How to Fight Bladder and Urinary Tract Infections With Rose Hips

Rose hips have very high levels of vitamin C, which makes urine more acidic. This can make your bladder and urinary tract less hospitable to the bacteria that cause UTIs.

Bladder and urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused by bacteria that inflame and irritate the lining of the urinary tract and bladder. While usually a relatively minor problem in terms of its impact on your health, a UTI is one of the most irritating and constantly painful conditions a woman can develop. Symptoms include interior and exterior itching, a constant desire to urinate paired with a nearly total inability to do so, burning when urination does occur and a high level of general discomfort. UTIs are generally treated with a round of antibiotics, but if you catch them early enough you can often prevent them from taking hold by taking some very simple, easy steps to kill the bacteria before it "settles in."

Things You'll Need

• Fresh rose hips
• Rose hip tea
• Dried rose hips

Instructions

1. 

   Drink a cup of rose hip tea twice a day. Not only are rose hips believed to relieve stress, which some people believe contributes to your susceptibility to this type of infection, but drinking tea brewed from rose hips can dramatically increase the acidity of your urine, which will deter and even kill the bacteria that cause UTIs and bladder infections. If you are concerned that you already may have a UTI or bladder infection, do not sweeten your tea with real sugar. Instead, use a sucralose-based sugar substitute as high quantities of sugar can make your infection much worse.

2. Top salads with fresh rose hips. Rose hips that have not been cooked or dried contain more vitamin C and other nutrients that are good for you in general and good for your urinary tract and bladder in particular. Rose hips also make a good basis for a salad, and many people use them in place of apples in apple salad recipes.

3. Bake with dried rose hips whenever possible. Dried rose hips can be substituted for dried cranberries--also good for the kidneys and urinary tract--in any recipe. Rose hips are slightly sweeter than cranberries but, as a result, do not need to be sugared before you eat them. Many people eat them plain as a healthy snack.

4. Bathe the exterior of the afflicted area with rose hip water. This is basically just diluted rose hip tea. Use a soft cloth and a cool dilution of the tea and distilled water to bathe the area, which may have become red and inflamed. Consult your doctor before doing this. This is not generally endorsed by medical professionals, although some patients swear by it.