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.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Noloski (U.k.) on 01/08/2017
★★★★★

Absolutely astonished! One glass of water with two teaspoons of cider vinegar, one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, one teaspoon of honey. The urgency to urinate stopped and the sensation of imminent pain ceased too. Wow! Thank you SO much for this helpful article and assisting so many people so rapidly.

Cream of Tartar
Posted by Gayle (MO) on 02/26/2023
★★★★★

I just tried Cream of Tartar yesterday and felt much more comfortable after a couple of hours. Today I'm at a lower grade of discomfort and taking it again. No question it worked yesterday and pretty fast. I have been doing the Apple Cider Vinegar, baking soda etc, and this is much better. I'll see what it does today. Thanks for sharing!


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.


Enterococcus UTI Remedies
Posted by Maria (Germany) on 11/20/2017

Hi Tina, Have you tried coconut oil? I NEVER have had UTI in the last five years after taking coconut oil 1 tablespoon a day daily. Whenever I feel a slight burning sensation during urination I take at once 1 extra tablespoon Coconut oil in a warm cup of milk.Until than next morning no more discomfort. Try it you will feel the difference.


Probiotics
Posted by Kate (Kalamazoo, Michigan) on 02/03/2015
★★★★★

Hi everyone, I'm a long time reader on Earth Clinic and thought I'd post in case anybody is experiencing what I have been going through. Sorry for the length, I tend to be a bit wordy.

This all started 5 years ago when I got a new partner. I had dated this individual before and had gotten regular UTI's when intimate with him. This time, I got 3 (tested positive) UTI's in a row, over a period of maybe 6 months. So I spent a lot of time on serious rounds of anti-biotics. The symptoms would subside briefly and then I'd have another infection. After about 7 months, the tests for UTI's started coming back negative, but the symptoms were still very, very strong.

The doctor told me I had "cystitis" which if you don't know is an "incurable" inflammation of the bladder. I learned to live with the symptoms. It was quite unpleasant to say the least!

I also began to develop on and off vaginal yeast infections, which I treated with yogurt suppositories mostly. I began getting kidney pain, having regular shortness of breath, random abdominal pain and migraines. My previous partner and I had broke up at this point (infidelity issues on his side, which may or may not be relevant.) I went to the urgent care for random kidney/abdominal pain, who suggested possible appendicitis. That didn't feel right to me and I went home and continued having issues.

I became friends with a nutritional healer who told me I had a systemic candida infection. I went on a very strict diet for about 10 months, and all symptoms improved dramatically. Less pain with urination, much fewer headaches, abdominal pain gone, etc. However, when I recently went off the diet, all of the symptoms came rushing back! Kidney pain, yeast infection symptoms, and UTI symptoms. Well, all of these together do of course point to an infection of the urogenital system. But I had seen maybe 7 doctors and gotten nowhere.

I looked into trichomoniasis (which despite being incredibly common is not usually tested for), yeast, scar tissue in the vagina, bacterial vaginosis (even though I didn't have symptoms for that). A common way to treat all of them is with a hydrogen peroxide douche, 3% hydrogen peroxide mixed half and half with distilled water, 1-3 times a day. I told my nutritionist friend that I was going to do this - he recommended doing a douche with probiotics at night to re-inoculate the vagina.

I went out and bought one, I know we can't say the brand name but its very important that it's these specific strains so I'll write the strains: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuter RC-14. I think I read years ago that these two strains were actually initially cultured out of the vagina of a healthy adult female.

I did the hydrogen peroxide douche last night, followed by two probiotic capsules orally and one in a tablespoon of water vaginally. This morning, I douched with the hydrogen peroxide again and took another probiotic orally. I'm planning on douching twice more today and doing a probiotic douche before bed.

The yeast infection symptoms are 98% gone, and the UTI symptoms have also subsided. This is the first time in 5 years that I've been without the UTI symptoms. I just browsed this article http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/suppl_6/S452.long, which is about fungal infection in the bladder, kidneys, and vagina.

My guess (although of course it is a guess) is that I developed a fungal infection from all of the anit-biotics I took to clear the documented bacterial UTI's. Although I ate extremely large amounts of probiotics through supplements and fermented foods while on the candida cleanse, I think I did not get the right strain to colonize the vagina in all of my efforts.

