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.
D-Mannose
Posted by Dee (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/03/2014
★★★★★
I used to get UTIs pretty much every time after I had sex. My Dr. would prescribe me antibiotics which cured the UTIs but left me with a slew of other problems. After dealing with this for over 5 years I decided to try the natural route. I went to my local health food store & was recommended D-mannose with CranActin (capsules). I followed the instructions which was to take 2 capsules a day w/ water or a meal & it worked like a charm. When I first started taking it I'd take 2 capsules every single day (whether I was having sex or not) but now I just take 2 capsules before I have sex and 2 capsules the day after and I'm good. I haven't had a UTI in over 4 years!
Colloidal Silver
Posted by Wieas (England) on 08/01/2014
Hello, am looking for some advice please.
My 80 year old father has just been diagnosed with a urine infection and a slight chest infection. He has been prescribed antibiotics.
I was wondering if it would be okay to give him some Colloidal Silver to take alongwith the antibiotics. If so, how much and how often.
Thanks.
Turpentine
Posted by Katie (Bellingham, Wa) on 07/11/2014
Last weekend I had another urinary tract infection. I've had them off and on since I was young. I'm 65 now. It was worse than usual. I had to urinate every 10 or 15 minutes. I thought I wasn't going to get any sleep that night. Then I remembered turpentine. I put about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar on a spoon and filled up the teaspoon with turpentine. In less than an hour I was sleeping and all okay by the morning. Of course, be drinking lots of water too. Anyone who has uterine tract infections knows lots of water is important.
Medical Emergency Signs
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 07/12/2014
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hello all on this thread,
Let me just sound a warning on the dangers of lower tract infections. Self treatment is good to consider but ...
IF the urine is cut off completely or nearly completely and you feel that urine is backing up...enough to start becoming painful...DO NOT play around with this condition...quickly you need an emergency room for a catheter. As much as many of us on this site would try to avoid standard medical treatments, do not mess around with a condition that can be potentially life threatening. If the urethra becomes largely closed then urine backs up and if not dealt with can cause organ failure and death.
In a male, one might have dealt with numerous UTIs over the years, but if the Prostate becomes infected, for instance, then in hours the urethra can be closed down because the urethra runs through the prostate. You might think at the outset, Oh, another UTI...no problem just take my favorite anti viral and its gone, but in another hour the bacterial infection has shut off the urine flow...complete urinary blockage...
Can you say "emergency"? In a mere three hours you can be doubled over in pain...get to an ER fast.
D-Mannose
Posted by Amanda (Seattle, Wa) on 07/11/2014
★★★★★
D-Mannose is WONDERFUL. Like many women, I've gotten UTIs all my life, particularly after sex. I wish I had known about D-Mannose a long time ago, because it would have saved me from taking many courses of Bactrim and Cipro (and, as many of you know, the more antibiotics we take, the more resistant the bacteria become). D-Mannose works by attaching to e. coli and carrying it out of the urinary tract, so it's gentle on your system, and I have never noticed any side effects.
I recommend that you use the powder, rather than the pills. I didn't find the pills to be effective, especially when there's already an infection present- they might be more effective for prevention. The powder only tastes a bit sweet, like a mild sweetener, and dissolves easily into any liquid. If I have an infection, I'll take quite a bit of it, up to two tablespoons, several times a day. And then I drink a lot of water to aid it in flushing the bacteria out. My other recommendation is to buy it online, because it will be half the price it is at a store. I use the subscribe and save program on Amazon and just have it delivered regularly so I never run out (which, as I have learned, can become an unpleasant and desperate situation resulting in buying a bottle at Whole Foods for $36). As a nurse who used to work in a nursing home, I wish doctors knew about this stuff- so many of the elderly patients always had UTIs and were constantly on antibiotics. I wish more women knew about it, too...which is why I'm posting here! I hope my post will help some poor soul find relief, without a trip to the doctor and a script for unnecessary antibiotics.
