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.
Bee Propolis
Posted by Nektar (Athens, Greece) on 04/20/2016
★★★★★

It's the first time I decide to contribute to the site, since I was helped in numerous conditions in the past. Nevertheless, despite the valuable advise, all these years I never seemed to find relief from UTI, a plague I thought I'd never gotten rid of. I'm now 37 and, other than the UTI's, a happy, healthy individual. I went through a nasty cystitis/urethritis once, caused by Esterichia Coli. Back then Mannose had helped, but I never felt well ever since. The year-long condition I used to suffer from, at least up until last month, is described as honeymoon cystitis.

Every time I've had a partner I had to live in an inhumane condition and suffer unbearable pain and misery, stinging, intolerable burning and urge to urinate which never eased, visits to the toilet day & night, totally unable to put up with underwear, go to work or do anything other than cry and suffer. I had tried everything. I was tested through numerous cultures of urine and vaginal fluid and the only thing ever found was Ureaplasma Urealyticum. I was given massive doses of antibiotics (once I had to take Vibramycin for 22 days), which didn't relieve me and only worsened my situation in the long run. I drank massive amounts of soda, my best bet being some minimum temporary relief. I am meticulously clean. I tried every natural aid in this site and elsewhere, literally everything, you name it, every bitter, gross herb/substance in nature. Homeopathy didn't help either.

Last summer, my cousin who's a bee-keeper, gave me a couple of bee propolis clumps to make a propolis tincture (I'm sure you can buy on-line, but here is the recipe, for those like me who want to try at home:

100gr. of pure, unprocessed propolis (cut in the size of peas) in a 720gr jar filled with 95% pure drinking alcohol.

Leave in a warm, dark place for 30 days, shaking the jar from time to time. After that, pour the tincture through a cloth in a bottle. Done).

Last month, exhausted from the year-long torture and excruciating pain I was suffering, I was driven to do something crazy: dampen a piece of cotton with drops of the propolis tincture and put it straight on my genitalia. The moment I did, I felt a horrible burning underneath, but my pain was so awful anyway (the night before I was peeing traces of blood and pus) that I decided I would put up with it as long as possible. I wasn't able to take it for more than 20 seconds. And that was it.

A couple of minutes after I had removed it, all pain stopped. I didn't need to go to the toilet anymore! I repeated an hour later. I drank a lot of water, ate a couple of garlic cloves, wore my underpants and went to work. I had my propolis bottle with me. The next 7-8 days I only had to apply the cotton once daily, in the morning, for a few seconds, and then I was ok for the rest of the day. I've also been taking 20 drops of the tincture in half a glass of water daily. Now, whenever we make love with my partner, I keep the old habit of rushing to the toilet right before and after, and at the slightest sign of unease I'm quick to apply propolis. I know I'll be suffering for about a minute, but I will be perfectly well the rest of the day/night - and without medication. Propolis is a wonder of nature, it saved my life and I really wanted to share it and help as many people as I can.

Thank you for your time.


Olive Leaf
Posted by Lizabeta (New York, Ny) on 04/17/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I got a UTI and it turned into a kidney infection. I wanted to go the natural holistic route. I first tried what many suggested on EarthClinic such as D-Mannose, Cranberry juice and organic Apple Cider Vinegar. To my great surprise it did nothing for me. Absolutely nothing except turn my UTI into a Kidney Infection. I even tried Parsley tea, which helped, but didn't quite do the trick. I finally gave Olive Leaf Extract a go and was finally cured. In my case it took 4 weeks from the time of infection to when I was cured.

I took ONE capsule FOUR times a day spaced out, which was at least 1000mg of Olive Leaf Extract a day. I used two brands, one with Olive Leaf Extract with 250 mg per capsule and another Olive Leaf Herb Extract with 300 mg per capsule. When I ran out of one, I used the other. This miraculously and completely cured my problem. Folks, I was in serious pain urinating and experiencing terrible pain lower back (kidneys). I can honestly say this was the ONLY thing that worked for me. A family member even took the same dosage for kidney stones and they were cured after taking it for a month straight.

