Home Remedies for Bladder Infections
When germs invade the urinary bladder, an inflammation develops that creates an assortment of uncomfortable symptoms. A bladder infection causes irritation and pain all across the board, especially when it comes time to relieve yourself. Getting this form of urinary tract infection treated is vital to the healthy balance of your body because once the infection spreads to the kidneys, serious complications may arise. Irreversible damage may occur.
What is a Bladder Infection?
A bladder infection (often referred to as cystitis) first develops when bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra, which is the tube that allows urine to exit the body [1]. The bacteria latch onto the bladder wall and start to increase in numbers. When it comes to cystitis, many types exist. A few include:
a) Bacterial Cystitis:
Serving as the most common form of the infection, bacterial cystitis is often transmitted from the bowel through the urethra leading into the bladder [2]. Coliform bacteria are responsible for this kind of inflammation and infection.
b) Interstitial Cystitis:
This form of infection is quite painful and not that easy to pinpoint. It also does not involve any sort of foreign organisms that cause your discomfort.
c) Hemorrhagic Cystitis:
This bladder inflammation is known to cause hemorrhaging and most often occurs within patients undergoing treatment for cancer.
Symptoms
Bladder infections can affect an individual at any age. For example, if you notice new patterns of bedwetting in your toddler (also called enuresis), you should consult your doctor whether or not this is a result of urinary tract infection. Additional bladder infection signs and symptoms include:
a) Urination Problems:
Bladder infections often bring about the strong urge to frequently urinate, yet only produce a small amount of urine. When urinating, an individual may experience a burning sensation.
b) Blood in Urine:
Sometimes traces of blood appear in the urine. This symptom is referred to as hematuria.
c) Urine Appearance Changes:
Upon examining your urine, it may appear cloudy, as well as give off a strong odor.
d) Stomach Pressure:
In the lower abdomen, you may experience a feeling of pressure.
e) Fever:
Some individuals exhibit a low-grade fever when suffering from a bladder infection.
Causes of Bladder Infection
Knowing the causes of bladder infection may help you avoid some of the triggers associated with this condition. While many of the listed causes are unavoidable, a few circumstances are preventable when establishing healthy habits and personal hygiene. Below you will find the main causes of cystitis:
a) Kidney or Urethra Infection:
If you are experiencing an infection in the urethra or kidneys, cystitis may follow. Infections in the vagina or prostate gland have also been known to trigger a bladder infection.
b) Kidney Stones:
Besides infected kidneys, if you suffer from stones in the kidneys, inflammation or irritation may arise in the bladder.
c) Urine Retention:
If you wait too long before relieving your bladder, you could cause irritation or inflammation.
d) Constipation:
Severe bouts of constipation have been known to result in a bladder infection.
e) Cancer-Related:
In the case of hemorrhagic cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder develops when one is undergoing cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation.
Diagnosis
When visiting the doctor to speak upon possible signs of bladder infection, you will be expected to surrender a urine sample. Your physician will then test the sample to conclude whether or not you show blood, pus, or bacteria within your urine. If bacteria are present, you will most likely be treated for cystitis.
Risk Factors
It’s just a plain, simple fact – some people are more susceptible to developing a bladder infection than others. For example, women tend to suffer from this painful condition more than men. One of the main reasons includes the length of their urethra, which is shorter than male urethras. This means bacteria have a shorter distance to travel before reaching the bladder. Below you will find additional cystitis risk factors:
a) Sexual Intercourse:
Women who engage in frequent sex (especially with multiple partners) will also increase their chance of cystitis. This is because the bacteria that causes the infection is constantly being pushed further up the urethra. Diaphragm use also serves as breeding grounds for bladder infection bacteria.
b) Pregnancy:
Women undergoing hormonal changes due to pregnancy have an increased chance of developing a bladder infection.
c) Blocked Urine Flow:
If the flow of urine is blocked, a bladder infection may develop. Common causes of these circumstances are often enlarged prostate (leading to male bladder infection) or a stone in the bladder.
d) Immune System Changes:
Increased risk of bladder infection occurs when other conditions are present, such as cancer or diabetes.
e) Bladder Catheters:
The prolonged use of these tubes may lead to cystitis, which is a commonly seen in the elderly, as well as patients suffering from a chronic illness.
