Authored by Ceetee Sheckels in Diseases
Published on 10-25-2009
A urinary tract infection is unpleasant and uncomfortable. While there are some popular home remedies which can be used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, they also go a long way in helping you to avoid developing the problem in the first place. Prevention really is the best way of dealing with any kind of medical problem.
If you are familiar with the old saying about drinking at least eight glasses of water every day for good health, this is one home remedy which fits into this category. When you drink pure, clean, fresh water, it will help your body to eliminate the bacteria which causes urinary tract infections. It will keep your urinary tract in the best condition for good health. If, however, you have already developed an infection, water can also assist in the process of relieving it.
Cranberry juice is another product which will give you both benefits. The natural acids found in cranberry juice will help to stop bacteria from growing. It is one of the most natural ways to help your body to avoid urinary tract infections, as well as relieving it if it does occur. While the cranberry juice cocktails which are easy to find in any grocery store contain other juices and are not as effective as pure, unsweetened cranberry juice, they can still be useful. You can also find cranberry extract in tablet form. Although they can be helpful in reducing bacteria, they lack the characteristic which liquid has of being able to flush out the body.
As Vitamin C is one of the main substances in cranberry juice which assists in preventing urinary tract infections, you may wonder if taking Vitamin C itself can be useful for this purpose. As keeping your urine at a more acidic level can aid in the prevention of bacteria, the answer is generally yes. However, you should not attempt to use Vitamin C supplements to treat a urinary tract infection if you are already using antibiotics, unless your physician has recommended that you do so. The reason for this is that Vitamin C can prevent antibiotics from working effectively.
Echinacea tea is another popular home remedy for urinary tract infections. However, there are a number of contraindications regarding the use of echinacea. Some people may develop allergic reactions from the use of echinacea. Others may have medical conditions which would make using echinacea unwise; as well as some medications which can interact with echinacea. If you want to try this natural home remedy to either reduce your risk of urinary tract infection or to relieve one if one has developed, it is a good idea to ask your physician if echinacea tea is safe for you.
All of these home remedies can aid in relieving urinary tract infections. Even more important, they can be greatly helpful when your goal is to avoid developing an infection. While a very serious infection may require the use of antibiotics, for both minor infections and prevention natural is the healthiest solution.
