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January 14, 2019

How To Cure A UTI At Home Naturally

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.

How To Cure A UTI At Home Naturally | The Family That Heals Together

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:

  1. Not wiping from front to back
  2. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
  5. Vitamin C is always a good idea to add, especially naturally sourced types such as camu camu powder or rose hips.
  6. 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.

How To Cure A UTI At Home Naturally | The Family That Heals Together

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.

Have you tried a natural UTI cure? Share in the comments!

By: Danielle · Filed Under: Blog, healing, health, Remedies · Tagged: acute, bladder, bladder infection, chronic, herbal remedies, kidney, remedies, urinary track infection, UTI

July 24, 2016

My Herbal Sleep Bomb For a Better Sleep

Sleep Better: Try This Herbal "Sleep Bomb" | The Family That Heals Together

It’s bound to happen from time to time: moms get tired. We become worn out, and Lord knows we need a break. Earlier this year when I was suffering from severe adrenal fatigue, insomnia hit like a ton of bricks and I became a “mombie,” aka: really tired mom. I got desperate to sleep better.

I was taking forever to fall asleep and, occasionally, I had nights where I was awake more than I was asleep. If I was awakened by a child (or husband, ahem) soon after falling asleep, my heart would race and my system would go into a bit of a shock. Forget about falling back asleep anytime soon after that. I would often wake up through the night and have trouble falling back asleep then, too.

I couldn’t get through the day without a nap and spent my days stumbling around haphazardly. I know zombies aren’t real, but y’all, if they were, you’d have mistaken me for one. I had to figure out a way to sleep better.

I had tried melatonin once before, but ended up with the worst migraine of my life, so no way was I going to try it again. (Besides, Empowered Sustenance makes a pretty compelling case here about why you shouldn’t take melatonin.)

I decided to try some herbs I knew were effective for inducing restful sleep.

How I sleep better: my herbal “sleep bomb”

I already knew that valerian root was helpful for sleep, but I needed more. Here is my winning combo, aka my “sleep bomb:”

Valerian root

This stinky herb has been used historically to help with insomnia, as well as calming, and has even been shown to help with symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.

While I typically prefer to use herbal extracts and tinctures because of their easily-absorbed nutrients, I refuse to take valerian in tincture form. I’m not lying when I say it smells slightly (ok, a lot) like a dead… something. But- it IS effective for calming the nervous system, relieving tension and inducing sleep. Valerian root helps me sleep better. Get it here.

Passionflower

Last year I learned about passionflower, and how it soothes the nervous system. It can be especially helpful for kids with hyperactivity, as it increases GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the brain, which inhibits stimulatory neuron activity. It is a very calming herb, that has been shown to help with anxiety as well.

When I added it to my nighttime herb routine, I noticed right away that began to I fall asleep faster and sleep better. Since passionflower has a light, syrup-y taste, I’m happy to take it in liquid form. Get it here.

Lavender

Aside from the fact that I adore the earthy smell of lavender, which really makes me inner hippie child burst into song, I love the calming, soothing properties of the herb. I had a lavender tincture on hand from my herbalist friend, which I had bought in hopes that it would be calming for my hyperactive kid, as well as help my occasional headaches.

Lavender helps to relive tension, and can help with anxiety. It was the perfect compliment to my herbal repertoire. Get it here.

I decided to hit my insomnia with all of the calming herbs I had on hand, in hopes that I would soon sleep better.

I was amazed to find that the combination worked wonderfully, the first time I tried it!

Sleep Better: Try This Herbal "Sleep Bomb" | The Family That Heals Together

How you can use my “sleep bomb” to sleep better:

Lavender: one dropper full

Passionflower: one dropper full

Valerian root: 2 capsules

Note: these dosages are for the exact products I’ve linked. Change in strength changes my needs, and I’ve had to increase my dosage when I’ve used different brands and strengths. These brands and dosages work great for me.

I take this herbal “sleep bomb” 30 minutes to an hour before I plan to go to bed, and I get sleepy by the time I hit the sheets. It is such a relief to not toss and turn, waiting, no begging for sleep to come.

