How To

How to Treat Urinary Tract Infections

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(97 Ratings)

Urinary tract infections are also known as UTIs, cystitis and bladder
infections. They are most common in women, but men and children can also
get them, and almost all of them are caused by E. coli bacteria.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Celery
  • Cranberry Juice
  • Parsleys
  • Watermelons
  • Acidophilus
  • Colloidal Silver
  • Cranberry Capsules
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin C
  1. Step 1

    Drink plenty of fluids. Begin as soon as you feel the first signs and symptoms. Drink up to several gallons in the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. Doing this can actually flush the bacteria out and wash it away.

  2. Step 2

    Choose water as your primary fluid.

  3. Step 3

    Drink cranberry juice. The second choice is orange juice. They make your urine more acidic, which helps kill the bacteria and provide relief from symptoms.

  4. Step 4

    Take cranberry tablets or capsules if you are unable to drink or locate the juice. Take them with a large glass of water.

  5. Step 5

    Take vitamin C with a bioflavonoid complex, at least 2,000mg per day. Divide the dose. This helps acidify the urine and also strengthens your immune system.

  6. Step 6

    Urinate whenever you feel the urge. Don't hold it in. Try not to be in a place where there is no available bathroom.

  7. Step 7

    Empty your bladder completely when you urinate. Urine left in the bladder provides a good breeding ground for bacteria.

  8. Step 8

    Avoid alcohol, caffeinated and carbonated drinks, and spicy foods. They can worsen symptoms.

  9. Step 9

    Avoid sexual intercourse while you are having symptoms.

  10. Step 10

    Refrain from taking bubble baths or using bath oils while having symptoms.

  11. Step 11

    They can cause increased irritation.

  12. Step 12

    Pour warm water over genital area while you are urinating. This helps relieve burning when you urinate, which is a common symptom of urinary tract infections.

  13. Step 13

    Eat parsley, celery and watermelon. They act as natural diuretics.

  14. Step 14

    Use colloidal silver, which is a natural antibiotic. Use as directed on label.

  15. Step 15

    Take the entire prescription of antibiotics if your doctor prescribes them.

  16. Step 16

    Do not stop just because you are feeling better. Not taking the full prescription can cause a relapse or recurrence.

  17. Step 17

    Take acidophilus with each meal if you are on antibiotics. It will help maintain and restore normal bacterial growth.

Tips & Warnings
  • Some sexually transmitted diseases have symptoms similar to urinary tract infections. See a doctor if you suspect that you may have an STD.
  • See a doctor if you have a fever, chills, pain in the flank area, nausea or vomiting - especially if the symptoms develop rapidly. Also see a doctor if symptoms do not improve after 24 hours of self-care, or if you are unable to urinate at all.
  • If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments  

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katia21 said

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on 2/23/2009 so i just had a really bad uti. this is my 4th one! the pain was so bad! i looked at diff websites to see if i cud find a cure without going to the doctor and i read somewhere that u can actually buy medication at walmart that will instantly help so i went n bought it and it really did work! im not really sure how fast i started to feel better but after a couple of hours it helped A LOT! and on the next day it felt completely better! so if u dont mind driving to walmart to buy it, its called AZO STANDARD MAXIMUM STRENGTH and you can find it right next to the condom section. also i bought tht AZO CRANBERRY and i take 2 everyday and it helps keep the infection away. im sosososos happy that someone recommended buying it cus it truely does help.

ashleighg7 said

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on 9/22/2008 The above person has it right! Do not buy regular cranberry you have to make sure its 100% juice, not cocktail, or any of those diet formulas. In its purest form if possible. I have recurring ones and also I am on a yogurt diet as soon as i have symptoms and for two weeks after that. Something about the bacteria in the yogurt is good for the system....just natural yogurt with some fruit to give it taste. You can also have a hot bath to relieve the pain....or put a hot water bottle over your painfuls to relieve it....and even if you sweat wearing warm clothes keeps the areas relaxed. They will not sieze up or tighten if they are kept warm and cozy. Just some hints from a seasoned pro...

sporkbunny said

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on 12/5/2007 I've had one UTI about ever 3 to 6 months for the past 7 years. Trying to avoide the inevitable antibiotics (tried them all, eventually each stops working), I've tried everything natural: Cranberry Juice and supplements, Goldenseal, Echinacea, vinegar. My last bout with antibiotics put me in the ER when I suddenly developed a rare allergy (Macrobid gave me head-to-toe hives). Thanks top this forum, now I finally found the "silver bullet" for me: Calcium Citrate. I take a double dose at the first sign of irritation and then drink extra water and continue regular doses for 24 hours. I back this up with Mannose (better than Cranberry) supplements. The Calcium Citrate apparently akalinizes the urine, killing all bacteria in its path. About 6 hours after I begin this "silver bullet" method, I start to feel normal.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 9/27/2006 In the early stages of a UTI you can short circuit the problem quite easily and 100% naturally. This is going to sound odd but trust me it has worked 100% of the time for me.

Cranberry juice.
Two 8 oz glasses of it per day for one week.
Normally within the first day the symptoms will completely vanish. Dose for the full week to make sure that the juice components that actually work against the infection have had time to fully eradicate the problem.

As ever, if you experience bleeding or excessive pain consult a doctor as the UTI may have progressed to the point of requiring medical attention.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 7/21/2006 Taking several cranberry supplement pills every hour and drinking lots of water helped rid me of one of the most painful UTIs I have had.

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