If you have ever experienced the “joy” of having a urinary tract infection, you know well the pain and discomfort that accompany it and will do anything to keep it from happening again. You can work on keeping your body in balance by using herbs for urinary tract infection.
Even if you have never had the pleasure of a UTI, these herbs, and other natural remedies, can help you maintain urinary tract health.
What is the Urinary Tract?
Perhaps part of the reason that a UTI can be so debilitating is because the urinary tract is quite a complex system of the human body. It is more than just a tube that allows you to release waste in the form of urine. The urinary tract is made up of:
- Two kidneys (filters of the blood)
- Two ureters (tubes connecting your kidneys to your bladder)
- The bladder (your body’s waste reservoir)
- The urethra (tube from bladder to urethral opening where waste is evacuated)
The Warning Signs of a Urinary Tract Infection
It is an unfortunate fact of life that women are more susceptible to UTIs than men, simply because of their anatomy. As a matter of fact, women are 30 times more likely than men to contract this infection.
Treatment is typically more effective the earlier you identify the infection, so it is important to know and respond to the warning symptoms. The Mayo Clinic identifies some common symptoms as:
- A persistent, powerful urge to urinate
- Burning sensation during urination
- Frequent urination but small amounts
- Cloudy urine
- A pink, red, or brownish color to the urine
- A strong odor to the urine
- Pelvic pain, particularly in women and centered above pubic bone
What Can Trigger Urinary Tract Infections?
UTIs are caused by bacteria, most commonly E. coli, but may also be caused by others such as:
- Klebsiella
- Enterobacter
- Staphylococcus
When the membrane tissue of your urinary tract gets out of balance, it is more susceptible to the adhesion of bacteria and other irritants, potentially resulting in a UTI. Triggers for this imbalance include, but are not limited to:
- Dehydration
- Holding urine for long periods of time
- Hormonal changes
- External products like antibacterial soaps and contraceptive creams
- Use of antibiotics
- Stress
Best Practices and Natural Remedies for UTIs
The good news is that almost all of these triggers can be dealt with simply and naturally.
- Stay hydrated
- Drinking lemon water and cranberry juice
- Limit use of antibacterial products
- Reduce stress
The Vitamin C found in foods like citrus, strawberries, and leafy green vegetables are also great stabilizers, along with a daily probiotic.
Effective Herbs
Did you know that herbs are any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume? That leaves a lot of natural choices for herbs for urinary tract infections. Some herbs that are beneficial in supporting a healthy urinary tract include:
- Cranberry: the fruit of an evergreen dwarf shrub grown in bogs
- Uva ursi: aka “bearberry,” also an evergreen found in alpine regions
- Horsetail: a close relative of the fern used fresh or dried
- Oregon grape root: another evergreen of which the bark, root, and rhizome are used
- Corn silk: the long threadlike strands that grow from the corn husk
Balance your body and prevent urinary tract infection with Mother Nature’s natural remedies.