UTIs

Are you struggling with painful and frequent urination? Have you experienced episodes of fatigue or nausea in the last few days? Has extreme lower back pain or pressure in your pelvis left you bedridden for a period lasting three days or longer?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from a urinary tract infection, better known as a UTI.

Intestinal bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) can cause these urinary tract infections if passed from the anus to the urethra due to improper wiping technique.

These harmful UTI-causing bacteria may gain entry to your urinary tract system and attach to the urinary tract or infect organs like your urethra, bladder, kidneys, or ureters.

In that case, you may start to experience painful UTI-related symptoms. Note that these infections often begin in the lower part of the urinary tract, as the bacteria continue to multiply in the bladder.

Doctors generally treat UTIs with antibiotics. While antibiotics are effective at treating these UTI-causing bacteria, infection recurrence is common. What’s more, the excessive use or reliance on these prescription meds can cause antibiotic resistance.

To avoid overexposure to antibiotics, many urinary tract infection sufferers seek natural supplements like Uqora.

Natural remedies for UTIs

Urinary tract infections affect millions of people each year. Although they are easy to treat, you’ll need to catch these infections earlier to avoid possible kidney infections. Unfortunately, mild infections can turn severe, and sometimes fatal, without treatment.

Antibiotics contain these infections before they can travel into the bloodstream and cause sepsis. However, these prescription medications shouldn’t be your go-to in the case of recurring UTIs. The overuse of antibiotics can have serious consequences for personal and public health.

Luckily, mild UTIs may clear up without the use of antibiotics. Some types of urinary tract infections respond well to health supplements, herbs, and other natural remedies.

Natural ingredients help treat and prevent infections by improving urinary tract health. Besides boosting your urinary tract health, these natural supplements can help a patient avoid excessive exposure to antibiotics.

Here are five herbs and supplements that may treat or prevent mild UTIs if you haven’t found success with prescribed antibiotics.

Cranberries

Cranberries might be the most popular natural treatment for urinary tract infections. Cranberry products like extracts and juices both contain healing compounds, including D-mannose.

When infectious bacteria spreads to the bladder and triggers an infection, a specific protein prevents your system from flushing out harmful, UTI-causing bacteria. Cranberry compounds dislodge existing bacteria and prevent future adhesion to the urinary tract.

The healing compounds of cranberry hinder bacterial growth and help prevent infection.

D-mannose

D-mannose is a glucose-like compound that naturally occurs in foods such as apples and oranges. For UTI treatment, D-mannose should be consumed as a health supplement in tablet or powder form.

D-mannose offers promising support for acute UTIs. This active compound inhibits UTI-causing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract. Taking a daily health supplement allows the urine to flush out the bacteria before it can make you sick. Living a symptom-free life can be as easy as popping a vitamin in the morning.

Uva Ursi

Uva ursi, also known as bearberry leaf, is an herbal remedy used to treat urinary tract infections. Unlike innovative UTI treatments on the market today, uva ursi has been a staple of folk medicine that’s withstood centuries of medical advancement.

Uva Ursi’s name is derived from the snacking tendencies of bears. Because bears like to snack on the berries, this herbal remedy is commonly referred to as bearberry leaf. The leaves provide extracts for medicinal use and are known to reduce inflammation and fight infection.

Uva ursi is available as an herbal tea or a supplement in tablet or capsule form. The plant’s compounds, especially arbutin, can target UTI-causing E. coli with its antibacterial properties.

Garlic

Garlic is an herb that’s popular in culinary practices and traditional medicine, alike. This plant in the onion family is a common natural remedy for bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.

Garlic has many potential therapeutic effects, including the ability to heal a urinary tract infection naturally. This plant’s healing properties stem from the presence of allicin, a sulfur-containing compound. Allicin has strong antibacterial effects against E. coli. For this reason, garlic may be an effective alternative therapy for UTI symptoms.

You can consume garlic in its raw and natural form. As a supplement, it’s available in extract or capsule form.

Green Tea

Green tea is a staple of traditional medicine. This natural UTI treatment is abundant in compounds called polyphenols that are known for their strong antimicrobial effects.

Epigallocatechin (EGC) also makes green an excellent natural choice for naturopathic UTI therapy. Like arbutin, EGC inhibits E. coli growth in the urinary tract system.

Unfortunately, green tea contains caffeine, which can exacerbate UTI symptoms. With this in mind, decaffeinated products may be a better option for recurring UTI sufferers.

If you decide green tea is the right natural remedy, health supplements pack the antimicrobial properties of green tea into a single capsule or tablet.

Other UTI treatments

Researchers have conducted very few studies on herbal remedies for urinary tract infections. Yet, herbal teas remain a popular way to treat and prevent UTIs.

Besides green tea, traditional medicine harnesses the power of chamomile tea for many ailments, including UTIs. Mint tea and parsley tea are also popular options.

Along with natural supplements, there are more things you can do to treat UTI symptoms. For example, drink plenty of water to flush out infection-causing bacteria. You can also take a warm bath with fragrance-free soap to soothe UTI-related pain and discomfort.

To relieve abdominal discomfort specifically, warm up a heating pad and apply it to areas experiencing pain.

Conclusion

Your body is built with many natural defenses to prevent the spread of infection. Even so, urinary tract infections can still occur. If you have a UTI, don’t ignore it. If left untreated, you may be facing severe symptoms related to a kidney infection. If the infection doesn’t subside on its own, see your doctor for treatment. Then, boost your urinary tract health with supplements like Uqora.