The only "negative side" to taking Olive Leaf Extract was that I had bowel movements ever other day as opposed to every day, but it was worth it. I also had to drink lots of high pH water. This was the easiest natural cure for my UTI turned Kidney Infection. =)


Sea Salt
Posted by Adrenalin1 (Minneapolis, Mn) on 03/29/2016
★★★★★

My mom, who is diabetic, was suffering for the past 5 days with a painful burning urinary tract infection. I told my dad to give her Ted's Sea Salt cure yesterday morning, which consists of taking 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt dissolved in 1 cup of warm water, on an empty stomach (first thing in AM).

She did this, and called me CRYING tears of happiness at having NO PAIN when she urinated later in the day - the SAME DAY. She called me this AM to ask if she should take another dose, and I said, no, if there's no more burning, Ted says one dose is usually enough to cure most UTI's.


Make Sure it is a UTI
Posted by Lilli (Wa, Usa) on 03/09/2016 13 posts
★★★★★

Before treating a UTI make sure you actually have one. I woke up one morning with all the symptoms: frequent and burning urination, spasms, and achiness. At the urgent care clinic, they took a urine sample that came out negative for bacteria, etc.

What I discovered was that my constipation (due to over use of antacids) was creating pressure on my bladder that caused the same symptoms.

This is what helped: lots of fluids including unsweetened cranberry juice, water, a splash of ACV in filtered drinking water, and non-caffeinated herbal tea (especially dandelion root tea). I added 500mg of magnesium once a day (near bedtime) to aid with the constipation. I added extra fiber to my diet including fresh kiwi, whole bran cereal, and flax and chia seed and honey in plain Greek yogurt. Also, a warm water bottle placed on my lower abdomen really helped calm the spasms.

It will take about 5-7 days, but it does work. Always find out if you have a UTI first before treating.


D-Mannose
Posted by Gg (Denver) on 03/02/2016
★★★★★

D-mannose works great for a UTI. If it doesn't, see a naturopath, acupuncturist etc to verify its nothing else. I had ecoli and it caused ongoing uti. my practitioner said female openings in proximity can cause these things to happen.


Enterococcus UTI Remedies
Posted by Bekah (Nc) on 02/08/2016

Hi, if you're still suffering, I recommend cayenne pepper, and grapefruit seed extract.


Grapefruit Seed Extract and Clove Oil
Posted by Sarahd (Spain) on 01/11/2016
★★★★★

I had a very rare UTI (first one in 5 years) after this Christmas and a little too much champagne and sherry trifle. I love Earth Clinic so came straight here to check out the remedies and used what I had already at home to start with.

I started with alkalising salts (carbonates of sodium, magnesium and potassium) - quite high doses of around 6-8 teaspoons per day. I also took buffered Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) - about 20-30g per day in 3-5g doses at a time. This combination kept the pain at bay but it did NOT cure the infection.

So I went out to buy some other remedies including D-Mannose, probiotic and grapefruit seed extract. I took the D-Mannose in high doses (about 800mg x 5) and the probiotic about 400 million cultures x 4 per day). I took the recommended 15 drops grapefruit seed extract about an hour after I'd taken the probiotic and took this 3 times a day.

Nothing really changed but on day 6 I read that clove oil could help so I added 3 drops in a capsule to try out one morning and decided to up the dose of the GSE. This actually seemed to have an effect - the UTI reduced for a few hours but came back with a vengeance later in the day.

Sadly, after 3 days of taking the really high doses of D-Mannose and probiotic I ran out of both although neither seemed to have made any difference to the UTI - it was still quite painful.

However, one thing I realised was that the combination of more GSE and clove oil seemed to have been effective. So now, left with only the alkalising salts, Vitamin C, clove oil and grapefruit seed extract, I decided to go all out for it with the GSE and clove oil! So I upped the dose to an intuited 40 drops about every hour or two and ignored all advice about limiting the clove oil and took 3 drops every 2 hours.

I drank a HUGE amount of water along with the alkalising salts (about 6 litres) but I do drink a lot of water regularly so this was only 2 litres more than I would drink on a summer's day. Anyway at the end of the day, I got a result!

UTI was MUCH better and hardly any pain. I took a load of water to bed and some alkalising salts and another clove oil capsule and when I woke up to pee (too much water! ) I drank the glass with the salts and clove oil. In the morning I almost felt normal.