I hope the good effects keep lasting, and hesitate to write so early as I don't want to get anyone's hopes falsely up. However, when I look at the reviews of this specific probiotic on amazon, it seems to help SO many people with any sort of women's troubles - UTI, yeast, vaginosis, that I thought I would write now just for that. It seems as though it may be akin to having a fecal transplant for patients with severe intestinal issues. I believe that the probiotic is helping more than the douching.

I hope this helps someone; this site has helped me so much. Good health and blessings to all.


Lemon
Posted by Julie (Columbia, Mo) on 12/29/2014
★★★★★

I happened to be desperate and couldn't get any unsweetened cranberry juice, but there was lemon juice, and I had some stevia which I use as a sweetener, so I made myself some strong "lemonade", and it knocked out the bladder infection quickly! Of course, I continued to take several doses until all symptoms were gone, but it REALLY works! Hope this helps someone :)


Corn Silk
Posted by Sp (Lavergne, Tn) on 05/29/2018

Hi Jean, I know this is way too late to your question. I have been taking cornsilk in the capsule form by the brand Nature's Way and it has work so much better for treating my UTI than just the other things that's mentioned here. I take 3 capsules with water, and follow by 2 cups of water depending how bad my symptom is and I also do the organic applecider vinegar. I do this 3-4 times a day until my symptom clears up usually within 3-4 days, then I continue taking 3 capsule for 2 times a day for another 2 days to clear up the infection. The cornsilk doesn't upset my stomach. Hope this helps.


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.

Vitamin C
Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 07/16/2013
★★★★★

I have a history of recurring uti's so when I felt one coming on 6 days ago, I came straight to Earthclinic. My symtpoms were urgency. Burning urethra and tenderness in the bladder, although I rarely have burning upon urination. I read all the yea's for the ACV and I know that most bacteria doesn't like the acidity, so I gave it a shot. This is what I took:

1) 2 tablespoons of ACV with the "mother" mixed in with some water. I would down this like a shot and then chase it with a glass of water. I did this every 3 hours or so during the day. I noticed immediate relief of the burning sensation and the urgency would improve.. Also, it's a diuretic so I could void easier.

2) 5,000 mg of Vitamin C a couple times a day. It's also good to take a dose right before bedtime to keep the urine acidic during the night. I crushed the tablets with a garlic press and put them in a glass with a pinch of baking soda. Mix a little water so it fizzes and drink it like a shot. Follow with a full glass of water. I had around 12,000-15,000 mg a day.

3) I also take oregano oil pills and turmeric on a daily basis, so I continued this as well. Although, honestly, I think the biggest help was taking the ACV and Vitamin C to change my pH.

I did this for 4 days. You have to listen to your body... If I felt like it was too much, I would skip a dose or two. Also, you have to drink water until your eyeballs are swimming, literally. Flush all that bad crap out!

I went and got a dipstick test yesterday and it was clean!!! My Dr. said to keep doing what I was doing (I had told her about the ACV and mega-dosing Vitamin C) She said they change the pH of the urine and the bacteria can't thrive in it.

I'm still taking vitamin C, around 5,000 a day for a few days, to make sure the infection is gone and starting back on my probiotics. I do feel lots better and hope this can help someone!!!

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...


Alkaline Diet
Posted by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 05/06/2013

I read that magnesium citrate also alkaliinizes the body. I found that it heals muscle atrophy. Ted also said in here somewhere that it is the one form of magnesium that goes directly into the muscle tissue. My muscles have responded nicely and also removing the lines in my brow and forehead. I have found I need less progesterone cream, since the mag is bringing my body into balance. No more vaginal atrophy. I also had the prolapsed bladder and recently found that coating the vaginal cavity inside with wicth hazel when ever I notice the bladder down.... Re apply the witch hazel with my finger. HOPE THIS HELPS FOR MUSCLE, VAGINAL ATROPHY AND PROLAPSED BLADDER (CYSTOCELE).

If you can't pee drink cranberry juice to get the flow going.


Sea Salt
Posted by Darlene (Otto, Nc, Usa) on 08/23/2012
★★★★★

A couple of nights ago my 83 yr. old mother was complaining... Whenever she went to urinate she was burning very badly, and felt she had to go constantly. I looked up Ted's sea salt remedy and made her a glass (1tsp. Sea salt in glass warm water) to sip on before bed; the next morning she said there was no more burning, and she felt much better... And not having to constantly go to the bathroom. Thanks Ted! So thankful to have you and earth clinic.

