A Urinary tract infection can be truly a painful experience. This is a type of a bladder infection which also affects certain parts of your urinary tract. Some of the common symptoms of this infection include painful urination, urge to urinate, frequent urination and others. This infection is more common among women than men and is caused by bacteria.
Doctors may suggest effective over the counter remedies to deal with this infection but there are many home remedies which you can try to treat the problem without any side effects. The following are the top 7 home remedies for treating urinary tract infections or UTI:
1. Drink Lots of Water
The best way to treat urinary tract infections or UTI is to drink lots of water. Drinking water helps you to flush out the bacteria and toxins that are responsible for causing this infection and put you on the right track of recovery. Besides water, you can also drink other healthy fluids like coconut water etc.
2. Vitamin C intake
Make sure you eat a lot of fruits that are packed with Vitamin C. This can make your urine more acidic, which can inhibit the growth of bacteria in your urinary tract. You can also consider taking vitamin C supplements to get enough amount of vitamin C.
3. Soothe the Pain with Heat
In order to treat the pain that comes along with UTI, you can apply a heating pad as this helps to soothe and cure the pain, the burning sensation, pressure and irritation. Make sure to keep the heat on a low setting and don’t apply it directly to skin and rather keep a cloth in between.
4. Avoid Bladder Irritants from your Diet
Another superb way to treat UTIs is to avoid any bladder irritants from your diet. Some of these irritants which you must avoid are caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, nicotine carbonated drinks, artificial sweeteners and many others. Rather focus on healthy food items like high fiber carbohydrates and others.
5. Empty your Bladder
This may be painful but emptying your bladder can help you eliminate all the bacteria from your system and thus provides relief. Make use of the bathroom again and again.
6. Consider Herbal Diet
Some natural herbs too can help you get rid of the bacteria and thus the UTI. Consider following an herbal diet by taking herb uva ursi or bearberry leaf. It should be taken for short periods of time and in small amounts since it can cause liver damage. Another herb that you can consider is herb goldenseal.
7. Follow Healthy Habits
It is important to follow healthy habits and make lifestyle changes in order to get rid of the bacteria fast and prevent it from coming back. Make sure you quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, wear loose fitting cotton clothing and underwear, wipe yourself clean from back to front and choose only fragrance free personal hygiene products. Avoid using dirty toilets and use only fresh towels.