I have been using this combo of herbs for about five months, and I have had a huge improvement in my quality of sleep. I just sleep better when I make sure to take my herbs. Plus, if I run out of any one herb, the remedy is not as effective; I’ve found that the combination of the three is really the key to helping me sleep better.

Other things you can try to sleep better:

  • Avoid sugar and starchy foods in the evening.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Turn off electronics and/or use blue light blocking glasses in the hours before bed.
  • Wind down before bed; try taking a hot epsom salt bath, reading, or even coloring.

Do you struggle with trouble sleeping? Please share using one of the links below to help your friends sleep better too!

By: Jaclyn · Filed Under: Blog, Remedies · Tagged: adrenal fatigue, herbal, herbal remedies, herbs, insomnia, remedies, sleep, sleep better

July 4, 2016

Natural Migraine Remedies: Get Relief Now!

Natural Migraine Remedies: Get Relief Now! | The Family That Heals Together

If I had to give you one single reason for eating the way I do and working so hard to heal my body, it would be migraines. I’ve suffered from migraines since I was a teenager, and though I get them less frequently these days, I still find myself in need of these natural migraine remedies from time to time. (You can read more about my story here.)

Conventional migraine medicines make me sick and are toxic, so as I’ve learned more about treating various conditions naturally, I’ve tried lots of different natural migraine remedies. The thing about migraines is that the cause might change from one migraine to the next, so the remedy that works one time may not work the next time.

If you’ve suffered from migraines, you know how painful they are. Below, I’ll give you my best natural migraine remedies so that you can find what works best for your migraine headaches.

My natural migraine remedies

Before I get into remedies to combat a migraine that’s already underway, let’s talk about migraine prevention.

It’s important to note that the best thing I’ve done to prevent migraines is to eat a good diet. When I originally removed grains and refined sugar, my incidence of migraines went down. I also began to sleep better, which had its own positive effect on lowering the frequency of migraines. To prevent migraines, consider

  • removing grains, dairy, sugar, and artificial foods from your diet (read about the first five ingredients you should remove from your diet now)
  • doing a gut-healing diet like GAPS (which can heal the underlying conditions that cause migraines)
  • ensuring you get good rest; going to sleep by 10 pm is best (extreme fatgiue will get me every time!)
  • reducing stress to avoid tension headaches
  • staying hydrated to decrease the odds of a dehydration headache

While the above steps have definitely decreased the frequency of migraines for me, when I do get a migraine, I want to try all of my natural migraine remedies before I resort to taking something over the counter. Here’s what I use:

Magnesium

When a magnesium deficiency is present, most of our bodily functions are affected. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and more.

There is a type of magnesium formulated especially for brain health, which can pass the blood-brain barrier in order to nourish the brain, called magnesium L-threonate. I find that if I have a headache coming on, sometimes I can take a couple of these magnesium capsules and the pain will begin to ease.

I wrote in detail about the brain-nourishing benefits of this type of magnesium and how it has helped our oldest son with with behavioral problems in my post Our Favorite Supplement to Treat ADHD and Other Behavioral Problems. Get my favorite magnesium L-threonate, called MagMind, here.

Sole water

If I’m taking a couple of MagMind capsules, you can bet I’m swallowing them down with a glass of sole water. I’ve written extensively about the benefits of drinking sole water in my post How to Make Sole Water and Three Reasons Why You Should, but what you need to know is, sole water

  • is mineral-packed
  • promotes hydration
  • aids in detoxification
  • creates cellular energy.

Sole water is so simple and cheap to make, there’s no good reason not to try it! Use one cup of mineral-rich salt and three cups of filtered water to fill a quart-sized jar with a plastic lid. Give it a shake, then leave out on the counter overnight. Use a teaspoon of the mixture each morning in a glass of water, then work your way up to using more.

I use a tablespoon in a glass of water when I have a headache coming on, then drink several glasses throughout the day when I’m battling a migraine. Get my favorite Real Salt for making sole water here.

