★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
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!!!
Alkaline Diet
If you can't pee drink cranberry juice to get the flow going.
Sea Salt
★★★★★
Goldenseal and Echinacea
★★★★★
From the Book: Miracle Medicine Foods, p. 83-95. 1977 – Rex Adams
Mr. H.M. writes: Four weeks ago I developed un-imaginable pain in the urinary tract which was both frightening and embarrassing. After hours of indecision I visited an emergency clinic at a very fine New York hospital, and was prescribed a sulfa drug, and was shoved out the door. Total cost: $45. Four days later the pain was worse, and swelling had spread to the prostate gland and the testicles. I went to my own doctor who gave me the choice of staying on the drug or experimenting with other drugs. I chose the new prescription.... Total cost second visit: $25.
I tore up the prescription on the way home. By chance… my eyes ran across an old copy of (a book of herbal remedies)… including goldenseal, chaparral, lemon grass and Spanish eucalyptus. I purchased the teas and drank more than a quart an hour, rotating the varieties to avoid boredom.
I also used a little honey. Within six hours I could urinate without pain; in the morning all swelling was gone from each area. I continued for three days as a safeguard… If this can help someone in pain, I will be very happy. Total cost of teas: $6—and only a small amount of the packages were used.
Multiple Remedies
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
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!!!
★★★★★
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
★★★★★
Cranberry
★★★★★
Baking Soda
★★★★★
Baking Soda
★☆☆☆☆
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
Acidophilus
★★★★★
D-Mannose, Garlic, Alkaline Pills
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
★★★★★
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
★★★★★
I had a few acute bladder infection that I treated with antibiotics. Then there was that really nasty one which turned into a chronic problem. I was on various drugs for a year, it was ruining my stomach and whenever I stopped taking them the problem was returning.
A friend showed me a book about natural healing where one of the remedies was high dose vit C. I didn't expect much but it was easy enough to try. I think I was taking 5000 to 8000 mg a day in diluted form. Within days I was off any other medication and then shortly off vit C as well. What a life saver!
My bladder has never been the same after that year of cystitis, I have to avoid most of red wines, but this is manageable.
The cure in the book also mentioned drinking cranberry juice and eating watermelon with seeds. Maybe they also helped, but the vitamin drink had critical effect. I could feel the pain ease almost immediately after taking it.
★★★★★
Pilates and Chiropractic Treatments
★★★★★
I struggled for 2 years to get this under control with antibiotics and natural remedies but I have finally been cured with pilates and chiropractic treatment. Also, you need to get the right antibiotics if you are willing to take them again but i wouldn't touch them unless you are willing to work your pelvic floors muscles and the easiest way is pilates. Your bladder may also be displaced and the nerves from your spine to your bladder may be trapped in some way. its worth getting checked. I was shocked to find i have scoliosis which explains my back ache and corrective treatment and pilates is giving me my life back from recurrent bladder infections. If you do not wish to take antibiotics again then you can use golden seal tincture. you can make it into a warm douche (let any alcohol evaporate first) and hold it inside for 15 mins, do this until you feel the infection is gone but do not use to long periods of time. I actually take oregano oil every night before bed 8 drops mixed with a tablespoon of codliver oil which is also good for inflammation.
if you do nothing else then do pilates and work those pelvic floor muscles....after only 3 1hr sessions 1 x per week my bladder feels like it should! I'm 31 by the way so I can't imagine how bad this could have got if I didn't treat it. please email me if you would like any more info as i know how desperate you can feel when these infections won't go away! best wishes
Coconut Oil
★★★★★
I used "___ Coconut Oil" from Whole Foods.
I had a urinary tract infection with moderate to severe symptoms for approximately one week, and then mild to moderate symptoms for two weeks thereafter. I wanted to avoid antibiotic medication at all costs, seeing as the effects of those antibiotics can be as problematic as the problem itself. (Don't get me wrong -- I understand that sometimes you HAVE to take these things. But in this case, I wanted to find a way around it).
I spent the first few days chugging cranberry juice and drinking water. This was pointless and did absolutely nothing. I even used unsweetened, pure cranberry juice which was terrible to drink. It probably works for some people, but not for me.
Then I tried some random supplement especially formulated for curing UTI's from Whole Foods with cranberry extract and d-mannose. This worked better, but still not enough.
Next, after reading the reviews on this website, I tried apple cider vinegar. This helped, and reduced my symptoms of the UTI by about 40%. However, if I forgot the ACV for a day or two, the UTI would come back.
The only thing that worked 100% was coconut oil. I took a single tablespoon each day. It helped tremendously and cured my UTI. I don't know if coconut oil will work for everybody, but for some reason, it worked incredibly well for me. Since I only took one tablespoon in the morning, I imagine it would work very well if they took two tablespoon, one in the morning and one at night.
So before you try using antibiotics (which can be ineffective, especially if the bacteria develop a resistance to the antibiotics) *TRY* coconut oil. Just go to Whole Foods and buy cold-pressed coconut oil.
Alka Seltzer
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
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.
