Curing a Urinary Tract Infection Through Home Remedies

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a type of bacterial infection that affects the bladder, urethra and other parts of the urinary tract. It is usually caused by the bacteria escherichia coli, better known as E. coli.

The symptoms of a urinary tract infection include fever, painful or frequent urination, incontinence, bladder or abdominal pain, bloody or cloudy urine, fatigue and general weakness. Aside from the medications that a doctor may prescribe following diagnosis, you can try several home remedies to speed up recovery.

Home Remedies

Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice is one of the best remedies for urinary tract infections. Cranberry juice has antibacterial properties that kill bacteria in the bladder or urinary tract. If you cannot drink pure cranberry juice, mix it with some apple juice.
Aromatherapy may also relieve the pain of UTI. Combine equal parts bergamot, sandalwood, juniper, frankincense and tea tree. Massage this mixture over your bladder area. Do this daily until the symptoms reduce.
If you have a urinary tract infection, urinate as often as possible to flush the bacteria out of your system. You can achieve this by drinking plenty of water and coconut juice.
Increase your consumption of fruits rich in Vitamin C. This includes oranges and grapefruit. You can also take Vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C increases acidity of the urine, thereby inhibiting the growth of the E. coli bacteria.
Take natural antibiotics like garlic or goldenseal to effectively kill the infection-causing bacteria. You can drink goldenseal tea, take garlic supplements, add garlic to your dishes or even chew on raw garlic.
One of the most popularly herbs used for treating UTIs is the uva ursi. The herb contains an active component called arbutin, which has been studied to have antiseptic properties that help cleanse the kidneys. Other herbs that help relieve the symptoms of UTI and speed up recovery include marshmallow root, corn silk, horsetail and buchu. Consult a herbalist to find out about the type and quantity of herbs that you should use.