Bladder Infections
Natural Remedies

Effective Natural UTI Remedies for Quick Relief

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Effie6 (Sheffield, Uk) on 03/07/2012

Hi Ted, I have suffered with recurrent UTI's for years but a few months ago had a particularly severe one which I took 4 different antibiotics some not finishing the course because I felt they weren't working (stupid I know, probably the reason I'm in this mess I know). I don't think it ever really went. But my urinary symptoms completley died down after a course of trimethaprim.

After about a month I became severely brain fogged and tired and weak and couldn't do anything. I thought I had ME. I had strong smelling urine and occasional twinges when weeing but no normal UTI symptoms. Then after a while it transpired I had a UTI. The sensitivity test said it was sensitive to amox so the doc put me on 250mg 7 day course. The symptoms improved but didn't go. I then had a 5 day course of 500mg amox and the symptoms seemed to lift. I was so happy to feel clear again.

2 weeks later the symptoms have slowly crept back and I am now brain fogged again and have strange urinary symptoms-slight stingy twinge on weeing and lower abdominal pain/gripes but without the fatigue. I got drunk with my friends a few days ago and that seemed to make it a lot worse. I have now just started another course of augmentin. I am a 5th year dental student approaching my finals and I can't think straight. I just failed a practical exam and my tutor said I just didn't seem with it. She was right I never feel with it at the moment. It is making me so sad. I feel like I have a super infection. Oh and now my urine test has come back negative apart from slight white blood cells and the docs keep telling me I am making the symptoms up. I have tried ACV and cranberry and d-mannose. Nothing but the antibiotics seem to make a difference but even they don't seem to keep it away.

Should I ask to be put on long term antibiotics? The brain fog affects me so much I hate it, has anyone ever experienced anything similar or have any suggestions as to what I should do?

D-Mannose
Posted by 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).

D-Mannose
Posted by 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.


Acidophilus
Posted by Marina (Chicago, Il) on 02/10/2012

I am responding to a general thread on bladder infections and uti- to say that we keep coconut oil ovules made with a drop of lavender essential oil in our women's health care clinic, and they seem to knock out bladder infections - best to address at the earliest symptom, which is generally a slight burning upon urination. Taking a few glassfuls of water to which 1 t. of cranberry concentrate (unsweetened) is added is also a helpful adjunct to this treatment- along with rest!


Baking Soda
Posted by Ragsie (Lower Hutt, Nz) on 02/03/2012
★★★★★

This is the best advice I have read and tried for UTI. It went away very quickly. Thanks for posting and hope others can benefit from your extremely useful post!


D-Mannose
Posted by Kloon (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 02/03/2012

I have currently beeing going through something similar. Tried to get rid of the UTI on my own, but ended up taking the antibiotics. For a few days after I finished the anti's, I felt fine/normal. Then I kept getting this pressure feeling, which I had for over a week after. However, I had no other symptoms of a UTI. My friends parent is a pharmasist, and he said that that feeling could actually be from the antibiotics and nothing to do with the UTI. I started taking probiotics and after about 5 days on those the pressure feeling has gotten much much better. It could have actually just been an after-effect of the antibiotics. I have heard great things about d-mannose from a doctor I recently saw and I am going to start taking it everyday as per his directions to help prevent UTI's in the future.


Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Tupelohonee (Tupelo, Ms) on 02/02/2012
★★★★★

Thank you for this site! I don't take any prescription medicines unless absolutely necessary (pain med for tooth extraction - only needed it for one day), so I really didn't want to have to do antibiotics for a bladder infection. I was having painful urination, and there was mild discomfort before and afterward.

I tried the baking soda in the morning and noticed that my frequency cut down first, from an hour to two hours between bathroom visits. By that afternoon the discomfort that stayed with me after a "visit" had diminished. I took another dose in the afternoon, and this morning there are no symptoms at all! I can imagine the acidity in my system came from too many desserts. I'd also had a shot of ACV mixed with lemon juice, water, and Stevia after something sweet yesterday, to keep my blood sugar from rising. I hadn't been doing that for a while.

Today, I'll continue both, since I've seen sites since then that said to mix the two. I'll rinse with water afterwards, (to protect tooth enamel), and skip two days after 5 days, as suggested on one of these sites. I need to make sure my ph level is more alkaline.

Thanks, Earth Clinic, for having such a great place to go for natural remedies. I'm adding you to my favorites bar!!

Acidophilus
Posted by Madiney (Portland, Or) on 01/31/2012
★★★★★

I started getting a bladder infection every month. I got on antibotic and it came back. I then cured it naturally and sure enough a month later it came back. I tried to take it out again naturally but nothing worked. I was ready to get back on antibodics and a friend gave me a box of suppositories yeast arrest. It worked in 15 minutes and has changed my life along with acidophilus. I take 2 a day for maintenance and my life is changed.

Acidophilus
Posted by Shampoo (Los Angeles, Ca) on 01/26/2012
★★★★★

Acidophilus is the ONLY thing that works to PREVENT and treat UTI's. Ever since I gave birth to my daughter I get a bladder infection EVERYTIME I have sex, it was horrible. To top it off, I dont have insurance, and it would usually take more than one round of antibiotics to clear one up.

One winter, I was on my 4th round of antibiotics when I got on earthclinic to try to find an alternative cure. I tried ACV, EVCO, baking soda, sea salt, Olive leaf extract, and Oregano oil. None if it worked. It eased the pain, but did not clear things up for me. I also took Uva Ursi, and D-Mannose. The infection lingered. I still had painful pee, and sex! I drank ACV by the bottle, it was disgusting, but I was desperate!! I drank that and took coconut oil like it was my job.

