Effective Natural UTI Remedies for Quick Relief

Apple Cider Vinegar, Cranberry

Posted by Kali (Kailua Kona, HI) on 03/24/2009
★★★★★

after using a notoriously harmful birth control for the first time in 4 years (my husband warned me, i didnt listen) i developed my first uti in 5 years! i was so upset and remorseful that i didnt listen to him. after 4 days of using this birth control i had a full blown uti. i was urinating blood clots and all. obviously i stopped using the birth control immediately. refusing to go back to the doctors (SINCE THEYRE THE ONES WHO CAUSED THIS!!!) i started drinking 3 cups of an acv water mixture and 3 cups of a cranberry water mixture a day. after 2 days i am happy to say my urine is clear and i am urinating without being in pain! yayyy! acv is the besttt!

D-Mannose

Posted by 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.

Dietary Changes

Posted by B (Fair Lawn, NJ) on 02/25/2009
★★★★★

I would like to let you know that urinary tract infections can be caused by candida yeast as well as bacteria. If you have the symptoms and are having trouble getting over it by taking the standard cranberry and D'Mannose remedies, consider yeast, particularly if urine analysis is clear. I found this out after the infection got much worse following a breakfast of homemade cookies and pancakes. Then I noticed on another popular site a person had the same symptoms, pain, light brown spotting in the front of underwear, constant feeling of having to urinate, etc. This was after the doctor laughed, told me my urinalysis was clear and I was just dehydrated and overreacting.

What helped me was to cut out sugar and wheat, and take raw garlic, oil of oregano, OSHA root and coconut oil. Not sure which one helped the most, but after two weeks, I just wanted to get better, and I did.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Kiks (London, Uk) on 01/24/2013
★★★★★

Diet can definitely be a factor. I had chronic "infections" but no bacteria was being picked up in the urine tests. As I was also suffering with stomach problems I cut out gluten and within a few days felt like a new person! I found out I'm severely intolerant to gluten, and eating any irritates my bladder within an hour (along with my stomach).

Interestingly some children wet the bed when they eat gluten--it's all related!

Bladder Infection Causes

Posted by Sadie (Ky, USA) on 01/30/2009

You can prevent a lot of bladder infections by simply going to the bathroom after any sexual activity. Peeing right after sex pushes all the bacteria out that would go on in otherwise and cause an infections. Its also best to take a shower instead of baths but if you cant give up your baths it might help to pee right after them too.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

Posted by Harriet (Milton, GA, USA) on 01/10/2009
★★★★★

Baking soda and ACV cured my chronic Urinary Tract Infections. I was desperate to find relief one weekend, when I didn't want to go to "Urgent Care" which costs three times as much as a regular co-pay, so I consulted Earth Clinic. I took 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda (the organic kind from Bob's Red Mill with no aluminum) mixed with a tablespoon of ACV four times the first day, then 3 times the second day, twice the third day and it was completely gone!! Thank you for this amazing site!

Bladder Infection Causes

Posted by Rosey (San Francisco, CA) on 01/09/2009
0 out of 5 stars

There should be a section about causes for bladder infections. I realized mine were being casued my Method laundry detergent. I constantly had pain, but it went away the week the bottle of soap ran out. Always buy frangance free soap. Same goes for non-bleached tampons, ladies!

Bladder Infection Causes

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 01/10/2009 490 posts
0 out of 5 stars

I hope everyone already knows to avoid all bubble baths because they are also known to cause bladder infections.

D-Mannose

Posted by Jan (Seattle, Wa) on 01/07/2009
★★★★★

D-Mannose powder (simple sugar) eliminates urinary tract infection quickly (24-48 hours) and safely by causing the bacteria to be flushed right out of the body with normal urination. D-Mannose is easy to buy, your local Health Food store has it.

It is a shame and unforgivable that doctors are not recommending this product - to people and to pets! I have small 16 years old dog, the dosage I use - 1/2 teaspoon with a little of her favorite treats crumbled in it - 3 times for only 1 to 2 days, and the infection is gone! (No more blood in urine, no rotten smell.) It works like a magic for people and pets! No antibiotic needed!

Chinese Herbs

Posted by K (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 11/29/2008
★★★★★

Just thought I would let everyone in on my long history of UTI's. I have had them since I was 10 months old and I am now 23. There is these herbal vitamins that I picked up from the china town herbal store and I SWEAR by them!!! U take 5 .. 3 times a day with hot water and it goes away instantly. I would write the name of them but Its in chinese. I will look it up and get back to you all.. also I read some peoples stories about getting yeast infections, and I have never had one in my entire life so you might want to switch your medication. I also asked my doctor for 3X the amount of medications so that I can start taking them right away when my UTI is really intense. We all know how they feel OUCH! Also try taking warm baths!