Home Remedies for Bladder Infection
When it comes to choosing one of the strongest homeopathic treatments of cystitis, you should know that the diuretic effect cucumber juice possesses is known to work wonders. Three times per day, mix one teaspoon of honey with a tablespoon of fresh lime juice to one cup of cucumber juice [3]. Below you will find additional home remedies to consider for bladder infection:
a) Cranberry:
Cranberry juice, extract or pill supplements are known to flush out the bacteria causing a bladder infection. Did you know that this home remedy might also be used to treat a dog or cat with a bladder infection?
b) Drumstick Flowers:
A great herbal remedy for bladder infection includes a teaspoon of the fresh juice from drumstick flowers coupled with ½ a glass of coconut water. This remedy should be taken twice per day.
c) Radish Leaves:
Consume one cup of radish leaf juice for two weeks to treat a bladder infection.
d) Spinach:
Mix equal parts of fresh spinach juice with coconut water (about 100 ml each) to treat cystitis. It is the nitrates and potassium within these ingredients that create an effective and safe diuretic.
e) Hot Water:
The pain associated with a bladder infection can be eased when immersing the pelvis in hot water.
f) Cold Compresses:
Applying cold compresses to the stomach are known to relieve the congestion within the pelvic area, as well as increase the healing of the skin. When using this home remedy, make sure you do not overly chill the skin.
g) Lemon:
Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to 180 ml of boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool and sip 60 ml of this concoction every two hours, starting at 8 am and ending at noon [3]. This home remedy has been known to subside the burning sensation, as well as cease the bleeding associated with cystitis.
h) Sandalwood Oil:
When it comes to bladder infections, sandalwood oil has been known to act as a great home remedy. Take five drops of the oil during the onset of the infection, eventually working your way up to 10-30 drops.
Bladder Infection Prevention
In order to reduce the risk of developing a bladder infection, you might want to adhere to some of the preventive measures associated with this condition, such as:
a) Drink Plenty of Fluids:
Beverages, such as cranberry juice and especially water have been known to thwart the development of cystitis. Patients taking blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin) should refrain from consuming large amounts of cranberry, which could trigger bleeding [4].
b) Urinate When Needed:
If you need to urinate, don’t hold it in. Whenever you have the urge to relieve yourself, you should listen to your body in order to avoid bacteria from sitting too long in the bladder.
c) Healthy Hygiene Habits:
After a bowel movement, it is important to wipe from the front to the back to avoid spreading the bacteria that causing infections in the vagina and urethra.
d) Take Showers:
If you have a tendency to develop infections, you might want to forego the luxuriating bath and take a shower instead.
e) Gently Wash:
You should also get in the habit of gently washing about the vagina and anus. The use of strong soaps and harsh bathing habits have been known to increase the risk of developing an infection. Delicate skin is a portal for the spread of bacteria. For women, it is also suggested to avoid the use of perfumes or deodorant sprays in the vagina area, which may prove too harsh for the skin.
Resources
Bladder infection, also known as a UTI Urinary Tract Infection. If you get this or feel like you have signs of this, such as burning when you urinate, dark urine, lower abdomen pain, feeling the need to urinate more often, or feeling as if you have a full bladder and only a teaspoon full of urine comes out…go to the Doctor!!! This is not something for home remdies! If left untreated it can move into your kidneys! I have spoken to my Dr. about this! Drinking cranberry juice regularly can help minimize your risk of getting a UTI, but it in most cases can NOT treat it! It can treat it in rare cases; if you catch it in the first or second day of infection, you can drink a few glasses of cranberry juice and it may treat it, but most do not have any sign until the 3rd or 4th day….some even have it longer before having any signs. Once it has reached the 3rd day you need antibiotics.
Drink a cup of cranberry juice every night before you go to bed and this will more than likely prevent you from ever having a bladder infection!
right,best thing if you cant get to shops is hot bath,plenty of water,first glass with half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in as this neutralizes the acid in the urine,tastes disgusting but works! Paracetamol and hot water bottle on your tummy.you can get a mixture from your chemist called mis-pot-sit(store in your medicine cabinet),they will make it up for you or buy cysts remedy. Don’t drink tea or coffee at all when you have it,as it will make it worse and if symptoms persist you will have to go to the doctor.and in future have a wee straight after you have sex helps to flush out germs.
Just do whatever the doctor says.
Haha, do whatever your doctor says????? I have lupus (for 5 years now), and if I had listened and did whatever my doctor wanted, I would be on 12 meds at least right now. Hahaha. Yes, listen to doctors, but use your head too. Prevention is the best medicine, there is a place for medicine when prevention is not possible. But meds are OVERused severely. I’m not a whack job conspiracy theory guy, but you really need to question what doctors say or you’ll end up a medicated mess. There are so many things that can be corrected without meds, even for people with lupus. Of course, visit a doctor if you have a problem. Just be prudent in the meds you consume. Prevention is the cure, doctors are the safety net.
