UTIs are caused by a bacterial infection, so doctors generally treat them with antibiotics, but is it possible to treat them without antibiotics?
While scientific research supports some natural remedies for urinary tract infections, others have been part of traditional medicine systems for thousands of years.
To treat a urinary tract infection without antibiotics, we can try the following remedies:
- Stay hydrated
Drinking water regularly can help treat a urinary tract infection. Drinking enough water is one of the simplest ways to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Water helps the urinary tract organs efficiently remove waste from the body while retaining vital nutrients and electrolytes.
Being hydrated also dilutes urine and speeds up its travel through the system, making it harder for bacteria to reach the cells that line the urinary organs and cause an infection. There is no fixed recommendation on the number of liters you should drink each day, as each person’s water needs are different. However, on average, people should drink at least six to eight glasses of water (2-3 liters) per day.
- Urinate when needed
Frequent urination puts pressure on bacteria in the urinary tract, which can help kill them. It also reduces the time bacteria in the urine are exposed to urinary tract cells, reducing the risk of them sticking together and causing an infection. Always urinate as soon as possible when the need arises to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections.
- Drink cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is one of the best natural treatments for urinary tract infections. People have also traditionally used it to help clean up general infections and speed up recovery times.
Studies on the effectiveness of cranberry juice for urinary tract infections have had mixed results. According to one review, cranberry juice contains compounds that can prevent E. coli bacteria from attaching to cells in the urinary tract. Cranberry juice also contains antioxidants, including polyphenols, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Consume probiotics
Beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, can help keep the urinary tract healthy and free of harmful bacteria. In particular, a group of probiotics called lactobacilli can help treat and prevent urinary tract infections. Probiotics are produced in a variety of fermented and dairy products, including: yogurt, kefir, some types of cheese, sauerkraut.
- Consume Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps improve the function of the immune system. Vitamin C also reacts with nitrates in the urine to form nitrogen oxides which can kill bacteria. It can lower the pH of the urine, making it less likely for bacteria to survive.
As with cranberry juice, people have used vitamin C in various ways to treat urinary tract infections for thousands of years. But there isn’t enough scientific evidence to confirm whether higher vitamin C intake can prevent or cure urinary tract infections.
- Clean yourself from front to back
Many urinary tract infections develop when bacteria from the rectum or stool enter the urethra, the tube that allows urine to leave the body. Once the bacteria are in the urethra, they can travel to other organs in the urinary tract, where they can cause infections. After urinating, cleanse yourself so that bacteria don’t come into contact with your genitals. Use separate pieces of toilet paper to clean your genitals and anus.
- Practice good sexual hygiene
Sex introduces bacteria and other microbes from outside the body into the urinary tract. Practicing good sexual hygiene can help reduce the amount of bacteria that people can transfer during sex and other sexual acts.
Examples of good sexual hygiene include:
urinating before and immediately after intercourse
use barrier contraceptives such as condoms
washing the genitals, especially the foreskin, before and after sexual intercourse or sexual intercourse.
wash your genitals or change condoms if you switch from anal to vaginal sex
make sure sexual partners are aware of any past or present urinary tract infections
A doctor can help prevent the infection from getting worse. If a person suspects they have a urinary tract infection, they should speak to their doctor for advice on the best way to treat the possible infection. Antibiotics may not always be necessary to treat urinary tract infections, but it is still important to see a doctor for any infection or suspected infection.
