Natural Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections
From Cathy Wong, N.D.,Your Guide to Alternative Medicine.
by Cathy Wong, ND
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection that can involve bladder, kidneys, the ureters, the tubes that connect the bladder and the kidneys, and the urethra, the tube which carries urine out of the body from the bladder.
In most cases, bacteria first begin growing in the urethra. An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. From there bacteria often move on to the bladder, causing a bladder infection (cystitis). If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then go up the ureters to infect the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
UTIs are the second most common infection after respiratory infections. It is estimated that each year, 8 to 10 million people in the United States have a UTI.
Causes and Risk Factors
The most common bacterial culprit is Escherichia coli (E. coli). Although they are normal inhabitants of the colon, they can gain entry into the bladder and multiply. These bacteria are responsible for over 80 % of UTIs in adults.
UTIs are more common in women which may be because the urethra is shorter and closer to the anus, giving E. coli bacteria easier access.
Besides E. coli, the bacteria staphylococcus saphrophyticus is responsible for up to 20 % of urinary tract infections in sexually active women. Other microorganisms called chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma hominis can be sexually transmitted, and infections require treatment of both partners.
Risk factors
Poor hygiene
Sexual intercourse
Menopause - lower estrogen levels cause thinning of the urinary tract
Urinary catherterization
Suppressed immune system - e.g. diabetes
Kidney stones - obstruts flow of urine
Any condition that prevents complete bladder emptying
Use of diaphragm as birth control
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are:
frequent urge to urinate
burning, painful feeling during urination
pass a small amount of urine
Other symptoms are:
fatigue
urine may look cloudy, milky or even reddish
If these symptoms are present, the infection may have reached the kidneys:
constant pain or pressure in the abdomen, side, or low back
fever
nausea
vomiting
chills
Immediate treatment with antibiotics is necessary to prevent kidney damage.
How are UTIs diagnosed?
Assessment usually begins by collecting a mid-stream urine sample. It involves cleaning the area around the urethral opening, beginning urination, and then collecting urine only from the middle of the stream. This urine sample is then analyzed for the level of bacteria-killing white blood cells (leukocytes). An abnormally high number of leukocytes in the urine may mean there is a UTI.
A culture and sensitivity may be performed to determine the type of bacteria that's causing the problem. This helps the doctor select the drug that specifically targets the problem bacteria.
Conventional Treatment
Most UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs, the most common being trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (e.g., Bactrim
, Cotrim, Septra), trimethoprim (Trimpex), amoxicillin (e.g., Amoxil, Trimox), or fluoroquinolones (e.g., Levaquin, Cipro). Although symptoms may begin to subside within 1 to 2 days, it is important to finish the entire course of medication to ensure that the infection has been completely eradicated. Even though symptoms are better, it doesn't necessarily mean that the infection is gone.
UTIs that are caused by bacteria such as chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma hominis require a longer course of treatment with tetracycline (e.g., Achromycin), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline (e.g., Periostat).
Natural Treatments for a UTI
Although natural treatments do exist, it is important to be supervised by a naturopathic doctor or other qualified health practitioner. The risk is that if the infection is not properly treated, it may spread to the kidneys and cause a kidney infection, even though a person no longer has symptoms. It must be completely eliminated.
Cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon or vacinnium oxycoccus) - cranberry juice has been used for more than a century for the prevention and treatment for urinary tract infections. Evidence suggests that it is the antioxidant flavonoids called proanthocyanins that prevent bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract.
A study published in the Canadian Journal of Urology (2002) compared pure cranberry juice, cranberry extract tablets, and placebo in 150 women at high risk for infections. The juice and tablets both significantly reduced UTIs. Of the two, the tablets were the most effective. The National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Health recently launched a $2.6 million dollar initiative for research into cranberries.
Cranberry juice should ideally be unsweetened, especially if it is used by people with suppressed immune systems. The unsweetened juice can often be found in health food stores.
Uva Ursi - (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) - Also called bearberry, uva ursi is an antimicrobial against e coli, arbutin. 1 tab in cup of boiling water. 1 cup 3 times day. Use tea, tincture, or capsule. Compounds arbutin, methylarbutin. Uva ursi may turn urine green.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - Goldenseal is an antimicrobial. It is found in capsule, tincture or tea form.
Other herbs to consider:
Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis)
Buchu (Barosma betulina) - an antiseptic and diuretic.
Corn silk
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Homeopathic Remedies
Cantharis — sharp burning pain, intense urge to urinate
Staphysagria — continual burning, result of sexual intercourse
Prevention
The best thing you can do is to prevent UTIs from occuring.
Here are my tips:
Urinate as you feel the need. Avoid holding in urine.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day
Avoid excess coffee, alcohol, smoking, and spicy foods
Women should wipe from the front to the back after going to the bathroom. This helps to prevent e.coli from the colon from entering the bladder.
Cleanse the genital area before sexual intercourse.
Urinating after sexual intercourse can also help.