For example… when I “junk out” on the weekends and eat garbage like McDonalds, BK, or just a bowl of lard, sugar filled ice cream, guess what, my bladder burns. It is stupid for people to eat like this, get a burning in their bladder, then take meds to keep eating like a slob, then take more meds when those don’t work or because they need more meds to counter the side effects of other meds.
doing whatever the doctor tells you may at times do you more harm, being most practice medicine via pharmaceutical companies, too many antibiotics can assist in breaking down your bodies own defense and help to create infections. I have had lots of antibiotics due to bad lungs and while I was on them developed an infection.
True take caution when kidneys are involved.
Have to strongly agree with Dave. All doctors do these days is prescribe pills that actually make our immune system weak and unstable among other things. They only mask the symtoms instead of treating them. Why would they want to cure you anyway, the drug industry is a multi-million dollar industry and if they cured you so easily they’d be broke. So many conditions can simply be cured by herbal and natural remedies but instead people are brainwashed in taking all these meds and ruining their mental and physical states. True, not all natural cures work for everyone,obviously you need to do some research, but rather that than putting all these poisions into your body.
Please read this article for mummy’s infection
I have had bladder infections for years and years and the doctors gave me all kinds of antibiotics – never really got rid of it. Then my girlfriend suggested taking more Vitamin C (I never took any in the first place….) and I started taking 1000 mg in the morning and 1000 mg at night. Guess what – never had another bladder infection ever since. My body was missing Vitamin C! I guess it's the natural remedy for bladder infections. If you are a hopeless case like I was – try that!
Cranactin is a vitamin supplement that I have been taking for about 9months. It is a god send to me. It has Vitamin C, Cranberry extract and probiotics. It is about $30 for 180 pills and I take one in the morning and one at night. I used to get 4 to 5 bladder infections a year, since I have been taking Cranactin I have not had one. I am also on Elmiron for my IC. It is very expensive but it works. I know it doesn't work for everyone, I guess I was lucky. I am still having painful intercourse problems, which is awful for me and my fiancee. Any suggestions anyone? I don't know about any of you but my Urologist is awful and I can not get any useful information out of them. Thanks and good luck everyone!
Jessica, have u heard of Matia Brizman. She is a specialist in IC and uses herbs, supplements and diet very successfully . Her website is http://www.icama.org
i need some some advice with may bladder infection,ive seen a docter 3 time and still having problems.Any advice.
I am currently researching and have found the following remedies I am currently taking the follwing: 1 -2 tablets daily of cranactin & goldenseal,then I drink at least 2-3 cups of water with 2 tsp baking soda w 2 tsp non filtered apple cider vinegar added.
I am also cutting down consumption of alcohol, caffiene and white sugar as this seems to make the urinary tract or bladder infection symptoms reappear. I feel I am not experiencing symptoms as I was 2 days prior..I intend to follow this for a week…if anything talk to a specialist at one of your local health food stores…they can offer their expertise and knowledge to any ailment…
I used to be a chronic UTI sufferer, I was tired of going to the doc & emergency care facilities. I was on suppressive therapy for a while, ordered by a urologist.( A low dose of antibiotic every night) Of course I didn’t want to build up an antibiotic immunity!
I went to my family doc one day, and he told me to drink a gallon of water everyday. I was ANGRY. Well, I did it anyway. I don’t believe I ever actually had more then the daily recommended water intake (64 oz.) But..It worked.
Well I stopped by and read this because it’s the second day now and I’m sure. Never had a problem before, and now I thought I’d try to dispell the problem myself before a trip to the doctor. Thanks everyone for the home remedy suggestions.
Any one here notice that the people who insist you see a doctor provide no facts, knowledge or reasons… just mindlessly go to your doctor, while, most of the homeopathic’s share real experience and provide suggestions along with reasons for their suggestions? Just an observation.
But hey, if your Tina Marie, and you’ve gone 4 days with the burning I’ve got, then yea, you probably ought to go see a doctor and not take things into your own hands since, well… enough said.
uva ursi its found at health food stores, It will get rid of uti, kidney, etc it was used before there were antibioctics it works best when your urine PH is alkaline You do this with a spoon of baking soda and water (YES GROSS) but it works with out going to the doc.
At the first sign of a bladder infection, I boost up the vitamin C,if I dont have time released I take 3 1000mg tablets a day and take apple cider vinager pills, drink alot of water and within a day or 2 it is gone.
Colostrum capsules ,from Health Food Store, work well to fight infection and I take 2 caps at least 4 times a day at the start of a bladder or any other infection. I also give this to my son, grandkids and dog when needed during an illness or infection.