Extra virgin cod liver oil

When I have a headache coming on, I reach for a bottle of extra virgin cod liver oil, one of the best ways to get brain-boosting omega fats into my body.

Those omega fats are anti-inflammatory, while the saturated fat in the oil nourishes the brain. It’s best to take a dose of cod liver oil daily, but when I have a migraine coming on, I’ve been known to take a teaspoon every hour until it goes away.

I take a liquid version with no additives or flavors, and just drink it down with some filtered water. You can read about why our family switched to extra virgin cod liver oil here. Get the best quality, extra-virgin cod liver oil here.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory spice used medicinally in many places. If I have any turmeric capsules on hand, I’ll pop a handful when I feel a migraine coming on. The turmeric helps to ease the inflammation, thereby easing the migraine headache. Read more about the benefits of taking turmeric and how to make your own turmeric capsules here, or purchase organic turmeric capsules here.

Peppermint essential oil

This is the first thing I reach for when I have a headache. I dab a drop directly at the point of pain (unless, of course, it’s one of those gnarly migraines that settle in the eye).

The cooling sensation instantly brings relief. Usually, when the oil wears off, I have to reapply it, but I’m okay with that because it really does help. Peppermint essential oil also helps to clear the sinuses, which can be a reason for a migraine.

I often dab it on my forehead, scalp, and sinuses, which can be a little intense and sometimes makes my eyes water, but leaves me feeling clearer-headed once the initial sting clears. Get peppermint essential oil here.

Neti pot

If a migraine is due to sinus congestion, or even underlying sinus infection (and sometimes, it’s not as obvious as you’d think that the problem is in the sinuses), using a neti pot can help clear the problem.

I have found sometimes that doing a rinse of my sinuses with a neti pot can stop a migraine in its tracks. I add about half a teaspoon of real salt to some body-temp filtered water in each nostril to thoroughly give my sinuses a good rinse. Get a neti pot like mine here.

Lymph massage

Massage is helpful to clear the sinuses as well, and I love to give myself a quick lymphatic massage in the shower in the mornings when I remember. This is one of my favorite natural migraine remedies because it’s simple and non-invasive, and I can do it, even if I’m lying down in pain.

By doing lymphatic massage, you clear your lymph nodes of toxins that can build up and cause pain. Watch the short video below to see how it’s done:

Coffee enemas

Finally, I saved this tip for last because I know not everyone will try it, but it is one of the most effective natural migraine remedies because it helps get to the root cause of migraines. In fact, when I began doing coffee enemas regularly a few years ago, my incidence of migraines decreased dramatically.

Coffee enemas clean the blood and increase glutathione (the mast antioxidant needed for detoxification). They provide such immediate, intensive detoxification, that I’ve experienced a coffee enema instantly relieving a migraine that had previously lasted for days and had not responded to even over the counter pain meds.

To do a coffee enema, boil two tablespoons of freshly-ground, organic, light or medium roast coffee in about one cup of filtered water. Bring to a boil for five minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain the coffee into a quart-sized jar, then fill the rest of the way, checking to ensure the coffee ends up slightly warmer than body temperature.

Use an enema bag to use the coffee as an enema, and retain the enema while lying on your right side for 15 minutes before expelling. If you’d like to read in greater detail, you can read all about the benefits of coffee enemas here. You can get a kit especially for coffee enemas here.

Natural migraine remedies: just try it!

I’ve given you lots of options for the next time you have a migraine, so just pick a remedy and give it a try! If that doesn’t work, move down the list. 😉 If you suffer from migraines, you have my sympathy, but hopefully, using these tips, you can prevent and get rid of those nasty, painful headaches that show no mercy.

Have you tried any of these natural migraine remedies? Which ones work for you?

Natural Migraine Remedies: Get Relief Now! | The Family That Heals Together

By: Jaclyn · Filed Under: Blog, Remedies · Tagged: extra virgin cod liver oil, migraines, natural migraine remedies, neti pot, remedies, sole water

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