Sea Salt
Posted by Conni (Boulder) on 04/07/2014
I suggest being very cautious using the sea salt remedy. I tried using just half a teaspoon, and within an hour had blood in my urine (or something pink, with a few lumps). This cleared up in about 3 hours, drinking more water with no salt. (I found that now I had an aversion to salt.) Some of us may be more sensitive to salt and I am guessing it was overloading my kidneys and creating stress. I'm not sure about this--just suggesting caution. Seems to me that large quantities of water everyone thinks is good. Stick with this and instead of using a whole teaspoon of salt (or even half like I tried), just add a little soy sauce to taste, and make it to your taste level. Your body will know if you need more salt or not to replace electrolyte balance from the water drinking.
D-Mannose
Posted by Kelmorse (Brentwood, Tn) on 04/05/2014
★★★★★
D-Mannose powder works beautifully! I have had bladder infections since I was a child. In took-2 cranberry capsules per day for several years but eventually made my urine so acidic that I gave myself IC :/
Any way, d-Mannose is a type of sugar not absorbed by your body, it creates a barrier bw your bladder & urine preventing bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. I have been using it for a year & have had great success! No bladder infections! I also avoid sugar. Also I found out that I'm gluten intolerant. Food allergies can manifest in the bladdeR & cause problems. Not all allergist can detect food allergies with a skin test so you might want to try a holistic doctor. Good luck.
Grapefruit Seed Extract, D-Mannose
Posted by Bighypno (Md, Dc, Va) on 03/24/2014
Just wanted to add before I went to the doctor I did heavy doses of Apple Cider Vinegar. I then did Centex. I also did 3 diff types of Cranberry extracts. Vitamin C high doses and GSE tablets. None of them did much if anything to slow the infection.
Grapefruit Seed Extract, D-Mannose
Posted by Bighypno (Md, Dc, Va) on 03/22/2014
★★★★★
As a man, I had extreme painful urination and after about 4 days of feeling funny, I noticed white pus? or sperm? or yeast or something white coming out of my penis. I went to the doctor. The piss test revealed nothing, he then asked had I had sex recently and I said yes and he said oh its definitely gonorrhea or trichinosis probably mixed with chlamydia then. I said doc, those infections have green or yellow pus, this is white. They also come with very swollen lymph nodes, etc. He said "I see this all the time". I said Doc, none of the women I been with are complaining about even the slightest discomfort or odor so it cant be gonorrhea as women are much more symptom prone than men and I hadnt been with anyone for 10 days at this point. So rather than sit there arguing, I deferred to the "medical doctor" who then gave a shot of resofin (sp?) in my butt and 250mg Azithromycin 1x day and 500 mg Metronidazole 2x day.
I didnt feel better after 5 days of taking the medicine the doctor prescribed. At this point I was hoping I didnt have bacteria resistant gonorrhea. It still felt like there was something stuck in my penis and the burning at the very tip felt maybe 50% better. I then went to my stash of natural medicine and before I went to bed I took 15 drops of Grapefruit seed extract in a glass of water and drunk the water while taking 2 tablets of 250mg D-Mannose then around about 4am I woke up out of my sleep and my penis didnt feel swollen. I went to the bathroom to urinate and things felt a lot better. I then woke up and took the same dosage 2 tablets of D-Mannoose and washed them down with water containing 15 drops of GSE again and continued first thing in morning and last thing at night for 5 days with the combo. I have not had any problems since.
Any of a few things couldve happened. 1. All 3 prescriptons which basically cover 99% of the possible STD's I could have had didnt work. 2. The prescriptions didnt work until I took the grapefruit seed extract with it, in the literature about grapefruit seed extract they are known to make antibiotics twice more powerful when combined with them. 3. None of the prescriptions did anything and the grapefruit seed extract and D-Mannose combo cured it. 4. The GSE cured it alone. 5. The D-Mannose cured it alone.