Also, I find the brand with lowest sugar in Cranberry juice and dilute it some with water. Blueberry is the next best juice for bladder irritations but also dilute as it too has high sugar count. I drink these throughout the day until the condition seems corrected.
Both watermelon and cornsilk teas are good to flush out the kidneys/bladder. Marshmallow root tincture (from health food store) is very soothing and calming to the bladder and I always take it under the tongue, where it absorbs quickly, or add a few drops to a good herbal tea or cup or water water.
I take 2 Ester C caps morning, noon and night….ester c is easier on the stomach than regulard vit.c. I have only 1 cup decaf. coffee in a.m. and no wine or alcoholic drinks until condition is remedied.
Get a chart or book (from internet , health food or book store) that shows the reflexology pressure points on the soles of feet and palms of hands. Gently massage these spots on the feet and hands to help break up the congestion in the bladder/kidney areas and then drink lots of water to help flush these toxins from your system.
I have fibromyalgia so try to have reflexology done on my feet at least twice a month and you can feel, when those spots are being massaged, if they are sore or hurt and then I know to immediately to start my routine before the bladder infection actually kicks in so am usually able to use the above remedies and get it stopped very quickly. A good reflexologist is a” diamond in the rough” and can help you to relax, when stressed, and help to gradually detox your system, which helps immensely if you have fibro, arthritis, anxiety, and many, many other conditions.
Many massage therapist have been trained in reflexology and if you haven’t tried this it’s well worth doing at least once. One leaves a session feeling calm and overall much better. I live in Az. and find most therapist charge aprox. $50 for a one hour session or you can split a session with half massage and half reflexology…..absolutely the most wonderful treat you can give your body!!
Acupuncture is good for bladder/kidney problems as well as many other health issues. Years ago I had walking pneumonia for about a month and doctor couldn’t get it to clear up so I tried acupuncture and the lungs were clear and pneumonia gone after 2 sessions!
Hope these suggestions help some of you gals.
Well, i’m 16, and have suffered from UTI’s for about 2 years.All docters prescribed was trimithorperin, which woked the first 2 times, then after that,they kept prescribing it and it wasn’t working! I found i got them more frequently if anything, so i tried drinking more water and cranberyy juice everday, i dont get the infections as frequent, and even better, i recently found i love orange juice, and the extra vitamin C has done wonders,i haen’t had an infecton in 4 months!
N-E body ever have the feeling that your bladder is pulsating like right after you urinate, thus feel like its going to drop! OMG. AAUHH!!
OMG!! I cant believe there are people on here saying drs over prescribe medications and to question drs. yes its good to question on bigger issues like lupus or other major diagnosis, and getting second opinions are great. but seriously your talking about a bladder infection!! the dr is NOT trying to scam you or mislead you here…its small potatoes!! it is a simple, clearly black or white test, either you have an infection or you dont. you should NEVER wait to treat a bladder infection or try home remidies because they WONT work! you need antibiotics to kill the infection!! I agree that antibiotics are over perscribed for coughs and colds but never for this!! if you do not seek treatment promptly, the infection will spread, up to your kidneys, and trust me from experience it SUCKS!! its horribly painful, you cant stop pukeing, and a kidney infection can PERMANETLY SHUT DOWN YOUR KIDNEYS!!! as for antibiotic use decreasing your immune system, this is unproven, but if it were true, it would be with use over a VERY long time. It has no effect on your immune system to use antibiotics for a few days to a few weeks (in rare cases) for treating a urinary tract infection
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you suspect you have a bladder infection, see a doctor…I promise they are not trying to make extra money by prescribing antibiotics, they are one of the oldest type of drugs, theyre cheap. You NEED antibiotic treatment, home remidies will not work, they will just let the infection get worse and spread. prevention is a great idea for any illness, for example, wiping front to back, peeing after sex, keeping your neither regions clean. But it will not prevent all bladder infections.
Again, not promptly treating a bladder infection can let it spread to your kidneys, and even one kidney infection can PERMANENTLY SHUT DOWN YOUR KIDNEYS!! in which case you would need dialysis and a kidney transplant.
-A Registered Nurse who has had both UTI’s and kidney infections.
IF U HAVE A UTI OR BLADDER INFECTION WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. YOU NEED TO SEE A DR. BECAUSE IF LEFT UNTREATED FOR TO LONG YOU CAN GET REALLY SICK. I KNOW CAUSE I DID. THE INFECTION WAS BAD AND IT WEAKEND MY IMMUNE SYSTEM AND I ENDED UP WITH A VIRAL INFECTION AS WELL. WHICH I HAD TO BE ONE LIKE 3 MEDS 4X DAILY FOR LIKE 2WKS.