Alka Seltzer

Posted by Sara (Gravette, AR) on 11/09/2008
★★★★★

I woke up this morning with a bladder infection. Didn't want to go to the doctor so I took a chance to find something online that would help so I type in home remedies. I at first, drank acv with baking soda then I drank water with lemon in it. Then I drank water with the alka selter. I felt a little bit better. Than I went to the bathroom and their was blood. (PAINFUL!) I went and drank another water with alka seltzer. I was scared to go to the restroom thinking I was going to scream again but It was better. Alot. No blood this time.Then I continued to drink serveral (didn't coun't) maybe 3 or 4 more water with alka selter. I am feeling alot better! I CAN NOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!!! ~~~Sara Smith~~~

EC: Urine in the blood can indicate one of many conditions. Read more here: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/blood_in_the_urine/page2_em.htm#Causes of Blood in Urine

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

Posted by Leilani (Seattle, WA) on 12/12/2008
★★★★★

I woke up with what felt like a bladder infection. These are my journal notes:

Day 1:

These used to be a massive reoccuring problem. Unfortunately I have been neglectful of the things that keep them at bay for me [which include regular vitamin c and good water intake.] So, I'm trying an at home remedy today and if it persists, I swear I'll take the uristat [pain drugs] and go to the doc for some antibiotics. We'll see how it goes... So far, this is my plan for the day: no sugars, less carbs, more water, vitamin C, and drinking a shot of plain unfiltered organic ACV [apple cider vinegar] in a big glass of water every other big glass of water. https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/bladder_infection.html Drinking teas with no soy milk no sugar or honey that are natural as well. *fingers crossed*

This morning: deep bladder ache feeling [stitch in side kind of pain]. Frequent urge to urinate and barely no flow when I did. Ache increased when urinating and afterwards. No back pain [whacked myself just to be sure.] Also realizing I ate a ton of sugar last week when I had a cold virus including - cough drops, sipping honey stuff constantly, etc.= Self- diagnosed UTI. Haven't had one in years...

The home-remedy regime:

One 16 oz. glass of water, 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1 tsp. baking soda
Followed over time by 2 16 oz. glasses of water

Then 1 cup of herb tea.
Additionally no sugars or extra carbs today - just eating chicken soup I made this weekend.

So far I've done the above twice today.

Other things I've done today:
+ 1x a day 1 tsp sea salt in warm water 6 oz or so
+ taking ester C - 500 mg at every meal

By the end of the day:

Very mild, deep pressure pain in bladder. Urinating large quantities and reasonably often every 30-60 minutes. No pain with urination.

I'd be interested in getting some cranberry extract or capsules and oregano oil as well in the home remedy options. Oh, well there's a bright side to all this. Two things: one I'll probably loose more weight as result of this.

Day 2:

So I did my thing yesterday as I outlined 4x total yesterday with the baking soda & ACV. [ack that s*** tastes bad].

Wrapped up the day yesterday with a hot bath with yet more baking soda and ACV. Yes, I didn't just drink it I bathed in it. It's actually kinda nice for a bath. And lastly, I took a ester C every time I woke last night to get up to pee because believe me I had to get up a couple times.

Today, I started the day with more ACV & baking soda. uck! And tea and water. I'll try to down the ACV & baking soda mixture three times today with lots of water as well. Continuing with the very minimal carbs and no sugars.

How do I feel: pretty much fine. No urgency. No discomfort when urinating or after. Very very mild awareness of my bladder which could be infection related or could because I still am peeing every 30-60 minutes since I'm drinking so many fluids. Oddly, yesterday I was wired after all that water & ACV.I slept in a little today. I'm hopeful at this point that I'm kicking this and it's going away. *fingers crossed*

Day 3:

I tried to exercise a little [light of my normal routinge = pushups and a number of situps, squats, etc.] That and the dose of apple cider vinegar & baking soda this morning made my tummy unhappy. But other than that, I now seem to be feeling generally ok. I had a little sugar today in my tea [as in sweetened rice milk] and had Vietnamese feast including rice noodles and table sauce which includes sugar. I feel a little hyper from all the good food but my tummy has stopped hurting [all that damn apple cider vinegar] and carbs taste good! I still had a couple esterC's today with lots of water today. Generally, I'm feeling mostly ok and not so damn scatter brained as yesterday [two days no carbs & sugar makes me dumb.] I seem to be going to the bathroom like a normal highly hydrated person and eating pretty ok. *fingers crossed*

Day 4:

I'm feeling even better today. Eating normally but less sugar over-all. Still taking ester C and doing 2-3 doses of ACV & baking soda a day. Mygoddess real food tastes good. Oh, and I realized I could sweeten the home remedy with stevia. doh. It's still nasty but not nausea-making. I'm thinking I'm through the woods but just being careful.

Over Day 4-6 drank unsweetened cranberry juice with stevia.

After Day 4 on...

Continuing to drink good amounts of water, take normal doses of Ester C, and taking at least one shot of ACV [2 tsp.s] every morning followed by big glass of water. Stopped ACV & Baking soda combination.

After Day 4 symptoms, seem to have gone. It's been a week since my first symptoms. And I feel normal and good. I've lost some weight which is a nice side benefit. Hope this helps someone else; it's nice to have to take antibiotics and throw off the whole system.

