Anybody who’s had a bladder infection (UTI) knows how bad the pain can get. It’s so hard to bear that we usually end up going to the doctor to cut short that hell on earth experience. But the fact is that we don’t always need to. The early stages of many bladder infections can be treated with simple, natural and inexpensive home remedies that will stop the bacteria in their tracks and let you avoid a costly visit to the doctor’s office.
Natural Remedies for Bladder Infections
1. Drink Lots of Water
Doctors across the world advise their patients to drink lots of water during a bladder infection. It has been proven that drinking more water will help you flush those breeding bacteria out of your system.
You may be reluctant to try this, because drinking more water makes you urinate more, and that hurts when you have a UTI! But you’ll notice that the pain rapidly starts to diminish as you start drinking more water.
Aim for eight glasses of water every day, more if possible.
2. Increase Your Intake of Vitamin C
Vitamin C acidifies the urine, which hinders the growth of bacteria and kills many of them outright. Thus it’s a good idea to consume plenty of vitamin C in your food.
Green leafy veggies, guava, lemons, oranges, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli and berries are some of the best sources, so start eating more of them as soon as you feel you’re coming down with a UTI.
3. Drink Barley Water
Barley water is known for flushing impurities out of the body. Drinking it will also increase urination, of course, making it an easy two-for-one way to get rid of bacteria in the urinary tract.
Prepare barley water as follows:
- Boil barley seeds in water until they become soft.
- Allow the water to cool.
- Strain out the barley seeds.
You can drink this with a bit of salt and a spoonful of yogurt or lemon juice.
You can also wash the vaginal area with barley water to reduce the burning sensation.
4. Stop Consuming Bladder Irritants
Some of the things you eat or drink may actually be contributing to your pain and suffering!
There’s a surprisingly long list of foods and beverages to avoid when you have a bladder infection. It includes caffeinated and carbonated drinks, alcohol, spicy and sugary foods, tobacco, etc.
By avoiding these items, you can actually reduce the pain and help yourself heal!
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, which is rich in potassium and probiotic enzymes, will hinder the growth of bacteria when consumed. It’s been proven that this vinegar works well for bladder infections.
To prepare it, just mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water. You can enhance the taste by adding a spoon of honey. Drink this mixture two or three times a day.
6. Take Probiotics
There are many natural probiotics like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and tempeh which increase good bacteria in our bodies. In turn, these good bacteria make us healthy and strong enough to fight off infections.
Eating a lot of probiotics will certainly help kill the bacteria causing your bladder infection.
Final Thoughts About Urinary Tract Infections
These are all great remedies, but the best thing is not to develop a bladder infection to begin with! Living a healthy, hygienic lifestyle is the best way to reduce the likelihood of bladder infections.
Keep yourself well hydrated, pee right away when your bladder is full, and always wash your private parts after sexual intercourse.
Do all that and you may be able to keep bladder infections (UTI) at bay forever – but if not, at least you’ll know what to try before going to the doctor.
Bladder Infection Causes
Bladder infections (or UTI – Urinary Tract Infection) are more common in women than men. That certainly doesn’t mean men can’t get it, but the probability is much less. The reason is that the urethra is a lot shorter in women.
A UTI is a bacterial infection of the urinary system. This system includes the bladder, kidneys and urethra, and the infection can occur in any of these organs.
It’s usually caused when bacteria of the E. coli type enter the urinary system and start breeding. In general, these bacteria are washed out of the body when we urinate. Here are some common causes of bladder infections.
Bladder Infection Causes For Women
- Wiping from back to front after using the bathroom
- Drinking too little water
- Having sexual intercourse with an infected person
- Holding one’s urine for too long
- Not maintaining proper hygiene
Causes For Bladder Infection In Men
Bladder infections are a lot less prevalent in men, especially in mend under 50. Here are some of the bladder infection causes for men:
- kidney stones
- enlarged prostate
- recent procedure involving cauterization
- a weak immune system
Knowing what causes bladder infections helps you prevent them from happening in the first place. But it’s also important to know how to cure an infection that’s already gotten a foothold in your urinary tract. Prescription antibiotics will do it, but it’s not always necessary to take antibiotics.
You can kill those bacteria with simple home remedies which will stop you from developing a more severe – and more painful – UTI. Here are six super home remedies you can use to fight bladder infection and UTI.