Because, I am also prone to yeast infections, I tried several different kinds of Acidophilus, and I noticed a real improvement, but what cured me was an expensive brand specially formulated for women(can say names) with several different strands of acidophilus. There is a website, you guys can look it up. It was created and formulated over clinically trials, and 10 years of research and study, its great. It is expensive but SOOOOO WORTH IT! Its about $30 for 60 caplets. A month supply. I order it every month or every other month, its great. To prevent UTI's all you need is one pill a day. To treat a UTI, you will need 2 or more pills a day, and it may take up to a week to clear it out along with alot of water. These pills saved my life guys. Also, massive amounts of Goldenseal herb and Echinacea also helped me, but it was a pain! Who wants to take a dozen caps a day, Boring!!!

Alka Seltzer
Posted by Nonie (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 01/21/2012
★★★★★

After years suffering with UTIs that have crippled me with pain I have realized how to treat them AND to understand what helps and why.

Alka-seltzer was the first remedy that helped me. My bladder infections cause me to bloat so parents and doctors thought it was gas. Alkaseltzer every day and the pain was gone. It turns out that this is because it changes the acidity of the urine. It alkalinizes it, as does bicarbonate (baking soda), for a period of time after taking it. This helps with pain but it will not cure the underlying infection unless the pain is due to overly acidic urine, and not a true infection. Alkaline urine can actually assist an infection in spreading.

Cranberry juice does the exact opposite. It renders the urine more acidic. This does not help with pain for me at all, but it ensures that bacteria can't grow and hence it's more of a long term approch. But it must be pure, unsweetened cranberry juice or pills, and no apple or other sugary juice in it. Sugar feeds any infection in the body. I prefer the pills if I take it, but I prefer other methods that I feel work better.

Probiotics ensure the body has the proper intestinal and urinary and reproductive bacteria and is a great preventative. The best is bio K, after that I like the pearl brand - extra strength.

Instead of salt, I use miso. It's naturally salty and also loaded with probiotics and minerals because it's fermented. You add it to hot, not boiling water and drink as a broth. It's tasty and better for you than commercial yogurt, some of which is pasturized after they add the probiotics, and most of which has sugar added.

Regarding recurring infections, there are triggers I have found in myself and don't know if they apply to others. Sexual activity, sugar, orange or citrus juice - even fresh pressed, dehydration, and coffee or tea or any caffeinated drink. The reason caffeine brings it on is that it dehydrates the body and you have to drink so much more water to compensate.

Lastly, antibiotics NEVER work for me to clear it completely. They are garbage, in my opinion. I use colloidal silver as an antibiotic, and it works better. But I use it for at least three weeks when I get it. The reason people get them in repeatedly in a short time frame, as in my case, is sometimes because the infection is not actually gone. It can be low grade and they don't pick it up on their tests at the doctor's office but in a week you have a bonafide infection again. I am sure I had low grade infections for years. Here's what helped:

Tincture of marshmallow root, uva-ursi, and goldenseal or drink marshmallow root or slippery elm powder and take goldenseal tincture. I do this as needed throughout the day when I have any signs of infection, even just the urgency. An epsom salt hot hot bath with a drink of bicarbonate in water for pain management. Colloidal silver for a full blown infection, with the above. I can't touch citrus juice or caffinated dinks if I have any sign of infection, and I have to drink 12 glasses of water a day. I always use probiotics and take miso regularly. I take zinc supplements (picolinate works best for me) daily, and I do not use any soap but Dr. Bonner's liquid soap diluted. Oil of oregano did not work for me, but olive leaf at the same time as colloidal silver helps. I also drink pau d'arco tea at night on a regular basis, which is an antifungal and will really help if yeast is involved.

Vitamin C did nothing noticable either way, but I take 3000mg night and day for other purposes. I do not know if it helps.

The herbs and natural remedies can be gotten at health food stores. There are no exact amounts to use... I just take what I think and if that doesn't work, try a bit more. As with any med, the dose has to be in the therapeutic range to work. This is my cumulated knowledge after 20 years suffering and then studying holistic nutrition. Hope it helps someone!


Grapeseed Extract
Posted by Michelle (San Anselmo, Ca) on 01/18/2012
★★★★★

Yes! Isn't it wonderful, and it's so much cheaper than D-Mannose and Doctors! I just posted about it on my blog. So glad to see others have tried it too.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Rose (London, Uk) on 01/15/2012
★★★★★

Never had this condition before and had frequent urination (no discharge) for over 6 weeks (all during Xmas) and 3 lots of antibiotics. Finally, found this website and started taking own action. Thanks ladies for your advice. One more thing to add to the discussion in addition to all the other remedies. I decided to drastically change my diet. Cut out all foods with added sugar (yeah, all the nice stuff - cakes, chocolate, etc. ), cut down all yeast foods and replaced with rye bread/flat bread/crackers etc. Replaced regular tea/coffee with decaff and mint tea. Used honey instead of refined sugar. Cranberry juice and water instead of alcohol. It's a toughy but I have to say it's working. I've been free for over a week.. Not long I know but it feels better than nothing. What's more, the weight is coming off too! Don't recommend this forever, but was tired of seeing doctors and thought it time to take myself in hand! Hope this helps. Good luck to you all.

Water With Lime and Lemon
Posted by Zoey (Dublin, Ireland) on 01/08/2012
★★★★★

Water with lime and lemon for UTI: Drink the whole day till night water with lemon and lime, fill for yourself at home a jug of water with lime and lemon...


Alka Seltzer
Posted by Jlkincaid (Fargo, North Dakota ) on 12/22/2011
★☆☆☆☆

I tried the alka seltzer remedy too and I ended up in the er with a fever and a severe bladder infection. The pain was so severe that I felt like I was giving birth all over again. I wouldn't suggest to anyone to use the alka seltzer!


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;

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.)



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