Home Remedy of the Week: Best Natural Medicines for Preventing and Treating Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Anyone who has experienced urinary tract infection knows how painful and discomforting it can be. Commonly known as UTI, the infection is fairly widespread, affecting millions of people every year. It’s caused by the E. Coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteria in most cases, although, it can also be caused by viruses and fungi. The infection affects parts of the urinary system – the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder or the urethra. Antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, etc. are usually used for treating UTI. But before the advent of these strong medicines, people depended on home remedies to treat UTI at home. This week’s natural remedies will help you treat UTI and prevent their further occurrence. Here are some best time-tested ones.

Water

There’s no better home remedy for UTI than water. Hydration should be your number one priority when you have the infection. Increased water intake helps not only treat UTI but also prevent it. Urologist Dr Areef Tamboli from SL Raheja Hospital says, “Start with one extra glass with each meal. If the urine appears any darker than a very pale yellow, this means not enough liquid is being ingested; increase the fluid intake.” How to Stay Safe From UTI.

Cranberry Juice

One of the best-known natural remedies for UTI apart from water is cranberry juice. It’s a folk remedy used for treating the infection since ages. Scientists validated the powers of cranberry juice when they found that metabolites of the juice prevented E.Coli bacteria from sticking to each other and multiplying. 8 Signs of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Women.

Garlic

Garlic is a powerful antibiotic herb used since ancient times for the treatment of infections. In a 2015 study conducted by the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences in India, the scientists found that garlic extracts could be a powerful weapon against UTI-causing bacteria, even those that are multi-drug resistant. They found that 82 percent of the bacteria that showed resistance to antibiotics were affected by a crude extract of garlic. This goes to show that including garlic in your diet can prevent and treat UTI.

Horseradish

An extremely pungent root vegetable and a spice used as a condiment in Japanese cooking. The paste known as wasabi is one of the hottest-tasting things in the world. But it’s also nutritionally gifted and has strong antibacterial properties. A 2007 study in the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion showed that a mixture of horseradish and nasturtium helped in treating chronically recurrent UTI.

Probiotics

Probiotics or fermented foods such as yoghurt, kimchi, pickles, etc. are great for treating any kind of infection. The probiotic lactobacilli have been considered one of the best for the prevention of UTIs. It’s a good bacteria that dominate the urinary system, keeping the growth of the bad ones in check. Probiotics also mitigate the effects of antibiotics.

Vitamin A and C

Taking vitamin A and C supplements have been proven to help treat UTIs. A 2007 study in the journal Pediatrics International showed that supplementing with vitamin A helped reduce the infection rate in people who face recurrent UTIs. Vitamin C is said to help in acidifying the urine, which kills the bacteria that causes the infection. But so far, studies on the topic have not yielded conclusive results.

While these tips do help in treating UTI, it should be done only under medical supervision or with permission from the doctor. Instead of using them as a substitute for medicines, try using these home remedies for UTI with the medicines prescribed by your doctor for better results.

(This article is written for an informative purpose and should not be substituted for medical advice. Kindly consult your doctor before trying any tips.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 23, 2018 10:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).