Replied By Cindy (Hebron, Illinois) on 08/24/2010
I have been struggling with a uti for the last week. I am a believer of the Apple Cider Vinegar regimen and have been taking 1 Tbs. Of Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with cranberry juice (no sugar added)for close to a year now. I cannot understand why this has happened. I started cranberry extract (1 tbs)3X a day, the sea salt and water, and alka seltzer. Nothing seems to be helping. I am desperate, but hate to have to resort to antibiotics. Why is my body resistant to these remedies?Replied By Laramie (Missoula, Mt) on 08/24/2010
Cindy.... Have been there too many times to count. Go get Uva Ursi capsules, and take two at nite and two in the morning and you will clear it up probably for good like I did. Also, my daughter had the same results.Replied By Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 08/24/2010
Hi Cindy, I don't know your age but I started getting the infections at around 50. Now I am a lot better and one of the things I do is always use lube when I have sex. Also peeing just after seems to help. I have to say that I have a lot less now, maybe once a year and then the only thing that helps is either drinking an awful lot of water right from the beginning or else, if that fails, penicillin for three days. I had a bladder exam and everything was ok, with my kidneys too but the gentleman told me to wash with a special soap every day: Marseille soap (you probably can't get it). Now I have it once a year-I am not too bothered anymore but of course I would love to get rid of them all together!Replied By Cindy (Hebron, Illinois) on 08/27/2010
Laramie, Thank you for the info. Am currently on antibiotics for 5 days. I hate to admit that I resorted to this, especially after reading that the antibiotic is used on Anthrax patients. Again thank you for taking the time to help. Will get the capsules for future use.Replied By Cindy (Hebron, Illinois) on 08/27/2010
Francisca, thank you for your response all the way from France. I am 66 years young and in good health. I do get them on an average of once a year as well, and wait too long to get relief. I am currently on an antibiotic but am taking probiotics at different intervals. I will try to locate the soap. Another post recommended Uva ursi capsules that I will keep on hand/ Good luck with your efforts.Replied By Wendy (Vancouver, Washington, Usa) on 09/15/2010
I suffered through the second bladder infection of my life a year ago at age 40 (and no med insurance). For three days I tried the most popular natural remedy I knew of: 'raw' cran juice or cran capsules (I used both, with tons of water). This provided barely tolerable results, with no real signs of improvement, until my dad recommended the ACV treatment he'd read about on this site. I tried the 'recipe' he gave me, and was absolutely AMAZED at the VERY quick results. My 'situation' only required 3 doses, over about 3 hrs, and all symptoms disappeared (for good). I felt about 50% better after ONLY 1/2 HR of drinking first dose of remedy. And I felt completely symptom free after 2 more doses over next 2 or 3 hours. Each dose consisted of just 2 Tbls ACV (organic, non filtered, brown colored ONLY) w/ dash of baking soda (for alkaline balance(?)I think)in approx 6-8 oz water (which I 'slammed' down- very bitter. ), while still drinking lots of plain water over the next 12 or so hrs, just to help flush out infection.
Quick note of information I wanted to pass on (and a topic which remains controversial- so I don't mean to offend anyone who doesn't agree :), but the logic made sense to me anyway:
Not all herbal/natural remedies, as 'harmless' as they may seem, may be the healthiest choice to take daily for preventative purposes. Many are not FDA approved or monitored, and therefore can be as potent, or even MORE potent, than their respective prescription counterparts. Also, daily, frequent usage might prove ineffective over time(i. e. Due to tolerance increase). An MD recently warned me about the dangers of taking natural/herbal remedies to compliment a prescription drug to help treat or cure an illness faster or more effectively. Most prescription drugs have natural roots or base to begin with, so toxicity may occur if also adding one or more of the drugs base herbs. (Glad I finally met an MD who is educated on these matters. I have 'doubled up' many times in past hoping for quicker recovery, and wasn't aware of dangers. ) So I now do extensive research on any/all natural remedies I take, even if just intended for short time use. Except for some vitamins, I now only take any remedies on an 'as needed' basis, and have found this to provide the best results. Again, controversal topic, but just passing on for FYI purposes:)
Replied By Elizabeth (Cornish, Maine) on 12/16/2010
I just wanted to add my two cents here because I suffered with recurrent bladder and yeast infections for many years and doctors would always say that it was no big deal and send me home with yet another prescription for antibiotics. What I discovered on my own, was that hormonal imbalance was really the culprit. I had been on birth control pills for about 8 years when all of this started. After I stopped taking the pill, I had infections much less frequently, but they would still come back.
What finally worked for me was a combination of wild yam and vitex capsules, taken daily for two or three months. Both of these herbs are natural hormone balancers. They do not contain any actual hormones, but they will stimulate the body to produce hormones in the proper amounts.
Replied By April (Copperas Cove, Texas, Usa) on 01/09/2011
[YEA] I just wanted to reply to this thread because this site was so helpful! I woke up with a horrible UTI on New Year's Day. Of course it being Saturday and a holiday there was nothing open until Monday. Also, this was my fourth UTI in three months. I didn't want another round of antibiotics!
I read through many of the threads and my hubby and I decided we would treat it ourselves. He made me a "cocktail" 3x a day for two days until the symptoms subsided and then I took it 2x a day for another two days. The "cocktail" consisted of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a shot glass mixed with some sea salt (to kill some of the tartness) and cranberry juice. I shot it like it was nasty cheap liquor. (I cannot stand the smell and taste of vinegar. ) I was able to get it down by holding my nose and drinking something else immediately afterwards. I also took AZO cranberry tablets, 2 tabs 2x a day, drank a glass or two of cranberry juice daily, and plenty of water. At night I would take a Vitamin C tablet to increase the acidity of my urine overnight.
Monday I had residual pain and went in for a urine culture and I was bacteria-free! My doctor doesn't believe I even had one when I told him, but as a woman, you know when you have a severe UTI. I also avoided sugar and alcohol while I was treating it to reduce the amount of "food" I was providing the bacteria. :) For maintanence I take AZO cranberry tablets once a day and a vitamin C tablet at night. So far, so good. :)
Replied By Kate (Chicago, Il) on 09/22/2011
Yesterday afternoon, I was showing signs of a UTI (pain, frequency, etc). I tried the mixture of lemon juice, cranberry juice, & ACV. I also mixed a little water in with it as well. I drank 2 glasses before bed. This morning, I feel WORLDS better! Way less frequency, almost no pain. I will continue to drink this miracle juice for the next several days. Probably 4-5 times a day, as I read online that you can't really drink too much of it. I am kind of blown away at how great this has worked! Instead of worrying about seeing a doctor & the negative side effects of taking antibiotics, I will definitely be doing this instead next time!Replied By Betsy (Mi, Usa) on 09/27/2011
I was a skeptic but considering I woke up at 4 am with a bladder infection I thought it couldn't hurt to try one of the natural remedies. Since baking soda was the easiest to prepare and drink I started by taking 1/2 tsp with a cup of water, then did it again about a half hour later. When I read all of the comments regarding ACV, I decided I would give that a try also--2 Tbl in a cup of water. I did this three times over a two hour period. By 11 am I was feeling much better, still had blood in my urine, but the discomfort was reduced. Can I say it was the ACV or baking soda, or maybe just all of the fluids I consumed? I guess I'll never know. Mainly, I'm glad I did not have to use any antibiotics.