Today is day 7 and I have drunk about 4 litres of water and taken much less of the alkalising salts as I feel I don't need them. I'm still taking the GSE and clove oil but can tell that I'm healing and should be clear in another day or two. I'd gone from pain of 8 out of 10 to 2 out of 10 in one day (with the extra GSE) and then today I have no pain, just a little feeling in my bladder that is not even discomfort - just that it feels a bit different and tells me I need to keep taking the GSE and clove oil.

The downside of taking so much Vitamin C is that it makes your stomach a bit uncomfortable. The clove oil does not taste that nice and the GSE may taste a bit sour to some but I drink the juice of 4-5 lemons a day anyway so for me it was OK. The upside is that with all the alkalising, Vitamin C and water my skin looks amazing - it's glowing, plumped and I look at least 5 years younger than last week! So good comes out of bad and I will always keep GSE and clove oil just in case, in 5 years time, I get another UTI after Christmas champagne!


Enterococcus UTI Remedies
Posted by Memi (California) on 01/10/2016

Hello Moka,

I am sorry to hear that you have been fighting an enterococcus UTI for such a long time. I also have a UTI caused by enterococcus, and can't get rid of it with antibiotics. I was wondering if you have found a solution? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lacie (Pennsyvania) on 01/02/2016

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story of being an advocate for your own health as well as the specific steps you have taken. It's inspiring and very helpful!


Baking Soda and Molasses
Posted by Hisjewel (America, New York, New York) on 12/10/2015
★★★★★

How to Kill a Urinary Tract Infection

Baking Soda and Molasses helped me to get rid of a deadly UTI. As a single again woman, trying to impress God, I have fought like a manic to keep my life clean. And since I have no one who knows this as well as the Good Lord Himself, If I have to say so myself, I have done a pretty good job these past thirty years to live single and separated from the special privileges of marriage since I am not married. So where did this UTI come from?

All I know is, I came down with pneumonia, the hospital gave me antibiotics, which cleaned out the pneumonia and left me with a UTI. Since I was seemly, out of date with fighting a UTI in my older age it act like it came to stay. My body forced me to give up sugars and starches because it made the conditions worse. I tried so many things that Earth Clinic and the internet suggested: probiotics, baking soda, vinegar, garlic, folic acid, over the counter suppositories etc. that somewhat help but did not cure this condition.

The UTI seemed to want to outlive me! Turn to your neighbor and say, "it cannot stay, it cannot stay." A week had passed, two weeks had passed and none of the oldies seemed to work. But praise be to God I came across what some people call the Cancer Cure and decided to try it. "Ha, ha, ha it worked for me. I laughing because though I suffered with this about three months, and it even took most of my hair with it, ( I tell you that UTI had the devil in it), I out lived it! .

I used Molasses and Baking soda, and sometimes Honey and baking soda dissolved in hot water. Even though as a norm sweet was not allowed on my diet, this sweetness seemed to do actually what they said. The article said the molasses or honey was bait to draw the baking soda in the cells to kill the bacteria or cancer cells.

I tried to be nice, as a Bible walker you learn how to talk to the mountain. I tired saying, " Urinary track infection go! " And when the UTI would not listen, I had to get a now word from the Lord, and it was the Molasses and Baking Soda for me. I used to take it twice a day. ( ½ teaspoon of baking soda stirred in about a cup of heating water on the stove. Then stir in a tablespoon of molasses and drink hot or cold. I was immediately feeling better. I drank this until I was sure the UTI was dead. Another words, I took it until I was able to eat my regular foods without a back lapse.

I learned about body PH on Earth Clinic and I often wonder if it has to do with my body PH being too low that I fought with this so long.

It has been almost two years since I had the Pneumonia and its family, and I am still trying to strengthen my immune system. I am thinking that I should perhaps go back to my original low sugar diet until my hair makes a comeback. I think I will.


Cranberry
Posted by Swfowkes (Cupertino, California) on 12/09/2015 46 posts

Very nice post. But let me suggest that cranberry concentrates may be a better option than 100% cranberry juice. One that you mentioned is the taste of the juice, which is bypassed by concentrates. The other one is the limit imposed by the volume of juice that has to be consumed, and the sugar load inherent in that volume of juice. Concentrates can give you more potency, and almost no sugar.

