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A Natural Approach to UTIs



Have you ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI)? They are the worst. So uncomfortable, and they seem to come out of nowhere in full force! They’re also extremely common. UTIs account for over 7 million visits to the doctor each year, with an estimated 40% of women having at least one UTI in their lifetime. 20% of these women will have a second occurrence, and 30% of those will have a third. Then, the number jumps! 80% of women who have 3 UTI's in their lifetime will have recurrent UTIs (Gradwohl, et. al., 2016). And my, do I empathize with these women. If you’ve had one, you know they’re not easy to forget. Lower abdominal cramping, painful urination, bloody or cloudy urine, frequency, urgency and nocturia, a term for the need to get up and use the restroom in the middle of the night, are all hallmark symptoms of a UTI. Fever, chills, nausea and pelvic pressure can also occur.


What Causes a UTI?


80% of all UTIs are caused by a common culprit, E. Coli. That’s usually a surprising bit of info for people. We normally hear about E. Coli being the food spoiler, but not as much about it causing a urinary infection. Women are at increased risk of due to our anatomy and having a short urethra. E. Coli, and a handful of other bacteria, can easily travel up a woman’s urethra and cause infection, whereas men don’t have this problem. If not flushed out of the system quickly, bacteria can multiply and cause disease. This is why it’s important to stay hydrated, urinate when we there is urge, and maintain good hygiene, especially after intercourse. If nobody has ever told you this, I will. You need to use the bathroom after intercourse each time to help prevent UTIs. And wipe front to back. If you use a diaphragm or condoms, or a form of birth control involving spermicide, you are also at increased risk of UTIs. So, if you are prone to infections, you might want to consider another form of contraception.

An untreated infection can travel up to the kidneys and can cause significant damage. Pregnant women are at especially high risk for kidney infections because of the anatomical changes that occur with a growing baby. Though many will tell you the only proven treatment for an active UTI is a course of antibiotics, there is much that can be done in order to prevent UTIs and help manage the symptoms of an active infection.


How to Prevent UTIs


Drink plenty of water! Aim for 8-10 cups of water per day, spread out through the day. Consider drinking one cup at each meal, and of course, when you feel thirsty! If you are a heavy exerciser, you will likely need more.

Aim for a diet rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, flavonols, and probiotics. Choose high fiber foods like oats, brown rice, whole grains, lentiils, peas, broccoli, kale and avocado. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables high in vitamins A and C like oranges, strawberries, canteloupe, kiwi, dark, green leafy veggies, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. Include probiotic foods in your diet including no sugar added yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, sourdough and other fermented foods. Choose foods high in flavonols, which are found in high concentrations in plums, apples and berries, and are especially high in blueberries and cranberries.

Other foods that are shown to help prevent UTIs include garlic, cinnamon, horseradish root, rosehips, green tea, parsley and golden seal.

Limit your intake of alcohol, caffeine, sugary foods, fried foods, spicy foods, and acidic foods, which can all irritate your bladder. And remember, bacteria feed off of sugar! So, if you eat a lot of sugar (guilty), this is something to be aware of.

For those with recurrent infections, I encourage you to get started on a daily probiotic and a cranberry supplement, or something called D-mannose, which is a form of sugar found in cranberries and other fruits and vegetables. There is significant evidence to show that D-mannose is helpful in preventing UTIs by attaching to bacteria in the bladder, preventing it from sticking to cells and causing infection. There is also promising research emerging that D-mannose helps relieve symptoms during an active infection.


Treatment for UTIs


The only approved treatment for UTIs in the United States are antibiotics that a healthcare provider prescribes, but there are other options for helping to manage symptoms, and even treat them naturally.


Uva Ursi is an herb that has a long history of treating urinary infections, and is approved in Germany by a board similar to the USA’s FDA, to treat inflammatory conditions in the urinary tract. Uva Ursi soothes inflamed and irritated tissue, neutralizes the acidic pH of urine, and has anti-bacterial properties (Redmon, 2012).

Dandelion has a diuretic effect, increasing urine production which eliminates bacteria out of the bladder, as well as has anti-bacterial properties.

Unsweetened cranberry juice prevents bacteria from sticking to cell walls, similarly to D-mannose, so that bacteria is eliminated in the urine. D-mannose is seen to be more effective, however, and also prevents the entrance of bacteria into the urinary tract.


For symptom relief, a blend of green vegetables like cucumbers, celery, parsley, etc. can soothe the bladder and acts as a diuretic, while also detoxifying the body (Redmon, 2012).


Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties, and is rather potent. For symptom relief, add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil to a teaspoon of coconut oil, or another carrier oil, and rub over your lower abdomen until cramping minimizes. You can also put tea tree and clove oil into a bath tub filled with a couple inches of warm water (a sitz bath). Be sure to add the oils to a carrier oil or a little bit of milk to prevent the oils from irritating your skin. Soak in the tub for 10 minutes at a time as needed for symptom relief.

*The information on this page is not meant to replace medical advice or the quality of healthcare given from seeing a physician or nurse practitioner.


References:


Gradwohl, S., Bettcher, C., Chenoweth, C., Harrison, R. & Zoschnick, L. (2016) Urinary tract infection. University of Michigan Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.med.umich.edu/1info/FHP/practiceguides/uti/uti.pdf

Redmon, George L,P.H.D., N.D. (2012). Combat UTIs naturally: Four remedies to keep you UTI-free. Alternative Medicine, (6), 25-27. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.databases.library.georgetown.edu/scholarly-journals/combat-utis-naturally-four-remedies-keep-you-uti/docview/1429235008/se-2?accountid=142883

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