Wondering how to cure a UTI at home or if it’s even possible? While an occasional kidney detox is a good idea if you tend to get recurring UTI infections, Danielle shares straightforward UTI remedies that you can use right now to ease pain and feel better.
What is a UTI?
A UTI, or urinary tract infections, forms when bacteria is introduced into the urinary tract via the urethra, up to the bladder.
Your kidneys filter urine, sending it through your ureter to your bladder, and your urethra carries it out of the body.
UTIs mostly affect women, children, and the elderly. In women, the two most common ways to introduce unwanted bacteria to the urethra:
- Not wiping from front to back
- Sex
Many women experience a UTI after having sex and not urinating for hours, which gets the bacteria-laden urine out of the bladder. It’s a good idea to wipe from the front to the back of your pubic area everytime you urinate, as well as urinating and cleaning yourself after sex.
Men can also have UTIs. Sometimes the bacteria that cause a UTI attach to a physical structure, like a catheter or kidney stone. Other causes may be a suppressed immune system or antibiotic use.
If you’re a woman who has experienced a UTI, you don’t need to me to tell you that it’s extremely uncomfortable and painful. When you have a UTI, you typically know.
Look for these symptoms that signal a UTI is present:
- Frequent urination with a strong urge
- Painful, burning feeling when you urinate
- Pain in the lower back
- Cloudy, dark, or smelly urine
- A fever or ache, signaling an infection
Can a UTI go away on its own?
Sure, it could. But, it’s not likely and let’s face it – this isn’t something you want to wait out.
A urinary tract infection is very painful and disrupts daily life. Plus, a long term infection of the area could spread to your kidneys. That’s not something you want.
The bacteria aren’t playing around, and neither should you.
How to cure a UTI naturally at home
Normal treatment at the doctor includes a urine sample and antibiotics.
However, medical research shows that at least one in five women will not be cured of their UTI with antibiotics.
This is normally explained as the bacteria causing the infection does not respond to the antibiotic prescribed (so why don’t they match it?) or that the bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, which is not a situation you want in your bladder. Many of these cases turn into long term infections.
No thanks!
The medical response to that is prescribing a long term, low dose antibiotic, or a single-dose antibiotic after sex (what!? every time?), and having a home test kit.
I do think the home test kit is a good idea, especially when you can get a test like this one.
While antibiotics are great for specific cases and in some situations lifesaving, you don’t want to be on them all the time. You certainly want to avoid them when not necessary or they could create a long term problem.
With antibiotic resistance and recurring UTIs, doctors know this too.
We also know that antibiotics damage the gut, which leads to long-term health problems.
Follow these tips on how to cure a UTI
Can you get rid of UTI without antibiotics?
Luckily, women have been dealing with UTIs for ages and there’s a whole host of natural cures in the natural healing toolbag. Ones that don’t include antibiotic resistance and reoccurring infections.
So, that’s a big yes!
Here’s how to cure a UTI without antibiotic use:
- D-mannose. One of the best treatments for treating UTIs naturally is d-mannose. It is a type of sugar found in a number of fruits and has been well-researched for curing UTIs even better (yes, better) than antibiotics. Better yet, you can grab this beauty for $15 at your local health food store. Take 500 mg every 2-3 hours, until 2-3 days after symptoms have subsided. You can try an inexpensive D-mannose like this, or look into a corn-free one made in the USA like this if you have food allergies or other concerns.
- Baking soda has also been used to treat UTIs. Many use baking soda to neutralize the acid from the infection in the bladder and stop the infection from spreading to the kidneys.
- Uva ursi. Known to treat UTIs in a flash, uva ursi stops inflammation and also kills bacteria. It’s been used to help with overall kidney issues, as well. The herb is available as a capsule (found here) or tincture, but is stronger as a tincture (found here).
- Homeopathy is also a good idea. Be sure to match the symptom to the remedy: Cantharis for burning urine (find it here), Apis mellifica for stinging pain (find it here), Equisetum for severe but dull pain (find it here), and Staphysigaria for suppressed anger or a recent invasive procedure.
- Vitamin C is always a good idea to add, especially naturally sourced types such as camu camu powder or rose hips.
- Vitamin D. In animal studies, vitamin D deficiency can lead to more invasive UTIs. This makes sense since vitamin D does so much to support the immune health.
Serious UTIs may benefit from a stronger combination of herbs and other natural remedies. U.T. Vibrance contains high doses of d-mannose, as well as herbs targeted for urinary health and to fight infection. Find it here.
How about UTI and cranberry juice, does it really work?
Cranberry has been touted as a UTI cure forever, and for good reason.
It holds a tannin that is said to stop E. coli and other bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall where it can grow and lead to an infection.
It also has d-mannose.
However, some report it does not help them. One would suspect that has to do with how soon it is taken from the first signs of an infection, or which bacteria you have.
It is estimated that 90% of UTIs are from E. coli. However, if you fall in the 10% that is not from E. coli, Lauricidin can stave off other bacteria.
I have personally used cranberry juice to ward off a beginning UTI with great success. I’ve also had a UTI that I would categorize as “too far gone for cranberry juice alone by the time I got out of bed” and I chose to add additional herbs to heal from that one. Both times I was able to heal naturally.
If you choose to try cranberry juice, look for pure, organic cranberry juice with no additional ingredients.
How long does it take to get over a urinary tract infection?
Most UTIs will resolve within 5 days with natural treatments.
However, if yours does not resolve within 5 days, it’s time to see your doctor.
If you experience fever, chills, or lower back pain, you likely have a kidney infection and should see your doctor. At that point, antibiotics are a route to consider seriously.
If you are pregnant and have UTI or kidney infection symptoms, you should contact your health professional immediately.
Why do I keep getting UTIs?
Reoccurring UTIs could be from lifestyle or eating choices.
Be sure to cut back on sugar, drink plenty of water, and limit stress. Clean yourself before and after sex, and always wipe after urinating or a bowel movement from the front to back. Urinate when you need to; do not hold it!
If you are using oral contraceptives, diaphragms, or spermicides, discontinue use. These may be causing your UTIs.
If you have recurring UTIs, consider taking a kidney/urinary supplement or tincture with horsetail, uva ursi, and marshmallow root. Loading up on teas of these herbs will help.
Take a probiotic that is specifically formulated for bladder or female health, and work on healing any bacteria disturbances in your body by limiting gluten and dairy, or even following a GAPs diet.
A natural UTI cure makes sense.
Antibiotics aren’t the most effective therapy and antibiotic resistance is a big public health concern. Beyond that, you’ll find that in most cases, natural UTI cures work quickly.