Thanks for the post. It's good info.


Cranberry
Posted by Summer (Denver, Co) on 12/09/2015
★★★★★

I can attest for cranberry as a UTI remedy. I first found out about it maybe 15 years ago. I had gone to planned parenthood not knowing what was wrong with me, the nurse told me she couldn't write a script, but told me to buy 100% cranberry juice. I did just that, I downed two 20 ounce bottles and drank them right away. My UTI was gone after about 10-15 hours. I recently got a very bad UTI, it was so bad I was bleeding. I drank 2,20 oz bottles but it didn't get any better.

The next day I went and got the giant 60 fl oz bottle from the grocery store. I downed the whole thing in an hour, which was painful just because of the massive fluid intake and I also hate the taste of cranberry. I drank it at night and the following morning the UTI was gone. If you are going to try cranberry, make sure you read the label carefully. Sometimes it will say 100% juice, but in reality it's 10% cranberry and the rest is other juices. If you down a whole bottle quickly it will flush your system and things will be back to normal within 24 hours.

D-Mannose
Posted by Julie (Nm) on 12/02/2015
★★★★★

Hi, D-Mannose powder is wonderful for recurring bladder infections. I have almost always had my urine screenings to come back from the lab with low grade infection but don't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. I began searching online for help with bladder infections and found that others had great results with D-Mannose. It seems that bacteria attach themselves to the bladder lining and D-Mannose creates a "slickness" to that lining which creates conditions in which the bacteria detach and you rid yourself of the bacteria via urination. Whatever the process, IT WORKS. I used D-Mannose once per day just before retiring to sleep for 10 days. I keep D-Mannose in my medicine cabinet but have not had to use it for more than six months now. WONDERFUL!! I hope this works for you.


Oregano Oil
Posted by Anon (Nyc) on 11/25/2015
★★★★☆

I literally made an account just to share my ordeal with this stupid UTI I've had it since the summer but didn't know, I just ignored it, mind you my diet is pretty clean so it's no surprise that I kept it at bay to the doctors surprise. One doc wrote me a script for bactrim & told me to start it right away. I didn't. I saw my Gyno 12 hours later who told me I am just dehydrated....... The urine came back positive for E. coli a few days later and the test also stating the bacteria being immune to bactrim.....dodged a huge bullet there. So its been a week of me drinking lots of water and cranberry juice (not cocktail). I've been taking d mannose, an herbal pill called bladder comfort, and I've been drinking lots of tea with ground thyme in it (I ingest the thyme powder), and I've also been eating a light diet comprised of yogurt and toast, minimal carbs and sugars, and taking a probiotic. All of this for a week made my symptoms more mild but didn't really dissappeaR.

But I bought oregano oil today and ingested the wild mediterranean one which is food grade, and my symptoms seem to be vanishing and it's only been one day!! I'm excited to see this uti finally go! And naturally!!

I think my uti was stagnant for so long that's why it's taking me longer to flush it out. It's been about a week I'm anticipating another week or so. Naturally healing takes a little longer


Baking Soda
Posted by Kerrie (Napa) on 11/03/2015

I tried this and ended up with diarrhea and urination pain relief, so you might want to start off slow, if you have a sensitive system...


Lemon
Posted by Carole (Hartford, Ct) on 10/13/2015
★★★★★

I have suffered with a UTI every couple of months or so. I have been on vacation for two weeks and this had made me miserable beyond words. I have tried everything and was tired of taking medications for this. I researched everything, except what I had already known but had forgotten. I had been told years ago by my grandmother that I should drink hot water and lemon everyday when I get up in the morning. She said that it cleanses the system and is good for digestion and your urinary tract. I kind of made a face thinking of drinking hot water with lemon without a tea bag. Yikes...but, I then remember years later reading an article stating basically the same thing! Well, that it helps alkalizes the urine. She lived to be 108 yrs old.