BUT TO PREVENT A INFECTION…. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER DAILY TO CLEAN YOUR BODY AND ALSO DRINK PLENTY CRANBERRY JUICE, APPLE JUICE WORKS TOO BUT NOT AS WELL AS CRANBERRY. I DRINK LIKE 3 JUGS OF CRANBERRY JUICE A WEEK AND I HAVENT HAD AN UTI INFECTION SINCE. BUT THE FIRST FEW DAYS YOU WILL HAVE TO PEE….. ALOT!!!!
Im 27 and have repeat bladder infections… I go to the doctor and they prescribe me sulfa med. A week later i feel symptoms again go back to the doctor and they prescribe the same antibiotic.. I tell them i dont think that it works on me. I just finished my prescription a week ago and feel symptoms.. anyone know of an antibiotic i can tell them to try?? I am so tired of having them
THANKS
I’m 32 & get bladder infections at least twice a month ever since I had a hystorectomy 6 yrs ago. I drink so much water a day I think I’m going to grow gills soon. I don’t drink pop, coffee, tea or anything other than water & cranberry juice. I’m so tired of this, it’s interfering with my life as well as the lives of my family. I’ve been to the doctor & specialists so far nothings working. I’m looking for advice from anyone, I can’t keep going on like this. If anyone could help I’d be forever greatfull.
I agree that seeing your doctor is important, and if you have recurrent infections, ask to see a urologist. However, after having UTIs on and off for four years, many different antibiotics (often back to back), many medical procedures and a surgery (urethral diverticulitis), then having it all come back again only to be told this time it is not the same thing, it’s just something I’ll always experience on and off, I’ve decided to go the natural route. Why put antibiotics in your system only to have the infection return the day after you’re finished?! I’ve been very frustrated by how little doctors can do, unless you’re a standard case. I find naturopaths and homeopaths (good ones) look at the whole you. The best solution I’ve found so far is goldenseal for fighting an infection already in progress (every infection so far gone in two days max.) That said, I am researching how to naturally solve why my body does this so I can stop it.Until then, goldenseal is the next best thing as far as I’m concerned.
I had a lot of UTIs in my 20’s and now in my 50’s am experiencing that again. I have taken antibiotics, with unpleasant side affects, and the UTI returned, so I consulted a naturopath who has prescribed Cranstat Extra (urinary tract support) and D-Mannose (a powder taken in water). I usually take a teaspoon of pure cranberry concentrate in water every morning (no sugar) and drink at least a half gallon of water a day. Then I recalled that years ago I would make a bladder tea from a natural remedy book by Joy Gardner: Bring 3 cups of water to a boil and add one tablespoon echinacea root. Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from heat and add 2 teaspoons yarrow flowers, 2 teaspoons bearberry (uva-ursi), 2 teaspoons cornsilk (from Indian corn), and 1 teaspoon juniper berries. Steep for 15 minutes in a covered container, then strain. Store unused portion in the refrigerator. If you cannot obtain or cannot use 1 or 2 of these herbs, increase the other herbs, and the tea should still be effective. Drink 1 cup a day for a week. This is a very effective tea for treating bladder infections, however is you develop a fever or symptoms do not subside you should consult a physician. Also symptoms of burning urine, frequent urination, and pain in the bladder can also indicate many other serious illnesses/disease such as STDs or kidney disease. A good rule of thumb is to use allopathic medicine for diagnosis, then depending on the severity of the diagnois make a decision about the course of treatment. Naturopathic treatment can be preferrable, correcting the root of the problem vs. treating the symptoms with drugs. If the problem/deficiency, etc. is not corrected, the illness/symptoms often reoccur. Good luck.
I have had a few bladder infections over the years. The first when I was very young and sexually active. My mom refused to take me to the dr. for that very reason. My grandma treated my symptoms by limiting me to drink water and cranberry juice only. The infection did go away after a couple of excruciating days. And every time since, whenever I’ve felt it coming on, I increase my water intake and keep the infection at bay. This has worked for me.
Now, my daughter has a bladder infection from wearing her panty-liner all day and overnight (of which I was unaware) and I had her drink water and cranberry juice (100% juice) but it hasn’t seemed to help her, maybe because she didn’t bring it up until it was a full-blown infection. Even though I do not put much faith in doctors and she didn’t want to go at first either, I’m going to have to take her now because I can’t stand to see her in pain.
So, each of us is different. I think as someone said before, if after a day or two of the home remedies, they don’t seem to work, you should probably see a doctor. Chances are you won’t be able to get an appointment until a couple days later anyway. Might as well do what you can until the doctor can see you.
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