Cranberry
Posted by Amy (Los Angeles, California, United States) on 04/20/2012
★★★★★

I have recently had lots of problems with a Urinary Tract infection and a bladder infection. Last night I reunited with an old friend named Gail.

In our discussion I related to her about my woes with my Urinary Tract infection and my bladder infection and how I had tried everything to help my problem. Cranberry juice, Cranberry capsules, etc....

Gail told me to eat CRANBERRY SAUCE instead of the cranberry juice as the CRANBERRY SAUCE is more concentrated. So I started eating a can of ____ Cranberry Sauce this morning and I SEEM TO BE WELL FROM THE BLADDER INFECTION by 5:30 pm!

I am passing this on so others can maybe get relief from this awful illness like I did!

Acidophilus
Posted by Prioris (Fl) on 06/17/2017

I came across some research that said that there are places in bladder where bacteria can hide. They solved that problem by using Forskolin to flush them out somehow. Just something for someone to research more on.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dolores (Oakland, Ca) on 09/04/2011
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

I have been chronically getting Bladder/UT infections on and off for the last 20 years (yes, I know. YOWZA! ) By my late 20's it was diagnosed as a condition called CYSTITIS... With speculation that at this point in development, it could be IC (interstitial cystitis). I was not born with this condition. It began when I was 17 years old and at the time was triggered by sex. I had all the symptoms: frequency of urination, pain after urinating, inflammation of bladder (swollen tummy), and at some point inability to hold urine.

In the very beginning, I went to a Western traditional doctor and was prescribed anti-biotics. From this point on the infection never seemed to entirely go away and I continued taking anti-biotics, on and off for the next 5 years... As doctors really could not explain my body's resistance... Over this 5 yr course of time (on & off) I took: Bactrim, Cipro, Macrodantin and at some point Tetracycline... Basically ladies & gents, it was a bit of a nightmare.... Again and again, the bacteria developed resistance.

Eventually, in my mid 20's, I found myself with the best medical (and temporary!! Hahaha! ) insurance coverage and began seeing a Urologist. I had many, many tests & a few Xrays done to determine if it was a physical deformity in my "plumbing". Everything came out negative. Even the Urologist seemed suprised. In the end of the conversation, his medical advice was "Dont worry, "it" (the bacteria) will burn itself out".... 10 years or so after, well.. It hasnt, my body is still recovering/restoring/regenerating from the damage done by anti-biotics... Yet, it is manageable (many lifestyle adjustments)....

I came on here today, simply to just caution those from the overuse and abuse of anti-biotics as a false sense of hope... It seems like a good idea at the time yet it is a dire "trade-off" for most patients... What may seem like healing or a cure in that moment, to just to be able to experience relief... BE MOST CAREFUL AND AWARE WITH YOUR BODY!!! If you find you are experiencing reoccuring bladder/UT infections I recommend:

alternative medicines/treatments: Chinese medicine/treatment, Holistic herbal medicine, stress management, diet and general lifestyle adjustments.

General herbal treatment/healing food diet support :

"Healing herbal soup broth"

handful herbs of horsetail, parsley, cornsilk, uva Ursi, cleavers, usnea (some herbs are easier to find than others.. try natural health food stores or co-ops etc.)

pinch of fresh Oregano

several cloves of garlic (the more the better)

4 cups of Spring/distilled water

Cook for 1/2hr (the longer you let sit the better, I find making a new pot of broth while I have some in hand.. Keeps the body flushing) strain... drink throughout day...

Diet ( this has great significance, especially while fighting off an infection):

AVOID:

#1-SUGAR (even natural fruit sugars), dairy, greasy or fried foods, spicy foods, chicken, shellfish, tomatoes, coffee, sodas, alcohol.

Healing diet:

GREENS, GREENS, GREENS!!! Fresh everything is best. REAL/WHOLE FOODS, nothing processed, no junk food (do your best, your body will thank you in the long run)... explore and get creative with your diet!!! We are what we eat!!! Whether you juice it (google juicing), or make yummy healing stews or use all the colors of the rainbow to knock out a jaw dropping salad (easy on any weird supermarket salad dressings: try lemon, olive oil, flax or sesame seeds, sea salt, black or white pepper)...