So, when I got up this morning I was in agony after I urinated. I said that is it I am going to try it! However, I used cold water with an ice cube about 10oz of water and 1/3 cup of lemon juice. I drank it without a sweetener and it was not bad,

Within one hour I started to feel better. I have had two glasses throughout the day sipping it and I can hardly believe it. I had no pain when I used the bathroom and I did not have to keep running to the bathroom. I feel fine. It makes sense and it works so please try it.

I will drink this every day. I do not ever want to go through this again. It was so miserable! It did not cost anything.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by John (Trang, Thailand) on 10/09/2015

Urinary Tract Infection

I was wrong, when I stopped the drugs, or something else had reared it's ugly head. The side effects of both antibiotics and the pain/sphincter drugs were unbearable and I stopped them, they fogged my brain, tired but no sleep for two full nights, plus, plus. But the penile pain and dribbles every 15 to 30 minutes won. I restarted the drugs. This is along with two a day ACV with bicarb soda, boxed grapefruit juice [tasted like crap], water, nice apple juice, mandarin juice, fenugreek tea, horsetail tea, ginger tea, stinging nettle caps, zinc, 1000mg V.C . So, after all that, the whole bullet may be working. Who knows? Pain has eased, good long peeing but at night after I manage to get some sleep I have to wake every 30 mins - one hour to pee. Nearly forgot, the lovely Lugols Iodine 6 drops in juice once a day and I stopped jockey underwear and use boxer shorts. And now, two weeks later, no problem. John


Multiple Remedies
Posted by John (Thailand) on 09/19/2015
★★★★★

Hi EC, Urinary Tract Infection. I'm male, so the last 2" of penis stings, hurts like crasy. Don't ask how I got it but it wasn't sex. No sleep, off to the toilet every hour or less for pain and dribbles so next day began drinking water – have never liked it “ plus ACV with Bicarb Soda, Horsetail [Equisetum arvense] tea, Fenugreek tea. Bought a grapefruit and ate ‚ 1/4 before bed. Next day tossed my jockey shorts and wore boxer shorts. Dreamed there must be a reasonable antibiotic by now, they've had enough time, practice and money and went to see a doc at the hospital [corporation] in Thailand. They had a new blood pressure machine that flashes a big red light if it's over their fear figures. I wanted to tell them my BP, 134/70, was lovely - no, no, go down lower. Ha! Saw doc for 30 seconds, true. They did the urine test and found too many white blood cells, so said, your bladder is OK but your penis tract is infected, so eat this, Ofloxacin and Buscopan.

I looked them up and thought, what is it doctors have against other humans. Anyway they eased the pain and I could sleep. I keep in the fridge a packet of Infloran, a German acidophilus that restores the good bacteria taken 2 hours after antibiotics. I started drinking lots of water, plus the ACV, Horsetail, Ginger tea and took a slightly heaped tsp of bicab soda before bed, and 2000 Vit. C powder before bed. I'm 80 and eat vegybubbles, some grains but no dairy, meat, sugar and all the other chemically infested stuff. Pain's gone, I pee lovely and sleep. Stopped the antibiotic and pain and sphincter relaxant after two days, will wait to see if symptoms return due to "rebound" addiction.

Will write if it worked. John

Lactobacillus
Posted by Mika (Ny) on 09/09/2015

Hi, what kind of bacteria did you have? I have an enterococcus uti (asymptomatic) can't get rid of it! Can you suggest a way to get rid of it once and for all? Please help! Thanks.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Mina_mtl (Montreal) on 09/07/2015
★★★★★

I am a 46-year old white female (I wouldn't mention my skin colour except that EC suggests it can be useful for readers to know). I am now in good health, 5'7" and weigh +/- 140lbs. I'm writing this post after 18 months of taking charge of my own health, with a lot of help from this site. I hope my comments help some of you looking for relief.

I had many yeast infections in my 20s but I first experienced a bladder infection only in my mid thirties. Took the usual course of antibiotics, only to have recurrence a few weeks later. A new sexual partner seemed to be the cause. Infection followed infection, and the doctors, including a bladder specialist, were mystified. After painful and invasive testing and many agonizing weekends spent waiting for help in clinics, I was put on a daily low dose of antibiotics. This was a great relief as I could not have sex without getting an infection within hours. Travel was a nightmare as I didn't have access to my usual doctor, and any sort of stress seemed to bring on infections as well. Even the smell of red wine seemed to trigger that stinging pain in my urethra (so stopped drinking that right away of course). Very little was said to me about diet, and as a vegetarian of almost 15 years I thought I was doing ok on the health front.