Avoid bubble baths, feminine hygiene sprays, and scented douches, products which can irritate the urethra
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/uti_p.htm
From Cathy Wong, N.D.,Your Guide to Alternative Medicine.
by Cathy Wong, ND
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection that can involve bladder, kidneys, the ureters, the tubes that connect the bladder and the kidneys, and the urethra, the tube which carries urine out of the body from the bladder.
In most cases, bacteria first begin growing in the urethra. An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. From there bacteria often move on to the bladder, causing a bladder infection (cystitis). If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then go up the ureters to infect the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
UTIs are the second most common infection after respiratory infections. It is estimated that each year, 8 to 10 million people in the United States have a UTI.
Causes and Risk Factors
The most common bacterial culprit is Escherichia coli (E. coli). Although they are normal inhabitants of the colon, they can gain entry into the bladder and multiply. These bacteria are responsible for over 80 % of UTIs in adults.
UTIs are more common in women which may be because the urethra is shorter and closer to the anus, giving E. coli bacteria easier access.
Besides E. coli, the bacteria staphylococcus saphrophyticus is responsible for up to 20 % of urinary tract infections in sexually active women. Other microorganisms called chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma hominis can be sexually transmitted, and infections require treatment of both partners.
Risk factors
Poor hygiene
Sexual intercourse
Menopause - lower estrogen levels cause thinning of the urinary tract
Urinary catherterization
Suppressed immune system - e.g. diabetes
Kidney stones - obstruts flow of urine
Any condition that prevents complete bladder emptying
Use of diaphragm as birth control
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are:
frequent urge to urinate
burning, painful feeling during urination
pass a small amount of urine
Other symptoms are:
fatigue
urine may look cloudy, milky or even reddish
If these symptoms are present, the infection may have reached the kidneys:
constant pain or pressure in the abdomen, side, or low back
fever
nausea
vomiting
chills
Immediate treatment with antibiotics is necessary to prevent kidney damage.
How are UTIs diagnosed?
Assessment usually begins by collecting a mid-stream urine sample. It involves cleaning the area around the urethral opening, beginning urination, and then collecting urine only from the middle of the stream. This urine sample is then analyzed for the level of bacteria-killing white blood cells (leukocytes). An abnormally high number of leukocytes in the urine may mean there is a UTI.
A culture and sensitivity may be performed to determine the type of bacteria that's causing the problem. This helps the doctor select the drug that specifically targets the problem bacteria.
Conventional Treatment
Most UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs, the most common being trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (e.g., Bactrim
, Cotrim, Septra), trimethoprim (Trimpex), amoxicillin (e.g., Amoxil, Trimox), or fluoroquinolones (e.g., Levaquin, Cipro). Although symptoms may begin to subside within 1 to 2 days, it is important to finish the entire course of medication to ensure that the infection has been completely eradicated. Even though symptoms are better, it doesn't necessarily mean that the infection is gone. UTIs that are caused by bacteria such as chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma hominis require a longer course of treatment with tetracycline (e.g., Achromycin
), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline (e.g., Periostat). Natural Treatments for a UTI
Although natural treatments do exist, it is important to be supervised by a naturopathic doctor or other qualified health practitioner. The risk is that if the infection is not properly treated, it may spread to the kidneys and cause a kidney infection, even though a person no longer has symptoms. It must be completely eliminated.
Cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon or vacinnium oxycoccus) - cranberry juice has been used for more than a century for the prevention and treatment for urinary tract infections. Evidence suggests that it is the antioxidant flavonoids called proanthocyanins that prevent bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract.
A study published in the Canadian Journal of Urology (2002) compared pure cranberry juice, cranberry extract tablets, and placebo in 150 women at high risk for infections. The juice and tablets both significantly reduced UTIs. Of the two, the tablets were the most effective. The National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Health recently launched a $2.6 million dollar initiative for research into cranberries.
Cranberry juice should ideally be unsweetened, especially if it is used by people with suppressed immune systems. The unsweetened juice can often be found in health food stores.
Uva Ursi - (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) - Also called bearberry, uva ursi is an antimicrobial against e coli, arbutin. 1 tab in cup of boiling water. 1 cup 3 times day. Use tea, tincture, or capsule. Compounds arbutin, methylarbutin. Uva ursi may turn urine green.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - Goldenseal is an antimicrobial. It is found in capsule, tincture or tea form.
Other herbs to consider:
Marshmallow root (Althea officinalis)
Buchu (Barosma betulina) - an antiseptic and diuretic.
Corn silk
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Homeopathic Remedies
Cantharis — sharp burning pain, intense urge to urinate
Staphysagria — continual burning, result of sexual intercourse
Prevention
The best thing you can do is to prevent UTIs from occuring.
Here are my tips:
Urinate as you feel the need. Avoid holding in urine.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day
Avoid excess coffee, alcohol, smoking, and spicy foods
Women should wipe from the front to the back after going to the bathroom. This helps to prevent e.coli from the colon from entering the bladder.
Cleanse the genital area before sexual intercourse.
Urinating after sexual intercourse can also help.
Avoid bubble baths, feminine hygiene sprays, and scented douches, products which can irritate the urethra
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/uti_p.htm