I eat mostly vegetarian (just easier on my digestive system) yet, if eating meat.. Find out where your meat/fish/poultry etc... Is coming from and what is in it. Meaning, if you can, stay away from the "factory animal farm"....

WHAT TO DO WHEN FINDING YOURSELF WITH THE BEGINNING STAGES OF A BLADDER/UT INFECTION:

flush out with:

1.Apple cider vinegar (suprise! )... Try not to overdo if using long term... the ph balance in the body is in the center of acidic and alkaline (for most, ideally, leaning more alkaline)...

-----2Tbsp. of ACV in 8oz. Of Spring/distilled water... drink throughout the day

2. Drink 1 gallon of Spring/distilled water a day is best... Yes, I did say a gallon.. The more the better... combine with dilution of unsweetened cranberry juice if you feeling too amphibious

3. Pure, unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry pills

4.Vitamin C (at least 3, 000 a day)

5. Garlic ( raw or pills ) throughout day

6. Probiotic (acidophilus---take daily in general.... pills can be used overnight as vaginal insert for irritation/itchy, stinging etc as well as diluted tea tree oil) ...

7. Drink Herbal Soup Broth throughout day... (very soothing.... ) The healing herbal soup broth recipe can be "tweeked" here and there for your taste buds, more veggies can be added in for more of a healthy meal.

Well, the best of health to everyone. Stay positive, count your blessings and dont forget to breath deeply... Expand that ribcage and release!!!

Multiple Remedies
Posted by Erin (Tacoma, Wa) on 07/10/2011
★★★★★

Here's what I do when I get a bladder infection:

Little to no sugar during treatment

Raw veggies/juice and a little fruit only

Unsweetened cranberry juice, sip throughout day

Every two to three hours, take:

one chopped clove garlic

one tsp coconut oil

2 Tbsp acv

If you are not used to lots of garlic, you might want to throw a gas-aid in there per instructions on the box because it can get pretty painful! Once I can wake up in the morning with no discomfort (usually day 2), I continue this regiment for another 24-48 hours to make sure there are no lingering bacteria.

Hope this helps!


Sea Salt
Posted by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★

Putting 1/2 cup sea salt in a bath of hot water to which you bathe for at least 20 minutes helps with a bladder infection.


Cranberry
Posted by Oscar (Syracuse, New York) on 07/07/2011
★★★★★

There is always good old cranberry juice for a UTI. It worked for me when no antibiotics did. You want pure cranberry juice and not the so called cranberry juice cocktails. I was prescribed this treatment as 3 cups per day of pure cranberry juice by a VA doctor after trying every antibiotic available and it worked for a chronic urinary tract infection when nothing else did. It cleared the infection in about one week for me....Oscar


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!


Baking Soda
Posted by Shampoo (Los Angeles, California) on 05/19/2012
★☆☆☆☆

UPDATE::: Ok guys, the vitamin C cure DID not work, as the cream of tarter in a few inches of water, DID NOT WORK EITHER. Baking soda didnt work, and I got sick and could have possibly poisoned myself, (i just read about the dangers of taking too much baking soda online) UGH....

I was beginning to despair, so NOW, Im feeling great, and for the last week or so Ive been taking massive doses of Echinacea, (4 4oomg pills 4 times thruout the day) but altho I was feeling better, it wasnt really nipping my problem in the bud, as I was beginning to have excrutiating pain at night, and by now I starting to feel fully convinced I have the dread, interstitial cystitus!!!

Guys, D MANNOSE!!! I have tried D mannose TWICE before inthe past and it seemed to do nothing for me. It was like drinking sugar water, it seemed to be the most rediculous cure ever!!!!! However, after tireless internet google research, all these women were swearing by it, (even saying things like, 9 out of 10 women are cured by D mannose, and I have interstitial incurable bladder disease and this cured me) so I decided to give it another go.

I tried a really cheap brand of D mannose before, and some women claimed that it DOES make a difference to go with a high quality more expensive brand, and that not all d mannose are created equal, I guess, so I spent about $25.00 for a little jar.

