I've made an appt. to see the doctor tomorrow morning to be tested for a UTI and will probably leave with an antibiotic but I would love to try to treat this naturally (if that's what the diagnosis is.) I was wondering if anyone out there has experienced a UTI and treated naturally w/ success? Just curious.
I have had 14 of these in 6 years...since the birth of my daughter...I tried to treat it with Cranberry suplements and juice...nothing worked for me...only thing that worked were the antibiotics and drinking acidic drinks to prevent it.
I'm all for natural remedies but for a UTI, there's no need to suffer needlessly when a quick, cheap, relatively weak antibiotic will do the trick. Better to nip it in the bud with a short course of simple antibiotic than treat partially with a natural remedy, have it lurk in your urinary tract and come roaring back later stronger, which requires stronger antibiotics for a long time.
Cranberry juice (and concentrated cranberry tablets) can help with prevention and with very mild symptoms if you start early. I had chronic UTIs when I was a kid and when they were less frequent, my mom was able to treat some with massive doses of cranberry juice (the tablets are better as the juice is high in sugar, which can feed infections) and high doses of Vitamin C. But really, if it is a UTI you will probably get a 3 or 5 day course of bactrim and be done with it.
Hope you feel better soon!
It's your body, but I don't know why you would attempt that. Antibiotics are overused, but they definitely have their place. And a UTI is a legitimate reason to take them.
Good luck with it if you try to treat it "naturally" - I bet you end up taking antibiotics.
Natural treatments can prevent, but not treat a UTI. A UTI is a bacterial infection that without anti-biotics can turn into a kidney infection that is painful and dangerous. Drinking a lot of water and cranberry juice is always helpful and will make you feel better, but is not a cure.
Lots of cranberry juice!
I second the D-Mannose, Clear Tract. It works.
I treat more as preventative. I take 2 X a day 400 i.u. of vitamin E. If I feel one coming on I take it 4 X a day until symptoms are gone then go back to my 2 a day routine. This vitamin E advice actually came from a friends Dr because she had cronic UTIs. I am happy to say since this advice I have not had a problem with UTIs that demanded a dr visit and antibiotics. I used to try cranberry juice and cranberry pills but did not have the success of vitamin E. I hope you feel better soon!
I've treated both my own and my sons naturally using high doses of D-mannose (it's the active ingredient in cranberries that keeps the urinary tract clean). You can also try grapefruit seed extract (a natural anti-biotic). There are also homeopathics for this, but we've always had to get ours from our natural doc.
Feel better soon!
J.
I agree that the antibiotic is the best route, however, my doctor suggested I buy AZO over the counter when I am unable to get to the doctor-until I can get to the doctor. It works well to take away the symptoms so you can cope with your day. It comes in a formula to "treat" the infection and a formula (cranberry) to decrease chances of getting another infection. It is one of those things you don't take on an empty stomach...It has saved me a few times. Cranberry juice is good but not if you have any sugar health issues.
