Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

The urinary tract comprises of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and the bladder. An infection of any of these parts is referred to as a urinary tract infection or UTI. These are basically all the structures which the urine goes through prior to being flushed out from our body. Our urine is generally sterile, it is only when bacteria gets into our urine that a UTI is formed. The infection generally begins at the urethra’s opening; it then travels up into one’s urinary tract. A certain type of bacteria known as Escherichia coli or E coli is usually responsible for causing this sort of an infection. This bacteria typically lives in the bowels as well as in the area around the anus. They can at times move to the urethral opening from the region around the anus. Generally, when one urinates the bacteria get flushed out from the urethra. However, if too many bacteria are present, the act of urinating may not effectively stop them from spreading.

Spreading Of Urinary Tract Infection

From the urethra the bacteria can at times also enter the bladder and cause an infection there. The infection can get severe if it spreads to the kidneys. There are several home remedies that can be used for treating UTI’s. Baking soda is considered to be a very effective remedy for treating this kind of an infection. It helps in neutralizing the acidity levels in the urine thus speeding recovery. Take a glass of water and add a teaspoon of baking soda to it. Stir well and then consume the mixture. This concoction should be had once a day for best results. Cranberries and blueberries belong to the same family and hence possess the same bacteria fighting qualities. Blueberries can be sprinkled on your cereal or consumed in a salad. Cranberry juice (about 4 ounces) if had daily, will help in getting rid of the infection.

Pineapple contains an enzyme known as bromelain that helps in fighting UTI’s. The fruit can be had in the form of a juice or by itself, as a whole. Placing a hot compress on the stomach will also help in alleviating pain if any. Reducing the intake of alcohol, cigarettes and coffee is also important as it can make the infection worse. 8-10 glasses of water per day is a must when one has such an infection. It will help in flushing out the bacteria by making one urinate frequently.