All I know is that had a infection that normal medicine and a 3 prescription combo couldnt kill and had I not taken the GSE with the D-Mannose I would still be in a TON of pain. Yet I am 100% cured with no issues. Hope my story helps, ask me any questions you may have.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Dallas (Amesbury, Ma) on 03/14/2014
I too, have had to change my diet. Due to the fact that every time I took antibiotics, the UTI would come back right away as soon as I stopped taking them and the antibiotics have caused tendon damage and nerve damage, I had to quit taking them. I have tried many many home remedies, which have helped somewhat, but not cured the UTI. Being Celiac, I have cut out all gluten, all grains, and also sugar and all my food allergies, which are many (including cranberry). Strangely enough, and I would sure like to know if anyone else has found this to be true, weak coffee seems to be the most helpful - always clearing up the urine about 15 minutes after I drink a cup. I know that almost every website on the subject, if not EVERY website, condemns coffee for this but - go figure!
D-Mannose
Posted by KT (Texas) on 02/21/2014
★★★★☆
I've only been using the D-Mannose powder on myself for a day and a half but it seems to be helping - though I still couldn't sleep through the night. Seems like if I don't take it every couple of hours, it starts feeling worse again. I'm going to stick with it for a few days. I woke up yesterday morning at 1 or 2 am with a sudden pain and urgency - weirdly I had a dream of blood in my urine right before - and sure enough when I went, it was pinkish. Anyway, today the urgency is the worst part for me, I guess that IS the pain. I ran a low fever most of the day yesterday but that's gone today. Ted said not to drink tons of water so I'm a little conflicted on that, but I can see his point as it increases the pressure and feeling of urgency.
I also took 1TBS ACV (apple cider vinegar) yesterday once and today just once so far. I may try taking more of that if the DM doesn't work better.
In the past I have tried D-Mannose on a cat with pretty good success. That's why I already had it in stock.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Norm (Asheville, Nc) on 12/23/2013
★★★★★
I'm a 67 year old male who had ignored a urinary tract discomfort until it woke me up at 2:30 with acute pain. I read about the apple cider vinegar and baking soda cure, and went for it with 2 Tbs. of vinegar and the touch of baking soda. Back in bed it felt as if my whole body were being alkalized. After continuing with the treatment for 3 days, all the symptoms have gone, and I am grateful to this site for it's simple, effective wisdom.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Cranberry, Vitamin C
Posted by Shannon (Toronto, On) on 12/14/2013
★★★★★
I've been plagued with the discomfort of recurrent bladder infections since I was a pre-teen. I usually get one about every 3 months and they sometimes last for weeks, it's so painful! I've taken cranberry extract before as a preventative, but it doesn't always do the trick at the onset of a bladder infection.
I had a nasty infection sometime last week (most likely caused by a pair of too-tight short shorts that I sometimes sleep in) and decided to try a combination of things to get rid of it faster. I took two cranberry pills (which was about 226mg), 2 vitamin C tablets (1000mg) and washed it all down with 2 tbs. of apple cider vinegar diluted in 2 cups of water. To my amazement, 20 minutes later the discomfort had vanished completely. No more bladder infection! I'm not sure if it was a specific remedy or the combination of all 3 that cured it so fast, but I've decided that I will be taking a tbs. of ACV in my water on a daily basis, continuing to take cranberry extract pills (at 452mg) and increasing my daily vitamin C intake. As long as I stay away clothes that are too tight, I'm hoping it will prevent me from ever getting another one!