It says on the jar to take a teaspoon every 4 hours, (like 4 times a day) and double for a raging case, (like mine) I took a teaspoon and a half every 2 hours like SEVERAL times a day, and by the third day, I really almost feel normal again, I feel great. I ordered another jar, I really think its working!! Its pricey but worth it.

I suppose the d mannose receptors attract e coli to them and then they attach off the wall and get flushed out of the bladder. Ive also read the d mannose can do this to sperm! So be careful ladies, if your trying to conceive, I read d mannose might interfere with pregnancy. They are even trying to patent a contraceptive using d mannose, lol! I was thinking of using d mannose as a preventative, as many women have had success doing that, but since I want to have a baby... I'll have to try something else when I dont have an infection. Im gonna try a brand of herbal cranberry supplement sold on amazon. One women claims after intercourse she takes 2 pills and a full glass of water and she hasnt had an infection in 10 years.

Im going to continue the d mannose for another week after my symptoms have fully gone. A teaspoon three times a day. Good luck ladies, and I will report back with my progress!!


Baking Soda
Posted by Mark (Warsaw, Poland) on 05/21/2012

My sister had a bladder infection for a while with pain and constant going to the toilet. She avoids going to see her doctor if she can help it and certainly hates using antibiotics. However, her condition worsened to the extent that she couldn't function properly, forcing her to see her local GP - she lives in the UK. It happened that another doctor was covering her GP, who had worked in Africa for a number of years and where doctors rarely have access to antibiotics. Often they have to rely on natural remedies. He advised my sister to take half a glass of soda water and half a glass of unpasteurised milk, mixed together. The mixture should be consumed first thing in the morning and then 2-3 times during the day. My sister's problem disappeared within 24 hours. Best of luck. God Bless.


D-Mannose, Garlic, Alkaline Pills
Posted by Webgal (Richmond, Va) on 10/25/2010
★★★★★

I've been having chronic, unabated urinary tract infections for years. I actually ran across this site looking for sinus infection cures and decided to share my secret for no UTIs. I was plagued with these and my life was miserable until I started doing this. How I discovered my regimen:
I was at restaurant and they served garlic soup. Right after, I realized symptoms of UTI were gone. I almost did not go to the dinner because of the pain of the UTI. Made the soup and that worked but can't make it all the time. So here is my daily regimen for keeping away UTI

Garlic pill (odorless). 1 in morning, 1 at night
1 D-mannose per day. (Sometimes when I feel symptoms, I do one at night)
Vitamin C every day. I take a liquid Vit C

Also I use an alkaline pill I found at the health food store every once in a while. No UTIs since I began doing this.

Cinnamon
Posted by Jim (Bellingham, Wa) on 08/31/2010
★★★★★

Cinnamon as a curative for UTI (urinary tract infections). Use/mix with toast or small yogurt. Stumbled on this when researching the topic of UTI's. So my wife gave it a try and... Bingo. Situation solved. Now a regular part of her diet. Also, when our female dog was passing blood the vet. wanted to schedule an operation he thought things were so bad. Took her home and just thought before we brought her back we would give her some yogurt with cinnamon. Next day urine looked perfect and brought the vet a sample. He was in disbelief as she tested normal. We've told many people about this as it is easy, cheap and really works. So for people and pets try it. Just a teaspoon seems to do it. We give it daily to our pets for years and never a problem since. Hope this post helps someone.

Olive Leaf, Turmeric
Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio) on 02/02/2010
★★★★★

OK, guys, I'm sure by now, it's well known, (since I've tried every cure on this website known to man) My struggles with Chronic Bladder infections on here.

Recently, I broke down and went to the hospital to get antibiotics. They didn't work, it was alarming truly, this is modern medicine. After, about, THREE trips back to the hospital, and THREE rounds of antibiotics, and about 4 months of struggling with my latest bladder infection, I finally found a natural cure, that I think is very effective.

I was frustrated, nothing was working. I tried the ACV, I tried sea salt, baking soda, alka seltzer, EVERYTHING. Coconut Milk, (which tastes really gross)

My friends, a combination of Olive leaf extract, and turmeric herb cured my stubborn bladder infection.

You have to take about 2 dropperfuls of olive leaf extract (alcohol free) dissolved in a cup of water about three times a day, along with 2 caps of turmeric herb, three to four times a day.

This is intensive treatment, but that's what it took for me.

I cap my own turmeric by the way, in veg. caps 00


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