Thank you for this website!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

Posted by Zel (Liberty , MO) on 10/24/2008
★★★★★

I had a very uncomtable UTI today. I used apple cider mixed with water and baking soda. In less than hour after taking it and drinking a lot of water the pain was gone and I did not have to go every few minutes. This really works I have suffered from UTI for years and this is the first home remedy I have tried that worked.

Alka Seltzer

Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio) on 10/17/2008
★☆☆☆☆

Alka Zeltzer did not work for my UTI. I did it for a couple of days, didn't work at all.

Cranberry

Posted by Mia (Jacksonville, Fl) on 10/14/2008
★★★★★

For the life of me I don't know why studies can't conclusively say that Cranberry juice works to cure bladder infection.

I have had 3 bladder infections (or UTIs) in my life. Two turned into kidney infections.

I just got over symptoms of the third two weeks ago. Within 2 hours of the first symptom I had completely red urine (from the blood).

I read everything about how only pure cranberry juice will work IF it would work at all. I read so many reports that there was no conclusive evidence that cranberry would CURE a bladder infection. They said it may prevent them but there was no evidence of a cure. I can tell you I have evidence of a cure. I drank a glass as soon as my urine turned red. The symptoms began to improve slightly.

I went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist told me any fluid would work just as well as the cranberry so to be calorie conscious I started drinking straight water. NOPE! Within half an hour the symptoms were WORSE than before I began drinking the water.

So I began chugging ocean spray cranberry. It wasn't pure, it was sugary, and it WORKED. For good measure I also took 1/2 a tsp. of baking soda in a glass of water AND I went to CVS and bought some cranberry pills all these things against the advice of the pharmacist but the last kidney infection I had left me with BAD BAD side effects from the cure so I was really desperate and IT WORKED! I did this for three days.

Don't belive that cranberry doesn't work - even the Ocean Spray kind. I woke up the next day 100% better. Still some slight pressure after urinating but that was it and by the next day all symptoms were COMPLETELY GONE.

Cranberry

Posted by Stella (Ashevile, NC) on 09/27/2008
★★★★★

I take one cranberry capsule in the morning and one at night every day to prevent UTI's. It helps. I get mine at Sam's Club. I'm 54 and going through the change and more susceptible to getting UTI's than I used to.

Cranberry

Posted by Veronica (Thousand Oaks, California) on 09/10/2008
★★★★★

I have been plagued by bladder infections since being married. I know they call it the "Honeymoon" infection because it is common to occur after intercourse. Doctors have always prescribed an antibiotic for my infections, but as soon as I stop taking the medication, the infection returns a few weeks later. I was researching natural remedies and found that cranberry pills keep the bacteria from adhering to the inside wall of the bladder. I like ____ because it has other soothing and healing ingredients like Buchu leaf, Pipissewa, Uvu Ursi leaf, Oregon grape root and Marshmallow root. I take this right after intercourse with a glass of water and I haven't had a bladder infection in almost 5 years. This is amazing because I was constantly on antibiotics year-round and was absolutely miserable. This has been a huge miracle not to be on antibiotics. I'm so glad that I found this remedy that I wanted to share this with anyone who also has been plagued by bladder infections. It's such an easy remedy... I can't believe it took me 10 years to come across it!

Cranberry

Posted by Jill (Orlando, Florida) on 10/26/2013

Simply urinate immediately following sex, every time, & you will NOT get a bladder infection. This clears the walls of debris & is cleansing. It really works!

Cranberry

Posted by Jackie (Somewhere) on 06/28/2016

I do this and it doesn't help me at all. Just saying

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

Posted by Kelly (Sacramento, CA) on 09/01/2008
★★★★★

I am 27 year old female. I have Fibromyalgia and a few other illnesses. I had a really bad UTI four years ago. I called my doctor and was put on antibiotic. It went away for a while but came back as a raging kidney infection. I had to go to the hospital and had a 103 fever. So two weeks ago when i started to have the UTI symptoms i wasn't happy. I called my doctor right away and had him prescribe antibiotic. I have had ill health since i was a kid and been on antibiotics on and off so I need a VERY strong one for them to work. This one didn't. The symptoms started coming back and even worse then before. I found this website and wanted to try the apple cider vinegar remedy. I took two tablespoons of it in a glass of water with some honey for taste. It made a difference but i was still miserable. So i decided to try it again and add a tablespoon of baking soda with it. And within a hour all my symptoms were gone! I am also taking cramberry liquid tabs and other herbs. I have kept taking it for a few days. Three to four times a day, and more you hurt the more you take. If i started to feel the symptoms again I would take another dose. Today I am stopping and will see what happens and if they come back but so far so good. The only warning I have is that if you have any stomach problems be really careful with the vinegar and baking soda. It can tear you up and be a laxative. It does clean out your sinus' and makes you have to urinate more which is great. I am so glad i found this site and THANK YOU to everyone that has posted. It is gross but So worth the result!