Apple Cider Vinegar, D-Mannose
Posted by Bee (Detroit, Mi) on 11/22/2013
I have been drinking 1/8-1/4 C of Apple Cider Vinegar for about 2 1/2 mos....i do believe it has helped me lose fat as all my clothes are fitting loosely; but it did not work to prevent a UTI...bad one this time...belly pain, side pain then in the kidney. The D-mannose, that is a wonder herb. I have not been on that for about a month & I started noticing changes for the worse. I'd have to say that is what keeps them at bay. While my dr wants to do a scope on me because I've had too many too frequently, especially after not having one for 6 years, I am fighting not to do that but am a little concerned as to WHY I am having them so frequently without the D-mannose.
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!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dsw Relief (Shelbyville, Indiana) on 10/20/2013
★★★★★
I am so thankful I found earth clinic web site. I got first uti 2 yrs ago and it never went away. The doctors and specialists kept giving antibiotics. Doctors could not give reason why. Antibiotics were not good on my system at all. After 10 months of this I started searching for another cure. I started on d-mannose, probotics, cranberry pill, water, water, water and acv. I started on these full force for about 2 months. My uti is gone and have not had one since(14 months) I have since narrowed down the amounts I was taking and figured out what my body needs at a daily maintance level. I used d-mannose 500mg - 120 tablets. Hope this helps someone that is as desperate as I was for an alternative. Thank to u folks at earth clinic.
Uva Ursi
Posted by Ladyb (Usa) on 10/10/2013
★★★★★
I wanted to share my positive experience with Uva Ursi as well and hope it helps someone else!
It's been over a year now, but for a while I was having a lot of trouble with bladder infections. I'm talking rounds and rounds of antibiotics until finally I had to go through a cystoscopy which wound up costing me thousands of dollars. And none of it helped! I just ended up with other problems from the side-effects of the antibiotics.
I had been also been trying the usual cranberry, ACV, salt water, etc- no help. Alka seltzer helped temporarily to feel better but will not cure it.
So, finally a urologist identified my infections were caused by staph. I had stumbled on using d-mannose and tried it- but it never helped either- which made sense because that's only effective if your infection is caused by e-coli.
So finally I found Uva Ursi- not a whole lot of feedback but came up a lot and I decided I had nothing to lose. Finally I found something that cleared it up!
Some keys, don't take it too long- follow instructions on the bottle- that's what I did. Drink lots of fluids because it's diuretic and will help flush out the infection.
Now I keep some on hand, I've found one with a blend of complementary herbs for bladder/kidney health and at the first sign of infection I take it and usually don't need more than a day or two worth of doses. This past week was a little worse it seems, have been taking it for a week this time, but today I found that once again it's done the trick and I feel back to normal.
Also, to balance out your system again I've found the probiotic for women in the pink bottle to be invaluable and a life-saver! I was regularly taking it and have been feeling a little off so have started taking that again as well.
Baking Soda
Posted by Joanvirginia (Chantilly, Va) on 09/25/2013
★★★★★
I've had exceptional results preventing and relieving UTIs with baking soda. Dissolve a 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of water and drink it a few times during the day. I've gone from pain to relief in no time at all!
Alka Seltzer
Posted by It Works! (Albany, Oregon) on 09/24/2013
★★★★★
I have suffered with UTI's for about 20 years. I have had procedures that were very painful because the doc recommended them, however nothing worked. I had a urologist tell me that half of his patients carried anitbiotics in their purse to take when needed. This was a scary situation to be in because I wondered what would happen the day the antibiotics didn't work for me. I think I would slit my throat... Kidding. But, my last UTI incident I was out of pills so I attempted to go to the urgency clinic but could not get in because they were only taking acute patients with severe problems. When I got home, I told my husband that I could not get in to see the doc. He had read about the Alka Seltzer. Well, had nothing to loose so I took 2 that night and by morning I felt much better. I now take one Alka Seltzer per week for maintenance and have not had another UTI incident for one year. It has truly worked for me and highly recommend it.
Baking Soda
Posted by Nurse Jon (Everywhere) on 09/24/2013
★★★★★
The water cures protocol is used on most of the people I treat,. Only thing, there is a separate water cures protocol for UTI's.
