10 Best Tennis Shoes For European Travel

Best Tennis Shoes For European Travel in 2023

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What You Need to Know About UTI's and Natural Treatment Options

UTI's or Urinary Tract Infections are ten times more common in women than men due to the fact that bacteria have a smaller distance to travel from the rectum to the urethra in women than in men.

UTI's or Urinary Tract Infections are ten times more common in women than men due to the fact that bacteria have a smaller distance to travel from the rectum to the urethra in women than in men. Not all UTI's reoccur however, 30% will dissipate on their own. Reoccurrences tend to come about when there is a new type of bacteria or when there is a "backwash" of urine in the bladder that never gets treated.

Signs of a UTI include: burning during urination, a pain or pressure in the bladder when voiding, blood or mucous in the urine, urine with a strong odor/dark in color, and fever with chills. Many times a UTI can creep up into the kidneys from the bladder. When this occurs there is an accompanying lower back pain.

UTI testing consists of a urinalysis which is a lab test of the urine to check the levels of white blood cells, bacteria, pus, and blood in the urine. Dependent upon the levels, a diagnosis of UTI or cystitis is confirmed or denied.

Antibiotics are the usual course of treatment. Usually the early treatments are from 7-10 days at a stretch, but now thanks to "superstrains" of antibiotic resistant bacteria doctors are relying on shorter treatment schedules of just 1-3 days. Many times antibiotics are not the patient's chosen course of treatment. Other natural therapies include:

(1) Elimination of fruit juices, sweetened drinks, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages, and refined foods,
(2) Inclusion of cranberry and blueberry products into the diet. These have been shown to lower the risk of symptoms because they have the ability to inhibit the bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.
(3) Addition of Vitamin C or Zinc. Vitamin C to make the urine more acidic and therefore keep bacteria from growing and the zinc to boost the immune system.

Along with more water intake and cranberry/blueberry concentrates, there are some herbs that may help with the symptoms:

Corn silk (Zae mays)

Corn silk is also known as corn, Indian corn, maize jagnog, Turkish corn, and yu mi xu. It has been used to treat urinary tract syndromes because of its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties for centuries. The supplement is produced from the female flower stamen (picked before full bloom) and fine soft silks about 4-8 inches long. It is a good aid to treating the pain of any inflamed/irritated mucous surfaces.

Combining corn silk with couchgrass, bearberry or even yarrow is good for treating UTI's. You may need to experiment to see what works for you. Corn silk is used as a remedy for cystitis, stones, bladder irritation, edema, and gonorrhea. Its herbal medicinal qualities are diuretic, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, tonic, anodyne, alterative, and lithotriptic. It is really a "soother".
To make an infusion, pour a cup of boiling water on 2 teaspoonfuls of dried corn silk. Leave this mixture to steep for 10-15 minutes. The tea, when used as a medicinal, should be taken three times a day. As a tincture, take 3-6 ml of it three times a day.

Marshmallow Root (Althea officinalis)

A hardy perennial that grows up to 4 feet tall, althea officinalis has white or pink flowers that bloom in late summer. It is generally found in damp salty places. Known simply as "mallow", it is used as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, mucilaginous, emollient and one of the most effective demulcents. Mallow flowers, leaves, syrup and roots are used in herbal pharmacology and most supplements use the dried root and leaves. The roots of the marshmallow have been used medicinally for the digestive tract for the relief of local irritation, bladder infections, and an immune system stimulant. The leaves are used for the urinary tract, lungs, cystitis relief, urethritis, respiratory infections, and coughs. The roots are very rich in mucilage and can get gummy when they are wet, making it good to protect and coat the gastrointestinal tract.
Mallow can be bought as a tea, powder, extract, capsules or tablets. The normal dosage is 1-4ml of tincture three times a day.

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila Umbellata)

An evergreen shrub native to woody areas, pipsissewa has been traditionally used by Native Americans to treat fevers and to induce sweating. Primarily it is the leaves, twigs and flowers that make up the herbal remedies. It makes a good disinfectant for the urinary tract and herbalist use this plant specifically for that. The plant contains hydroquinones which is why the plant makes a good disinfectant and antimicrobial, but not good for any long term treatment usage. This herbal may interfere with birth control pills due to the phytoestrogenic properties, so talk to your doctor before taking this or any herb remedy. This can be found in tincture, extract, tablet, and tea form.
Remember if you are wanting to prevent UTI's that the easiest method to stave off infection is to urinate before and after sexual intercourse (and no sex during a UTI as to not "swap" the infection back and forth between partners), and to wipe properly from front to back after voiding.