A urinary tract infection (UTI), sometimes known as a bladder infection, is a common bacterial infection for which there are a number of home remedies. Certain types of fruits or fruit juices, for example, are often ingested to cure a UTI. Adding some herbal and vitamin dietary supplements may also help get rid of a UTI. Some holistic doctors may even recommend baking soda or plain water as home remedies for a UTI.
Cranberry juice is one of the most popular home remedies for a UTI. Some doctors recommend that the juice be natural or unsweetened, while others believe a cranberry juice cocktail will work just as well. This fruit juice can help eliminate the harmful bacteria that causes a UTI, since it is a mild natural antibiotic. It also prevents the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder.
Individuals who are suffering from a bladder infection may benefit from drinking a few glasses of this juice each day. To prevent a bladder infection, individuals shouldn't drink more than a glass or two a day. Blueberries and pineapple are similar natural remedies for a UTI.
There are also herbal remedies for a UTI. Goldenseal is one of the more popular herbal remedies for this type of infection. Holistic doctors typically recommend taking up to 1,000 milligrams of goldenseal extract each day as one of the home remedies for a UTI. If an individual has a bladder infection, this should not be used for more than a week, however, and pregnant women should not take it at all. Goldenseal works as a home remedy for a UTI because it has antimicrobial properties. It also helps boost a person's immune system.
Certain vitamins can also help boost a person's immune system. Vitamin C is one of these, and it is often used by many people as a cure for a UTI. Adding an extra 500 to 1,000 milligrams of this supplement to a diet can boost the immune system enough to fight off the infection.
Other home remedies for a UTI can be found in the kitchen cupboard. Mixing one half of a teaspoon (tsp)of baking soda into a glass of water can help stabilize the pH level of the urine. Drinking two glasses of this each day can help clear up a UTI. This method should only be used, however, if a person is taking large quantities of calcium. Using baking soda as a cure for UTI should also not be used by individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart, liver or kidney problems, or by children or pregnant women.
Water is probably one of the safest home remedies for a UTI, and it is recommended by most doctors. When they have urinary tract infections, many people start drinking large amounts of water to help flush the bacteria out of the urinary tract. As a general rule of thumb, at least one 8-ounce (0.23-liter) glass of water should be drunk each hour. It is important to urinate when the need arises, though, since holding back urination can make a UTI worse.