UTI Home Remedies
What is UTI
A urinary tract infection is usually an infection of the urinary bladder, although sometimes the infection could only be in the urethra. In most cases, it spreads up to the bladder, and if not treated in time, it can spread further up the urinary tract till it reaches the kidneys. A kidney infection is certainly not a minor infection, and can usually only be treated by using antibiotics. It is therefore better to stop a urinary infection in the initial stages, before it gets out of hand.
Strict hygiene and drinking plenty of water are the two main requirements when treating a urinary tract infection. Wash your genitals several times a day, and make sure that you wear clean underwear at all times, changing even twice a day if necessary. Avoid using a douche however – this is unnecessary, and often does more harm than good. A douche should be used only if recommended by your doctor, and only after your doctor has shown you how to properly perform the procedure.
Drinking plenty of water helps to flush the bacteria out of your urinary tract. Drink twice the amount of water you normally drink, and be sure to visit the bathroom every time you feel the need to. This is bound to be troublesome and disruptive, but holding in your urine will only allow the bacteria to multiply and make things worse. Sometimes this may not be enough, in which case, you can drink at least two glasses of cranberry juice through the day. The juice seems to be a mild, natural antibiotic, and also makes the urine more acidic and thus hostile to bacteria. Pineapple is also supposed to be good for a urinary tract infection, and you can either eat the fruit itself or drink the juice. In the meanwhile, avoid drinks such as alcohol and caffeine; even though they have a diuretic effect, this is not of much use, and more importantly, they will irritate the bladder. Finally, remember that if the infection does not clear up within a couple of days, or if it recurs, you need to visit your doctor.
