 pm. As a maintenance, I take 1 teaspoon once a week followed by 50 oz of water.
KF (Los Angeles, California, Us) on 01/23/2011:
I know a lot of women are like me and have suffered from Uninary Tract Infections (UTI). After about 5 years of taking anitbiotics every few months because of a problem and having doctors tell me to drink more water and cranberry juice with little success, I finally discovered D-mannose. This is the part of cranberry that keeps the bacteria from sticking to the bladder. I take 1000mg (2 capsules) every 4-6 hours if I notice my urine get cloudy and start to feel discomfort. I do this for three days, with large amounts of fluids (water and juice) and then I can take a maintaince dose of 2 each day. As far as I can tell, your body flushes what it doesn't need and it won't upset your stomach like the acid in the cranberry juice.
As you know, UTIs can happen from a variety of exposure and often from sexual activity. Keeping water intake high keeps the system flushed. Also using the restroom after activies helps flush the urinary tract immediately. I've taken many many antibotics for (stronger and stronger) over the five years before discovering d-mannose as my natural remedy.
Tasha (East Coast, Usa) on 09/01/2010:
D-mannose 100% works. Not only will it blast a UTI away, but it seems to help with other female problems. Minor yeast, etc. I suffer from chronic volvodynia-like symptoms and this really helps it. Works even better in conjunction with citrical(for oxalate levels)and lots of h20. I highly recommend using the powder as the results are better than with the pills. VERY good stuff.
Traveler (Santa Barbara, Ca, Usa) on 04/30/2010:
I got turned onto D-Mannose by a former roommate, and while I was sucking down Apple Cider Vinegar straight and water, I was having NO LUCK!So I bought D-Mannose from the local big-chain health food store for about $35, and while it was expensive, it worked so good and immediately! I ended up getting some $25 stuff off of Amazon, and have used that occasionally if I feel "off" to good effect, though not all the time (like right now I thought I was treating BV and it's not responded expect a little, so I treated it like trich with tea tree oil and coconut oil and that really worked-- but it's only been a few hours.
But yes- D-Mannose is a necessity for a woman's medicine cabinet.
IceSeraph22 (Burton, MI, USA) on 07/28/2009:
I have never had UTI before. But when I got it I knew!! I called my mom and got her on the ball. But with all of her wisdom, a hot bath, sea salt, cranberry juice, and some over-the-counter drugs to help with the symptoms, it was the experiences of the people on this site that really made a difference. I went out and grabbed D-Mannose as quick as I could. This progressively helped my condition and in three days of use i was completely healed. Not to be religious. But I was free from pain and bleeding. I know pretty icky but this site keep it real.I really appreciate this site. and this is not the first time that I have been helped.
Kiki (San Diego, CA) on 07/04/2009:
I used to get frequent urinary tract infections and was tired of paying $100 to go to the urgent care clinic for another prescription for antibiotics. Then, I read about D-Mannose. It's not an antibiotic because it does not kill bacteria. It is a type of natural sugar that gets excreted through the urinary tract. The sugar prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls of your urinary tract and flushes it away when you urinate. The instructions are on the bottle, but it comes in either tablet or powder form. You take it with a glass of water every few hours. You can use it as a treatment and also as regular prevention if you are the type to get it often. If you want more information, there is a ton on the internet. Many web stores sell it also. This simple treatment saved me a lot of money and a lot of suffering!
Kelly (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) on 03/20/2009:
I got a UTI (urethra) for the first time and the doctor prescribed me a round of Macrobid (antibiotic). I felt extremely sick 12 hours after taking one and almost threw up and had bad diahrrea (gross I know). The doctor wanted to prescribe me a different antibiotic but instead I searched the internet for natural remedies and came up with d-mannose. I bought a brand from a natural health food store. It wasn't as potent as some of the more popular brands. It took about 7 days to clear it for good, but it's gone now and when I went back to the doctor a couple of days after taking it she said my infection was "milder and almost gone." She wouldn't attribute this to the d-mannose though. It was better within a couple of days. I started out with 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of water, to make sure I wouldn't have a wierd reaction, about 3-4 times a day. In the first 3 days I recommend 1 teaspoon at least 5 times a day. If you want you can do it every couple of hours for the first day. You can wean yourself off of it, but make sure you take at least a teaspoon a day, when you feel it is gone to make sure. I am amazed! I was also taking apple cider vinegar on and off, but there is so much mixed information about whether you should create an acidic or alkaline environment for the bacteria. I took more baking soda in water too. About a teaspoon in a glass a day. As much as I could drink. The d-mannose helped the most though. I am now passing on it's curative ways to everyone I know. Now I hope ACV works for the cold/flu I have right now.
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