Simply use 1/2 tsp baking soda in a glass of water and drink on an empty stomach. It usually eliminates the symptoms overnight or within 12 hours.
D-Mannose
Posted by Art (California) on 09/12/2013
Hi Baldev,
It was 3 capsules @ 700mg each dissolved into a 500ml bottle of water @ 3 bottles per day. If you are using bulk powder I would imagine 2 grams/2, 000mg per bottle would work just fine. It dissolves quickly and is pretty much tasteless.
I think I may have worded the dose improperly in my initial post, so to clarify, it is 3 bottles spaced out throughout the day with approximatelly 2 grams of d mannose in each bottle for a total of 6 grams of d mannose per day.
Btw, his bladder infection has not returned, but he is well stocked on D-mannose now just in case! This turned out to be perfect timing for him since he had no more options as far as antibiotics go.
Art
D-Mannose
Posted by Baldev (Maharashtra, India) on 09/08/2013 184 posts
Hi Art, your post does not indicate as to how much D-Mannose you dissolved in 500 ml of water. If you can give this detail. Thanks, Baldev
D-Mannose
Posted by Art (California) on 09/07/2013
★★★★★
A friend of mine had a recurring bladder infection with e coli as the common culprit. His doctor prescribed many different antibiotics over the years and eventually they no longer worked to eradicate the infection and on the last antibiotic, his doctor told him that this was the last antibiotic that he could try for the infection as all of the others were no longer effective.
This last round of antibiotics seemed to work, but two days after completing the course, the bladder infection came back and the symptoms were worse than before.
I recommended d mannose dissolved in a 500ml bottle of water, taken at one bottle three times per day. Within 24 hours of starting, the symptoms had diminished significantly and after 72 hours, the symptoms were gone.
Since this is a recurring problem that the doctor told him he is prone to, he will likely need to use d mannose again, but at least he won't have to deal with the negative side effects of taking antibiotics anymore and e coli will never become resistant to d mannose because d mannose does not actually try to kill e coli, it merely binds to it and then allows the body to flush it out naturally. Also, d mannose has an excellent safety profile and is the ingredient in pineapple juice and cranberry juice that is effective against UTI's, however when you mix it with water, you get the positive effects without all of the sugar contained in the juices and it is much stronger than the small amount available in the juices. D mannose in water is almost tasteless, so it is easy to swallow.
The downside is that d mannose is only effective against e coli based UTI's, but the greater majority of UTI's are caused by e coli, so d mannose is probably a good first choice before resorting to antibiotics. If you don't notice improvement within 24 hours, then your uti may not be caused by e coli and you will have to look elsewhere for a resolution.
Art
D-Mannose
Posted by Mustangmom (Tyler, Tx) on 07/25/2013
I have a UTI and started taking D-Mannose. I had such pain and bloat I thought I would burst. I blamed it on some take out we had eaten... took some more the next morning and had the same effect. Some of us just can't take this stuff... I'd rather have the UTI than the d-mannose.
Vitamin C
Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 07/17/2013
I wouldn't recommend a high dosage on a regular basis. I only megadose when I'm sick and I always make
sodium absorbate, which reduces the acidity. It's also very important to
drink plenty of water. What your body doesn't use in 30 minutes is flushed out via the bladder. Megadosing Vitamin C helped me to overcome 2 months of pertussis this last winter. Two rounds of antibiotics and 3 packs of prednisone didn't touch it but once I added the Vitamin C, it was gone within days. I was averaging about 25,000 mg a day for a week. It's a Godsend!!
You are right about the uva ursi, it's helped me a time or two, as well.
Vitamin C
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, USA) on 07/17/2013 2048 posts
Elizabeth: ACV is acidic but produces alkalinity by conversion in the body. Do be careful of too much vit-c as can cause kidney stones.
Another effective protocol is D-Mannose (day 1), Cranberry (day two), Uvi Ursi (day 3).