Fast forward ten years and while I was no longer on the daily antibiotics I had great sensitivity in my urethra. Sex was still a trigger, even with drinking lots of water, urinating right before and after sex, washing with perfume-free soap right before and after sex, and getting my partner to do the same. Even minor health issues - colds and viruses, PMS, stress at work - seemed to trigger that tingling pain in that part of my body. My sex drive was almost zero as I expected to pay the inevitable price if I had intercourse. I was frustrated but resigned. No doctors had been able to help me.

But 18 months ago, when my keratosis pilaris stopped responding to the over-the-counter lotions I had been using for 20 years, I decided to take my health into my own hands. I took a good look at myself. I was about 155 pounds, with a large behind, thick middle, and sagging jawline. My hair was rapidly going grey, my face was lined and exhausted, and I had no energy. Although my bloodwork came back as normal I felt as though I was on the fast track to a serious illness. Both my parents had died young of cancer and had had multiple health problems throughout their lives. It was time to stop hoping that conventional medicine could help me. I made my KP my test project to learn about and improve my health. I never expected that my journey would help me to manage my bladder infections/interstitial cystitis as well.

Thanks to all the amazing people who have posted to this site I learned a lot about the relationship between food and skin. I stopped eating virtually all processed foods, and started eating more raw vegetables, including lots of spinach and kale (organic whenever possible), and good fats, especially organic eggs, olive oil, avocados, nuts, also organic wild salmon (thus making me no longer a vegetarian). I cut down dramatically on sugar, anything with white flour (and breads in general), and alcohol. I had been drinking white wine almost every day but that is no longer the case, and I would say the quality of my health depends on not drinking more than once or twice a week. I also began eating at least a tablespoon of virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil every day, mixed in to my coffee or just gulping down a spoonful. And the very first thing I consume most mornings is the juice of half a lemon squeezed into a glass of room temperature water. (This helps to make the body alkaline, which can help with fighting infection generally, and in the bladder specifically.)

I began dry brushing, almost every day, and oil pulling, almost every day, with virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil. I also gave up almost all commercially produced lotions and skin creams, and only use coconut oil as a moisturizer and sunscreen in the summer (adding heavier oils, such as rose hip, in the winter as my skin is dry).

The success stories on this site encouraged me to be excited about these changes in my diet but the most encouraging thing was my body. Dry brushing feels fantastic, and oil pulling clarifies the skin and makes the teeth bright white. To my astonishment, my burn-prone skin, which was developing darker pigmentation around my mouth and on my chin, has rarely burned since I stared using organic coconut oil, and the pigmentation has disappeared. I attribute this to the absence of chemical-saturated lotions and sunscreens, and to the twice-daily application of coconut oil to my skin.

My keratosis pilaris has 80% disappeared. The bumps are greatly diminished and the redness is gone except if I happen to eat a lot of wheat, dairy, or drink a lot of alcohol. So I would say that my dietary and skin routine changes are healing my skin but they are a permanent choice for managing the problem rather than a 'cure' that allows one to go back to unhealthy habits.

My dietary changes also helped me to lose 15 pounds and gain new energy and optimism. I believe the dry brushing helps greatly with skin tone too and to a limited extent helps with cellulite. I recently celebrated my 46th birthday, but several people I've met over the last few months said they thought that I was 5-10 years younger than that. My facial wrinkles and skin sagging have by no means vanished but have definitely diminished. My grey hair remains the same : )

Along the way I began to rethink my bladder issues as part of the general health picture of my life. I had read enough on this site to know that all health problems are related, and most stem from diet or exposure to toxic substances. As I child, I was given multiple courses of penicillin, sometimes for weeks at a time, for even minor ailments such as colds. From my research on this and other sites, I realized that these massive doses of antibiotics had probably affected my body permanently, with my propensity to bladder and yeast infections as one effect. What I learned is that after even 3 bladder infections the lining of the bladder is cracked and damaged, which prevents the naturally-occuring e-coli bacteria from flushing out, as it gets stuck in the cracks. Hence why we keep getting the infections, and why as soon as the antibiotics are done they come back.

The supplements I now take daily are with a view to countering my 'normal' state of fragility because of all the antibiotics taken in childhood, and in my thirties and early forties, and the damage to my bladder lining from more than 30 bladder infections. I experimented with doses until I found what seems right for me.

2 capsules of multi-probiotic (10-strain formula), morning and night, and at ANY sign of tingling in the urethra or dull pain in the bladder, always with a lot of water

2 buffered cranberry extract (D-Mannose) tablets before sex, and after sex, always with a lot of water

Morning, with food:

1 1000mg tablet of buffered Vitamin C

1 575mg tablet of Norwegian Kelp (source of iodine - helpful for KP)

1 large cod liver oil capsule (source of Vitamins A, D, and E - good to take together for bladder and skin)

1 capsule of collagen-glucosamine complex (mine has 40mg collagen, and 100mg glucosamine. I read that this supplement helps heal the lining of the bladder, as can hyaluronic acid, and you should take the latter with buffered vitamin C for best effectiveness)

Night:

I tablet of Calcium + Magnesium (important to take together for best effect - this tablet has the additional benefit of helping me to fall asleep)

All this adds up in terms of expense, but the value of not being chained to the medical system is worth it. I now feel I can manage any hint of bladder/cystitis pain at the outset. I recommend bringing the buffered cranberry/D-Mannose tablets with you everywhere you go, as they do not need to be refrigerated and are very discreet. I try not to take them except when necessary/as a targeted preventative as there is some debate as to their effectiveness over time. I think it's fundamentally important to build up your health through diet.

I also only use virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil as a lubricant (you can only use condoms made of polyurethane if you use any kind of oil as a lubricant, btw, otherwise they will break). Coconut oil has natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and is very good and soothing for your urethra while being an excellent lubricant. Most commercially-produced lubricants contain carcinogenic chemicals and glycerine, which is a sugar, which is the last thing your urethra or vagina need introduced into the moment of sex, as any yeast will go crazy. I also like to use coconut oil after my shower, just smoothing half a teaspoon in to the urethral/vulva/perianal area is great for your sexual health in general if you are prone to yeast or bladder infections, also any yeast-related itching.

I think I will be living with these health issues for the rest of my life but the silver lining to taking charge of my health has been to learn more about what makes me feel good and strong, and to have improved my well-being overall. People say they don't recognize me from 18 months ago and I hardly recognize myself. What's most important is that the entire process has taught me to listen to my body and to make my body the most important thing in my life. To finally give myself the care I needed but was not getting, either at home or in the doctor's office. Interestingly, I found that once I made my health my priority, other struggles in life became easier. I was less likely to burn out at work, or put up with people who took too much of me. As I stopped relying on sugar, carbs, and alcohol to buffer me from the world, I found I had more energy, clarity, and ability to provide myself with self-care and say "no" when it was right for me to say no.

And on that last note, I do think it's possible that whatever your partner consumes (food, alcohol, cigarettes) ends up being a factor in your urethral/bladder health. In the course of my research I've read so many testimonies from women who never had bladder infections until they started seeing boyfriend X. Then their nightmare began. I know that this is beyond the scope of EarthClinic's mission but I do want to say - in case there is anyone out there with a similar story to mine - that the person I was with, who seemed to trigger my miserable decade of struggling with bladder infections, was a smoker and daily consumer of beer.

I am now seeing someone who doesn't smoke or drink beer and there is a palpable difference in the cause-and-effect of sex -> infection. In other words, I have not had an infection since we became intimate. But that could also be 18 months of dedicated change in my diet and taking a very proactive approach to my health.

If you are suffering from cystitis or bladder infections, my heart goes out to you. It is a lonely, invisible, infuriating, and excrutiating condition that no-one can really understand unless they've experienced it themselves. It hurts us in our most vulnerable place. I hope you find your health and your cure very soon, and get your life back - you deserve it! Thank-you to all the people who posted about their KP, bladder problems and solutions. You made a huge difference to my recovery.

D-Mannose
Posted by Rebecca M. (Co) on 09/02/2015
★★★★★

A word on drinking tons of water--I've read that you should take d-mannose with about 4 ozs. of water so that your urine is not SO dilute that you pee it out quickly. It's ideal to take it when you wake up in the middle of the night, as it will have a chance to sit in your bladder for several hours and bind to the bacteria.

D-mannose was a game changer for me after years of recurrent UTIs!


Borax
Posted by Bj (Michigan) on 08/31/2015
★★★★★

While I am a pro-advocate of ACV, it was not a protocol that worked for me for UTIs or bladder infections.

Having had too many UTIs to even count in the last 40 years, I researched long and hard to find something to prevent them rather than just treating them. Knowing that use of antibiotics caused me to have chronic candida issues, several years ago I began using Ted's borax protocol to eradicate the candida. The positive side effect that I have had is I have not had a UTI in 6 years. I have not had a recurrence of the kidney stone issue that I once had. (Once was more than enough).

I used the woman's dosage of 1/8 teaspoon in a liter (quart) of water, sipped throughout the day. I did 4 days on, 3 days off. I did this for several months. Then reduced it to every other month for several months. I now use the protocol several times a year, for a week or so, particularly before during and and after traveling as I tend to have issues with water in other parts of the country and the world. I take a small container of borax with me while traveling and just add a small pinch to water that I drink.

If I get even a small inkling that a UTI may be starting, I start drinking borax water, right away. And within the hour it disappears. In such cases I usually add a pinch to every glass of water throughout that day. It has always taken care of it.

No UTIs in 6 years, no antibiotics in 6 years. No craving sugar or starches either.

Hope this may,

Bj


Enterococcus UTI Remedies
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn.) on 08/14/2015

HI U MOKA, , , , , , , , , , , have learned that ozonated water will handle most UTI infections including cancer . Suggest you invest in a cheap non medical device and try. Gas (ozone) dissolves best in ice water. See u tube.

All would appreciate your response.

Wish you the best. ======ORH======


Enterococcus UTI Remedies
Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 08/14/2015

Moka (NY) --- try ozonated water. Namaste, Om


Enterococcus UTI Remedies
Posted by Moka (Ny) on 08/13/2015

I have been fighting an enterococcus UTI for 3 months now, being gram positive it does not respond to the usual d-mannose nor cranberry.

  • I tried oregano EO, 1 drop in 1 tsp of olive oil multiple times/day: did not help.
  • I tried a product UTI-clear with uva ursi, echinacea and other herbs: did nothing.
  • I paid $190 a homeopath who sold me $160 worth of useless products that did absolutely nothing to "fix my terrain" (his words).
  • I am now trying Goldenseal tincture 3x/day.
  • If this doesnt work I will try olive leaf.

If that won't work I am at a loss as this bacteria is antibiotics resistant.

Turpentine
Posted by Caron (Port Orchard, Wa) on 05/29/2015
★★★★★

@Katie...I am so glad to find someone else who has discovered the healing powers of turpentine. I woke up this morning with an UTI and started drinking a lot of water right away, then remembered turpentine. Took 3/4 teaspoon on a heaping teaspoonful of granulated sugar and the symptoms are just about gone. Turpentine is great for so many health problems. It used to be used all the time in the past and worked so well, it is now considered a poison. Not true.


Turpentine
Posted by Katie (Bellingham, Wa) on 05/16/2015
★★★★★

I note that no one has noticed this turpentine treatment. I just want to say I got this Uti again last week. I took one dose of turpentine again and again I was all good in about 2 to 3 hours.


Olive Leaf, Turmeric
Posted by Kelly (Toronto) on 04/28/2015
★★★★★

This is my favorite treatment for a uti that is full-blown, about to come on or used as a preventative. Olive leaf works to kill the bacteria causing the infection while turmeric acts as an anti-inflammatory and biofilm disrupter. For a while I was using olive leaf on it's own but it wasn't always strong enough. Olive leaf plus turmeric is a potent combo. I take 3-4 caps of olive leaf and 1-2 caps of turmeric, until symptoms dissipate.



NEXT 
Advertisement